Here’s another classic 5th-generation Ford pickup, except for the fact that this one has a surprise under the hood. It is a 1971 F-100 and can be found here on eBay with a requested opening bid of $7,000. Located in Travelers Rest, South Carolina this truck may look like an old beater, but it would probably win a few races against modern trucks. Ford purists, don’t scroll down!
Gah! There it is! Yep, this old Ford is powered by a 5.3 liter LS engine out of a 2002 Chevy truck. Based on the VIN number, this truck would have come with a 360 cubic inch V8 from the factory. There’s no information in the ad regarding what happened to the original engine. The nice thing about the LS series of engines is they deliver reliable horsepower and are nearly bullet-proof. This engine would have had about 285 horsepower when new and is said to run well. It is backed by 4L60E transmission and when the hood is closed, you would never be able to tell what is underneath.
The fuel tank is new. I’m not sure why the owner would choose to replace the OEM tank with the same behind-the-seat model that the truck came with? There are quite a few aftermarket tanks and kits that will re-locate the tank to underneath the truck.
There are a few detailed photos of the interior in the ad, but no wide shots. Here you can see the gauge cluster, which appears to be original. They have been updated to work with the LS engine except for the speedometer. The factory speedometer uses a spinning cable from the transmission, but I’m sure there’s a way to adapt the modern transmission to the old gauge. As far as the rest of the interior, you can see photos of the seat here and the driver’s door panel here. Not bad for a 50-year-old truck.
With the modern drive train, this truck certainly lives up to the “custom” part of the Sport Custom trim package. What do you think about this one? Are you a fan of modern engines in old trucks? How about mixing brands?
I guess it’s up to the owner to do with it what he wants. The last thing I would’ve done was to drop in anything but what was originally intended. An FE powered it from Day 1 so if it came my way, an FE would be powering it now. The LS doesn’t cut it with me but that’s me. I wouldn’t even consider a modern Ford engine when the FE would do everything I wanted it to do…
Geomechs once again I’m about 97% with your thinking. I agree with you on your thoughts about an FE series. MAYBE a 429 if an FE wasn’t to your tastes. An LS is a really good engine but with so many good Ford engines available stick with a Ford. I also know that there are people that happen to have a good LS laying around but look for a GM vehicle to drop it in if you must.
You kids get off my lawn!
Oh, please, this tears it! While it’s true, the builder can do what they want, wassamatteryou? Goes agin everything that’s dear. Looks like that gear shift is about to slip into reverse, a problem with Fords. It’s funny ( not ha-ha funny) how this has all changed. Years ago, we’d take this truck, which is a relatively good example, redo the stock 302, and make it look nice. Today, as shown, just t’other way ’round. It’s such an unusual swap, I’d be concerned with the installation. What a mess, and this is what is attractive today? I’m feeling my 65 years right now,,,
I know three people that have either done an LS swap or are in the process of swapping one into a late-60’s F100. It’s pretty common, so is a front subframe swap to that of a Crown Vic.
Steve R
Should have also install a crown vic front end and then lowered the rear too.
I’ll just call it a hybrid, I don’t like hybrids.
Being a Ford man I thought this was gonna bug me…I kinda like it..maybe I’m just getting older but I would have no problem driving this
LS swap! Oh wait….already done
This story is close to me. It’s funny. Once on a whim I bought a 1985 F150 Stepside. It was lowered had a one piece tilt nose Weld wheels. It was sharp. The problem? 350 Chevy driveline. It had a Four speed and rear discs. It was cool and well done.
The problem? When I tried to sell it. Ford guys wanted no part of it. Chevy guys appreciated it but hated the wrapper. I paid $2500. at the time and I thought there was room to have fun with the potential to make money when done.
Not the case and my truck had some very nice pieces. I did have fun tho. Sold it to a guy in Fla who simply thought it looked cool. OK pal.
It looks like the guy here had a tired truck. He spent money and went out of his way and a lot of trouble to forever alter it. He could have as easily just done a tune up on the original motor. Because I can doesn’t mean I should.
At the end of the day I guess you still have a running truck. Still in the latter days he WILL still have this truck!
