I hesitate to ask, as it regards a f-25zero

[Jason Mills]

I have the opportunity to pick up a 92 ford 3/4 ton. It is a beautifully rust free example... for $500. Just a little assembly required.. such as it needs a motor installed. 4x4, 4 speed auto (i believe) auto locking hubs

the previous owner, appears to have had it a short while it had burned a piston. He removed the original 351, and as a 302 to install, sitting in the bed.


the story goes that it was a florida contractor up here (thus the clean body) and the motor let go. this fella started on the project and seems to have run out of (something) to finish the project.. if the original motor was still in place the project might be easier, as I would be at least a little familiar with what bolt goes where..

unfortunately it is not a DODGE.. but that is the only negative I can find.

does anyone wanna talk me down? share your experience about what to look for? or look at as I revisit this in bright daylight.

tell me to run, not walk away?

open to any and all opinions.

[Gordon Maney]

I gather it is a two wheel drive truck? It sounds like a great opportunity as a result of the price.

My initial reaction; would you rather have more than a 302?

I suspect you could puzzle through the installation and succeed.

[Jason Mills]

I gather it is a two wheel drive truck? It sounds like a great opportunity as a result of the price.

My initial reaction; would you rather have more than a 302?

I suspect you could puzzle through the installation and succeed.

It is a four wheel drive rig.. why doesn't Ford copy Dodge and do the D/W thing to distinguish between two and four wheel drive? wait, maybe Dodge no longer does that?

I was wondering also about making a change in the planned engine to put in the truck.. I rather like inline 6's.. and there may be a slight economy advantage to that. As well as the ford reputation for their 6 as being highly regarded..

and I don't expect it would be heavily loaded more than 30% of the time. A diesel would also be nice, but that will require a transmission change.

[Gordon Maney]

I do not know how recently the 300 cu. in. six was used. It was a great engine.

[NNICKB]

The Ford 300 six does have a good reputation. The AOD automatic transmission, unfortunately does not. I do not know what transmission would have been used in this truck or whether it will even bolt to the 6.

The 302 is a short stroke (3") design. It is a fine passenger car engine, but a little weak in the knees for a truck, particularly a big one with an overdrive automatic.

I know you are on a budget, but my vote would be to locate a second truck, wrecked or rustbucket, with the 6. That is the only way to be sure you will have all the parts to make the change. If it is a manual trans so much the better.

I have thought about desecrating a FFPW or M37 by installing a 300 six, and wonder if anyone has ever done so...

[712edf]

If you were familar with Ford products I would say Go for it. But if you are like me and not that up on them, I'd say pass. Or at least find a cheap (free) parts truck that has everything you might need.

When working on a Ford product it has been my experience that EVERY bolt that holds a particular component on the engine is of a different size. If a part has 8 bolts, you will likely need 8 different wrenches to remove that part. Ford is far worse than GM or Chryco. Almost impossible to work on by folks who want things to be "logical". I'd just nearly assume work on a Japanese or European rig than a Ford.

The 300 is a good engine. 302 is also not bad. 351 sucks as much gas as a big block anything.

Ford doesn't even number their cylinders the same as what you & I are used to. How's that for being backwards.

Bucky

[Jason Mills]

The Ford 300 six does have a good reputation. The AOD automatic transmission, unfortunately does not. I do not know what transmission would have been used in this truck or whether it will even bolt to the 6.

The 302 is a short stroke (3") design. It is a fine passenger car engine, but a little weak in the knees for a truck, particularly a big one with an overdrive automatic.

I know you are on a budget, but my vote would be to locate a second truck, wrecked or rustbucket, with the 6. That is the only way to be sure you will have all the parts to make the change. If it is a manual trans so much the better.

I have thought about desecrating a FFPW or M37 by installing a 300 six, and wonder if anyone has ever done so...

I went to see it this evening, and happened to meet the fella who lives next door. He informed me that the original engine was pulled with just a chain on the front of the engine, and thus there was a huge stress on the input shaft of the tranny and it was broken or cracked in the process, which is why the owner gave up on the project... so it now needs a tranny, he does believe the rest of the truck is 'very good'... I am not so sure as:

worse to me is that someone has been monkeying with the electrical system/dash. As well as there being a jumper wire running from the fuel pump to the front/rear fuel switch.

IF I was to find a f-150 with six and a five speed, for a song, it may be worth the effort.. but I am not so excited to try and glue this rig together with the parts that are presented... I believe ford put the 300 six in their trucks until 1995 or 96.

[Jason Mills]

uct it has been my experience that EVERY bolt that holds a particular component on the engine is of a different size. If a part has 8 bolts, you will likely need 8 different wrenches to remove that part. Ford is far worse than GM or Chryco. Almost impossible to work on by folks who want things to be "logical". I'd just nearly assume work on a Japanese or European rig than a Ford.

Bucky

This colors the picture rather well Bucky. I may be smart to take the high dollar road, and get something I will enjoy working on, while owning.

always wanted a slant six anyway, problem being then I would want to store it in the winters...

[NNICKB]

When working on a Ford product it has been my experience that EVERY bolt that holds a particular component on the engine is of a different size. If a part has 8 bolts, you will likely need 8 different wrenches to remove that part. Ford is far worse than GM or Chryco. Almost impossible to work on by folks who want things to be "logical". I'd just nearly assume work on a Japanese or European rig than a Ford.

Hey Bucky, I got a good laugh when I read this.

I once put a timing chain on a 1960 Dodge Station Wagon, with factory air conditioning. All the bolts were pretty much the same size head (1/2" if I recall), but it wasn't until I had them all out that I realized they were of different lengths. Took a great deal of trial and error to get them all back in! But, hey, I drove it across the United States after that with no problems.

I do not have a lot of experience working with Fords so perhaps that is just as well. Wouldn't kick one of those early Cobras out of my garage, though...

The more I hear about this F250, the less I like. There are enough Dodges around of the same vintage, and cheap too, so well, you know, that would probably be a better choice.

[Jason Mills]

[I]
The more I hear about this F250, the less I like. There are enough Dodges around of the same vintage, and cheap too, so well, you know, that would probably be a better choice.

True here as well.. best part about the ford is i would not have any guilt about running it in the snow/salt.. as it is pretty well beat WHILE still being solid to the point of being worth some effort to get 5 years out of it..

I am most likely to pass on this "opportunity".