1959 F100 build thread

[Ryridesmotox]

Well the time has come to start figuring out what parts I need so I can get a number in my head of what I need. Got the truck already, and although the stock straight 6 runs fine, I want a small block V8 in it. Seeing as there are so many options around I was thinking of just getting a crate motor to keep it easy, and alot of places right now are offering very good warranties on crate motors like 5yr/60k mile. The only thing is, I don't know much about ford stuff really. I know which trans will fit which chevy block for which application and stuff.

So a few questions:
#1 I'm sure a 302 block will fit, but I'm kinda wondering if my plans to have a Ranger/Explorer trans is reasonable or if they will even bolt up properly.
#2 as far as rear end I was thinking an explorer rear end cuz it has disc brakes, well the more recent solid axle one did.

My goals are just to have a mild street build that I can drive the 12 mile round trip to work everyday, maybe take to the desert with a dirtbike in the bed, or tow the cobalt to the 1/4 mile or road course. If it was a Chevy I would grab a 700r4 out of an S10 and a small block and toss it in but I am trying to stick to the blue oval.

As far as a crate engine, I saw this on Jegs http://www.jegs.com/i/Blueprint-Engines/138/BP3472CTC/10001/-1 I've been out of the game for a long time cuz I haven't had a garage to work in until recently (just got all the paperwork signed on my new place tonight). Does anyone have any links that will be worth while? I was intending to kind of do a junkyard built with an old mustang 302 also but I kinda want a crate motor cuz it arrives done, and I just drop it in. It will keep me from taking a year to finish it. I don't mind throwing something together on the weekends. Me and my dad are gonna work on it as kind of a project. Plus when my new boy gets old enough to help, he will learn how to work on stuff with it.

Here is the truck... My new 1959 ford f100 - YouTube

[Shaolin Crane]

That 347 is retarded expensive for nothing other then a $700 347 kit and stockish parts. I have less then that into my 500hp(rear wheel, or at least it should be) 347. Here's what i've learned over the years. Spending money on someone elses research is stupid. There's a CHEAP forged 408 stroker kit on cafords for $700 if i wasnt broke i'd have bought it already. A used roller shortblock will run $250 from my builder. Trucks dont need to worry about having an expensive set of aluminum heads, aftermarket irons are cheap and give the same power. A custom grind cam will yield the most power for your application. Used efi intakes are cheap and will cut out dealing with a carb, unless you want to.
Even if you dont get a stroker kit for cheap, $250 for a block, $1500ish for a rotating assembly. $1000 for iron heads, about a $1000 in various shit to be safe and you'll have a MUCH better engine for the same money.

[Shaolin Crane]

http://www.californiafords.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=098914

Buy it now. You could resell it for double if you didnt use it.

[Ryridesmotox]

http://www.californiafords.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=098914

Buy it now. You could resell it for double if you didnt use it.

That would be perfect... but right now I can't swing $1000. My time frame is later this year to start the project. I have a baby boy due in August so after i get him settled with all the necessary baby stuff I am going to start the truck. I can't, in food conscience, get something like that for myself right now. Damn i have such poor timing. I will definitely take your previous post under advisement. I'll take anybinformation i can get at this stage so im not going into this blind. I'm just trying to get an idea of how much I am going to be spending and what i need to try and find over the next year. I want to try and have all the parts for me to dig into it early next year so i can be up and running by summer.

[blackax]

Just do it right and put a lq4 in it.

[Shaolin Crane]

Just do it right and put a lq4 in it.

What he said.

[Ryridesmotox]

Naw... im gonna keep a full ford drivetrain in it. If Iwas going to swap to a gm motor i would go get a 350lt ieon block out of a 1500... you can pick one up for cheap.

[Shaolin Crane]

LQ4, port the shit out of the heads, deck them, morel lifters, ls7 intake, and boom. Big power

[Ryridesmotox]

That sounds very tempting but i am.notbgoing for big power. I just want a 300hp daily driver that is nice and reliable and a very streetable motor.

[Shaolin Crane]

BTW he wants $700 for that stroker kit, not $1000 read all the way down.

That 408 with a mild h/c/i will make around 550hp and get better mileage then a 302 in that truck making 300hp, food for thought.

[Ryridesmotox]

BTW he wants $700 for that stroker kit, not $1000 read all the way down.

That 408 with a mild h/c/i will make around 550hp and get better mileage then a 302 in that truck making 300hp, food for thought.

Haha well then, I guess I'll join that forum and send him a message. If he still has it next week I'll probably get it. I'll jut hide it from the old lady in the garage behind some junk haha.

[Ryridesmotox]

All i will need is a good block and some heads. With 6.25 length rods will a 302 work? Or will i.have to go to a 351 block?

[Shaolin Crane]

Thats a complete kit. Sell off the pistons and buy some dished ones and you'll be set.

A 302 and 351 are similar blocks but no internals are compatible other then the cam, a 351w crank is larger and so are the rods.

