Technical Which Ford engine to use in F-100

I vote Cleveland. Mostly since you have one.
I like inventory. Theres 2 in my pile, actually one in my OT pile.

 

The 262 I believe, was only offered two or three years, 63 and 64.....maybe 62 as well. So it's very rare and hard to find.

 

The traditional engine swap would be a 350 Chev engine!

 

I build practical drivers, that can be used daily, without emptying your bank account at the filling station.

351W.

 

I bought a "core" 360 out of a 69 F100 just for the block for $50 out of a tow yard before they sent it to the crusher. Dark when I loaded it, wasn't till the next morning I saw the cross bolted mains. Yep, 427.
Back to the subject on hand, I've never really cared for Clevelands (just me), 351 Windsors I do like for solid little cruiser motors which I assume is what your after. I'll bet with the support for the Windsor it would be considerably cheaper then the Cleveland to rebuild, might discuss that with your engine builder/ machine shop. Clevelands are pretty well known to be gas pigs as well. 460s make great motors as well, I'd run one of them before a Cleveland if your after power/ torque. IMHO they have all the advantages of a Cleveland but with an extra 100+ cubic inches and they aren't that much bigger or heavier, have a lot more torque and get just as good of milage.
Emotionally I'd have to run a Y-block or FE, not cost effective but I just love them.

 

I'd go with the 351W. The later motors have a roller cam from the factory. Easy enough to change from fI to a carb if you have a later engine. Lots of head choices for the 302-351W's, from aluminum to cast iron GT40's. With the right gears, you can have great power and decent mileage, too. I had a 351W in an OT 84 4x4 with a C6 and 3.55's, it would pull a house and still get 12-15 mpgs if I kept my foot out of it. I've got a 460 in a e350 based motor home that won't get better than 10 mpg, most of teh time it's about 8 mpg.

 

392 Hemi.........go beyond the box

 

The engine bay of a 56 ford will fit anything you want in it.
As for ease of parts availability , 289/302/351w.

 

I have put 425 Olds engines in two old F100, lots of room and torque to spare. If you can
find a decent FE that would be first choice however.

 

From a practical stand point, any of Ford engines mentioned would be a good option. For appearance, a physicaly large Ford engine sure looks good in that big old engine bay.