Yup, did my first swap, a 302 in my 77 T-bird when I was 14.

 

I should clarify on the backyard mechanic: He has a 40'x40' shop with a couple of lifts. He has been doing this a long time. Took over his Dad's business. His brother works at the yard where the engine is coming from. No core charge, but they want the old engine back. No delivery charge. It is just a sweet deal. I am taking him all the fluids I want in it. Since I don't know the history of the engine I am planing on running the MC 5w-20 blend with the best filter I can get. I will change that out for Mobil 1 after about 500-1k miles. Using Zerex G-05 with distilled water for the cooling. I thought about having him replace all the exhaust studs while the engine is out.

 

First motor swap was at age 15 on my '56 Chevy. From the stock 265 to a 350 with 4 bolt main. I aint afraid of nothin' mechanical on a car except for trannies. Those things have some magic pixie dust in them.

 

I had a next door neighbor that used to do quite a bit of this and engine repairs back in the 80's. The city had instituted a policy of accepting anything that got put into the trash can ("if it fit's, we take it"). Over several months there was all manner of pistons, bent wheels, cleaning fluids, etc that went into the landfill via that can. They finally balked when he put an entire short-block into the can. And changed the policy shortly thereafter.

 

I love trannies & diffs, I went to college to learn them back in the late 70s

My 1st motor change was when I was about 20 in my 340 Duster 4 speed

 

not a duster! i had a friend that had a slant 6 in a duster, we painted it in autobody shop. didnt like that car at the time, but seeing them today they do look decent

 

Bass, in the old days guys use to put used batteries & used oil & every thing in the garbage can, the garbage man could barely lift the metal cans

 

Skip, I had a sweet light yellow 340 Duster, man that thing would almost fly.........lotsa fun, I wish I still had it now

 

I got the ball joints and knuckle ON. Now I'm on the spindle thing that sticks out of the differential and axle. The seals on it were bad, so I thought while I have it apart........ of course one of those seals has to be pressed on, so it's a shop getting that done right now. Of course, I lost the key to hubby's gas tank and I'm almost out of gas!!!!! I guess my brain just isn't working today.

 

can u get another key from him?

 

Took advantage of a nice spring day, I mean winter day. Worked on the truck from 10 AM to 4 PM. Spent about 6 hours total between yesterday and today detailing the exterior. Compound, then swirl remover/sealer, then waxed all by hand! Honestly I never want to do it again. I am happy though it came out great. After all that my sway bar bushings came in and I installed them. I took them to two shops and asked them to press the old bushings out and they both said they don't do that, they just order the whole new bar. I guess they don't like money? So I ended up heating and beating them out. All work out. Holy cow what a day. Here is what the operation looked like.

And the after detail results...

Now in the state of NJ it it is unlawful to pump your own fuel. Here is what the gas attendants do to every vehicle when they carelessly whip the fuel nozzle out and mark up below the gas fill time after time.

And the after...

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...l#post11462621

 

nice ramps!!!

why a link to this thread?

 

B... See the link above for your explanation.

 

"my hubby wanted these before he died for his dually."