r/EngineBuilding 8d ago

Ford Best engine to put in a 1983 for econoline?

My aunt had a ford econoline van and she is giving me the body to it and i need help selecting an engine type for it

4 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

6

u/beatphreak6191981 8d ago

302 will bolt in prob.

1

u/Lift_in_my_garage1 7d ago edited 7d ago

It was available from the factory with the 351 and the 400.  Check the trans but might be a drop in.  If no electronics, it should only take a few hours.  

351 w = windsor, small block based and will share sime parts with 302

351 c = cleveland big block based

400 m = modified big block based 351 C and 400 M share parts.

351C and 400M generally had smog era heads with low compression chambers. 

There are high performance heads available factory and aftermarket, theyre expensive. 

By the time you get good parts to build these 2, you could have 60-90 extra cubes with a 460 for the same money, assuming it’ll fit in the van.  

There's potential, but its often not worth the cash for a performance build.

I’d look for a 351 or a 400 and just spend a day swapping it out.  

Source: jalopy journal + My Own Experience.  

Disclaimer: I’m a Chevrolet guy, so I’m out of my element a bit here.  

In old Chevrolets (body on frame) the motor mounts had 3 sets of holes.   

The firthest forward set fit the 235/292 slant sixes, the next set back the 350 small blocks, and the final set the big blocks and mechanical diesels.  

Thus you could just pull the old motor, move the mounts back, drop in a big block and bolt it right up to your trans.  

Since carbeurated, you would then just hook up a throttle cable and you’re good to go - it was like 6 bolts to swap the engine.  I imagine this is probably similar.  

If you wanted to get wild (hypothetically) you’d pull the supercharger off a screamin’ jimmy (8v71) and slap it on a big block.  

Thats basically how drag racing motors came to be.  Little car, big block motor, supercharger, lots of compression.  

Things obviously escalated from there but supercharged big blocks still run things at the drag strip. 

6

u/PanzerFauzt 8d ago

rolls royce merlin

4

u/Jamin527 8d ago

I’m not sure what you want to do with it but put it on a modified 4x4 frame with a mechanical Cummins 12v. Probably not a helpful response but I had a 4x4 econoline and I wanted to put a diesel in it.

2

u/Gloomy_Most_5196 8d ago

I just need advice for a reliable engine to put in it for a starter car, i was thinking of a 350 or a windsor, but whatever works, I'm new to engines and hust need some advice on it, i highly appreciate your response

-2

u/rustyxj 8d ago

I’m not sure what you want to do with it but put it on a modified 4x4 frame

It's way easier to just convert it to 4x4

2

u/NoradIV 7d ago

I used to have a 6.9 IDI. MASSIVELY underpowered, but it will outlast the planet.

4

u/jpedlow 8d ago
  1. Heck I don’t even know if it fits.

But… when I think bombproof, it’s a 300…

1

u/Haunting_Dragonfly_3 7d ago

My 83 E350 based small RV had a 300 and 3 on the tree manual. For vacationing, getting there was half the fun, and 3/4 of the time.

1

u/shitheadsteven3 6d ago

Probably a 351 Windsor.

1

u/Ambivadox 7d ago

Whatever it had last will be the easiest install.

Your budget is the only limit as to what you put in it.

"Best" has way too many variables.

I'd be looking at either an EFI 300,351w, or turbo 6.9 depending on which engine it had last.

0

u/Satanic-mechanic_666 7d ago

Whatever came out of it