1956 F100 with a 390 FE and an independent front crossmember

I was all amped up to install an FE in my 56 F100. I bought the truck from a fella in San Diego and the PO had installed the Corvette front suspension crossmember like this one.

https://flatout-engineering.com/pro...7-corvette-front-suspension-installation-kit/

While on the web doing research, I read a post where a guy was complaining about the FE in an F100. The deal back in the day was the FE in place of the Y block, but that was when the original crossmember was still installed. This guy was saying he ended up building a dual sump custom pan for his F100 with a M2 front suspension.

This sounds really extreme to me. Would a rear sump not clear? Has anyone done this swap?

I really wanna use an FE in this truck and I will figure it out, but I just don't wanna sdrop any money on a swap that may or may not work. I don't have a block yet, but I have a complete motor located.

Thanks

 

I have no experience with this swap, but to me it would depend on how low and forward the crossmember is. If that gives sufficient clearance, a rear sump should fit. The link shows the crossmember is pretty low vs the frame rails. While a Corvette had a SBC, it likely isn't in same position fore/aft as you would be in the truck. Plus how long is the sump on the FE pan? Maybe just borrow a rear sump FE pan and see approximate clearance with some measurements of the complete FE engine???

 

With the oil pump in the front you have to have some sorta sump in front. I have a four wheel drive pan the is a dual sump, that might be a start to make things fit with the gm cross member.

 

No answer, just encouragement. I’ve seen a lot of 55-57 birds with FE’s in them. Even the y block in a bird had a specific shallow front pan. So if they could get an FE in and close the hood, it should be doable in a truck.

Might have to pass on a tunnel ram intake though.

 

I had a ‘53 F-100 years ago that came to me with a rusted solid 352 FE already installed. I bought a ‘67 T-bird with a good engine and transmission and proceeded to install it and the truck became my standby Harley rescue vehicle (it never needed rescuing). I really don’t remember anything drastic being done to make the FE work. It had the stock axle and springs and wasn’t excessively lowered. I don’t know about the Corvette IFS swap. Grabbing up an inexpensive core engine and doing a little preliminary fitting doesn’t sound too financially risky to me.

 

I sent an email to Canton oil pans. I read asn article in hot rod where a guy had them build a custom pan to fit his with the M2 front crossmember. Maybe they will shed some light on it.

 

The only factory oil pans that I'm aware of besides the front sump is either the big truck or the industrial such as on 428 irrigation engines. They were the same depth from front to rear. The pickup runs to the rear so it would be possible to cut the front and raise it to oil pump height. I don't have enough memory to remember if the hd truck pan is the same as the industrial.

 

Canton replied. These guys are fast.


I am building a 1956 F100 with a 390 and an independent front suspension. The C3 Corvette suspension. It's similar to the Mustang 2 aftermarket crossmember. I am curious of the 15-874 For Ford 332-428 FE Rear T Sump Road Race Pan would be a solution to this problem. Any help is appreciated.



Hi Chris,
Thats a great question, and I believe it should. Our pan #15-640 (SBF) is know to work with the Mustang II front ends. It does look like the 15-874 has better crossmember/rack clearance between sumps and top to botton depth is less as well vs the 15-640. But I do not have any fitment info on the 15-874 in your aplication. You may want to consider a cardboard side view mock up to be more sure. Otherwise if you attempt to try it and it doesnt fit, we will take back any like new products for a full refund. Sorry I dont have exact fitmnt info. If you do decide to try it and it does fit, please get back to me and let me know so I can update our fitment charts.

 

That is great customer service!
I know 73-76 4X4 trucks have a rear sump and I assume earlier 4X4s have a rear sump as well.

 

I guess my memory is not what I thought. I thought it was more of a dual sump. Here's a picture of a mid 70's 4x4 FE pan. Does it look like it might work?

 

This is what the Canton oil pan looks like.

 

Here are the dimensions.

 

Do you intend for the engine to straddle the crossmember or be more behind it?

 

That Canton pan will certainly let you set the engine down lower! I was thinking the Ford pan would be a lot cheaper if it would work for you. I have used several Canton pans, but most were box pans. They are well made!

 

I don't really know. I am mainly a SBC guy. These front sump pan engines are new to me. This would have to be converted to a rear sump. I am going to have to get some dimensions and try and mock it up. This is the only pic I have right now. This was the SBC that we built a temp cradle for to get it back from San Diego. This has all been removed now.

 

Here is the link to the truck in question.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1956-f100-mild-custom.1277849/

 

This is supposed to be a mid 70's 4 wheel drive pan. It looks like it might have been a kit at one time.

 

This is Canton's version of that pan, except it's a deep sump.

 

Kevco's version.

 

Won't those dual sump pans put the motor forward and make the truck nose heavy ? plus will those pans hang down below the crossmember ?

 

I don't really know yet. I'm not even sure how the oil gets from one cavity to the other. I don't see any drain backs.

 

I noticed that too. The pump is in one end and the oil pickup action is in the other. I’m guessing that the oil level is high enough to move across the center?

 

Remember that FE Ford pickups hold six quarts of oil.

 

I know, but it looks like you would always have a quart that is unusable.

 

There's a bunch of 302 pans like that, the front sump keeps the pump wet, but there's no pick up there. It's weird, but it works. 2 drain plugs.

 

The Fox body pan is of that layout. Everytime you change the oil, it is always the same color. However, It's a less isolated design than the Canton with the square step. I'm pretty sure that above idle, there is enough turbulence in a stock depth pan, that the oil will be mixed. That might be an 8 quart pan to have the proper volume in the engine????

 

I am in FE mode this month. I am reading everything I can get my hands on, watching youtube build videos etc. My wife knows Brent Lykins by his YouTube voice now......