I am sure Ryan and the mods will be glad when I get off my pain meds and back in the shop. But, until then I have to sit in my recliner and pipe dream. The build is a mild custom 1956 F100. This is going to replace my 2002 F150 that has so gallantly served as the Dust Bowl Speed Shop, shop truck all these years. I am trying to decide what would be the best all around powerplant for towing, hauling parts, commuting 40 miles to work each way. I wanted to keep it all Ford, but Ford seems to go out of their way to make things twice as expensive and way more difficult to fit it in an early chassis. I have been looking at Smeding Performance crate engines but I am open to just about anything except diesels. (https://smedingperformance.com/collections/chevy-small-block-engines) This seems to be the most economical for all new parts. Whatever I choose needs to be a zero time or super low mileage. i don't mind dropping some coin on it, since this will replace the daily and I don't want a new truck payment.
When you could buy '61 Imperials & '63 New Yorkers for next to nothing, the 413/Torqueflite was a common transplant in just about any postwar Ford truck.
Have you looked at Blueprint for SBC? I know people look down their noses at them but they are pretty much a production line motor which has its advantages.
For an all around truck and commuter, I would go with a small block and an OD trans. Whether Ford or Chevy or other, keep it mild as far as cam and compression. So it runs off cheap regular grade. For budget, a 383 SBC is a great combo that even with a mild cam and compression will result in good performance. Still get decent gas mileage as well, with an OD trans. Go for stance and comfort in the truck, vs outright performance. Nice to see an old truck used for hauling or normal driving. An out of the box option could be a BOP with a 200-4R trans. Go with a 400-ish size engine.
What kind of weight are we towing? Less than 10,000 lbs? FE all day backed by a TKO or similar 5 spd overdrive. If you are towing more weight than that and still don't want to go diesel, well cubic inches and forced induction are your friend. 460 based stroker backed by a built E4OD perhaps. That would fit into the 1-800 ready to go package. More period correct, with a Cool factor of about 11 would be 368 Lincoln Y (or one of the smaller Lincoln Y's). Transmission options are limited, parts are expensive, but damn.
a 400ci small block is a pretty good choice. They have good torque for towing and all around good manners. I prefer a 400 over a 383 combo, but in my personal opinion anything is better than a 383.
my last first gen effie was a '53 and had an SBC in it. It would haul anything you wanted. Most of my '53-'56 Fords ultimately had FEs in them. I had a '54 that started original 6 cylinder 3 speed, then a 6 cylinder out of the Gremlin then a 289 then a 390. The only '56 I ever owned had a 352 in it when I bought it. Top loader 4 speed. After a while the 352 gave up the ghost I shoved a high zoot 390 in it. All that said if you want to stay Ford if you shop a little bit you can find a 351 Cleveland reasonable. I am shoving a 4V in my current shop truck build. Low mile runner for less than a grand. The late model trucks (late model to me) are using 351 Windsors. They are not easy to come by up here but they are good motors. I got a pair of the big heads if you got a short block. LOL An SBC goes in one easy and you can get good power and around 18-20 MPG if you work at it a little bit.
Even though I’m a yblock guy, the 400 SBC is probably the best bet for what you’re looking for. Weld in the motor mounts, fab a transmission crossmember for a 2004R and away you go. The sbc rams horns will probably fit just as well as the ford y block ones. Short cam for truck use, and either 4:11’s or 4:27’s in the Dana 44. Or a 8.8 or 9” if you’ve got one laying around. You’ll need an oil cooler big enough to handle the transmissions for towing, but the transmission guys can size that for you.
Welllll..........since you asked. Why not think about a 472/500 Cadillac mated to a 4L80 transmission. It will virtually idle at speed if you gear it right, will have the torq to pull any trailer, and their comp ratio is usually low enough to use regular instead of premium gas. You can usually find one for $500-$600 dollars complete. They usually have low mileage but may need freshening. Put a new timing chain and some bearings and rings in and an Edelbrock intake on it. It'll run forever and pull anything. You might even consider a cam and rocker upgrade but keep the lower compression. Smaller engines usually need higher compression and a higher grade of gas. $$$$$ operating costs for them. There is a company in Az that will build you one if you don't want to fool with it. 600+ lbs/ft
Automatic or stick? My favorite would be a 350 Chevy with a small cam. 700R-4 and a 3.73 rear axle. If I had to stick to Ford, a 351W with a small cam and an M5OD from a newer F-150.
