Are you a Ford in a Ford kind of trucker? Perhaps the purest in you has
stepped aside for the more convenient and less expensive substitute and/or
your truck purchase came with a modern generic substitute. I have nothing
against substitution, especially if you love the fat fender Ford body style
but, couldn't see a Ford motor in your future. I understand the mysterious
call of more and more horse power per cubic inch that all motor heads must
have and/or the massive heads another brand may have had in your decision to
build a truck without a Ford motor in the engine bay.
As I said, there are many combinations of motor and transmissions that fit
well under the hood of your truck, so why not a Ford in a Ford? The Ford
line up of engines has been on the race track for many years, albeit dirt,
flat, round, straight, Laguna, Sebring, Nuremberg, or climbing Pikes Peak,
Ford engines have won European as well as American races for many years and
when stuffed under the right hood, those very same motors sell for six digit
figures. It makes no difference if it's an in line six for you purest, or a
flat head V-8 in that three window coup or a Shelby Mustang 500 GT. Alright,
I admit the Chevrolet engine is cheaper and parts are more abundant but why
work so hard to turn people's heads when you drive up. After all you just
spent tens of thousands of dollars on the truck frame and body just to make
your FORD the best looking one out there and then they open the hood?
Ford offers crate engines in many different cubic inch and horse power
rating. The 347 is available in 330 hp, 350hp, 405hp, and 415 hp versions.
The 330 hp long block can be had for around $3,000 and the 351 Windsor rated
at 400hp can be yours for around $4,000. There is the 427 (who wouldn't want
a side oilier with those massive heads?) The 428 and 429 cubic inch
displacement motors of legend especially if the 428 was stuffed in a Mustang
and then there was every ones favorite, the answer to the Hemi, the one and
only Boss 429. Lest we forget The 390 and 460 engines that can be had for a
song and built to impressive horse power ratings. Ford motors such as the
521ci producing 580 hp, or the 4.6 Liter naturally aspirated or supercharged
with horse power limited only by your budget. How about the Ford 392ci at
475hp it's a bit smaller but comes with respectable numbers. Ford has many
big block race versions to choose from, all you have to do is dream big.
Since your dreaming, don't forget the Ford work horses, the venerable 289
and its spin off the 302 Windsor and Cleveland motors. They are inexpensive,
great for fuel economy and dare I say it, build ability.
Caution! Horror stories abound and yes I could tell you a few myself, so I
caution you, DO NOT, let someone or some shop you are unfamiliar with work
on your motor or truck for that matter. Ask friends what they know and check
with car clubs in the area. Seek out the advice of others that have dealt
with the builder by asking for a client list. Avoid having the major portion
of your money in the hands of the builder until the job is done. Prior to
starting work, make sure you settle how and in what percentage increments
payments will be made. There are endless combinations of engine packages
available from Ford motor company and Ford racing, not to mention a whole
host of reputable engine builders. After having done your home work, all you
have to do is pick a motor, install it and join the Ford in a Ford club.
However, if you stuffed one of the other guy's engines in your Ford, then it
was right for you and I look forward to seeing your truck on the street real
soon. As we like to say in the Pickups Limited club, drive em' that's what
there for.
Until that time
Dan
The Music Man
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