Ok the skinny is I have this Ford truck (more details below) that I am told (though I don't believe) that it has a 1972 Mustang 302 in it! So here are a few details in a list form:
1978 Ford F-100 2 wd pick with a
3 speed manual trans.
1972 302 V8 Mustang engine
I want to drop the three speed for a four or better yet five speed, but not sure what will be needed for the swap. The folks in alt.autos.ford suggested that someone over here would know more about this but I though being a ford to ford swap it would be an easy topic! Guess I was wrong! The motor I was told is out of a Mach I and the stock truck tranny and rear end (which is for a 300 6 banger) is working fine. But I am looking at improving gas milage. I found one site that talks about the swap to a truck four speed but any help would be welcome on ideas for a five speed here! Thank you for your time!
If you want a fuel mileage improvement, you aren't likely to see much difference between a 3 speed manual transmission, and a 4 speed manual transmission, both of their top gears are 1 to 1. The four speed truck transmission just has an additional compound low gear, and if you use a car transmission you just get an additional gear spread in the mix with the same
1 to 1 fourth gear.
So you are left with looking for a "overdrive" transmission, one that has an overdriven top gear, something like .76 to 1. Even with this overdrive transmission in place, fuel mileage improvement is not a guarantied outcome.
It is certianly an easy enough project, I believe that you will find the economy savings won't outweigh the high cost of buying the transmission and other associated parts and labor.
If you're going to swap the transmissions, use a 5 speed with overdrive. You'll get the close ratio of the 4 speed, with the addition of a 5th OD gear. Old truck transmissions were available as a 5 speed. 5th was 1:1 just like your 3 speed. But first was a real low "granny" gear for towing and hauling. These make great transmissions if your rear gear is around 2.50-2.75. But they are pretty hard to come by. Some Ford trucks in the 80's came with a 4 speed single rail OD. Avoid these; they are weak and won't last. You could swap in a stock T5 from a mustang. It's a pretty easy bolt on. But it can't handle that much torque. If you tow or haul, avoid this. You could also use an aftermarket 5 speed from Tremec. Use a TKO 600, it's the strongest available. It has a low 3.29 first, and are available with a .80 or .62
5th. Expect to pay $1,500-2,000 for one of these. But it will last forever. Truck 5 speeds were the stock transmissions in the 80's and 90's. The AOD was optional. The truck 5 speed is different than the T5. Interestingly enough, there are very few 5 speed pickups out there. You'll have a tough time finding one, and it will probably need to be rebuilt.
The bottom line is, it's going to cost you. A lot. You'll have to drive your truck a lot of miles to make it pay for itself in gas savings. But a 5 speed is better for general driving, and you'll like the truck better.
I've got the original order sheet in a box somewhere, if I thought I could easily find it I would scan it and show you the error of you thinking. I kept the truck until 1986, I know which engine it came from the factory with a 302, and can say absolutly, You are mistaken.
