New To Forum - 300 to 302 Conversion Questions

[F100Newbie]

I have been looking at an 81 F100 Flareside and finally got it today. I've been doing lots of research on swapping out the 300 I6 for a 302 or 351 and think I know how to do that but I'd like to put a T5 or TKO in with the engine swap. Will either of those trannies match up to the hole in the floor for the shifter? Also, will I need a customer crossmember for the transmission or can the stock one be used for the new tranny? Thanks in advance.

P.S. I hope this hasn't been asked before but I've searched the forums and couldn't find the info.

 

[polarbear]

Someone will be along shortly to answer that question. In the meanwhile

Welcome to FTF!

 

[F100Newbie]

Anyone on 300 to 302 swap?

Thanks PolarBear. No one has replied to my thread yet. I'm amazed that I can't find this info on the internet. I found lots of stuff about swaps but not much about the 80-86 models and nothing in particular about which perches or engine mounts I would need for the swap and whether a T5 will line up properly. It looks like Trans-Dapt has the motor mounts that will adapt to the 302 without changing the motor perches but I have to call tomorrow to confirm that. Now if I can just find out if the T5 will line up and what I will need to put the T5 in, I'll be ready to go.

 

[5.0Flareside]

http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13676


^^^^^
a basics of what you'll need.. not completely the same but similar swap...

why the want for a T5 in the truck?

 

[Fellro]

I would expect the shifter on the T5 to be back farther than the hole already in the floor. There likely has been some to have done it, but it is generally not considered a good idea due to the weight of the truck vs. the weight of the Fox body that the T5 usually resides in. Trying to recall, but i believe the T5 was also a cable clutch, while the trucks are hydraulic.

As far as the crossmember goes, expect it to have to be modified, as the T5 never came in any light duty truck, and the mount location is likely not the same as the transmissions that did come in the trucks.

Changing the perches isn't a total big deal, the passenger side is completely bolted, while the driver side is partially bolted, partially riveted. Had you been here a few months ago, I could have supplied you with the proper perches. They are out there.

 

[F100Newbie]

T5 Transmission with 5.0L Conversion

Thanks for the info. The main reason I was thinking of a T5 transmission is that my truck is going to be my daily driver. I won't be towing or hauling heavy loads in it. So I figured it would be easiest to buy a 5.0 Mustang and just swap the engine, tranny, computer, and everything else I need. Is there a 5 speed transmission that would work better with my swap, knowing I don't need to haul heavy loads? My F100 has the mechanical clutch linkage which I think I can adapt to any transmission.

 

[Fordzilla80]

Changing the perches isn't a total big deal, the passenger side is completely bolted, while the driver side is partially bolted, partially riveted. Had you been here a few months ago, I could have supplied you with the proper perches. They are out there.

On my F150, both of the 300 I6 perches were fully bolted on, no rivets to be found.

To swap to a 302, you will need the engine perches from a 302/351 truck. 1980-1996 should all be the same.

 

[Fellro]

I took them from an 85 W truck, and the 92 460 mounts also were riveted.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Have you installed your T5 trans and how is it?

 

[flareside_thunder]

Given the look of the truck.....are you going for sporty and short throw? What are your performance plans for the engine? If you're going stock or mild, I don't see why an M5OD-R2 wouldn't serve you well.....the T5 shifter will definitely be further back than the factory shifter hole.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Given the look of the truck.....are you going for sporty and short throw? What are your performance plans for the engine? If you're going stock or mild, I don't see why an M5OD-R2 wouldn't serve you well.....the T5 shifter will definitely be further back than the factory shifter hole.

I looked at his Gallery and he already has it in.

 

[flareside_thunder]

Ah hell, oh well.

 

[F100Newbie]

T5 Transmission

I did get the T5 installed. It worked out great. I bought the T5 from Modern Driveline and it came with the adapter to bolt it to my stock bellhousing so I didn't have to change the clutch linkage. I was also lucky in that when I finished the tailshaft was int he right spot so I didn't have to have the driveshaft shortened. It bolted right back in and was the perfect length.

I did have to modify the transmission crossmember a bit but it was easy. I just unbolted it and moved it back about 3 or 4 inches and then drilled new holes to bolt it to the frame. Then I had to drill a hole in the center of the crossmember for the transmission mount. That was it. Only took me the better part of a day in the garage.

Modern Driveline machined the casing on the T5 so that the shifter came up through the stock hole in the cab. It was still a little to the right so I had to cut about 1" out of the hole to make it fit right. I cut a galvanized sheet to go over the hole with a cutout for the shifter and it works great. I put an old school Hurst shifter on it and I think it looks fine.

I don't plan to haul heavy loads or tow anything with the truck so the T5 will give me the performance and gas mileage I want. I still plan to put 3:50 gears in the rear end as that's what the plan was when I ordered the T5 from Modern Driveline.

If you look at my gallery there is a pic of the T5 and also one of the interior with the Hurst shifter.

 

[F100Newbie]

One More Thing

One more thing I forgot is that I decided against swapping the 300 engine for a 302, based on the advice of many folks on the forum. The 300 engine just seems too good to get rid of for what everyone says will be minimal performance gains. And from what I hear and read, the 300 will last much longer than the 302. I put a new muffler and exhaust system and plan to install a new exhaust manifold when I have time. Then I am just going to do a few cosmetic things under the hood to pretty things up.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I definitely will be following along. On the T5 for myself I will have to do a lot of looking to find one.