I recently aquired the truck I learned to drive in 27 years ago. I am in the process of restoring it, and want to put a bigger engine in it. It was a 300 6cyl with the 4 speed. What will fit, can I use the same tranny, what will I need. Any info would be great????????

 

You will need new engine towers but any small block (302, 351W, and 351C) will bolt up to the transmission. All of these engines also share engine towers, you can also run other engines if you get a different bellhousing. Welcome to FTE.
-Johnboy

 

The biggest you can go with the bellhousing you have is 351W (NOT 351M). Otherwise you need a different bellhousing. FE's (352,360,390) have a unique bellhousing pattern, and 351M/400 and 429/460 have yet another. I believe there are some special issues involved with 429/460 that need some research. If you change to a V8, there is another detail you need to pay attention to. The Z between the frame and the bellhousing (or engine block) utilize a variety of different bushing mounts depending on what engine you have. You may also need to get different engine perches. I did a 300 to 302 swap (76 F100) and the perches between the two were quite different. My frame crossmember had holes to accommodate either. When I put a 390 in mine, I think I utilized the 390 engine perches from my 69 truck that had a 390 in it. I'm not sure if they matched the 300 perches I had earlier. You'll want a V8 radiator as well because the inlet/outlet on your I6 radiator are on the opposite corners than the V8 radiators and you'll never find stock radiator hoses. The 300 has great low end pull, I was disappointed with the 302. I get better gas mileage and power with my 390 than I got with my 302. Consider building the 300.

 

a 351C will also fit in place of a 302/351W as it shares the same mounting specs for bellhousing and engine mounts

 

im assuming you mean that it has a 4 speed manual right ? im also wanting to do the same swap my i6 for a 302. and im going through a simular issue about the clutch assembly. since the clutch assembly is differerant than that of a 302 what do i do. not trying to hijack thread but i thought it may pretain to this.

 

The inner Z bar bushing bracket on the 302 was a small stamped metal piece that bolted to the bellhousing/rear block area. My memory has faded as to precisely where it attached, I wanna say two bellhousing bolts on upper drivers side corner held it on. I just searched wrecking yards to find 302/manual tranny combinations. I don't have mine anymore. Maybe somebody here has one and could take a picture. Having had two dentsides with 302s in them, I'd urge you to either build up or fix your six, or go significantly bigger if you go to a V8. The 302 is fine, but if you have to deal with engine change issues, not an upgrade from the 300.

 

When I did my Cleveland swap I used the Z bar and pivot off the 400, this setup would also work for 302 but mine was a F250 so there might be some differences there. Is your truck 4x4? There might also be differences there too, because mine was.
-Johnboy

 

its a 2wd. i would build the 6 but it cost way more than want to spend to build it up and not only that but the aftermarket for 300 I6 is very small. not only that but ive been partial to 302s all my life. if someone could post some pictures of the clutch setup of a 302 4speed i and im sure the person who started this post would greatly appreciate it

 

Turns out that I saved the 302 z bar bracket as well as a smallblock bellhousing and the 3sp + OD transmission/w floor shifter. I just looked at it, it is bolted to two bellhousing bolts as I thought. As soon as I figure out how to resize my picture files (I recently switched to a Mac and don't have picture editing stuff yet) I'll post some pictures.

 

This place sells the bracket you will need to bolt to the tranny if you can't find it. P/N #7A572 http://www.sacramento-mustang.com/

 

Hello all hoping to get some help here.. I have 79 F150 2wd with the 302 im not certain in the transmission as i am relatively new to these older trucks. I want to do an engine swap on this thing and want to know whats going to be the easiest engine to fit in here with little to none fab. hoping for efi and some big power!

 

What is your desire? Just power, efficiency, all around reliability? If you don't want to fab a hotter 302 or maybe a 351 may work without much work to motor mounts etc.

If you want auto you can do what I did and go AOD or 4R70w will fit where the c4 or c6 did. You might even get lucky and only need to buy a new yoke. The only fab was moving the factory cross member back 3 inches and 4 new holes for factory bolts. I stayed with a 302 based block so I wouldn't have to fab either. I have a 347 crate making 420HP. AOD = no electronics but not as strong as 4R and does not have wide gear ratios, however you have to get a Lokar kit for the TV cable and it can be tricky to setup. Also being an early ford overdrive trans its not without its problems and can be harder to find in yards these days.

Guys on here recommended the 4r because certain one in stock form were way stronger (Handle 500hp stock) then an AOD however the caveat is that its Electronically controlled so you will need a trans controller and sensor with will cost roughly 7-800 bucks. Don't get me wrong you can have a trans builder rebuild you an AOD with 4R parts but its up to you. Many things are possible if you have the cash. USshift makes the one I used. It was essentially plug in play. Just make sure you get a trans that 99-01. Those are the best version. I got mine out of an v6 01 mustang then rebuilt it with a billet forward and rear drum since a car trans is slightly weaker then truck. You could do a T5 if you have and want a manual but you will have to convert column to floor shift. I am researching Sniper EFI for my rig. Its alot simpler then trying to delete parts of a factory harness and make an 80-or 90s efi work. I am told there is more potential too.