...Sam...ya just burnt my eyes......

Man...I could shave in the finish of that thing...Holy smokes......

To ME...THAT is a show motor...and one I will probably never be
able to a-FORD to build...but a damn SWEET one at that!!!

OK...bad jokes aside...here is my $3.99...FWIW...have at it man...thats
what ya been doin' so far...

...and I gotta say...your trucks are SMOKIN' HOT!......

Besides...just HOW many motors ya got sittin' around???......

The reason my '56 is gonna run a 302 "based" power-plant is 'cause
I drove it home with a '70 2V truck motor & C4 already IN it...
...AND The_Girl had a '83 Mustang HO carb'd 302 on a stand in
the garage when we got together......

 

thanks..

well, there are 3 engines backed up against the wall at the moment..

56 buick nailhead 322 (for my sons 29 rat rod)
94 350 TBI
96 454

and two trucks have the 272 V8 Y blocks sitting in them
(55 & 56)..

the other trucks (green and 54) came without engines..
well,, the green truck came with a 351W sitting in the bed, but I had a 5.0 to use then so I sold the 351w..(bad bad).. and the 54 came with a block.. rusted beyond repair.

so, I'm really starting with nothing..

Sam

 

Since you were asking for options I thought I'd toss out an idea many or all have overlooked thus far.

<O</OI am sick and tired of seeing the same stuff used over and over in rods/customs, as many are. I have no qualm over mixing brands, matter of fact; I think its funny how many get all sanctimonious about keeping something "pure" but have changed out the suspension and brakes for something more modern....(mustang II and the popular clip options). Their argument about purity, to me, is worthless.

<OThat being said, if you want something deff different why don’t you try out something more modern. Say a ford zetec swap or a gm ecotec swap? Supercharged or turbo'd to get the power up where it needs to be of course, you'd have yourself something different, quick, and would most likely net you 27-30mpg on the highway. Now that would be only if the truck is going to be a driver or show. I don’t think I would be trying to pull a boat or yank stumps out of the ground with it though. But that’s prob not going to be the intended use of your truck is it

That’s different for ya!

<ODifferent to me... stuffing my flathead v8 into my bagged 84 Isuzu

 

...doin' some local surfin' this mornin' waitin' for the rain to stop AGAIN...

...I ran across this dude here in MI..although I wont use any of it...

...I just though I'd toss it in the mix...

ford engines 272 292 312

ford tri power setup for 272-312 engine

272-312 tri power setup

272-292-312 tri power setup

He must be doinin' SOME summer cleanin'......

-

 

If I were building one today, I might be inclined to look at a late model Ford mod motor with the overdrive auto tranny. I'd probably try to find a 5.4 and if really lucky the 4 cammer. It would not be common at this point and would give good performance and ok economy.

 

Sam,

Its a well known fact that I'm a tightwad and a firm believer in using what you got. given the choices that you have laying around I'd go with the TPI engine. Its a tried and true design, danged efficient, and looks good too.

The big block would be nice for the sheer fact that there is nothing quite like the feel of driving a truck with a "gobs of torque" big block. But, for a decent daily driver that will give you good performance, low maintenance, good driveability, and decent efficiency then the SBC with the TPI coupled to the 4spd auto is a great combo.

It doesn't matter which way you go there's going to be those screaming at you for making the wrong decision. You've been in this game along time so I know you know what I mean, and I'm sure you're equally adept at ignoring that kind of malarky.

I can't wait to see how it all turns out (especially if your green truck is any indication)

Bobby

 

how bout just rebuilding the 272 and adapting it onto a new tranny. yea that the power might not match the chevy but if your just gunna cruise around in it you would have plenty and with an od you could go right down the highway. that and the old y blocks where built like tanks and lasted forever and lastly if you made it all pretty and popped the hood ppl would have to take another look just to figure out what it was. in the end use whatever you want but my votes ford even a 390 or something

 

Come on now, you ate the cookies, drank the frosties and took the oath. Luke and the boys vote for the 350/700R4. I have had good luck with "Lokar" shifters and TV cables on the 700R4 tranny in the past. Last month I bought a 1994 LT1/4L60E out of a Buick Roadmaster for my 49/50 F-1. chuck

 

I was going to put a sbc in my truck because I like chevys also. I have driven a lot of Fords as work trucks and they seem to be the best all around. I am really not hung up on any brand. I got the opportunity for the 95 T-bird with all the running gear in top condition for practically nothing and that is how I made my decision. I usually don't concern myself with other opinions when I make up my mind.

 

that looks very nice..

Sam

 

I have a built 393W with a c4 in my f-1 and couldn't be happier with it.

The truck has great acceleration (0-60 in the 5 second range) and gets reasonable highway mileage when I baby it (17 MPG) so an overdrive tranny isn't an absolute necessity if you have 3.50 gears.

