I have been seeing a good amount of F100's with Ecoboost engines in them lately. I am also finding that ready to run Ecoboost engines and modern transmissions are becoming more affordable. I was wondering if anyone has done it to a 52-59? I have a feeling the popular 3.5 Ecoboost is likely to wide to get in without a lot of hacking but wondering if the 2.7 may fit without any cutting. I have not been able to find the dimensions for a 2.7 online.
This would be pretty sweet! I have a 2015 Taurus SHO with the 3.5L and it is a beast! With minor mods I am pushing 470HP at the crank. I also have a '53 Ford and am fitting a 5.0L Windsor in it now and I think there is PLENTY of room for the 3.5L. It looks wide at the top but the lower half is a much narrower than a traditional SBF. I think you are good height-wise too since the car engine has a flat sump. I recently replaced the water pump on my 3.5L which is UNDER the timing chain ... so I am intimately familiar with the block now.
Thanks for the insight Craigtone. I did not realize until recently how much power ecoboost engines are pumping out. Your 470 HP would be insane. I figure it may not be the prettiest set up I could have in my 55 but it would be fun, reliable and relatively affordable. Affordable if you consider how much you would have to spend to get that much power and reliability.
Somebody needs to do that. Flyin Elvis.........I nominate you! That would be the bomb, for sure! I thought I was outside the box when I dropped the computer controlled EFI'd and turbo'd 2.3 Four cylinder into my roadster. An Ecoboost powered '52-'59 Ford would put me under the table! I expect a full build thread with lots of pics!!
I have been giving it a good amount of thought lately. I am currently working on something else, but maybe early next year I could get into it. In the meantime I will plan and think about how things will work. I want to keep the car as stock looking as possible so little things like keeping my column shifter and figuring out how to keep all my gauges working is going to be a bit tricky.
Column shift and stock gauges are gonna be tough! The trans is computer controlled with cable shift as well as the ECM needing the OEM sensors to keep things in check. I guess you could double-up on sensors … OEM EB for ECM and generics that work with the stock gauges. You might consider an OBDII scanner attached to a tablet to have a backup display of those same gauges just in case to see what the ECM is seeing. As I was tearing down my 3.5L I glanced at the ‘53 in the garage and the thought crossed my mind several times!
This might give you some insight. Notice the 3.5 has a rear sump oil pan which is good with a 1949-52 Ford car. Since many have done SBF swaps in 50's Fords this may give you some ideas with 2.3's
Thanks for all the info and videos. I have a 55 Country Sedan so I need a front sump engine, which leads me to believe that I need to see if I can make the flat type oil pan work. I still have a feeling the little things like shift linkage, gauges and fuel pump setup are going to be the hardest part. If I could do it I want to do it in a way that will not make it too hard to put the stock setup back. Until I get some time to work on this I will spend time planning and enjoying whatever time my Y block and I have left with each other .
About 30-40 years ago companies like Hurst and Trans-Dapt and a few others had dropped center links for our Fords to clear oil pans for swaps. These are several examples https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hurst-drop-link-for-a-52-53-ford-and-mercury.1114791/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/54-ford-customline-help.1142290/
There is a fellow brings his 56 red/white station wagon to our Saturday gatherings occasionally. It has a new V8 Coyote/6sp automatic and he looked into the 3.5 Eco both are wide considering what they are. After a lot of investigation he actually replaced the entire frame with one made by Art Morrison costly but necessary for what he wanted. Other than wider stock steel wheels you would never know. 1 outside piece of trim does give it away however. The interior is modeled after a 59 Ford.
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