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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's


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66ThunderVan
Magic Bus
benwah
white-lightning
AZ SuperVan
rustytoolss
Twinpilot001
Space Truckin
Vantasia
mcfly
14 posters

    V8 or not to V8

    mcfly
    mcfly


    Number of posts : 626
    Location : long island new york
    Age : 61
    Registration date : 2008-11-10

    V8 or not to V8 Empty V8 or not to V8

    Post by mcfly Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:16 pm

    Hey all,  it has been some time but I'm back and ready to get to work on my van again.
    A few years back I toyed with the idea of converting my van to an 8 .. talked to Vic, got the low down on what was needed and was just about ready to go. Around the same time mike (vanishing breed ) made a very convincing argument to built the 6 (200) ..  Right about then my personal life took a dump.. etc etc etc..
    So here I am ..new job ,ex wife, and a renewed interest in life..  

    I just acquired a 1969 351 windsor crate motor in another deal.. I love the idea of an 8 in the van but realize it just isn't that simple.
    So let me here the pros, the cons,and the what nots ..
    More importantly at the end of the day , is it worth it ??
    Vantasia
    Vantasia


    Number of posts : 1412
    Location : New Jersey
    Age : 69
    Registration date : 2013-08-18

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Vantasia Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:33 am

    JMHO...what do use the van for?  Cruise nights, camping, actual daily driving for a work related business?  You want a hot rod, buy a muscle car unless you are building a custom show van for the track, etc, I wouldn't do it....I enjoy putzing along in a vintage vehicle that does what it was intended to do, doesn't need mega speed and power.  My van, a Chevy with a 194, hauls itself and anything I can put into it, including a full load of rock band PA gear which is probably one of the heavier loads anyone would use one of these things for and it does fine.  Also, I wouldn't drive a 50 year old van at the speeds a 351 can give you anyway.  Adding all that power without upgrading brakes, rear, axles, trans, etc. isn't a good idea either, plus you think you have a cooling issue now, wait until you but a 351 in!  Maybe a 289 or 302, or even a bigger Ford truck six, but a midblock?? again, MHO....I'd keep an old E van stock, if you really want an 8, look for one of the later 2nd gen Fords like a 70+ model that came with them...
    Space Truckin
    Space Truckin


    Number of posts : 1278
    Location : Upland,Ca
    Age : 68
    Registration date : 2009-10-17

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Space Truckin Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:32 am

    If it were up to me, build a 300hp 6 banger...alot easier to work on in the doghouse and torque monsters....JM2C
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Twinpilot001 Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:18 am

    Just me =!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! V-8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! affraid cheers cheers cheers Twisted Evil
    rustytoolss
    rustytoolss


    Number of posts : 624
    Location : Clinton, Ohio
    Age : 67
    Registration date : 2013-07-19

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by rustytoolss Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:39 am

    When I bought my A100 someone had installed a 273V8. Which was a plus for me. But I would have bought if it still had the slant six. And I would have NOT put in a V8. Unless you really need the power (or want a V8) why do it ?
    Are you towing heavy loads ? carrying heavy tools? Racing mustangs and cudas? I'm not. Like I said, mine came with a small gutless V8. But I would have been just as happy with a six banger.
    AZ SuperVan
    AZ SuperVan


    Number of posts : 219
    Location : Cave Creek AZ
    Registration date : 2013-09-12

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by AZ SuperVan Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:41 am

    I am putting a 300 six in mine. Very straight forward to make the switch sine the 240 is the same size and everything will bolt up. I will be pulling a trailer from time to time and also want to be able to drive 70 on the interstate.
    mcfly
    mcfly


    Number of posts : 626
    Location : long island new york
    Age : 61
    Registration date : 2008-11-10

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by mcfly Mon Feb 08, 2016 1:14 pm

    I know the right thing to do is staying with the six and that is what I most likely will do ..It is just so so tempting to go with the 8 especially since the 351 is just sitting in my garage...
    rustytoolss
    rustytoolss


    Number of posts : 624
    Location : Clinton, Ohio
    Age : 67
    Registration date : 2013-07-19

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by rustytoolss Mon Feb 08, 2016 2:04 pm

    With the V8 , you need a better cooling system.
    white-lightning
    white-lightning