That’s a good point, AMCFAN. While I can certainly appreciate what’s been done with this F100, I wouldn’t have any interest in it because of the Chevy drivetrain. Now, if the seller had installed a modern Ford engine and transmission, that would be OK in my book. Even if you don’t mind what’s under the hood, the needed bodywork, paint and fresh interior won’t be cheap. Add all of that to the $7,000 opening bid and you’ll be into this pickup pretty deep. You might have to give it away when you want to part with it because FordGuys don’t like Chevy bits on their pickups.
Waiting for the day someone wants to sell a Corvette with a Ford mtr.
I think he should have rebuilt the 360 cid. It likely had a c6 behind that engine which for a ford pickup was a good combination. I’d have put in a set of 3.50 to 1 gears in the back. I’d also paint it single stage gloss paint In original colour. I’m not a fan of rust buckets. I’m with Geomechs on this one. I must say however the conversion looks like it was well done. And there’s no sense changing back now.
It’s funny how so many of us motor heads see ourselves as pillars of pragmatism and “common sense” but when it comes to cars/trucks, turn in to bleeding heart aesthetes. “Oh my, I’m so offended that someone put a modern Chevy motor in an old Ford truck!” Never mind that it gives this old work horse a new lease on life while returning far better mpg, much cleaner exhaust, modern reliability and lots more power. Here’s a napkin for all the purists to dry their eyes…..
Last year I purchased a ’48 Lincoln Continental cabriolet barn find that happened to have a 350 small block retrofit, done 20 years ago. I get the grimaces from the Ford purists every time I pop the hood. I just don’t get the drama – a tried and true motor that gets me to the show and shine every time. So what if it’s not Ford?
All good points, PDXBryan but I’m still offended…………….
The original 360 Ford is boat anchor. But I think I would’ve certainly found a later model Ford small block or even the venerable 300 six. I like the look but just can’t jive with the Chevy motor. I get the idea of modern technology but let’s keep it Ford. Just my opinion.
The 360 was definitely NOT a powerhouse. For that matter, as far as trucks were concerned, neither was the 390. I happened across an article in a Petersen special a number of years ago, outlining ways to improve the performance of the FE engine. Better carburetor, better ignition advance curve, and dual exhausts. They recommended using Cobra Jet exhaust manifolds but I never did that. I tuned up my personal truck that way, then the two ranch trucks we ran. I must have tuned up 25 Ford FE engines before I was through. The later versions I also installed a Crower Torquemaster camshaft to get rid of the smogger-inspired valve timing. Those mods made for a very noticeable power increase.
Not worth my money or time!
Keep it original Ford
Now its only worth half of what ever it sells for
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For shame. KEEP IT ALL FORD!!!!!!!!!!
I’m a Chevy guy, but I don’t understand why it’s necessary to put a modern electronic powertrain in a 70s truck. The original motor would have had plenty of power and been more reliable with no computers.
What I also don’t understand is the author suggesting putting the fuel tank underneath. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with it being in the cab. If it was underneath you would also have a gaping hole in the cab to fill where the original filler neck would have gone.
Theres so many unnecessary and illogical modifications done to vehicles in this current culture.
If you don’t have a problem with 20 gallons of highly explosive / pungent flammable liquid occupying the same space as you, more power to ya.
It’s not occupying the same space as me, it’s in a tank. What are you talking about? If you’re involved in an accident that damages the cab enough to cause an issue with the fuel tank, the gasoline is the least of your concerns. It’s ridiculous and completely unfounded that people have an issue with these tanks.
My dad’s 67 F100 and my 77 F150 had the tank in the cab and we didnt mind. Having the tank in the cab was common.
The FE 352 and 360 made about 175 horsepower, about the same as the 351M in my 77. My experience with them was that they were adequate for the trucks they were installed in.
The vast majority of the trucks on the ranch had the gas tank in the cab. The 3-tons also had a sizeable road tank on the frame just behind the cab. It never bothered me where it was. As far as safety was concerned I was a little more worried about the two tanks on Dad’s ‘69 Binder sitting under the front cowl. People piss and moan about the placement of the gas tank and it doesn’t matter where it is, someone might have a bad accident with a fire. That’s just one of the many risks you take whenever you venture out on the road. Some of us lost a good friend just before Christmas. He and his wife shipped their 1903 Knox over to England so they could participate in the London-Brighton vintage car rally. They made a wrong turn and in the process of getting back on course they were T-boned by a large truck. There was no fire but our friend was still dead…
“Fred W”, take a second and think about “the several gallons of highly explosive /pungent flammable liquid” occupying the space between your legs next time you hop on a motorcycle… never stopped anyone from using it as a proven form of transportation last time I checked.
