Hi, new guy here. have been searching and reading alot and would like some imput. just bought a 49 f1 with a 283 sbc and muncie 21 and a stock rearend. supposedly sat some 27 years, but anyway, won't start. compression is anywhere from 50-105lbs. ok motors shot... unknown trans cond, but shifts throughthe gears fine without engine running. rear axle needs replaced, or at least drivers side axle, as the wheel wobbled when towing home (no, it's not the wheel, i checked). here's the deal...got a line on a 59ab complete for $300. have been reading on transmissions to use (nostalgia vs. newer t5 etc..) and a few questions arrise if i use the flathead oh yea, the truck will just be for crusin about, but would like to do freeways to car shows. 1. can the m21 be mated (economacly) to the 59ab? if not, i think i like the t5 idea. 2. what do you suppose my axle ratio is? and is the stock rearend good for this application? 3. would I be better off with a 9" instead? 4. looked at cornhusker.com, is there any other adaptors out there? 5. am i betteroff with a 289/302 for reliability? thanks for your input!
Easiest is to just get another SBC and drop in there. Find a decent running used engine for $300-500 and bolt-in swap. You should just swap a 9-inch in there. I have heard any F-100 from 57-66 is bolt-in. Someone can verify the years exactly.
9 inch and a 302 would be my route. not hard to find, especially easy if you can find a running car or truck cheap so you get a motor and trans together, maybe even a useable rear. 57-66 are your best bet for a 9 thats the same width and bolt pattern as what you have allready
1. can the m21 be mated (economacly) to the 59ab? if not, i think i like the t5 idea. Not really ... keep what you have 2. what do you suppose my axle ratio is? and is the stock rearend good for this application? The ratio is fairly low ... It is strong enough but with it's bad parts ... go later model. 3. would I be better off with a 9" instead? YES ... a 57 to 72 F-100 is almost a direct bolt in. I prefer the late 60's because they have the self adjusting brakes feature. 4. looked at cornhusker.com, is there any other adaptors out there? There are others ... but Cornhuskers is a member here and he has GOOD parts and pieces. 5. am i betteroff with a 289/302 for reliability? NO ... The 289/302 is a good engine But there are MORE small block Chevrolets on the road than small block Fords. The SBC is the most swapped in engine ever ... for a reason. I would just use the setup you have and get a good used old Chevrolet for a parts donor. .
keep the small block. Check your tranny fluid and it will tell you a lot about the condition and put the 9" and cruise away.
You're on the right path by de-gelding that poor truck and getting that bellybutton Chebbie outa there, and thinking for yourself instead of following the lemmings 3spd, 4 spd, C4, AOD will all work- one of those 4spd OD toploaders would be sweet in there I do know a guy in NorCal that has a few clean flatties he'd like to sell-
Bingo on the bellybutton! Actually an 8" would be fine with a 283 or 302 or Flatty, with a A/T & probably with a stick also
Each person is likely to have a different opinion... here's mine. I had a '51 F1 that had a 350 sbc/350 th combo in it. I later bought a '52 F1 that had a Ford 302 with a 4 speed manual. I replaced the 4spd manual with a Ford C6 automatic. I later sold the first truck and still have the second. There's nothing wrong with having a Chevy motor in a Ford truck that old, but I can't tell you how many times people have told me at the car shows "I'm so glad you didn't put a Chevy engine in there... that just ain't right". On the rear-end, the Ford 9" is the best one out there, but the track width on the F1's is going to limit your donors. I think probably a late 60's/early 70's Bronco or Mustang would be the best bet. My truck had a Ford 8" out of a '70 Mustang in it. I put 2.80 gears in it, and it cruises very nice on the highway. Not suitable for drag-racing, but I never intend to do that anyway. Peace, -DV
Nearly everything in life depends on how much you want to spend. I'm a cheap bastard.... bang for the buck, ya' know. If it were my truck, I'd find a good running SBC, dress it up to look old and drop it in. Leave the Muncie. Your stock axle probably has 3:92 or 4:27 gears. As others have said, 57-72 Ford 9" out of a 1/2 ton pickup. I'd choose a 3:25 to 3:50 gears so it still has some ummph off the line, depending on which Muncie you have. (wide or close ratio) You can use an online RPM calculator to determine exactly what gear ratio would work best for your cruising RPM, tire size, etc. The SBC/Muncie is a good combination for a fairly quick/fast hot rod and the truck would probably be on the road sooner. BUT...... FLATHEADS ARE COOL! (and only 100+/- horsepower) My current F1 came with a non running '57 Ford OHV6 engine which I was going to replace with a hot 327 SBC and Muncie I already had. Well, I got the old 223 engine running well and left it in the truck because of the "different" factor. This winter, I plan on getting my T5 installed so it's freeway friendly with the stock rear gear.