1980-1986 - 300 in³ (4.9 L) straight-6
1980-1985 - 302 in³ (4.9 L) Windsor V8
1985-1986 - Windsor 5.0 L V8, FI, 185 hp
1980-1982 - 351 in³ (5.8 L) Cleveland V8
1983-1986 - Windsor 5.8 L V8
1980-1982 - 400 in³ (6.6 L) Cleveland V8
1983-1986 - 7.5 L 460 V8, 245 hp (183 kW)
1983-1986 - 6.9 L Diesel V8, 170 hp (127 kW)
Eighth generation (1987-1991) Engines:
1987-1991 - 4.9 L straight-6, FI, 150 hp (112 kW)
1987 - Windsor 5.8 L V8
1987 - 6.9 L Diesel V8, 170 hp (127 kW)
1987 - 7.5 L 460 V8, 245 hp (183 kW)
1988-1991 - 460 7.5 L V8, FI, 230 hp
1988-1991 - 7.3 L International Harvester IDI Diesel V8, 180 hp
1987-1991 - Windsor 5.0 L V8, FI, 185 hp
1988-1991 - Windsor 5.8 L V8, FI, 210 hp
Ninth generation (1992-1996) Engines:
1992-1996 - 4.9 L straight-6, FI, 150 hp
1992-1996 - 7.5 L 385 V8, FI, 240 hp
1992-1996 - 7.3 L IDI Diesel V8, 185 hp/360 ft.lbf
1992-1996 - 7.3 L Turbo IDI Diesel V8, 190 hp/395 ft.lbf
1992-1996 - 5.0 L Windsor V8, FI, 185 hp
1992-1996 - 5.8 L Windsor V8, FI, 210 hp
1993-1995 - 5.8 L Windsor V8, FI, 240 hp Lightning
1995-1996 - 7.3 L Power Stroke turbo-Diesel V8, 210 hp/425 ft.lbf
Depending on how the truck will be used, the NV4500 might also be considered. It's compact, bulletproof and about as cheap as anything if you are wanting a really tough tranny. Do a google search for "NV4500" and all kinds of kits and adapters will come up. The tranny is actually cheap. The adapters make the swap pricey. Once again, you'll never pay for this in your gas savings unless you put another 300K miles on it or unless you need it to do some serious towing. The 302 rules out the serious towing, however.
The former owner is a BS artist, he will tell you that the motor is a 1972 Mustang motor, just to sell the truck! The VIN code claims it is equipped with a 6 cylinder and it is anybodys guess where the motor came from! I am very aware of the 302 and its uses, but something tells me that this isn't out of a Mustang. I am aware that a lot of the truck motors I have seen have four bolt mains, but I have yet to pull the pan!
Ok but please stay on task here I stated the truck is a 1978 with a motor from a 1972, so I know that the motor isn't the original one as the VIn and title both state the motor is a 6 cylinder! Which I figure would have been a
Serious towing or 3000 miles? Perk! The 3000 miles is the easy part I am driving this truck to New York from North Carolina and back at the least once a month! So with a round trip of 1128 miles I can make the required milage in three months as I go up to see my kids and grandchildren! Sadly though over the last trip I lost either the bearings or the oil pump in the antique 302 and now I have to look for a replacement engine or rebuild what I have! I may opt for a running salvage yard motor in any case as the old motor was starting to smoke slightly at start up which is a good sign of valve guide seals. Besides the rear main was leaking slightly which needed to be replaced soon anyhow! Either way I now without a vehicle and the bus rides to work sucks major! The idea of rebuilding what I have after a replacement is installed is also being considered! Thanks for all your help!
IMO, rebuilding a small block Ford just isn't worth it anymore. Crate engine are so much cheaper and easier. And you could opt for some upgrades at the same time, if your budget allows.
Where do you keep getting this misinformation? I know for a fact that is incorrect, do a Google search already, you are just plain wrong. Worse is this tripe... "No Ford truck ever came from the factory with a
302 in it, so if it has one, someone put it there." That is the biggest bunch of wrong I've seen in one place at the same time in a long time. I can personally walk up an touch 3 F150s right now that have EFI 302s in them straight from the factory.
"Ford continued to use its innovative Twin-I-Beam front suspension and added two new V-8 engines to the lineup, the 360 and the 390 in 1968. With fuel economy in mind the reliable small block 302 engine was an available option in 1970."
Allot of Chevy truck motors had 4 bolt main caps. Ford DID not produce 4 bolt main truck motors. Fords 4 bolt main engines were rare as hens teeth, and limited to their high performance applications. Do some searching, very few Ford engines had 4 bolt mains, and those were in high performance cars...
Actually no my budget is limited to damn near zero! I may be able to swing a loan for a donor motor from my boss (who is cheap as it gets) and I know that the $50 a week out of my check after the motor is paid off will be going for parts to rebuild! I know that here in NC a reman motor is $650 which would take till probably next year to afford, and I need a car now! As it stands I have another grandchild on the way in July and want to be able to go see him after he is born! It is sad that the electronics factory work I do still only pays what I was making in 1989! And I have often considered changing careers, but not much call for anybody with my experience. But thanks for the heads up!
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