Here’s the way I look at it… if this is just going to be used as a truck, it’s no big deal at all. If someone wants to restore this truck fully or even a little, it is an issue. But… people have been sticking Chevy engines in Fords for a long, long time. And there are plenty of reasons people are doing LS swaps into just about everything these days, reliability, performance, cost, mileage, aftermarket support and more. Tough to beat. The Coyote is a great engine, but it just doesn’t have the aftermarket support like the LS does.
But $7000.00????? I have the virtually identical farm truck ( wish I could post a photo) with a 390 and plenty of green patina and I doubt I’d get $900 on craigslist. Id sure as heck take $3500.00 for it and you could junkyard an LS into it for a couple hundred dollars.
Seriously?…another knuckle …. infestation of a rodent engine in a FORD….I believe in what Nancy Reagan said….just say NO!!
Now THAT made me laugh………..’infestation of a rodent engine’. You ought to trademark that. Jess great. I’m not in favor of vehicular miscegenation myself.but there’s a lot worse sins being committed these days. :)
Those engines had a problem with the valve guides, so it is not bullet proof,
However if you remove the heads and install bronze valve guides, (not cheap) you will have a good engine.
Still I would have used a ford engine to keep the resale value up.
Here’s my 2 cents – – –
1- whatever happened to the rat rod culture? You made use of what you had available instead of laying out cash that might be in tight supply?
2- maybe the original engine died, in the truck this came from might have been totaled in an accident, so the seller pulled a good working engine from a trashed vehicle, and installed it in place of a dead one?
Bottom line, if it’s stupid but it works, it ain’t stupid!
First I will clarify that I am a Ford guy and like the bump side trucks, I have owned two and still own one a 67 F250 4 x 4. My opinion of the LS series GM engines is that they are great engines and very reasonable to work with just like its predecessor the small block Chevy.
I think you all have valid opinions but I disagree with the safety concern regarding the in cab fuel tank. In my many years of driving them my only complaint was if you over filled it and some gasoline got past the gasket into the cab. I hate the smell of Gasoline. I honestly can’t remember reading about an accident with one where the truck caught fire. I’m talking back when just about every pickup truck had the fuel tank in the cab behind or under the seat. If you think about it is about as well protected from impact as any location on the truck. Chevy had a boat load of issues with their side mounted fuel tanks back in the seventies and eighties.
The rest of the truck is not in to bad of shape considering it’s age and now there is more after market support for this body type than ever before. I do agree it is over priced and I’m not a fan of putting a Chevy in a Ford particularly in this case but to each his own and not the end of the world. If this were my truck and I wanted to add power and keep it to appear original except to an observant and savvy looker I would build a 428SCJ and put under the hood as I have twice in the past.
I would love to have it if it weren’t for the cost so I could use the body. Cancer has destroyed my 67 over the years but then it is no longer my truck. Oh well may one day when my new shop is done I will consider rebuilding the old truck.
Just my two cents worth.
I’m am old chevy guy, the way I see it is that if this truck was older say a 1930 to 1956 I would love seeing this drive train in it, that’s what I do. I don’t like ford motors , but in a newer truck like this it doesn’t go over well with me, I wouldn’t do it. Keep it all ford.
Good thing this happened to a pickup…the new owner can carry all his friends in the back, which will be handy, when it needs to be pushed home…
You can’t turn a frog into a prince!
I’m a ford guy, Ford blue running thru my veins, but I like this because its different. Like Andy said, maybe its built in the hot rodders spirit of using what you have on hand. Stock appearing inside and outside. My questions are the quality of the build, and whether its been on the road and had the bugs worked out. Also noting that the seller has zero feedback. Good luck to the new owner. Know what you are buying.
Cheers
GPC
And on the positive side……this is BF after all…….none of the usual suspects ( myself included) piped up with the usual..’fer chrissakes, paint it!”
