sbc swap into an F1

Hello again from milwaukee. I swapped a SBC into my F1. Please keep the BOO's to yourselves. My question is will my stock rear end survive or "be usable" with a sbc 350 and a th 350 powering it. I have been told by others that it will not hold up to the power and will essentially blow up. Is this true. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks again to everyone for their invaluable input. I couldnt build this thing w/o you guys and gals.

 

depends on how you plan on driving it

 

Drive like a granny and it will live for a long time. Drive it like you stole it and get the afternoon out of it.
Having done it (check my on line album) I would drive it till it breaks the replace it. No biggee.

 

X2, plus a 9 in. will fit it just fine.

 

If your going to be using it for "spirited" driving most of the time I'd suggest you change it now. The automatic will preserve it for quite awhile but guarenteed it will break at the most unoportune time. Like already posted you should be able to find a 9" that will fit and that will be a bullitproof deal.

Frank

 

Nice clean install. I'd go ahead and put the rear end in now. I bet with each of us working alone I could have the rear end in before you could get the sheet metal back on.

With my luck I'd blow the rear end sky high and the drive shaft would somehow shoot right through the cab.

 

In 1969 ... I had a 49 F-1 with a wore out but souped up ... 283 and a Muncie 4 speed Drove it like a crazy 21 year old kid who stole it ... with no regard as to how long it would last and DID NOT care

Never did break it ...

I understand a wore out 283 is not a 350, but the 4 speed has to be rougher on the rear end than a automatic.

Disclaimer :

My 49 F-1 was only 20 years old at the time ... and one year younger than I was

___________________________________________________

I did upgrade to a 58/59 F-100 rear end ( very easy swap ... practically a direct bolt it ) ... only because I wanted a better highway gear ratio. I went to a 3.50 gear. My original 49 rear end was 4.11 or lower ... if I remember correctly ( it has only been almost 40 years and a LOT of vehicles since I had it )

 

57'-72' ford 9" truck rearends will keep you rolling and are bolt ins! nice f-1!

 

I have 2 9in rear ends lined up. Just a matter of pickin them up. One of them supposedly came from an early 70's ford truck. Will I need to fab perches for it to sit right on the leaf springs or is the width the same?

 

Also thanks everyone for your advice.

 

the rear end in your truck should be a dana 44. i think it will hold up fine. your choice.

 

it's actually a dana 41 - most parts don't interchange with a 44, but it's still pretty tough. I swapped mine for a 9" 3.50 gears.

need another 41 - my 4.27 is sitting in the shed.

 

I'd worry about that cheverolet motor and trans breaking before that rear end. HaHa

 

Booooooooo...

Kidding!

I have two F1's; one has a SBC and the other a SBF. I like them both.

-DV

 

What's the tranny like? A hard-hitting automatic with a stout shift-kit is pretty tough on drivetrains....ask me how I know.

You wouldn't have to worry about your rearend if you ran a flathead....hahaha

 

I've had the stock rear end in mine for at least 5 years, and it handles it fine. Wife made 40 passes @ the drag strip without any problems...
Gearing is a little steep (only 2 R&P options.....3:91, 4:27.... ours has the 3:91).
Motor ran about 3000 RPM @ 65 mph
It's been everywhere here in the midwest and a couple of runs to Minnesota.
Change the gear oil and it will be fine

I just replaced it with an 8" for the run to the Lone Star roundup. I want a little better gas Mileage

Spoons

 

My 51 F1 had a 283 3speed stock 2v in it with the stock F1 rear. I dont know how long the guy beat on it but he had it like that for years and it held up.
He acted like it was a race car.

 

I ran a mostly stock 302 in my f-1 for a while and the stock dana 44 held up fine.

When I swapped in a built 393W I busted the first stock rear in the first week... and the 2nd stock 44 about a month later.

I also messed up a regular 9" over a course of 10,000 miles

I now have an N-case 9" in it and it has been very reliable.


With a stock 350 and an auto you will probably be ok for a while as long as you run stock style tires.

Unless you can find a good deal on a 57-72 f-100 rear 9" (bolt in swap) OR ideally you could try to find a 68-72 f-100 4x4 rear 9 3/8" (they are all 31 spline and a bolt in swap AND take a regular 9" center if desired)

Mine is a 70 f-100 4x4 rear with a drag pack car N-case center section.

 

Put a 9" in it or something with at least 3.00 gears for freeway driving. You may wind out your engine everytime you get on the highway. Remember these f-1's were work horses and were not designed for automatics or getting on the road at 65-75 mph.

 

i used a dana 44 that was out of a 53 f1. i was hard on it was doin burnouts all the time and it seems ok still. but if you plan on drivin nice you shoul be fine