 

Well,
I don't know what to say, I'm not a purest but pretty much use Ford on Ford...As for your request, I would go with a ford motor, only because theres something about the '56 that screams "keep it ford," maybe because of the cab change that year, or it was the only year for that style, cause they changed again in '57...Man a beefed up Y block looks pretty cool, although a newer 302 with aluminium heads and overdrive would also be cool set up...as said befoe the SBC thing just has been done to death...But its your truck, and bottom line we all here know what you can build...something awesome.

 

Sam,

IMHO, I think the important thing is to build the truck according to its planned use and possble eventiual sale. Today, we are faced by the spectre of high fuel costs, crusher laws, city vs. rural use, driver vs. show, modern engine transmission vs original.

I build my stuff for rural use and build it to drive. This eliminates any question of lowering, 2 wheel drive, independent front end, and old engine transmission choices.

I gave up on Ford engines other than the 302 and 351W. After building a few, I noted that they always needed the decks cut and new pistons to get the compression up, and the heads did not breathe well. They cost me $2000 to build with stock heads as compared to a SBC at $1000. So I went to SBCs as a better value. After all, if you cannot get an engine up to at least 9.5:1 at sea level and at least 10:1 over 4000 feet, you will not have gas mileage, or enough torque and horsepower. Due to the heads on the 351W being no better than the 302, it can't make any more power than the 302, it just makes the power at a lower rpm which is better in a truck. Comparing a 351W with a 350 SBC is not good if one wants over 300 HP. A 351W was designed by Ford as a 2 barrel engine and as produced by Ford, never got above 8:1 compression and did not get good gas mileage. For a brief period, in 1969, the Cleveland Plant burned, and 351Ws were made that had 10:1 compression and had 4 barrels and were rated at 300HP. Too bad Ford did not develop this engine as it is superior to the Cleveland at Ford quality levels. The trucks ended up with the 400 Cleveland and the 351M which just means a 400C modified back to 351 cubic inches. These engines are miserable on mileage and cost a lot to make into mileage engines. Face it, gas is going to be over $4 a gallon, and our hobby trucks as well as drivers are going to be affected. It is time to look at several things.

Overdrives
Mileage engines
Tire design

It is no secret that GM's current crop of engines is superior in torque, HP and mileage to Chrysler, Toyota, or Ford, or the original SBC or the original BBC. The racers are starting to use these engines now. The head design, the fuel injection, the compression ratios,computer design, block strength, roller cams, oiling are all superior to earlier designs. They are also light weight designs. When they are used with an automatic OD transmission, from the original 700R4 to the 4L60E and now the 6 speed ODs, it is a great combo that is affordable. When you try to compare the Ford OHC V-8, it is an unfair fight. The Ford weighs more, it has less power and gets much worse mileage. Ford's engine computers are also not as good.

I think that in the future, if the liberals in government prevail with 30.5 CAFE requirements for trucks, there will not be any truck engines that are gas powered, that they all will be small cubic inch turbocharged diesels. I think that we have to think of these things realistically as we build current trucks. I am only building trucks with fuel injection anymore and it is for three reasons. These are hot starts, cold starting and cold weather use and engine longevity, and gas mileage.

Now if I had a nice old truck with a Flathead, a 226 Six Flathead or a 223 OHV Six, I would leave it as it is, and find an overdrive for it whether a T5 or a BW T-85. We won't ever see these kind of trucks ever again. I would never use an FE, a 385 series, or a Cleveland. I would not use a C-4, a FMX, or a C-6. I would also not use a BBC, a TH350, or a TH400. I would use a Windsor, preferably with an aftermarket block and heads and an AOD.

One final word, aluminum heads allow you to run your compression ratio one point higher than with iron heads. You can get 22MPG with a 300HP engine in an F-100 or F-250. However, you can't with a 460, a 390, a 360, a 352, a 428, a 351C, a 400C, a 351M, or a new Ford Engine. It is only money, but a 302 deck height block can go to 370 plus cubic inches and run 10.5:1 compression at sea level. But you can always pick up a LS Chevy 4.8 engine with port injection and coil per cylinder for next to nothing, computer and all and get great mileage.......

Off road tires cost 2-3 miles a gallon and some tire designs are also worse for mileage. Personally, I hate 19" wheels and rubber band 45 aspect ratio tires, but some of these get downrated for mileage reasons due to drag. Tonneau covers and net tailgates or tailgates down while driving if no tonneau cover also help mileage. The really funny thing is that the old tall skinny tires that came with the trucks were outstanding for snow traction, rain traction, and mileage.

You pays your money and you takes your choice...........

Regards,

Alan

 

Mod motor?

I've got a shot at a 32v (4v/cyl) 4.6l & tranny (and harnesses) from a 97 Lincoln M8... I have to pull em
ran great (well, started right up and idled fine, accelerated no load ok)..



Sam

 

Hey Sam, if you use the sbc, you could always camoflauge it like mine. You want to start an arguement, just do this. I've made ALOT of people mad with this one. Including some people on here