Must be the shock of seeing the LS in there . :)
I mentioned painting it original colour in single stage. And yes I’m one of the usual suspects. While we’re on the topic of usual suspects I’m going to bring up the C word yes indeed cumins diesel 5.9 turbo. Of course it will need a 3/4 ton suspension to hold up the weight. But if a guy must swap out the ford engine that is the way to go.
I like the LS engine a lot, however if this was my truck it would get a 460 fuel injected engine from the early 90’s with a C6 trans. Lots of rotted out motorhomes out there from that era with perfectly good low mileage big block engines to donate that will make a good, easy, cheap, dependable swap for a truck such as this. Come time to sell it and the Ford purist would be happy.
Barf!
C’mon folks, Ford engines in Fords and GM engines in GM’s have been done to death, probably for good reason, but this builder didn’t take the easy path, he used some Yankee ingenuity, no doubt faced some challenges, had some fun and wound up with an out of the ordinary truck that’s probably a blast to drive. Hat’s off to him.
So it’s a Chevy now!
Your at the parts counter and I need plugs for my 71 ford oh but it’s got a Chevy LS in it!!!
As an owner of three Fords, I will say ” Good fix for the crap 2015 and up to ? Ford engines with the failing Cam Phasers ” ( is that how you spell it ?) … and that engine will probably pass smog …….
Look who’s coming to dinner.
Ok my turn. I love this body style. ( Restored/restomoded a 1971 crew cab) I have preferances on vehicles, but the Ford, Chevy, Chrysler thing is just a situational thing to me. The 360-390s were reliable engines. But in my opinion they have long past their appeal. I installed a 5.0 with an AOD in my ’71 and it had more power and way better fuel economy. My choice of engines would depend on what the truck was going to be used. If towing/working I might select a 460 fuel injected with a hotter cam and proper cam timing. If just for cruising and the occasional trip to the parts or hardware store. Then I would be looking for a fuel injected 300 6 cyl., AOD and a few hop up goodies? BUT, when dollars are a consideration you use what is available that makes even a modicum of sense. If done properly, this swap makes all kinds of sense if doing it for your own use. ( not to flip for profit ) Let’s see, way more power and torque. Huge increase in fuel economy. ( easily double) Better drivability and fewer emissions.
For personal use, it makes sense to me. However it is about double the price that I feel would be appropriate .
Looking at the engine compartment. I see a pain in the ass to work on it. Depends on what kind of terrain you live at. Would also matter. On level ground. Hell a lawn mower motor would probably work. If you wanted mileage and not worry about power. This truck is over priced and for what he has done to it. Just where is the parts pictures at and how much did he pay for them? I,ve been working on a 78 bronco for a good while and have replaced and bought alot more parts then this guy is showing and I have about $7,000 in it. all the rubber,new yokes,drive shaft,complet fule syste,4 row radiator,390 motor,starter carb -complet brake system new ring gear,clutch,pressure plate-throw out bearing-pilot bearing and many more parts. Where are the new part on this truck? Oh and I also put new tires,muffler and more.Where is his money spent? The motor itself? He needs to fix the rust issues and prevent them happening again. Starting with the rain drip rail and where the wiper area. Take the fenders off and open up the drain holes. It will prevent your floors from rusting out.
The LS series of engines are legendary in reliability, so likely you won’t have to work on it much. Over priced, sure, but the owner is entitled to ask anything he wants. It’s a free marketplace. The seller seems very up front about what he did to the truck. If someone wants to take this on as a project, more power to them. It’s obvious the owner chose not to restore it. This is not a restored truck, nor is it an any way described as one. It’s a running, driving truck that apparently needs a speedometer to be complete. The owner doesn’t need to provide a complete list of everything he has done… and by the way, it appears to be his 1st ebay ad/transaction ever. Let him learn. Kudo’s to you for what you have done with yours, but everyone here doesn’t do exactly what the other does.
I love this! SC ain’t that far away!
Looks like the post hit a few nerves…fact is the set-up is pretty nice. What a great way to bring an old truck into a go anywhere drivable classic that would run great and get some good mileage. I guess I would be a little testy if it was an old chevy that someone did a late model ford swap. Fact is you don’t see that as often.
Great way to bring some folks out of the woodwork with some comments.