1952-59 Ford 390 Swap Advice

Greetings Folks,

I am looking for a little advice here. I have an opportunity to acquire a 390 Ford engine. It is a long story but the engine is good shape and I can get it for a good price. I was thinking of swapping the engine into my 52 Ford Mainline. I have a C6 with the big block bell housing all ready to go. My question is in regards to the install process. Has anyone out there put a 390 in a 52? Anything of importance I need to be aware of? I plan on running the stock steering box and steering system although I am going to replace the column with a tilt unit from Speedway. Any fitment issues, pan clearance problems, or anything along those lines I need to make adjustments for? A Ford 390 is kind of new territory for me.


Thanking you all in advance.

 

If you had a '54 or later it would be an easy swap since the 390 uses the same motor mounts as a y-block and uses a front sump oil pan not so with your '52 Ford. So you will have to hunt this set up http://oilsumppan.com/ford_fe_rear_sump_oil_pan_puckup_tubewithbolt_dipstick_4x4_352_360_390_428.php and use And this: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Ford-FE-Series-Big-Block-Motor-Mount,3276.html

 

Thanks for the info. I will look into the links.

 

Hopefully your old engine is a Six that will give you some extra room for the 390's length look for exhaust manifolds like shown here.

 

Watch for your oil filter clearance on the crossmember. Not sure if the F100 adaptor will kick it away enough, keen to see how others have solved this one also. I have an FE in mine and the oil filter set up is less than ideal.
* keep an eye out for an aluminium manifold for the 390 also, you won't believe how much the factory item weighs.

 

Yep, it is a straight six.

 

F100 adapter? Any special year I should be on the lookout for?

 

Google Ford FE oil filter adapters to get an idea of what sedantudor is referring to.