by "Pickup_man" (zekeh)
Published 11/10/2017 at 16:31
by "Pickup_man" (zekeh)
Published 11/10/2017 at 16:31
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STARS: 0
What engine should I put in this truck?
I’ve been getting very antsy to start work on my dream truck, and after wrapping up a few small projects and shuffling a few things around I should be able to shoehorn this into my garage. Once I do, I’ll need to make a final decision on what I want to power it. Since it’s always been a “I’ll get to it soon” project, ideas and dreams have danced in my head like a kid at Christmas, but now that I’m getting serious about getting it started, I need to decide. What I really want is something different, that stands out a little, and of course I want a manual. Yet budget, and some really cheap motor/auto trans combos may push me in a different direction. I’d rather have it running and driving than worry about it being perfect.
Here are the options I’ve dreamed of so far.
Small block Ford 302/351 (351 preferred) - carbureted
Pros: easy to find, pretty easy to find with a manual, cheap to build, reliable
Cons: Boring, predictable
Ford 5.4 (2 valve or 3 valve, 3 valve preferred)
Pros: Plentiful in my local junkyard, same cost as a SBF, more modern, fuel injection, different/unique
Cons: more complicated to install and wire, impossible to find with a manual, not all that different or unique
Lincoln 4 valve 5.4
Pros: more power than the Ford 5.4, definitely unique, I can refer to my truck as a hot rod Lincoln, in reference to one of my favorite songs.
Cons: Auto only, wiring etc, hard to find
Ford 6.8 V10
Pros: They show up in my local pull it yard often enough, same price as any other engine I get from the pull it yard, lots of torque, unique, its a V10
Cons: more than likely to have an auto, I’ve never seen a manual one in the yard, not a lot of aftermarket support and what it does have is expensive, gas mileage will be very bad
Flathead V8
Pros: I already have one, flatheads are awesome, it would retain some period correctness (not that that’s what I want %100, but I’d like to keep it on the traditional hot rod side of things). Manual trans adapters are readily available.
Cons: The one I have needs everything, and I mean everything, it might be better off to turn it into a table. It’s gonna cost a bit to get it built. I would still need to find a trans, plus all the kit to make it work. Not a lot of power, bad gas mileage.
Ford 300 I6
Pros: reliable as hell, very easy to find with a manual, less common than a SBF, carbed or in
Cons: not a lot of power
So those are all the ideas floating in my head. What would you do Oppo? And no, I absolutely will not put a small block Chevy or LS in it, I’m not much of a brand purist, but I’d like to keep it Ford, and at this point nothing is less interesting than and LS swap (even though they’re cheap, reliable, easy, and make lots of power). I’m open to other ideas though as long as it’s simple, cheap, and I can maintain roughly 1/2 ton truck capacity.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
11/10/2017 at 16:38, STARS: 1
I think you may need to narrow down what you want to do with it. I don’t think you’ll get “easy” and “different”.
My vote is actually not listed- a turbo diesel swap.
"The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123" (mattp123)
11/10/2017 at 16:38, STARS: 0
V10. For the longest time I dreamed of putting one into my Grand Marquis.
"KevlarRx7" (kevlarsupra)
11/10/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
13B obviously, but seriously I’d probably lean towards a flathead V8
"19JRC99" (19jrc99)
11/10/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 1
Flathead. Few things sound as good as a pissed off flatty.
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
11/10/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
My vote is the 300 cube six, as long as you’re not often in a hurry.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
11/10/2017 at 16:42, STARS: 1
Rank what’s most important to you. Unique? Power? Manual? Which of these are you willing to sacrifice first, or last? That’ll help rank one of these over another.
"Birddog" (maintmgt)
11/10/2017 at 16:43, STARS: 2
Ford 4.9 (300) I6 with an M90 blower. Eaton rates that blower to 5.0 liters so you wouldn’t be spinning it outside of it’s map.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 0
What I want to do with it and what I want to do with it are two very different things. What I want to do is turn it into a near perfect show truck on which I’ve spent lots and lots of money making it cool and unique, yet livable and driveable. What I really want to do with it is drive it and enjoy it. I think I’ll likely end up with a SBF or the 300, because my desire for a manual and the ease of building a simple carbureted engine is outweighing my desire to be different.
I’ve actually thought about turbo diesel swaps, but the only really easy swap would be a 12 valve and those aren’t exactly cheap anymore. That plus all of the front end work I’d have to do to support that hunk of iron. Cummins swaps are a little on the boring side too IMO, but they can be forgiven because its stupid easy and cheap to make big power and torque. Would there be another easyish turbo diesel option that I could find easily? Maybe an IDI swap? That would be different haha. (I’m not doing an IDI swap).
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:47, STARS: 0
This is really what I’ve been wanting to do lately, I suppose I could live with an auto for a while.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:49, STARS: 0
This is true, and I will own a flathead powered something someday, the cost to build right now though is my biggest hesitation.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/10/2017 at 16:50, STARS: 2
GM 8.1 4L80. Go big.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:50, STARS: 0
It would certainly be just a cruiser, I want to do some towing with it though so I wonder how it would keep up at interstate speeds (75-80 mph).
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
11/10/2017 at 16:52, STARS: 1
Then 460 Ford, carbed. Get an OD manual.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:53, STARS: 1
That’s what I’m having a hard time with. Power goes to the bottom so long as I can do some towing with it and maintain highway speeds. Manual and unique are neck and neck right now, because I’d love to run through my own gears, but I don’t want just another old Ford truck with just another small block Ford.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:54, STARS: 1
I really like this idea, I get my manual, I get unique, and I don’t have to buy a blower right away so it keeps costs down... This option is moving up the list. I’ve also considered a turbo 4.9, which would be pretty cool too.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:56, STARS: 0
I don’t want to go huge, I had a 460 and decided to sell it, 8.1 liters does sound tempting though.
