hemi in an f100

i have a 1954 ford f100 and i am building it as an 50s style custom. i just picked up a really good 1955 desoto 291 hemi with an auto trans today. i know it has been done before and wanted to know if anybody knows more about how to do it. thanks

 

Most obvious Q is where the sump on what came out & on the Hemi? Same place?

 

Might have some pics of a hemi in a later F-100. I'll try and post.

 

January 1964 Hot Rod Magazine shows How to put a Desoto in a '56 F-100 using the Ford 3spd trans.

Easy Swap for sure !! Looks about the same as the '60 389 Pontiac I put in my '55.

Set the Motor a bit High & DO NOT remove the Cross member for the original trans mount.

Do the Lil Hemi a favor ..... AVOID AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS !

Unless its a B&M Hydramatic.

 

What rear end you have in your truck . I need to change mine . Do you have stock one , or a newer rear end in your truck

 

Here is what it looks like installed in my 53 F-100. No mod's to the firewall and a re cored 53 F-100 Rad. No big deal. You don't need to change the rear end. These motors even though they are Hemi's they are not torque monsters specialy if your running an automatic behind it. Your not going to brake anything. If you want different gear ratio they are Dana 44's inside and come in every ratio you want. The axle bearings are the same as the large bearing 9" Ford's. The brakes are the same from 53-66 all 1/2 Ton Ford truck rears. You could change to something else but you won't necessarly make it better, just different.
Good luck with your build.
The Wizzard

 

Looks like this is gonna' be a great build.
Keep us posted.

 

I took some pics of Pete's truck, and the engine he picked up. I'm sure he'll get some more "in-progress" pics up soon. He is working his tail off this summer to get this on the road.

 

What's been done to the front end to put the Tire up where it belongs in the wheel well opening?
The Wizzard

 

On a '52 or earlier, it would be a bolt in with hurst style motor mounts and a '39 style tranny adapter.....

Mabey some firewall issues, but the hemi drops in pretty nice, ive done it, but it was with my own mounts and a torqueflite, now i want to undo it and do it like above

 

thanks for all the advice. i do plan on keeping original rear end in it, it should work fine. for the front suspension i took 3 leaves out of the springs and got a 3" dropped axle from sids. what was used for the engine and trans mounts, did you make custom brackets or cross members?

 

I'm a hand build kind of guy. I've learned over the years Kit's will generally put 2 pieces together but not do a complete job as needed. Do not cut out the factory F-100 trans mount crossmember. I used a 1965-1967 Galixie trans crossmember and did some minor adjusting to bolt it in and to the trans rubber mount. I did not use the stock Hemi motor mounts. I hand built both sides, motor to rubber and frame to rubber. I like my Motors up where you can see them not way down in the hole, like most kits set them.
The Wizzard

 

A Hemi won't fit in an F100....

 

nice i have a 53 f100 and sunday just got a 331 hemi and a ford 9 inch and working on a ford toploader maybe over kill but shoud be fun to drive hard

 

well, i got the back frame cleaned up and dropped. i moved the spring brackets up on the frame and got it about 6in lower. i am now messing with the bed to get it to sit right and be level.

 

Looks good. I am working on a 62 unibody that I plan on dropping in a 57 desoto hemi.

 

I staged the motor in the truck last weekend. I bought an adapter plate so that i could use a turbo 350, not exactly what i want but it is a little cheaper and will get me on the road sooner. i also bought cross members for the engine and trans. the trans cross member was made for a 350 and bolted right up. the engine cross member was made to fit a small block chevy, so i had to cut the mounts off and position them where i needed them.

 

I helped Pete with the drive shaft and wiring. We are stepping through a 6V+ to 12V- to-do list as well. The gentleman that sold him the truck had begun the installation of a new wire kit. Pete finished it up. He has a few more suspension details before the front clip goes back on. This is all taking more time than he had planned. We opened up a spot in the garage for the winter, so he can keep on going. Maybe spring...

 

All,

Pete has been busy. The 291 is running now, and he is chasing details in wiring... I am riding him to put together the build post.

Later.

Pete's old man

 

Sorry for the poor sound.

Second fire-up and first drive.

http://youtu.be/VS_4MxB69Lo

http://youtu.be/TI4G2tw2DAc