Author Topic: FE in a '78 F150 4x2  (Read 547 times)

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fairlaniac

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FE in a '78 F150 4x2
« on: January 30, 2024, 01:38:19 PM »
So I picked up this ’78 F150 two wheel drive with an inline six. I’m going to get it running as a classic beater though I probably won’t beat it but it’s not going to be a money pit restoration. I’m not a fan of the ’78-’79 grille so I have a ’77 grille for it. I have the 390 that was in my Fairlane I want to drop in this. I’m not experienced enough on the parts to do this. Since the ’73-‘79’s are lumped together I’m assuming if I got ’73-’76 360 engine mounts that would take care of securing the engine in place? Is it a steel perch frame mount and the isolator to the block? I assume a ’73-’76 360 4x2 oil pan is what I need? Any other potential model pans? I’ll need to find out if the z-bar is different. I expect it to be. Would the frame side pivot bracket be the same as the 6 or different? The block pivot, would it be the same as any FE or is it specific? I have a truck bell and I’ll hope the 4 on the floor that is in it will fit up?
Anyone else drop a FE in a ’77-up? Anything I’m missing.

Thanks,

Link to picture:


http://www.fairlanet.com/images/78-F150-A.jpg

Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 427+/5 Spd TKX

Rory428

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Re: FE in a '78 F150 4x2
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2024, 10:17:08 PM »
Never did that swap, but I have to think that everything should bolt in, providing you can source all the factory parts from a 73-76 F100-F350 FE truck with a manual transmission. I would think these trucks should still be somewhat easy to find in wrecking yards, or individuals parting them out. I would think the frame pivot for the Z bar should be the same regardless of engine, based on several different old Fords that have converted from automatic to manual in the past.  I would think the Z bar may be different from the 6 to the FE, but you never know until you compare. When I swapped my 59 2 door sedan from a 332 FE and automatic, to the 428 CJ and 4 speed, I discovered that the Z bar carried a different part number for the FE than the 223 6 in my donor parts car that I grabbed  the clutch pedal assembly and frame bracket from. But, when I sourced a correct FE clutch Z bar, and compared them, they were identical in every way, except the pin for the clutch fork rod on the lower lever, had the pin pointed in the opposite direction, which would have been easy to turn around.
1978 Fairmont,FE 427 with 428 crank, 4 speed Jerico best of 9.972@132.54MPH 1.29 60 foot
1985 Mustang HB 331 SB Ford, 4 speed Jerico, best of 10.29@128 MPH 1.40 60 foot.
1974 F350 race car hauler 390 NP435 4 speed
1959 Ford Meteor 2 dr sedan. 428 Cobra Jet, 4 speed Toploader. 12.54@ 108 MPH

fe-starliner

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Re: FE in a '78 F150 4x2
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2024, 09:50:46 AM »
Doug, get copies of LMC Ford truck, NPD Ford F series truck and Mac's Ford pickup catalogs.  They will be your friend....especially LMC.  They all helped me tremendously with parts for my '68 F100.
1960 Starliner, 406-6V, TKO-600, 4.11 9"
1961 Starliner, 427 4V, SS700 5 speed, 4.56 9"
1968 F-100 SWB, 352 4V, C6, 3.25 9"
2012 Mustang, 226" V6, 6 speed auto, 3.31 8.8"

fairlaniac

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Re: FE in a '78 F150 4x2
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2024, 10:56:24 AM »
Doug, get copies of LMC Ford truck, NPD Ford F series truck and Mac's Ford pickup catalogs.  They will be your friend....especially LMC.  They all helped me tremendously with parts for my '68 F100.
Got one ordered and downloaded.

Thanks!
Doug Bender
1966 Fairlane 427+/5 Spd TKX

DuckRyder

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Re: FE in a '78 F150 4x2
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2024, 10:29:01 AM »
If you have not already found it, you may find this of interest.

http://fordification.com/tech/engine-perches.htm

The Perches should be the same i6 to FE but will be repositioned. the isolators bolt to the block, if you find some that aren't junk let us know...
Robert