Mopar power = Heresy?
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 342
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From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Mopar power = Heresy?
I knew it would happen....not even a week of ownership and I'm fed up with the engine already. WTF were Ford thinking when they stuck the Essex in the F100?!
Typically over here if you find a decent used lump it costs silly money so I broadened my search and came up with.....a 318 and trans from a '69 Barracuda. I appreciate that its probably not the smartest move asking about Mopar engines on a Ford forum but I figure no question is stupid if you don't know the answer
Is this a worthy engine in my'83 F100? If so what, if any, major/minor obstructions am I likely to come across? Not new to conversions and transplants but this is my first outing with American tin and engineering, so any input will be appreciated.
Typically over here if you find a decent used lump it costs silly money so I broadened my search and came up with.....a 318 and trans from a '69 Barracuda. I appreciate that its probably not the smartest move asking about Mopar engines on a Ford forum but I figure no question is stupid if you don't know the answer
Is this a worthy engine in my'83 F100? If so what, if any, major/minor obstructions am I likely to come across? Not new to conversions and transplants but this is my first outing with American tin and engineering, so any input will be appreciated.
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That would be the 3.hate installed to get some mpg numbers in your truck?
The 3.8 with the same bell pattern as the more fun 302, more grunt 300, more haul 351w? What trans do you have?
Any of these FoMoCo engines will be a breeze to install vs. the Mopar. Now that's a fine engine/trans combo, but my guess is some Mopar fanatic would be willing to pay as much or more for it than a later model of any of the above would cost....
People always talk about what a breeze it is to do conversions etc. Many, maybe most go well. But I will always remember the stripped out hulk of my friends '66 Fairlane lying in a scrap heap beside the road. Just a year or so earlier it had been a clean 289 2v C4 GTA model (always wondered why it wasn't a 390 with GTA on it) and ran like a champ. Then the hillbillies who bought it put a 406 and an FMX in it....and there was the result: Junk.
So, for a better chance at keeping your truck a truck rather than a load of scrap, be timid, be meek, do something everyone else has done: swap in an oem type engine.
jmo, ymmv, titi, dwyw, good luck.
The 3.8 with the same bell pattern as the more fun 302, more grunt 300, more haul 351w? What trans do you have?
Any of these FoMoCo engines will be a breeze to install vs. the Mopar. Now that's a fine engine/trans combo, but my guess is some Mopar fanatic would be willing to pay as much or more for it than a later model of any of the above would cost....
People always talk about what a breeze it is to do conversions etc. Many, maybe most go well. But I will always remember the stripped out hulk of my friends '66 Fairlane lying in a scrap heap beside the road. Just a year or so earlier it had been a clean 289 2v C4 GTA model (always wondered why it wasn't a 390 with GTA on it) and ran like a champ. Then the hillbillies who bought it put a 406 and an FMX in it....and there was the result: Junk.
So, for a better chance at keeping your truck a truck rather than a load of scrap, be timid, be meek, do something everyone else has done: swap in an oem type engine.
jmo, ymmv, titi, dwyw, good luck.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
The mopar is a "convenient" solution in as much as its available and cheap - comparatively against what we pay for stuff over here.
The story of the Fairlane is a heartbreaker - I nearly bought a 4dr '71 South African market (RHD) 500 instead of the truck but the truck was £1k cheaper and you can't fit motorbikes/all manner of stuff in a Fairlane.
I wouldn't know how to tell you the trans code on the truck but its 3 spd auto.
There is much wisdom in what you say.
The story of the Fairlane is a heartbreaker - I nearly bought a 4dr '71 South African market (RHD) 500 instead of the truck but the truck was £1k cheaper and you can't fit motorbikes/all manner of stuff in a Fairlane.
I wouldn't know how to tell you the trans code on the truck but its 3 spd auto.
There is much wisdom in what you say.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
I knew I forgot something! Some of the engines that are offered for sale are advertised as "pre" or "post smog" and the latter always seems to be on the puny side where power output is concerned. what methods did Ford employ to make them so strangled? I have seen 351C's with 175bhp rated?!
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US hp ratings changed in '71 from a gross figure--which didn't include aircleaners, muffllers, ps pumps, maybe only the water pump but no fan--to a net figure. At the same time compression was lowered and carbs were tightened up to meet emissions rules. So the HP figures went in the tank big time. Google "SAE net HP" or "SAE gross HP" for more info.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Profile edited as requested
Apart from the fact that I can walk faster than the truck goes ATM, there is nothing wrong with the engine
Apart from the fact that I can walk faster than the truck goes ATM, there is nothing wrong with the engine
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Two good questions. Being as I have only had it less than a week and it has done nothing but p*** down with rain I haven't had a good scramble underneath. I would imagine no cats as it has a custom stainless system and over here cars aren't required to have cats if they are manufactured before '92 (its a good loophole for conversions as you can use later engines and decat them). As for gears, bat the fact its a 3spd auto, I don't know.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: NE Texas
Heresy, no. Heresy would involve serious things like blasphemy or incest.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face would be a better description. The work you will have to do to put in a 318 and Torqueflite would be WAY more than it would take to make a decent engine out of what you've got. How about telling us which engine you have in the truck? By doing this we can tell you how to relatively easily make a good engine out of it.
The late seventies, early eighties saw some very poorly tuned engines in all brands of US vehicles. What WAS good was the basis of these engines, whichever it might be. With some different heads, cam and intake, it can be woken up in the area of power AND fuel efficiency and a lot easier than transplanting a seriously different engine/ trans combo.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face would be a better description. The work you will have to do to put in a 318 and Torqueflite would be WAY more than it would take to make a decent engine out of what you've got. How about telling us which engine you have in the truck? By doing this we can tell you how to relatively easily make a good engine out of it.
The late seventies, early eighties saw some very poorly tuned engines in all brands of US vehicles. What WAS good was the basis of these engines, whichever it might be. With some different heads, cam and intake, it can be woken up in the area of power AND fuel efficiency and a lot easier than transplanting a seriously different engine/ trans combo.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 342
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From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Interesting notion.
It's a 3.8v6 and is entirely as it left the factory to the best of my knowledge.
Have looked for enhancements but can't seem to find anything other than what is available for the later inj. engines?
It's a 3.8v6 and is entirely as it left the factory to the best of my knowledge.
Have looked for enhancements but can't seem to find anything other than what is available for the later inj. engines?
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J1mmy, I assume this truck was manufactured for the UK market? Any ideas what compression it has? Does it have a catalytic converter?
Care to share the VIN number so we know what market is was intended for?
Care to share the VIN number so we know what market is was intended for?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 342
Likes: 5
From: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
No sir, this was orginally from the States, came over with its USAF owner before being passed to the previous owner to me.
I (among many) WISH that we were fortunate enough to have US vehicles in the dealership showrooms, although I'm not sure whats going on with Kia's now being rebadged in Chevrolet livery!
If someone can tell me where I can find the VIN on the vehicle it would be of great use as the V5 (I think you guys call it title) is with the authorities having the change of ownership details processed.
I (among many) WISH that we were fortunate enough to have US vehicles in the dealership showrooms, although I'm not sure whats going on with Kia's now being rebadged in Chevrolet livery!
If someone can tell me where I can find the VIN on the vehicle it would be of great use as the V5 (I think you guys call it title) is with the authorities having the change of ownership details processed.