This is a serious question

[markmn123]

Its an 88 and the poor 351 is at its dying breath and the tranny is pretty shot too its the "k" code transmission....all im looking for is a good 4 bolt main short block pref. aluminum and forged internals (it can be a 351 but 400+ is cool too /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> ) that i can throw my own heads and manifold on even a kenne bell? and a tranny that will mate up to that motor and drop into that beast looking for a 4 speed the 3 speed is just a little too high-revving for me links would be good ive shopped around summit racing lookin at blocks and im prepared to pay around 2500 for the block if anyone has suggestions im bored i finished my other bronco now i must start anew!

 

[Justshootme84]

Trans code "K" is the 3-speed C-6 auto. While it doesn't have an overdrive (OD) gear, it is as stout a tranny as Ford ever made. It will handle any mods you could ever do to the 351W, even if oyu put a stroker kit in the motor. I think your limiting factor on the 88 Bronco is the factory computer, or ECM, that controls the engine. It doesn't take too kindly to major engine upgrades. You can get by with a 0.030" over-bored block and a mild RV cam, custom intake and shorty headers. Anything over that, like the stroker crank or more radical camshaft will require a custom ECM. For the money, you could get more power with an EFI 460 swap. Alot depends on your state's emissions regs, whether or not you can replace the original engine with something bigger and better like the 460. Hopefully, some other members will chime in and add their input and advice. My 351W lonkblock kit from NAPA didn't last 20K miles, JSM84

 

[markmn123]

a 460 sounds delicious but what kind of work would i be lookin at to drop one of those in? and i was lookin at buying a shortblock 460 but much trouble lookin for a good E.F.I. intake to pair up with some good heads and i know it sounds picky but im still lookin for a 4 speed that will bolt up to that motor unless i should keep the 3 speed (i tend to be on the highway sometimes like goin to the beach) in which case id love a 4 speed

 

[Justshootme84]

The 460 cid motor has a different bolt pattern for the transmission bellhousing, so you would also need to swap trannies. Good news is the the 460 came from the factory with both the E40D auto and the ZF-S42 (or ZF-S47) 5-spd manual with OD as options. To drop one into the 88 Bronco, you would need to change motor mounts for custom swap mounts like L&L PRoducts that JBG sells for $125, and a 460 ECM if you run EFI. The best way to do the swap is to find a donor truck, which will have the motor, tranny, t-case, ECM, etc. all in one so you don't have to search for separate parts. IF the donor is an 88-97 F-350 with axles, you can also put those under the Bronco. A running donor truck can be found for $2000-$4000 in good condition.

Now if you're sticking with the 351W and looking for a longblock kit, I would look into having a local machine shop rebuild your current engine. Many of the longblock kits use re-conditioned blocks anyway, and you'll know what goes into it with a local shop doing the work. There may be some great deals for $700-$800 for a 351W lb kit from suppliers, but most of them will not last 50K miles in my experience. The local machine shop in my area quoted me about $850 to rebuild the NAPA block when it blew up on me. I just decided that I'd had enough with the 351W boat anchor already. That was the third engine in the 84 Bronco in five years. JSM84

 

[fordsohc46]

there were also a few 351w and 460s with a c-6 up to 1992 but they are rare and hard to find.

 

[markmn123]

would anyone happen to know where i can pick up a stand-alone ecu for a efi 460 besides a donor truck? and maybe aftermarket heads and intake manifold that i can use with it....and i found a website that does the monsterbox e40d trannys (factorytechtransmissions.com) for around 3500 was wondering if anyone knew of a cheaper route

 

[bidibronco]

If you're set on not having a 3 speed why not throw a manual behind it?

 

[markmn123]

well my only excuse is...im lazy......i dont wanna have to deal with puttin all that in there and driving it too

 

[Broncobill78]

Its an 88 and the poor 351 is at its dying breath and the tranny is pretty shot too its the "k" code transmission....all im looking for is a good 4 bolt main short block pref. aluminum and forged internals (it can be a 351 but 400+ is cool too /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> ) that i can throw my own heads and manifold on even a kenne bell? and a tranny that will mate up to that motor and drop into that beast looking for a 4 speed the 3 speed is just a little too high-revving for me links would be good ive shopped around summit racing lookin at blocks and im prepared to pay around 2500 for the block if anyone has suggestions im bored i finished my other bronco now i must start anew!

Whoa there Hoss, am I the only guy reading that you prefer an *aluminum block w/a forged reciprocating assembly* AND a Kenne Bell blower ? And you want to pay around $2500 for it ? someone whack me in the head with a mallet.

Ok, even if I'm not reading it correctly, JSM is dead nuts right to suggest simply dropping in a 460 and being done with it. The time & $$$ that you'll spend getting a 351W to outperform a *mildly* built 460 makes it a money-losing proposition right up front. If you're looking for big-block power then buy & install a big-block, the time, money & bull$hit you'll spend trying to plump up a small-block just isn't worth it. A 400HP smallblock is expensive to build and difficult to maintain, while on the other hand a 425hp BIGblock is easily obtainable and will require no special care & feeding. You can *easily* get the numbers you want from ANY mid-70's 429/460 with reworked Dove-C heads. This isn't rocket science. The L&L kit *isn't* cheap but it IS complete and it does make it a painless swap. I would lay out the bux for one any day of the week.

 

[Broncobill78]

If you're set on not having a 3 speed why not throw a manual behind it?

Oh, OH, don't even get me *started*. You're going to suggest some sort of stick & clutch silliness over the ability to rock yourself out of a mudhole ? You swing by MY house and I'm serving warm beer. That's just all there is to it.

 

[markmn123]

indeed...been there done that the convenience of having the automatic transmission is well worth the money well thanks BB i have everything i need and its relativly close now im just waiting on funds unfortunately the selling of the other bronco didnt get me enough to start working right away (

 

[markmn123]

ok one more question BB is there any dimension differences from the c-6 and the e40d? will it need some fabrication?

 

[BLADE262US]

I can answer that one the E4OD is much longer than the C6 you should be able to move the cross member back and redrill the holes . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[markmn123]

crap so that means i gotta move the transfer case and all as well huh i understand moving the crossmember but how would i go about moving that transfer case? when i look under there i notice the transfer case doesnt mount to anything but the tranny and if it moves back it looks like it will hit the underbody of the bronco...any tips on the swap to the e40d?

 

[BLADE262US]

Well yes it does just move back which means you will have to get a longer front driveshaft and a shorter rear one . The shifter linkage for the 88 and up 1356 has a removable shifter rod that is held on by 2 small metric bolts . The one for the E4OD is angled more and longer to accomodate it being back farther . Best way to do it would be to find an E4OD equiped donor truck to get the shifter and driveshafts from . You can use a F150 front shaft from one that had an E4OD but the rear you have to get a bronco one . Being that it has to be shortened you should have a shop somewhere around you that can do that but often cost more than a used one of the correct length /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[markmn123]

niiice so modifying the 4wd and gear shifters shall not be a problem and as for the shafts i can have some made for cheap /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> thats the only thing i got goin for me on this haha everything else is gonna be expensive