    Number of posts : 237
    Location : Salem, Va
    Registration date : 2011-02-24

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by white-lightning Mon Feb 08, 2016 4:01 pm

    Honestly if my van wasn't already a V8, I would not swap it. I would hop up the I6. A hot I6 is way more unique and gets more attention. I guess that is why I am also fascinated with small displacement v8s like my 273.
    rustytoolss
    rustytoolss


    Number of posts : 624
    Location : Clinton, Ohio
    Age : 67
    Registration date : 2013-07-19

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by rustytoolss Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:55 pm

    mcfly wrote:I know the right thing to do is staying with the six and that is what I most likely will do ..It is just so so  tempting to go with the 8  especially since the 351 is just sitting in my garage...
    So sell off the V8 to pay for other things you need, tires, radiator,wheels. Not many people will ever see the V8 engine hiding between the seats anyway.
    Vantasia
    Vantasia


    Number of posts : 1412
    Location : New Jersey
    Age : 69
    Registration date : 2013-08-18

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Vantasia Tue Feb 09, 2016 6:03 am

    Well, there ya have it, you got several good comments and opines! Reach out to member Casimeir in the E-van forum, PM him, he has done a V8 swap into an E-pup, a 302, I think, and he can give you some good insight on doing this....pros and cons
    avatar
    Guest
    Guest


    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Guest Tue Feb 09, 2016 6:31 am

    The '64 A100 pickup I bought recently had a Chevy 305/350 already installed. Visions of wheelstands and smoking tires fill my daydreams, but the weather here won't allow any road time 'till Spring. Meanwhile, I'm chasing an inconsistent backfire, changing plugs and wires, and doing some interior work.
    The truck has a 7 blade fan and a new 4 core aluminum radiator, so I'm not anticipating any cooling problems, but will add header wrap and a vent thru the rear of the engine box into the bed if need be.
    Yeah, I know there won't really be any wheelies, but a guy can dream...
    benwah
    benwah


    Number of posts : 1135
    Location : the land of broken dreams and shattered hopes CT
    Registration date : 2008-07-05

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by benwah Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:02 am

    By the sounds of your 64 A100 p/u that old girl is rejecting the new organs. Id swap it back to anything mopar. 6 or 8!
    rustytoolss
    rustytoolss


    Number of posts : 624
    Location : Clinton, Ohio
    Age : 67
    Registration date : 2013-07-19

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by rustytoolss Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:17 am

    benwah wrote:By the sounds of your 64 A100 p/u that old girl is rejecting the new organs. Id swap it back to anything mopar. 6 or 8!
    Now that's funny lol! lol! true but funny!
    avatar
    Guest
    Guest


    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Guest Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:37 am

    I've never been a purist, and I love vehicles that are different from the run of the mill. V8 Corvairs, mid-engine pickups, etc. are engineering marvels that garner attention and deserve respect.

    The great thing is, there is room in the hobby for everyone. I don't much care for foreign iron, but I have been known to compliment the owners of super clean MGs and such. Just because a vehicle falls outside of my circle of choice doesn't mean I can't appreciate the time and effort that went into the build.
    Magic Bus
    Magic Bus


    Number of posts : 1422
    Location : -Gateway to the West - St Louis Missouri
    Registration date : 2009-12-02

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Magic Bus Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:57 pm

    When I first got Magic I dreamed of stuffing a V8 in there.  After restoring the body and the rest of the mechanix  I lost my drive to install a V8.  Don't get me wrong, I love V8's.  Power Sound, cant be beat.  But Ive driven mine in the summer with that 200 six.  Stuffed in that little engine compartment there is so little room for it to breath.

    Ive read a lot of threads where people have did it, some happy, some not so happy. Lots of
    "things" to modify and deal with.

    The six suffers from carb soak.  I can only imagine the V8 would as well.  Then there is the heat that inevitably radiates into the interior, not good.   But in the end its your call.
    avatar
    Guest
    Guest


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    Post by Guest Wed Feb 10, 2016 3:41 am

    Hey Magic Bus! Appreciate your sharing your opinion, I'm always open to the thoughts of others. Well, usually.