"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
11/10/2017 at 16:56, STARS: 1
Flathead with Ardun heads, because All The Money.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/10/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 1
I mean...it wont get worse mileage than a carbd 351
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 16:59, STARS: 0
Actually had a 460/C6 combo specifically for this. It was an emissions era 460 though and finding a manual trans that would easily swap on was proving difficult so I decided to sell it. If I could find the right 460/manual combo though I’d consider it.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 0
Someday.... someday...
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
11/10/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 0
2.3L Ecoboost. Because fuck the haters.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:01, STARS: 1
I mean... you’re not wrong.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:02, STARS: 0
Not quite enough oomph for a full size truck, but I’m not against it. Local pull it yard is only vehicles roughly 10 years or older though so I doubt I’d even be able to find one.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
11/10/2017 at 17:04, STARS: 0
Depends on the compression ratio of the 300 you get of course.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
11/10/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 2
Aren’t those old F-1's pretty light tho? (oh shit how about a 3.8 Supercoupe motor, or even a 2.3T Turbo Coupe?????)
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 0
True, though there seems to be quite a few people out there putting mild boost into the 4.9 with success.
I’m not super familiar with the 4.9, I figured they were mostly all the same until the EFI years. I’ll have to look into those a little more.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
11/10/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 0
truck big block 460, or the 428, even a 390, and put a car 4 speed in it, and some highway gears....... the big block will have enough torque to get you rolling, and the highway gears will help you pull some sort of mileage out of it. and let you run down the road at a decent rpm.....
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
11/10/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 1
There are variances based on year/generation. Boosting something with cast pistons and a 9:1 compression ratio might be a one way ticket to boom town.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 0
This is a F3, so 8' box instead of the 6', otherwise it’s pretty similar to the F1 apart from suspension, but I’ll be changing that to 1/2 springs.
These weigh in right around the 4,000 lb mark, which isn’t a ton compared to most modern cars, but I’d like to retain roughly 1/2 ton capacity as I plan to tow a few things with it.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0
Had a 460/C6 for it actually, it was an emissions era one though so I decided to get rid of it. If I can find the right combo though I might go back to the big block route.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
11/10/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0
Oh wow, didn’t realize they were that heavy. Hmm... trying to think of other interesting FoMoCo motors to put in it that are readily available but not super-popular...
How about a Jag V8 from a Lincoln LS?
"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
11/10/2017 at 17:20, STARS: 2
RB 26 DETT!!! Weren’t these work trucks mostly inline six back in the day? Why not put another i6 in there? It would also piss off all the traditionalists while you could get the attention of the youtube crowd. Start a youtube channel and earn back cents per every dollar you spend on the car. This could bethe next project binky.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
11/10/2017 at 17:23, STARS: 0
I think you could probably get a T56 for it.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
11/10/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 0
the nice thing about a big block, is that you can get a lot of low stress, low rpm grunt out of it. you just have to gear your truck for taking advantage of it, and keep it in a happy rpm that works with whatever heads,cam you can round up for it..... they sound REAL nice with a large cam and large pipes. cubes make easy, lazy power.
there is something to be said for a nice low compression engine that gets decent mileage, that can run on the CHEAP gas, and be enjoyed often........
alot of the decision involves you being honest with YOURSELF, and decide what it is that you want the truck to be able to do..... what IS fun, for YOU?........
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:28, STARS: 0
Not a bad idea, although I would like a little more displacement. Still, worth considering.
This originally was a I6 truck and part of my wants to stick to it’s roots and keep it a I6, but if it’s not a flathead then what’s the difference?
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:33, STARS: 1
Now you’re making me want to find another big block.
What I want is a truck that sounds cool, is enjoyable to drive, can tow a boat/trailer full of motorcycles/small camper, and be able maintain interstate speeds if needed. I think what its going to come down to is whats available when then time comes. Engines at the local pull it yard are super cheap, but if the right donor truck comes along I might jump on it.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
11/10/2017 at 17:54, STARS: 1
V10! Or 7.3 IDI motor cause they sound nasty when straight piped. Ooo ooo ooo! 6.9 diesel for maximum nasty.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 17:57, STARS: 0
There is a manual 6.9 truck in the pull it lot, can’t say I’ve thought much about the 6.9 before, I might have to start.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
11/10/2017 at 18:02, STARS: 2
options
1. rotary
2. all electric?
3. hydrogen setup?
4. oddball option - steam power
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
11/10/2017 at 18:06, STARS: 1
nice thing, is that those big block fords were around for a good while, so that there are lots of ways to mix and match parts....... a lot depends on how different you want the truck engine to be, which ANOTHER bbford, isnt much different......but its EASY........
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
11/10/2017 at 18:19, STARS: 1
The Flathead is the coolest option.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
11/10/2017 at 18:29, STARS: 1
I don’t know anything about reliability and such but I heard one once with dual exhaust and it was obscene. The 7.3 IDI are slightly less obscene but still awesome.
"AutoSavant" (AutoSavant)
11/10/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 0
Build a Ford 300 inline six. You can always boost it and EFI it later. Or do it all at once. Great, solid engine. Plentiful and inexpensive.
"John-Palazzo" (John-Palazzo)
11/10/2017 at 20:34, STARS: 1
If I even remotely had the means, I’d go Flathead.
"Birddog" (maintmgt)
11/10/2017 at 21:24, STARS: 1
Most seem to be running 7-8 psi reliably on stock internals with the turbo setups. Over that and you need head studs/better gasket and lower compression.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
11/10/2017 at 22:20, STARS: 0
I’m slowly leaning more and more this way.