new 62 unibody owner

bigdino · Post by **bigdino** » December 22, 2008, 6:45 pm

hey all i have been searching for a truck for a long time. i just now got a 62 unibody short bed with a tired 292 backed by a 4 speed. i am thinking of pulling it in favor of a 454 crate motor that i recently got. any suggestions on how this transition could be easier. does anyone offer a kit? i know where i can get a nova front end that will go under it with some minor cuts. any help is great. you guys have a nice site. thanks in advance

jkimbrel65 · Post by **jkimbrel65** » December 22, 2008, 6:57 pm

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » December 22, 2008, 7:20 pm

It seem obvious to me watching eBay and other venues selling trucks like these that off brand motors kill the resale. There are so many options available for Ford power in your Ford.

Just a thought but if you want to build a truck with a 454 why don't you buy a Chevy. You could probably get your money back out of the Uni. I hope I am not coming of as too much of an ass, I just think you should see how real Ford people feel about cross breeding.

Just for an example, I would consider giving real close to what this guy is asking for this truck with a 460, depending on the overall condition of the truck, if it had a 454 I would think he would be struggling to get 3000 to 4000 for it.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/964512051.html

Oh welcome to the board and Merry Christmas!

DCarr · Post by **DCarr** » December 22, 2008, 8:52 pm

I own a 64 F100 with a big block Chev. It's that way right now for personal reasons. With that said,I recommend using Ford power for a slick.As mentioned above resale value will be much higher with a Ford engine. You can make comparable power with a 460 Ford and the prices of parts & crate motors are very similar. Just my 2 cents. Remember it is YOUR truck-so do it the way you want. Success with whatever you do. By the way-Welcome from ElCajon.

Hurk · Post by **Hurk** » December 22, 2008, 9:16 pm

no reason to really put in a 454. If you want those big engines just get a ford FE or 385 series. Can make big power and you will have a ford engine instead of a chevy.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » December 22, 2008, 10:01 pm

jkimbrel65 wrote:

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » December 22, 2008, 10:21 pm

Big Tim is correct, a cross-breed engine just kills the resale value of Slicks. It used to be that the older, originally Flathead powered trucks that had 350/350 combos in them were holding their value.
But even they are starting to lose out to Ford powered preference by younger generations, for their Ford powered trucks. Chebby engines in them is considered old school.

If that were my truck and I were in your predicament, I would find a nice shorty 67-72 Chebby truck to slip that 454 in and sell the uni body, or conversely sell the 454 crate and get a Ford motor for the Uni. If you need the big block power, a 460 for a base is a good place to start.

I hope I am not coming across as unreasonable here, trust me this is pretty mellow compared to how I would have reacted in the past. But, you are on a Ford man forum here. If you went to the Torino or Mustang forums and suggested sticking in a 454, you'd be hanging from the tallest tree around in about 15 seconds.

It IS your truck. Do what you feel is best, But don't say we didn't warn you.

bigdino · Post by **bigdino** » December 22, 2008, 10:49 pm

Thanks all for the response. I knew I would get both positive positions and negative. Thats why I asked before I started any projects. The 454 crate was just lying around unused. I think after hearing all your thoughts I will stick with FORD power and sell the 454. Merry Christmas

DCarr · Post by **DCarr** » December 22, 2008, 10:57 pm

You might be able to trade it for a 460 or an FE engine. There are many sources for engine & trans. conversion mounts-one good one is Flashback F100s. The owner is a member here(61-66 Junkyard Dog) ,treats us well, and is very knowledgeable on the trucks. Again,welcome----David.

slick4x4 · Post by **slick4x4** » December 22, 2008, 11:27 pm

bigdino wrote: The 454 crate was just lying around unused. I think after hearing all your thoughts I will stick with FORD power and sell the 454. Merry Christmas

definitly needs to go in a chebby truck, EVERYBODY happy that way

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » December 23, 2008, 8:14 am

J.C. must be getting old and mellow.

Fred

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » December 23, 2008, 8:31 am

Johnny Canuck wrote:trust me this is pretty mellow compared to how I would have reacted in the past.

You and I both old friend.

bigdino, I wonder if you could offer to trade your 454 on craigslist or racingjunk.com and maybe find a suitable transplant. Another thought is redo the Y block, not a cooler sounding motor out there than a hot rodded Y block. And did I mention it is just cool.

