I have a 1975 F250 4x4.. Hi-Boy.. The truck came with a big block..
I'm attempting to put a 302 in it.. (I know I know..)
What I need to figure are the engine towers off the frame.. I've tried many different ones.. The 2 wheel drive fords won't work as they have a cross member under the engine that the towers bolt too and mine does not.. I'm really doubting that my truck ever came from the factory with a 302 in it so I won't be finding the correct ones there either..
I'm thinking the towers are gonna have to come out of a Bronco that came stock with a 302.?.?.?..

Any ideas?? PLEASE HELP..

Thanks!

 

78/79 Broncos only had 351m/400. The towers are the same for 302, 351w, 351m, 400. I think the same towers fit 1/2 and 3/4 tons.

 

Highboy, I am confused at why you should have to change anything, a 302 should sit right in the same frame mounts the FE sat in. as long as you use the truck style engine insolator for the 302 it should go right in.

 

eCarter,

I think your right.. I think that's where I'm gonna have to get them..

Stargazer,

The engine towers that were on there for the FE won't work for a couple reasons.. 1 they sit to high off the frame, and 2 they don't allow the engine to sit back far enough to bolt up to the tranny..

Any other ideas guys? Has anybody done this conversion before??

Thanks for your replys!!

 

thats odd because the 300-6, 302, 360 all used the same frame bracket just diffrent rubber mounts.

as soon as you change the transmission to the small case it should work fine. I measured 2wd frame that had a 302 and it has the same dimentions from the engine frame mount to the trans crossmember holes in the frame rails as my 75 highboy does. the frame towers should work fine.
its seems like the engine would be down between the frame rails if it sits any lower.

 

Stargazer,

So with that said, maybe I have the wrong tranny.. What I found when I set the engine in on the 360 towers was about an inch gap between the bellhousing and the transmission.. For some reason or another I can't remember exactly what tranny is sitting it right now but it's a 'T' something..

what do you think?

Also, on another subject.. I'm looking for a fuel tank that mounts behind the rear axle.. does your 75 have one? I'm pretty sure it was an option for our truck but I haven't been sucessful in finding one that fits in the narrower frame that we have...

I really appreciate your help!

 

LOL! I forgot to tell you one small detail...
on the 75 highboy transmission crossmember it bolts to a angle bracket inside the frame...there should be two sets of holes in it move it to the foward set, that is if yours has the extra set. some of them do some of them don't.

also the crossmember has slots in them slide as nessary.

yes mine does have a fuel tank behind the axle, it didn't come that way though. it is out of a old ford car of somekind and it just fits between the shocks and goes back to the last crossmember. the fill spout hose comes right over the frame like it was stock. the only thing custom is the brackets, some flatstock wraped with old garden hose holds the tank in place.

not a factory job but it works and gives an extra 20 gallons

 

Oh man dude, if that's the case you will have made my day! I'll give it a look this weekend and let ya know how it goes..

Thanks for all your help!

 

360 and 302 do not use the same towers. I have heard 300 and 360 towers are the same. If you move the trans forward in the frame the clutch/shift linkage will be out of alignment. I have had 300, 302, 351w, 390, 400, 460 all in the same truck using factory mounts and never had to move the trans to make it fit.

 

well I aint gonna argue I'm just going by what I know. also another thought that may be causing his trouble...

he did say something about having a T ? tranny....I wonder if he has a T-18 if so I belive they are about a inch shorter in length than the NP tranny.

FYI my 429 used the rear set of holes with a C6 auto and now uses the front set with the 4 speed. it used to have a 360 and now it has a 429.

my other 4x4 has a 360 and 4 speed and it uses the front holes as well.
the 302 truck I measured is a automatic and was using the rear hole but had both sets of holes and the same measurements from front hole to engine mount stud hole as both the trucks that orignally came with 360's.

other 302 trucks I have been under that had a 3 or 4 speed standard use the front holes.

so I cant see why his clutch wouldn't work if he used the forward set of holes for the tranny crossmember because that is where it should be for a standard tranny.

 

i live in tacoma, and removed a 300 6 from my 76 hiboy and swapped in a stroked 302. if you want to come take a look at it, and take some pictures for your notes, i could meet your somewhere, hell, i'll even drive down to olympia. you do have to use bronco towers, and you might have to drill new holes in the frame, some have them, some don't. e-mail me walkerpl@plu.edu,
call me at 253 229 8183

 

I went from a 390 to a 300 to a 302. All three engine towers are different and will not bolt up to a different engine.