Engine swap questions/thoughts

[cruiseninak]

This is more of a learning type of thing. So here it goes ford 300(motor) zf5(trans) NP203 (doubler/adapter) then toyota split case and stock axles. Does this seem like it makes sense/would work? I know it is not a chevy but this set up should be applicable to any ford small block v8 also. I haven't seen a 60 with a 300 but maybe a different LC? I don't have any plans to swap now since I am still under 100k. Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Pat

 

[slcfj62]

Before you decide whether or not to do an engine swap, you should decide what you want to accomplish. In other words, what will the new engine bring to the table that the old one didn't. More horsepower? Better economy? More reliability? Once you determine what you want to accomplish, then the decision gets easier. A ford 300 is a great engine, but it probably won't be enough of an improvement over the 2F in any area to justify the expense.

 

[ntsqd]

I would expect a 300 to have more torque than the 2F. There is no way that I would consider a carb'd version. I had a carb'd version. Great engine, wonderful to drive, dismal mileage. Even with EFI the mileage probably won't be great. If you're looking at it for low speed torque I'll suggest a diesel instead.

 

[MBerry]

I would have to agree with slcfj62. While the 300 is a great engine, I seriously doubt the benefits outweigh the costs. Thinking of the future also, how hard is it to find parts for a Ford 300 should something go wrong?

I chose a 350 simply because it was relatively inexpensive, parts for them are practically everywhere, and there are a myriad of transmission choices out there. Also, they are fairly reliable if taken care of. Any swap is going to be work, and expensive. I'm not saying not to do it, but if you want to stay inline and have the cash I would go diesel.

 

[tclark]

I like the inline engines too; I think you should do a 1FZ-FE. I keep hearing that people have done it, but never from the actual guy that did!

 

[Kurtis]

Theres a few documented guys on here getting more power than a efi ford 300 with a 2fe which would be cheaper and easier to do than a swap. I drove a 1995 f150 with the 300 in highschool and then as a work truck and its great for work. its got over 200k now and still runs like a champ. Hardly costs anything to maintain hauling loads around town is no big deal. My brother still drives it Fuel mileage isn't to bad. I get the same mileage with my SOA v8 auto cruiser 14-14.5 in town and 16-17 highway than I did with the truck. But its defiantly short on power compared to any of the v8s I drive. I dont ever haul more than 8k so i use a 06 2500hd 6.0 for my work truck and put a 5.7 4l60e in the cruiser and honestly wouldn't buy another 6 cylinder truck or suv in my life unless it was a cummins. I would have bought a diesel 3/4 ton but the mileage around town is similar and the initial cost and maintenance cost is so much more than the 6.0 I couldn't really justify it not hauling over 8k.

 

[coolotisdog]

Another thing I think you would be better off doing is not puttig a 205 doubler on the Toyota transfer case. I just think that gets too complicated. Does anyone even make that adapter? Would you have to just fab something up yourself? You could just do a 205 doubler on a 205 transfer case. I think thatd be a lot easier. Either way you are prob gonna need new driveshafts. I know the Ford versions seem to be more plentiful than the Chevy ones. It took me a while to find a Chevy 205 that wasn't a ripoff.

 

[cruiseninak]

Thanks for all the thoughts. Unless a six is what you really want most any 8 seems better. Keep in mind that the 300 has the same trans bolt pattern as the 302/351. But I was looking more along the lines of did I come up with a drive line that would actually all work together/bolt together. All expense aside and there is a bit of that. Coolotisdog there is no adapter for the zf5 to toyota splitcase that I can find. Hence the doubler.

Thanks

Edit: Hope I didn't get anyone's hopes up but not planning on swapping anytime soon. This was for educational purposes for me for the most part. But if some one else runs/has run with the idea I would love to see pics.

 

[boots4]

Another thing I think you would be better off doing is not puttig a 205 doubler on the Toyota transfer case. I just think that gets too complicated. Does anyone even make that adapter? Would you have to just fab something up yourself? You could just do a 205 doubler on a 205 transfer case. I think thatd be a lot easier. Either way you are prob gonna need new driveshafts. I know the Ford versions seem to be more plentiful than the Chevy ones. It took me a while to find a Chevy 205 that wasn't a ripoff.

I'm going to interpret that to mean a 203 doubler to a toy splitcase. Yes there is an adapter to run a 203 to a toy splitcase and a couple of us including myself are running them. I don't think it's any more complicated than any other doubler.

 

[coolotisdog]

I

I'm going to interpret that to mean a 203 doubler to a toy splitcase. Yes there is an adapter to run a 203 to a toy splitcase and a couple of us including myself are running them. I don't think it's any more complicated than any other doubler.

That's exactly what I was asking. Since there is an adapter that'd be pretty simple. That's cool, I didn't know they made one.