It also needs to get somewhat decent mileage. If memory serves the Caddy’s sort of averaged in the single digits.
38Chevy454 pretty well nailed it. Mild small block with enough torque to tow what the 56 can safely tow with an OD trans. With a big bearing nine inch behind it. I'd probably be looking at that 02 F150 and thinking "what If I bought a crate ___ and fresh____trans and simplified a couple of things and put that in the 56?" . There is a lot to be said for a daily driver with a drivetrain that you are very familiar with. Big block anythings are not 80 mile a day commuter rigs. Even the Cad 500 with Turbo 400 and 3.55 gears with the "real truck" tires on my 71 isn't commuter friendly for those miles every day. A roller cam 350 with the right cam and OD trans does make a lot of sense $$$$ wise though. Simple to work on, no issue with finding parts and set up right in the Effie it should pull well over 20 on the road. Set up right for commuting may mean keeping the hood closed when the Hamb fuel system police are around though.
I know some frown on the 383, but it is the same money as the 350 build and you get the extra torque. It is a roller block as well.
If that doesn’t work might I suggest a diesel, gobs of torque and enough power to get things done ( finished that is)
I have a Y block in the 55 I could use, but I don't know what kind of towing it would do. Most loads we handle are in the 4500-8500 lb range, Old junk cars on a steel 18' car trailer, mainly. We need to hear @MO_JUNK opinion on the Caddy. He has one in his pickup. Someone mentioned an FE, which I love, but every FE I have owned seemed to get about 10 mpg, whether I was loaded or empty. Expensive to rebuild also. But, I have thought about it. Do they have the same bellhousing pattern as some of the later AOD's?
That's probably not what he wants, but I believe the MEL was offered on the heavier Fs so all of them should fit? And there's always the 300 which can be made to perform if heavy towing is not an issue.
I'm with @VANDENPLAS ....383/727 Dodge I honestly have no problems sticking a sbc with a overdrive transmission in that Ford. My Dodge I have been considering a future engine swap .... current 6cyl engine runs fine just possibilities for the future. I was lucky enough to come across a 1951 8BA that had been rebuilt and has low miles on it. I would not hesitate installing it in my Dodge. ..... Simply because I own the engine already. Recently I picked up a 318 that might be a better choice then a 8BA. They run good and I remember getting 22 mpg in a old dodge 318 .... My Ford van with a 351 got 8mpg. My daily driver is a chebby truck with a 350, I love it and if I had a spare I might install it in the Dodge. Just saying to use what you have. My neighbor has a 54 Ford shoe box with a 1990's 302/A0D The installation is a disaster. They should have cut the floor for the transmission, instead they just installed it at a steep angle. I changed the oil and put in 5 quarts, the dipstick reads 4 quarts because of the angle the engine sits. Lot of work to put a Ford engine in a older Ford.
6 Cylinders are gaining favor. Nothing wrong with a 300 6 cylinder Ford backed by a built for tough C4. I have a couple friends building 32 fords with 292 6 cylinder Chevy's with 400 turbos or 5 speeds.
The surest sign the apocalypse is upon us - a majority of Hamburgers recommending a SBC for a Ford shop truck - his calling card showing he know what's what in the traditional builds. jack vines, who'd vote for the Lincoln.
Keep in mind, this will look like a shop truck from 1959, but it is far from a "period correct" build. It will be a hood down, always truck. It's going to be a daily. I figure I can spend 15-20K on it and have something that will hold it's value until I am tired of it or they ban fossil fuels. Here is the link to where I bought it. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1956-f100-mild-custom.1277849/
Don't discount the Cadillac 500 because of mileage concerns, they actually can do well for their size (with adequate Bonneville gears). Now parts availability on an engine out of production since '76? That may be an issue. I like the FE for your deal, 'cuz I don't disrespect ford like I used to, but it's a budget buster. How 'bout a 455 Olds?
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