Non SBF or SBC engines in F-100

I was thinking of a V8 swap for my 54 F-100 and was considering a non SBF or SBC engine. Maybe a nailhead, caddy, or hemi. What engine are y'all running in your F-100's? Would like to see some pics too?

Thanks,

Phil

 

y block

 

An FE or 460 works nice.

 

There were quite a few Hot Rod mag features of trucks with early OHV Cadillac motors. That would be my first choice!

 

The Ford 400 makes a great engine just with a cam and intake swap. It's a tall-deck Cleveland so although it shares the same deck height as a 460 it is only as long as a 351C and not much heavier.

 

big olds 425, 455...

 

We've done 455 Olds in a F-100. Slick swap. Tons of torque.
More hassle than a 460 swap but had the added cool factor when you popped the hood.

 

Even thou I chose a sbc, I think a 300-6, carbed, maybe two of them, with a 5 speed would be cool.

 

running a buick 340. little newer (1966) than I'd like but it was cheap.

 

455 Olds fits nice:

 

A Desoto hemi slid right into my 51, fender to fender motor

 

Thats a cool 55. That 455 looks good too.

 

Belongs to Scooter, a veteran HAMB member that doesn't come around much anymore.

Very cool truck and one of my favorite F100s of all time. I did the Dakota set up on there for him, mounted the engine/trans, hooked up the steering and he came down and did the rest.

 

I know somebody has to be running a nailhead or caddy engine. Lets see it.

 

Definitely needs a Packard V8

thnx, jack vines

 

Can't say I recall seeing a Buick/F-100 combination, but I like the idea. Nailheads aren't cheap to build, but they'd easily fit and give you a load of torque.

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com

 

I'd love to build a '56 F100 with a Nailhead--two icons that would go very well together.

-Brad

 

you can build one up and put out about 450hp just fine.

i was gonna get 413 max wedge for mine but it slipped out of my hands before i got it. thought that would've been fun.

 

yeah, was looking for a nailhead when I came across the 340 on the cheap. would still like to find a nice 401 for it

 

can't find my pics., but I had a 428 cobra Jet (FE) in one!

 

Y-block!

 

No photo but I had a 390 FE series Ford in one of mine. That was a very common swap back in the 60's and 70's. Just had to find a old, beat up Ford sedan with one and swap in most everything. I had a 59 F-100 rear end under mine ( almost a pure bolt it ) so even the Ford sedan rear center section fit.

My good friend found a 70 Plymouth police car with a 440 and automatic ... so he stuck the 440/automatic in his 56 F-100. That made for a good tow type pulling pickup.

.

 

Right now mine has a 460 but, I don't like the way it sits in the engine bay. When gas went nuts I thought about putting a 302 in it. Now I'm kind of thinking about a 500 Caddy.

 

How a cast rod Caddy is an upgrade on a 460 Ford?

 

I have a 51 that's running a Late model mustang 302 but with a carburetor with AOD trans. There dependable, easy to work on and plenty of under the hood room. Any motor will fit but my thoughts were on the economical side with unlimited parts available any where in the USA. If I was just going to do car shows or local stuff I would have gone with the old Cadillac motor or possibly early olds.

 

Yeah I like the idea too, but don't know how hard it is to find parts. Are they very common?

 

Run a 390 FE in mine. Did the swap in the 70s - it was a common thing to do then.



Doing the 9 in swap now after running the old Dana 44 for years. The gear lube would run out as fast as I put it in - was it really required??

 

Deluxe rebuild kits are around $1,000. No aftermarket heads, but there are a few manifold options (6 deuces, 3x2, 2x4). TA Performance and Schneider still make performance cams and you can even get rollerized rocker assemblies. Sanderson makes blockhugger headers and MSD has a solid state distributor (though I like running Petronix in the old Delco...looks more traditional). Everything else can be easily found (water pumps, custom valve & valley covers, etc).

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com

 

It's not, the 460 has some issues. Nothing too major wrong with the actual engine, it has a bunch of broken exhaust manifold bolts causing leaks, it needs the carburetor rebuilt and it has a pretty bad lifter tick. The worst thing about the 460 is where the previous owner put it in the engine bay. It's pushed right up into the where the original radiator would have been, no room to run any kind of fan behind the radiator. He did it so the 6 qt. Melodon pan would clear the Mustang II cross member. It just looks stupid and having that much weight that far forward of the front axle centerline can't help handling. Besides, I have a good low miles 500 and if I'm going to have to pull the 460 to fix it I figured I might as well just swap it. If I knew more about Ford's I'd probably look for a rear sump oil pan out of something and just relocate the 460. Can you give me a clue what might have had a rear sump pan on a 460?

 

I had a 79 E-350 van with a 460 rear sump. Just ran into same problem with dropping it in a 55 Panel. The oil pump is still in the front of the pan, so even with the rear sump pan you have to raise the motor mounts well above the frame rails to clear the MII ..Wussed out and went with the Quick and easy stuff that was laying around -SBC, TH400 and it's on the road. 460 is going into a sick overpowered Bantam. On to the next project.....