1982 ford Bronco 351W swap to 390 FE, Will it work? - Ford Forums

jrshipper · 06-14-2003, 16:46

My frend has a 1982 Bronco with a 351W. I have a 390 FE engine from a 1968 Ford Galaxie that i rebuilt awhile back. My question is does anyone know if the engines will swap eaily with no problems, or will we need to modify some stuff? Will all of the brackets and accessories swap over? Any information will help a lot.

Vlad_Padberg · 10-23-2003, 12:00

Will the bolt holes in the transmission be right? Just go ahead and do it. Make sure you label the wires first or else you have one huge mess.

'92BigBronco · 10-23-2003, 13:09

You can put 500 hp in a wheelbarrow with enough time and money but it wouldn't be practical. Same goes here. The FE blocks are very strong but unfortunately there's not a lot of parts out there for the FE blocks anymore. Besides the obvious problem of the tranny not bolting up to the engine block, you'll have to fabricate your own motor mounts, tranny mount, cross member, and have a new drivshaft made. None of the accessories will bolt up. It can be done, but only by someone with a lot of money to throw away or the experience required to machine the new brackets, motor mounts, etc.

IMO, it's not worth the trouble. There are tons of 351W performance parts out there and with the right parts, a 351W will put the FE 390 to shame.

89F150 · 10-24-2003, 03:00

Hey Vlad. glad to see you hanging around the forums and helping out.

351w · 10-24-2003, 20:20

hey jrshipper,
just take the 351w apart and give it a new rebuild.
make sure you have a good 4 bbl intake and carb a set of headers and throw in a 284h cam from competition cams and you should make around 100 to 140 more hp than the stock motor did.
oh almost for got this and if i dont mention it ill get hell from 92 big bronco.
have your spring heights checked to make sure the cam wont bind um and break up alot of stuff.
you might have to change some valvetrain components.

'92BigBronco · 10-24-2003, 20:23

Me, give you hell? NOT

Sounds like good advice to me :-)

themaninthehat · 10-08-2004, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by '92BigBronco

You can put 500 hp in a wheelbarrow with enough time and money but it wouldn't be practical. Same goes here. The FE blocks are very strong but unfortunately there's not a lot of parts out there for the FE blocks anymore. Besides the obvious problem of the tranny not bolting up to the engine block, you'll have to fabricate your own motor mounts, tranny mount, cross member, and have a new drivshaft made. None of the accessories will bolt up. It can be done, but only by someone with a lot of money to throw away or the experience required to machine the new brackets, motor mounts, etc.

IMO, it's not worth the trouble. There are tons of 351W performance parts out there and with the right parts, a 351W will put the FE 390 to shame.

I have blown mu fair share of windsors in my day, but never a 390. The 390 is in a class shared by probably only the inline-6 300 as being the most durable engines ever made by Ford.

Clarko · 01-01-2005, 18:10

Lots of custom work needed, along with a new C6 with the FE bellhousing pattern on it. You'll need custom motor mounts and lift springs just to get it to sit level. Go with a 460.

KILLERME · 01-01-2005, 23:24

I'd use 460,,go better and engine design is way better,

Clarko · 01-02-2005, 04:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLERME

engine design is way better,

Thats debatable. Y-Block and Thick walls make the FE stronger. Thin walls and skirtless make the 385-Series lighter and the motor takes up less space overall.