[Ryridesmotox]

It didnt seem like the block was included in the listing, just the rotating assembly, flexplate, and balancer. If that is the price for a whole long block then hell yea thats a steal... i just need to get my damn account verified on their forum lol... watch im too late because of that haha

[Shaolin Crane]

Long block wasnt mentioned, you'll still need heads and a block. Blocks are cheap, iron heads are cheap. If it was $700 for a long block i'd have bought it, relisted it and sold it already. :)

[Ryridesmotox]

Haha yea I have seen some 302 blocks for under $500. What cylinder heads are good? I know gt40s are good for mustangs and such but I'm not sure how they would work.for a moto stroked 100 cubes bigger. Ugh its annoying not knowing as much about Fords as I do about chevys. Guess it was bound to happen. I gotta do some more research. Get a mild cam then maybe some used gt40s, port and polish, new valve train, edlebrock dual plane and a 500cfm carb would probably be good for my plans. Its been a while since me and my dad played with carbs... i miss how simple life is with them.

[Shaolin Crane]

Gt40's arent great. They're cheap and better then E7's, but thats it. Buy a set of RHS or World irons for about $5xx each, you'll want a 215cc runner at least, bigger is better with small blocks. Especially with a big inch windsor.

Carbs i "guess" are simple. But on an n/a motor the EFI system will tune itself, need no tinkering and get great mileage. Go with an efi out of a truck or mustang and you can do it for cheap.

[Ryridesmotox]

Gt40's arent great. They're cheap and better then E7's, but thats it. Buy a set of RHS or World irons for about $5xx each, you'll want a 215cc runner at least, bigger is better with small blocks. Especially with a big inch windsor.

Carbs i "guess" are simple. But on an n/a motor the EFI system will tune itself, need no tinkering and get great mileage. Go with an efi out of a truck or mustang and you can do it for cheap.

Yea, I already have tuning software for efi stuff. I just need something that is OBD2. And hopefully its compatible with my HP tuners software. I have never done an efi install so I might be a little lost for a bit. So many wires... I hate wires so much.

I'm just glad the truck runs well enough to drive while I get all the parts and stuff ready. Grab an engine stand and start assembling stuff as I get it.

[Shaolin Crane]

If you want obd2 you'll need to steal it out of a 95-97 truck. I'd stick with the mustang stuff though, tuning wont be needed and even if so a chip and a tune will run you under $400 and you'll never need another.

[Ryridesmotox]

If you want obd2 you'll need to steal it out of a 95-97 truck. I'd stick with the mustang stuff though, tuning wont be needed and even if so a chip and a tune will run you under $400 and you'll never need another.

Yea... I'm looking at Explorer V8s on ebay. I didn't know they were the same thing as a mustang 5.0L. Maybe it's me being lazy but if I can piece together that drivetrain it would be a decent deal. I'm not a huge ebay fan but 600 bux for a complete, supposedly running, engine doesnt sound like a bad deal.

I don't know maybe that isn't a great idea but seems like a decent option. Remember I'm not going for more than like 300hp here. Just something to get me from point a to b and maybe with my dirtbike in the back. Plus they are OBD2 and I can tune the hell out of it if I want later on after a rebuild.

[Shaolin Crane]

I wasnt talking about explorers i was talking about trucks. Thats alittle more compatible being its no distributorless and is almost identical to the obd1 system except for the computer obviously. Spend your money once and build a nice motor. Even if you did a very minor 351 you'll get more torque and mileage then the 302. I went down the road of "i'll just use this running engine i already have" when it cam time to install it, while it ran perfectly before hand, the bearings were worn out, the cylinder walls looked like mirrors etc. I could have just buttoned it back up but that entails spending money on something old when the same money would need to be spent on the new one as well.

Start out with a 351, do a rebuild and if you want to do it mild or new stock, then go for it. its still going to cost the same for parts from a 302 to a 351 but in the end you'll have a better platform for later. And WHEN you build it, not if, you'll be glad you did.

[Ryridesmotox]

Yea makes perfect sense. I just kinda thought a 351w is out of my price range. But seeing as the only stuff hp tuner supports is the modular engines... that 351w is looking good.

As for trans what do you think about a c6? If im gonna built the truck, might as well do an auto. Even though i will miss the 3rd pedal.

[Shaolin Crane]

C6 is perfect

[Ryridesmotox]

C6 is perfect

Sweet. Now I have to convince the old lady to let me purchase some stuff. The truck still runs like a top with the old straight 6 in it. I almost feel bad for wanting to yank it out but having like 400hp will make me forget about that.

[Shaolin Crane]

You'll probably be able to get a pretty good price from selling that straight 6. The old school truck guys are nuts about them.

[Ryridesmotox]

Yea thats what I'm hoping for. I'm gonna toss it up on ebay in a few weeks... see what interest there is. I'm not even sure what to ask for it... maybe $1500 for the motor and trans? Its a 4speed.