As to the rear end question, I feel I hit it big with mine. Found a rear end out of a 67 F-100. No, not a 9", but a Dana 60! Yep, complete with 5 x 5.5 bolt pattern, direct bolt in. 3.54 gears, limited slip. After some research I found these came in many 67-69 F-100's that were ordered with limited slip because the Ford Trac-Loc that comes in the 9" wasn't "ready" or "working right" or something? Someone can probably fill in the gaps in history for me, but if you see a 5-lug Dana 60 in a late 60's F-100, it's almost certainly a limited slip.
Thanks for all the responses I agree that the easiest and probly the cheapest is to throw another sbc in there even though the motor mounts would have to be redone (their funky), but i'm hesitant... don't know why... i've had chevelles, novas, c10, datsun, toyota,vw, etc... i like them all. just can't get it in my head to mix em up. although that's what "hot roding" is all about sounds like the 9" is the way to go (or 60 if i can find one). just wasn't sure if the origional rearend was worth rebuilding and easy to get parts for. bellybutton? never heard that before. I really think that the flathead would look cool in the engine bay, but have never had one and don't know how easy to work on and how costly the compare to another small block? what do you think the "needs rebuilt" 283 and close ratio m21 would be worth on craigslist? if i go another route. yes, i'm a cheap bastard too so this is gonna take a while, but am trying to get a plan in my head. heck if i was rich i'd put in a BT4 cummins
something like 90% of rods have the SBC, like a bellybutton everyone has one & a lot of us are sick to death of seeing them stuffed into everything.
As some others have said, I'd probably build your truck with the Chevy engine, upgrade to a T5 and use a F100 9 inch. The Chevy swaps are done for a reason. They are the one of the most economical, and simplest swap done in most any chassis. Parts availibility is another factor. If I'm driving my old F1, I want the peace of mind that if I have problems, I can find parts. If I'm planning a build, I intend to use as many common OEM parts as possible. If you are broke down along the road, it's a lot easier to replace OEM parts instead of items from some aftermarket company. Traditional engines like Flatheads, Y blocks, Olds, Caddys, or Hemis are all really cool in old cars. I like them all but none are friendly to the wallet compared to the ole belly button smallblock Chevy.
yes, that makes $ sense. still torn on the cool factor though don't have spare money right now anwway to do anything, need to sell some stuff, but appreciate all the imput.
I would go 302 but thats just because im puttin one in a 64 f100 with a t5. It would take the same work to put that in as the chev. And it is diffrent and just as cheep & oreilly freindly. Find a crown vic & go. Save the flathead for something with out a hood.
Really, if you can't find basic parts for a 302 or 4.6 Ford, the words on the front of the building are "Parts Store" just like for that bellybutton Chebbie. That old justification just doesn't hold water- and the other drum-pounding is always "cheap"- yep, Chebbies are cheap- little Fords are inexpensive . If it was a '49 Chebbie pickup, I'd come over and help you put that bellybutton in it- but it doesn't belong in a Ford
I have '49 F1 running a 350 sbc, Saginaw 4spd on the stock column with a '74 9" rear. I get the off comment here and there, but if they don't like it, that's their problem. As others have said, you could always find a running donor sbc for pretty cheap. Flatheads are cool, and if that one you have a line is is complete and running, it would be a nice option of you want a more stock appearing truck.
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