hey people! just wondering if its possible to put a 5.0 in a cruiser ive never seen any post or pics of doin this. perhapse there is something i dont know here? 
5.0 in a 40 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Varty Yo
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its definately possible,have seen it many times.but the aftermarket is not that strong for ford conversions on cruisers so expect to do alot of fab yourself.with that said 75% the ford conversions ive seen were hack jobs.plus its way more expensive going the ford route versus the chevy.
one of the guys in my club has one so id say so
it's fairly popular in australia (probably because our family cars used the injected 5 litre up until about 2003
try marks adaptors.. .they have a good kit
try marks adaptors.. .they have a good kit
I have a 351 in my 40 and I love it. Great motor and the dizzy is on the correct end of the engine.
You can do it!
I am planning on doing the same thing on my wifes. We have a Cobra 302 and our plans are to put a NV4500 behind and mate it to the Toy T-case. Advanced Adapters has a decent selection of motor tranny combos but Marks has a kit that will allow you to keep your tranny and t-case in the stock location. AA has a kit for the C4 and a T-18 tranny and motor mounts. My inspiration used NAPA motor mounts, $32 for the NAPA's compared to the $100 AA Wants.The Ford V8 is about 80 lbs lighter and if your a Ford fan it is the only way you could sleep at night! I dont mean to piss off all the Chev and Mopar fans out there but we all tend to stick with what we are most familiar with. Let me know how it goes and good luck!
I am planning on doing the same thing on my wifes. We have a Cobra 302 and our plans are to put a NV4500 behind and mate it to the Toy T-case. Advanced Adapters has a decent selection of motor tranny combos but Marks has a kit that will allow you to keep your tranny and t-case in the stock location. AA has a kit for the C4 and a T-18 tranny and motor mounts. My inspiration used NAPA motor mounts, $32 for the NAPA's compared to the $100 AA Wants.The Ford V8 is about 80 lbs lighter and if your a Ford fan it is the only way you could sleep at night! I dont mean to piss off all the Chev and Mopar fans out there but we all tend to stick with what we are most familiar with. Let me know how it goes and good luck!
Although not as popular, the 5.0 makes a decent candidate for a swap, they are slightly smaller, the dizzy is in a much better location and parts are pretty much available anywhere for the 5.0.
There are Marks adaptors to run one with the exact stock drivetrain IIRC.
There are Marks adaptors to run one with the exact stock drivetrain IIRC.
plus a 351 windsor fits in almost the same spot, and the multiport pickup motors spanked the throttle body 350's. vortec supposedly changed that, but I never saw it. a 351 out of a 94-96 1/2 ton would be a great motor.
this is based only on comparing two similar pickups, 1/2 ton shortbox's, so don't jump all over me. my cruiser has a 350 in it. I just happen to like fords mostly.
this is based only on comparing two similar pickups, 1/2 ton shortbox's, so don't jump all over me. my cruiser has a 350 in it. I just happen to like fords mostly.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
If you want to find a 351 Windsor. That has the small block bell housing bolt pattern. The 351 Clevland and Modified both have big block bell housing bolt patterns, like the 400 and 460 engines. So to make a 302 adapter plate work the only other engine would be the 351 windsor. But in the dates shown above I'm pretty sure that the 351 W was the only 351 being made. The other variatious died out i believe in the the early 80's, once ford went to fuel injection.
The 350 chevy is easy to put in and a 383 stroker kit doesnt cost that much so if you are looking for performance that might be an option that is easily installed
351m and 400's died in the 80's, never got to be fuel injected here, they had some better versions in Australia, but the Windsor would be the way to go. although dad has a 400 in a 66 bronco that makes a lot of motors look sad.
I'm a chevy guy but the 5.0 (Ford, that is) is not a bad motor. Lighter than a Chevy (not narrower), dizzy up front (Still, I like having a coil on the firewall), and dependable for years. IF I was doing a Ford, however, I'd seriously look at a 351 or 400.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
The only problem with the 400 is performance parts availabiltiy and finding an adapter plate. I currently have a 400 engine that I'm building and parts for it in the way of performance are hard to find.
fordota sounds worse then chevota
300 straight six. 
canadian bum
SILVER Star
The striaght six is actually a pretty good engine and it has lots of torque. I think that it has the same bell houseing pattern of a 302 and a 351 windsor.
Summit Racing still has new 5.0 motors with alum GT-40 heads and other goodies for $3500.00. 345 hp and 9.0 to 1 compression (runs on regular). $ for hp and new...pretty hard to beat, if you are leaning in the SBF direction. I have a couple SBF in things (not cruisers) and I like them just fine. You could probably run across a 5.8 HO with a roller out of mid-late 80's Bronco or truck for cheap out of a bone yard...but by the time you futz with it...for the $ differences between it and a brand new crate motor from Summit...
My poor 40 came with a very well running 302 in it. It actually seems wider than a gm offering. The PO actually squezed one exhaust pipe on the outside of the rail, one on the inside. One thing I was curious about is tranny options besides a t18 or sm435. with adapters set up for a stock 3spd trans, would a sm420 be able to bolt up without out much besides a probably impossible to find pilot bearing?
ridgerunner said:300 straight six.
Yep.........the PO of my '40 had a 300 in it, but it was an older 300 (1965ish) and I had a hell of a time getting replacement parts. Even the airfilter was a special order. If you go that route, get a newer 300. Just my .02
