I have a 1970 f100 and love the look. It has a blown 360 in it right now but I want a bit of modern performance. What would be the easiest swap? What all do I need? I'm planing on doing a complete restore on the body for looks. and this will likely be a very long project(I'm married). So price isn't really an issue. It also isn't my daily driver.

 

What kind of space do you have to work in? What is your experience level? How large is your tool inventory?

It might be a good time to look to the future, bio-diesel, CNG or other alternative fuels. I believe if I ware thinking modern EFI I would do a body swap. So many birds could be taken with a single shot that way.

John

 

If you're wanting EFI then a modern 351 or 460 would be a fairly easy way to go.
Personally though there shouldn't be any reason not to get excellent performance out of a FE engine.
Funny, with me money wasn't really an issue before I was married, not after.

 

With all the room under the hood, you might want to consider one of the new 4.6 or 5.4 engine and transmissions. They make respectable horsepower, there's a ton of aftermarket performance parts available for them, and with the EFI and overdrive transmisssion, fuel economy would be vastly improved over the old FE, too..... Easiest way would be to find a donor car or truck to get it out of, then you'll have all the electronics, fuel injection, and wiring, too......

 

Well as for tools ive got plenty of hand tools but don't have the equipment to weld or cut. There is a place I can rent from though. I am a mechanic in the army which doesn't really mean much but I also have some college as well as a good friend thats going to be moving to the area that has worked in auto shops for the last 10 years. Shop size also isn't too big an issue I'm about to put up a new shed for auto work and tool storage(storing them in the kitchen has finally brought my wife around). The money isn't an issue because I am spreading the project out over a few years so my wife is happy. If it was me I would do it all now but she is probably right(good thing she doesn't read this forum).

 

i would grab a 5.4L and paired tranny from a Navigator or later model F-150 with the 3valve head. Lots of power!

 

It seems to be a common misconception that the 5.4 is a powerful engine. My '07 has the 5.4 and I'm here to tell you it's a turd. Sure it'll take off real quick, but then it falls right on it's face.

 

309 hp and 369lb-ft?

the 2007 put out 320hp and 390lb-ft.

would sure leave my little 302 in the dust. They are truck motors though.

Maybe a 4.6L SC would suit your needs better?

 

check out fordfuelinjection.com they sell wiring harnesses for small block 302/351w and coming soon 4.6/5.4 harnesses

 

I have a 1965, but the frames are the same as what you are working on. I went with a 4.6L MOD motor and if you do a search on the 61-66 Forum you will find my write up on my engine swap. It really did not take that much time, I think about a few months total of working on weekends and some evenings to complete the swap and get it running. Since then I have had some challenges that you can read about on my post if you wish, but I am glad to report it is running good now.

As for welding and cutting, the only thing I had to weld/cut was the new engine perches. I used a set of motor mounts from a 2000 ford Mustang and made perches that would bolt to the factory holes. I also made brackets to mount a under bed fuel tank, but that is optional and not required on your swap. The 4R70W transmission behind my 4.6L mounted to my factory transmission mount on my 65.

The swap was really straight forward and pretty easy and I would recommend the combo in these old trucks. I replaced a slightly modifed 360 and sure my 4.6L (281 CID) does not have the low end punch my 360 had but it moves my old truck just fine. Once you are moving, it will accelerate my old truck rather quickly. I had lots of comments that the 4.6L was far to small to move these old trucks easily, but that is just not true. Will it tow as much as my old 360/C6 combo, no. Will it be the fastest truck on the block, no. I would have perfered the 5.4L, but I got my complete engine, tranny, wiring, computer and more for only $150.00 so I could not pass it up. In the future if I ever come up with a 5.4 for cheap, I can swap it in.

If you go with a 302, 351W or 460 all with EFI you will not have to make engine perches as these old trucks at one time or another had 302's and 460's in them from the factory. The front half of the frames are the same from 1965 to 1979. They would drop right it and all you would have to do is hook up the wiring, modify the exhaust and hook up throttle and hoses. In all this swap would be slightly easier and quicker, but this is just my thoughts on this topic. I lean towards the MOD motors (4.6, 5.4, 6.8) as they are newer and run better, but a 302/351W/460 might be easier to come by and less expensive. After completing a fuel injection swap on my pickup, I recommend it to anyone who is thinking of going down this road. If you come up with any questions up your swap just ask, as everyone on here is more than willing to help out where we can.

Jeff

 

Since money isn't an issue you NEED a 460 and build it to the nuts.

 

Come to think of it, I've got a V10 from an '01 excursion you could have for like $800. it's complete since this was a cummins conversion I did a while back. it ran great when I pulled it. you might even be able to get it cheaper depending on what the owner says. PM me if interested.

 

I am going with a late model ('99-'01) 7.3 Powerstroke in my '71 F-250. I was going to put my 460 out of my '96 in it but decided to go with the diesel instead.

As for the idea to do a body swap, Anyone thinking of this should check local laws first. Some states do not allow this.

 

Well, it is decision time....how much are you going to drive the truck, what kind of power do you want, how good are your skills (wiring, welding, line bending, etc), and how much time do you have to keep the truck down? Mine is no daily driver, I got a 410 shortblock core for $100, and time isn't too critical so I stuck w/an FE that makes gobs of torque. Had it not been that easy for me to find a good FE, I'd have gone w/a late-model 460 or 351 fi motor for a builder.