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » December 23, 2008, 10:13 am

Dont listen to these guys..... Its your truck, do with it what you will. If you build it the way we tell you then its not yours its ours, and quite frankly i have enough trucks.....

I have two words for any one telling me what to put in my truck. And seeing as this is a family site i cant say them. JC is not included as i know deep down in his heart he is a closet chevy guy...

Many have Big blocks of either variety and i cant see spending money for a new mill when one has a perfectly good one hanging out.

And the bull shit on its not worth anything with a different motor is just bunk... Its a custom build and does not have to meet any criteria but what your imagination wants it to be.

If we all want a Ford motor in this mans truck i suggest you start a kitty to buy it, as i dont care whats in it.

Wow you got me on a roll today, and i only own fords.....

Garbz

"Its the trucks dudes and dudettes not the mills"..........

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » December 23, 2008, 10:24 am

Oh BTW welcome aboard!

Nova and Camaro clips are a bad idea, even in Novas...due to width and mushy GM handling.

If you want slammed you can do this with the straight axle or a plethora of aftermarket suspension packages.

Here's what is installed in my 63 uni

A Dakota based 1/2 ton truck suspension. Manufactured by Industrial Chassis. BTW you may have seen the owner of IC's truck the 63 uni with the 427 RAT with twin turbos and 1000 HP...

Garbz

36truck · Post by **36truck** » December 23, 2008, 10:40 am

Garbz I like how you tell the guy to do what he want's in one post. Then in the next you are bashing something else about his truck.

Nothing like being hypercritical there.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » December 23, 2008, 11:37 am

Bigdino. Pay no attention to the Garbz behind the curtain. He and I are, believe it or not, old friends, and have had this discussion going on now for many years. Garbz is a very knowledgeable man when it comes to these trucks. He knows what he is talking about in chassis design. He knows what he is talking about in all aspects of these trucks, (except 4x4 fenders..

) But, he is a great believer in freedom of choice.

I don't think any of us told you you HAD to put a Ford motor in. We just recommended it to help your resale value. Most of us don't have our heads in the sand about this, including Dcarr who has his own Chevy powered slick.

Fords of the era of the mustang do NOT pull better prices with Off-brand engines, period. Neither do other brands. Imagine a 65 broken back fastback mustang with a Toyota engine in it , or one with a 289 in it, at an auction. Which would fetch more money? Think of a '71 Charger for sale with a 351 Ford in it. Is the picture coming clear? No matter how much my brother Garbz chooses to ignore that, it is just not gonna improve the worth of the vehicle.

I laugh when he calls me a closet Chebby guy,, heck I would take a 69 Z28 with a Factoy Chebby 302 over just about any other car if it was offered to me at a price I could afford. Wouldn't be worth a pile of turds to me with a Ford motor.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » December 23, 2008, 11:38 am

Garbz is not bashing bigdino's truck. He was considering a Nova clip, and Garbz advised against it and suggested something that's proven to work and work well. I don't see a problem there.

Welcome bigdino. Just don't scrap the 292 if you decide to go with another powerplant. I'm sure someone around here will take it off your hands!

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » December 23, 2008, 11:57 am

Yea what he said!

Hypercritical.... Dang i thought it was hypocritical...

See JC gets it sometimes, and i thought we were all in agreement i am right on those fenders....Dang.....

Actually anything other than a GM clip of that era will do, there horrible with the ride an general mushiness, And a tad to wide for 61 to 64s.

As i said there are a host of suspension systems out there for use. I don't advocate clipping of any type after royally messing one up...Add on and keep your stock rails.

Garbz

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » December 23, 2008, 12:00 pm

Oh yea and my next slick project will blow yer mind!

And it wont be Chebby powered but a nasty 300 Six.

I all ready have the body and frame just need to do it.....

Garbz

"And here i said i would not build another one"....

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » December 23, 2008, 12:16 pm

Johnny Canuck wrote: I laugh when he calls me a closet Chebby guy,, heck I would take a 69 Z28 with a Factoy Chebby 302 over just about any other car if it was offered to me at a price I could afford. Wouldn't be worth a pile of turds to me with a Ford motor.

Was it Pinks that had a 73 Camaro with a Ford motor in it, that sure ruffled a few feathers, but the same guys think a Chevy motor in a Mustang is "OK". Go figure.