Slick 60's

Ok, here's my next dilemma. Up until recently I've been fully satisfied with using a 390/C6 set up in my 66 short bed. I have the motor and tranny left over from my 66 Galaxie project. My son has been trying to persuade me to use a 5.0/aod with fuel injection and I do have access to one in a 88 F-150 that is being junked. Both combinations will need to be rebuilt. I can get all the wiring and computer with the 5.0 also. Opinions???

I've already done the mustang gas tank upgrade, can I still use this with the 5.0? Are there any problems I'll encounter with the F/I that aren't a concern with the 390? The wiring is what scares me. Does anyone have instructions on what all I will need off the donor truck and how to integrate this into the existing wiring harness? A book with lots and lots of pictures would be great! Video!!

I have the complete harness in Christine from an 88 F250. from headlights to tailights. Purchase a coyles or hanes manual for the 88 and it wil have comprehensive schematic of the wiring system, including color codes. Pull everything from the 88.

The 88 fuel system uses 2 fuel pumps. One low pressure in the tank and a high pressure up near the engine. The HP pump will not pull fuel and has to be fed. Also you will need to fabricate new HP fuel lines or reuse the ones from the F150.

A 302 will never be anywhere near the 390s preformance. It will not take to modifications readily as the sustem is speed density using a MAF sensor. Pretty limited to a chip and a really pablum cam upgrade.

Garbz
472CI 385 Series Fuel Injected in a 64

I would take that FE freshen it up a mild cam with a shift kit in that C6 which is what was in my 69 last year, (really screamed) and fuggedaboud dat lil 5.0 not to mention you wont have to worry about calibrations and having fuel return lines and al lthat previously mentioned by Garbz done, I also have a simple pertronix ignitor II ignition in my OE distributor so points are gone, just my ideas , the 5.0 will run great but I think youll have more fun just knowing you can light up them rears anytime you want

The fuel system and the wiring are what's worrying me the most. I really like the 390 set up but would also like to have overdrive and better fuel mileage. Do they make an aod that will bolt up to and FE?

There is a company that makes an adapter to mate an aod to the www.transmissionadapters.com/ford_fe.htm

I think you can even put the th700 chevy trans behind the FE. I know that both trans have their plusses and minuses. Put a 5 speed OD stick behind it and row your own gears

Thanks for the info. $750 is a little more than I care to spend right now though. But I'll keep that in mind.

well gas is basically 96.5 a quart up here, so it would be a no-brainer for me which to choose. Last FE I had might have got 10 MPG downhill with a tailwind.

if you were gettin 10 you was doin good

My very biased vote is for the 390 with a C-6 (or top loader 4-speed like BroncoTom and RatFinkMike have).
I can't see where a smaller motor in a 4000 pound vehicle would give appreciably better mileage unless you're going to the electronic fuel injection.
Everything has a price. I'm willing to pay for horse pressure.
No matter what you do, do it your way.
U@ss

I agree with that skip a smaller engine having to work twice as hard EFI or not. a good reference would be early 90s F250s with 7.5l or 5.8l the 7.5l had better mileage even on the window stickers

I put a brand new 5.0/ 4R70w (well 16K miles) in my short uni and it was ALOT of work. I do have quite a pile of info and some tips if you decide to do it. Staying with the FE would be the simpler method but there is something to be said for --turning the key and driving--.
Power wise--------I don't know what I would do with anymore than I have
Mileage-------hard to beat a small block with FI

Good Luck on the decision since we probably are only making you scratch your head even more. LOL

Tim

I'm liking the 390/C6 more and more. That was my original intention anyway. Damn kids can be persuasive sometimes but I think I'll leave the FI stuff to him and his Mustang buddies. That aod adapter sure makes me scratch my head though. 10 mpg cuts like a knife these days!

Wylie.
Something is wrong.
Nadine is getting at least 15 mpg.
And I have a very heavy foot.
I can't hep it, I can't hep it.............
U@ss

15! That's good enough for me. Hell, my 90 F-150 with 5.0 5spd doesn't do much better!

My 390 gets 10mpg also. I have the gas receipts from Slickstock to prove it. The only advantage to 10mpg is that it is easy todo the math! My truck was in the garage more last year than since I have owned it. It is already swaying my options for this summer.
If my truck had not already had the 390, it wouldn't been there now. In fact, if I were to build it now, it would have a 300 and an AOD. My son's 63 has a 5.0 and AOD. We removed the EFI and added an Edelbrock intake and Holley 600. He gets 15-16 mpg.

Now there's an idea. Are there any other mods you had to do to the motor to convert from EFI to carb? I have an extra manifold and carb from a 289 we had on the 67 Mustang.

I have an FE in my truck. I don't know how many gallons it gets to the mile but it's great when you mash on the loud pedal!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the info. The 351w is a good idea compared to the 302. The truck is going to be strictly street, no hauling, no dragging, no trailer queen either. As far as money goes, the sky's the limit. My budget is unlimited up to say 50 bucks. Maybe 75 if I splurdge a little.

I ran a 351 W in my 82 F-150. No milage there either. So it's a crap shoot.