So I've been trying to get my '51 F1 put together to make it to a show here in Sac July 25th. Everything (for the most part) was going well. I bought an '86 E150 van that has an awesome-running 351W and a C6 in it. I drove it around for a month plus the 600 mile trip from where I bought it and home. So here I was thinking this will be a slide-in easy deal. I got all of my crossmembers from reputable parts suppliers and was ready to go. Somebody told me to use the original trans crossmember if I could. I tried it, it didnt work. It wouldn't clear the trans pan. So I cut the crossmember out. I left enough of the original crossmember for the master cylinder but now the aftermarket crossmember wont fit because they interfere with each other (what's left of the old crossmember and the new one). And the aftermarket crossmember needs to come forward at least a good 3". So now I'm trying to figure out which crossmember (if not both) get modified to fit. But then also, it looks like my crankshaft pulley sits too far forward like it will probably hit the radiator. And the fan is way too far forward for sure. I can't go back any further with the engine/trans because I've got about a half an inch between the firewall and the bellhousing. I know this is not an uncommon swap. What the am I missing here??

I've got less than two weeks to get this thing on the road

 

welcome to the 'fun' part of this hobby..

firewall and 'bellhousing' sounds like the engine is up too high, cause you should be complaining about the heads hitting the firewall, not the tranny.

and a 351W is certainly smaller than the 460, and others have done that without (apparent to me) too much trouble.

I had to make a TON of changes to squeeze the 460 into my beast. so I feel your pain.

Sam

 

Ok, I'm better now. I had all day to think about it while at work and I got myself calmed down. I came home, took a look at it, had an idea, and went to work. I'm now tired, greasy, sweaty and bloody (I hit my head on the running board bracket) but overall pretty darn happy. I got the trans crossmember to line up and it's in position. Just need to bolt everything down, wire 'er up, fire 'er up and we just might pull this off afterall.

 

Are you talking about midnight mass? If you need a hand I live in Antelope, am unemployed and have nothing better to do. I am going to take mine down there with 2 feet of exhaust only behind my headers haha

 

No No No, your entire engine transmission assemble needs to move BACK. Th valve covers should be about 1/2 to 1 inches from the firewall and the aftermarket transmission cross member shoudl lie about 3 inches aft of the original crossmember. It will need to be a "deep dish" tranny support and you will need to put a brace between the frame rails to compensate for th eloss of th eoriginal transmission crossmember.

With a short fan clutch and normal 351 water pump, your fan should just clear your radiator. The crankshaft pulley will sit JUST high enough above the engine crossmember to allow removal of the belt. You will need to run an 17 or 18 inch fan.

I have a 390 which is alot bigger than your 351 windsor (nya nya nya nya na) and mine fits - just JUST barely with the C6 and lots of finessing.

You were in on these links and I don't know if I pointed this out at the time - I think someone did. But note th eamount of drop in th etransmission mount in the center - almost a foot. If yours doesn't drop that much, then that big C6 will NEVER slide back far enough for your set-up to work.

Here are the links with the good pictures:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-51-f-1-a.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...on-mounts.html

If you need more pictures, let me know!

 

Oh man I wish I would've seen this. Yes, I was talking about Midnight Mass. I definately could've used some help. We made it but barely. I tightened my last nut two hours before I was supposed to meet my friend in his driveway. Had an awesome time though. Thanks for the offer, I'll keep ya in mind in the future.

 

The crossmember I got is from Sacramento Vintage Ford and it's completely straight across. No drop at all. Are you saying that I should have a 12 inch drop in that cross member?

 

Where did you park your truck? I actually grenaded my rearend last week so I couldnt take it down there. Jaws wants 700 to rebuild it. I think I would rather get a new dial tool and just do it myself.

 

First off, I have NO idea where the puking guy came from? Lol. I sure as hell didn't put him there and I can't figure out how to get rid of him. That's funny.

Sorry about your rearend. You should do what I did. I bought a 9 inch out of a '69 F100. Almost a complete bolt in. I got mine for less than $100.

I parked along the back wall. I guess you could say I was on the east end of the parking lot. My '51 is all patina with bright red wheels and wide whites. I was in between a '39 Chevy coupe and a '56 Nomad.

 

Ya, it is a nine inch. I guess the v8 had too much "raw fury" for it. You dont have another 28 spline third member do you?

 

No I don't. You don't know anything about C6 transmissions do you?

 

No. But I just got another third member from the junkyard gonna slap it in tomorow. If you aint to far away I will run it over there and we can eyeball each other's rides. Dont the C6 have a shift module? My neighbor has a 460 and E4OD we could get for cheap, but have to pull it.