TECH: The extensive yet incomplete Ford V8 Swapper's Guide!

cast iron headers that WORK?????

 

I owned a 78 Ford 3/4 ton, and it had an FE 390 ci engine. I still have the shop service manual for the truck that includes the FE engine.

A lot of great information on the engines, I have several Fords with everything from the 289 to the 460, and engine and parts swapping over the years has been a major headache at times.

Bob

 

-------------

For a tight installation, Ford also produced a FE CJ head with the manifold mounting holes on the side, instead of top and bottom. These were used on the big block Mustang and the mid sized Mercury. Mine is a 67 335HP big block Caliente, and although they are more spendy to buy, you can find them. The only warning here, is that the ports on the manifolds need to match the ports on the heads. A buddy of mine had a 427, and the ports on his engine were lower and didn't align with my manifolds, so although the manifolds would have bolted on, they would have left part of the port exposed.
Bob

 

do have memory on 351 w 1969 year with pulg wires have prob not same 351w 1984

 

Absolutely an amazing post on a tough subject. Hats off to you sir. When I was a kid I was a chevy fan but now that I've grown up, Ford is my choice for power and endurance. Funny how that happens.

 

Pretty sure the heads you refer to are not CJ, but 14 bolt 390 GT. Exhaust manifolds are unique to these heads because of the odd port location, as you stated. Standard up/down and CJ manifolds will not properly work with these heads.

 

I'm raising this thread from the dead because it's (a) useful and (b) someone may be able to answer my question which would help others faced with the same issue.

My car is a 1964 with the 5 bolt 289, coupled to the column change 3 sp manual. Where I am (Austria, the EU) 3 sp manuals are a pain (think Colorado with Autobahns), so I'm considering swapping to a toploader 4sp or McLeod's new 5 sp which can be seen as a modification of a period box to fit a 5th gear (and is small enough to be installed without having to brutally cut the transmission tunnel). My question is, does my box have the same pattern as the toploader where it bolts to the bellhousing?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

FWIW, I uploaded pics of what I have.

 

This will be an interesting read for when I have the time because I'm going to be that weird kid who puts a Ford in his Ford

 

We should start a weirdo club then^

 

Justreadthewholetread. Great info but I need a couple of Tylenol!

 

So no takers on the Ford g/box bolt pattern question?

 

T, not sure on the 5 speed, but I’m sure the top loader four speed is a bolt in from a three speed. Obviously you will need a new shifter. Be sure it’s a small block four speed, or at least a small input shaft. SomeFord four speeds had a larger input shaft. They are a lot rarer than the smaller ones. Might check overall transmission length, as Ford made a couple of different tailshsft lengths for their transmissions.



Bones