'77 F-150 engine swap
 

Hi guys, I'm new here so I hope I don't repeat on this question....my search only pulled up one thread and didn't answer my question specifically.

I bought a neglected '77 F-150 and did a lot of tune up wirk, etc. the tranny was serviced and now the shop said it blew a front pump seal (?). They quoted me $700 dollars to fix it! Well, after they worked on it and it poured tranny oil like a seive immediately after, I decided not to go with that option (I only paid $700 for the truck to begin with....).

Getting to my question, I had wanted a 390 anyway and found one on craigslist. It came with the transmission so I don't need any guidance on that piece of the project. What I am needing help with is the engine mount towers. I know that 1976 was the last year for the 390, and my boyfriend has one he swaped his 360 for the 390, but we're having a difficult time visually inspecting both of them since they both have engines in them. Does anyone know if they are compatible, and if not where I might get new ones? I don't really want to pull an engine e in a junk yard to get them. I'd rather buy new if I can.

Oh, also another question! I want to get headers for it but every shop I've talked to so far said they don't think anything will fit. They seem to think the engine compartment is smaller in '77. Our measurements come out very close between the '76 and '77. Anyone have any knowledge about the headers too???

Thanks everybody for your time helping me. :)

There are no differences in the half ton frames through the 70's. What motor is in it now? If it is a 352 block (332 352 360 361 390 392 401 410 427 428 maybe more displacements strokers are out there) it will drop right in. If you have a six, windsor, or, modified, you will have to get the mounts out of a 360 truck. If you have the 351m/400, I would find a 460 and break u-joints. There is a FordTruckEnthusiast site that has forums for your era truck and mine, too. Rich I'm not really a mechanic, but, I play one on T.V.

Thank for the info on that. I didn't think they were different either, but I'm just now getting into all this truck stuff. I do have the 351M that I'm taking out of it. I wish I had put more thought into what I was doing before I took this project on! All I can say is that if my boyfriend didn't love these trucks and enjoy working on them, I bet I'd be single (heheheh).

And FTE....I know of them. I just thought this would be an interesting site to check out as well.

Since you already have the 351 modified and bigblock c6, Go find you a 78 or older lincoln or other 429-460 car. Yank the duraspark box and all. The weak lincoln 460's were rated at 280 horse, 380 ft./lb.. I had a 76 460 in a 62 Galaxie that would raise the driver's tire and was too scary to top out at 140+. You want a mud truck? 390's run like crazy, brutal torque, but they're 75-100 pounds heavier than a 460. If you do build the FE, always run an extra quart of oil so you don't starve it on a high rpm downshift and start spitting circlips out of the wristpins, don't ask how I know, but, when it bogs at 100, don't drop it into 2nd, but it will hop on top of the mud and take off when you slap it back in drive.