    Never heard the term "carb soak": before. Could you enlighten me please? Need to know what to look for this summer. Thanks-
    Magic Bus
    Magic Bus


    Number of posts : 1422
    Location : -Gateway to the West - St Louis Missouri
    Registration date : 2009-12-02

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Magic Bus Wed Feb 10, 2016 5:18 am

    Carb soak is what happens when you shut off the engine and the extreme heat in the engine compartment actually boils the gas out of the carburetor on a warm day.   When you go to start it an hour later you have to crank it long enough to pump gas back into the carb before it will start.  Its frustrating but as far as I know the only remedy would be some sort of marine type fan with a ductwork attatched to blow right on the carb as well as exhausting all the heat out of the engine compartment.  I don't yet have one installed.

    That scenario is likely compounded by the carb sitting on top of the exhaust manifold so it may or may not be as much of an issue with a v8, carb sitting on top of a water cooled manifold

    The fords never came with v8's so the doghouse is really tight,  most guys that put one in swap to the chevy doghouse  Mad  for the extra clearance and some actually fabricate large box areas under the driver and passenger seats to add more room for maintenance and extra cooling area.
    66ThunderVan
    66ThunderVan


    Number of posts : 384
    Location : Portsmouth, Va.
    Registration date : 2012-01-08

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by 66ThunderVan Wed Feb 10, 2016 7:49 am

    I put a 351 in my E100 in 1974 and never looked back. You will want to upgrade your cooling system, period! The V8 doesn't weigh any more than the 6 and is a hoot to drive.
    rustytoolss
    rustytoolss


    Number of posts : 624
    Location : Clinton, Ohio
    Age : 67
    Registration date : 2013-07-19

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by rustytoolss Wed Feb 10, 2016 8:52 am

    Another thing that helps prevent heat soak, is adding a carb spacer made of plastic, or wood. It insulates the carb from the intake, to keep the carb cooler. I got one from summit racing made of plastic, for my Edelbrock 4brl. I have know idea if you can get them for the stock 1brl carb. But you could actually make your own, out of wood. Wood sounds funny to use, but summit sells those also.
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by Twinpilot001 Wed Feb 10, 2016 8:54 am

    The "WOOD" is actually called=Phoenolic! Ford has used this stuff sine the 50's for carb spacers. cheers
    Abitibi
    Abitibi
    Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
    Vintage-Vans Listings Manager


    Number of posts : 479
    Location : Vancouver BC
    Registration date : 2014-06-23

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    Post by Abitibi Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:26 am

    Never thought of wood but there are some hardwood that are just as hard a s steel (or just about!), food for thought...
    whalemstr
    whalemstr


    Number of posts : 248
    Location : Corning, California
    Registration date : 2012-06-27

    V8 or not to V8 Empty Re: V8 or not to V8

    Post by whalemstr Wed Feb 10, 2016 12:39 pm

    i made disc brake pads out of plywood for a girl that had no money or brakes on her toyota and needed to drive about 100 miles home...

    she told me 8 months later that she drove with it that way for over 6months!!!
    hahahaha
    avatar
    Guest
    Guest


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    Post by Guest Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:21 pm

    Plywood brake pads! Now THAT'S engineering! Talk about thinking outside of the box! Did you nail the clips on to hold the pads in place? Or just Gorilla Glue the whole mess together? Tell me there was no duct tape involved.

    A brilliant quickie fix-

    And I thought I'd heard it all...
    Oscarm
    Oscarm


    Number of posts : 91
    Location : Ontario Canada
    Registration date : 2014-05-06

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    Post by Oscarm Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:52 pm

    I have '65 Epup with 5.0, C4. Love the performance, and the great rumble as I head into a Cruise Night. Heat-soak in the doghouse can be resolved with a simple $35 electric fan controller, that runs independently. Of course, you need a quality rad, electric fan and belly pan. I even replaced the transmission cooling with a separate 'Derale' electric job to alleve any heat concerns the C4 might add.
    I use semi-rigid (1/2") fibreglass insulation on the inside of the doghouse to keep the interior cool, and carpeted the doghouse (more insulating value).  No room for headers (bummer), but stock cast iron manifolds are OK for an old-geezer's hot-rod. Never overheats, even on scorching summer days. No modifications to the doghouse width either.
    Oh yeah, goes like hell too!

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