Original motor?...

[marvin2]

I am trying to figure out whether the motor in my truck is the original or not. I decoded the truck VIN and it was a 3 on the tree 302 from the factory. Now it is a 4 speed (no idea what kind but has a verrrry low first gear) on the floor and still a 302, but I have doubts that it is the original motor. I have not pulled the VIN from the block yet so I don't know if they match. The fan sits back pretty far from the radiator and the radiator does not span the whole length of the grill. Also there seems to be some sort of electronic ignition frankensteined on. Here are a couple of pics. Would this be from a van or a dent side, who knows...let me know what you guys think.

[hotrod ford]

it looks like it has a factory electonic ignition (75 and up). if so i would think it is not original. what year is your truck?

[marvin2]

Truck is a 70

Did the 75 and up trucks or vans have a smaller radiator? Maybe this thing came out of a car...?

[fordman]

that radiator is probably a replacement. and is for a six cylinder. if the engine has 6 bolts in the valve cover it could be a 302 . the way to really tell is if the lower thermostat housing bolt sits below the water pump and is real hard to put a socket and ratchet onto. it also looks like your fan shround is missing. that duraspark electronics has been added.

[sideoilerfe]

If it is a top loader than The transmission is probably a Borg-warner T-18 or a New Process 435 . Those have the "compound" first gear for pulling and hauling large heavy loads. You do not use that 1st gear in everyday driving because it is not designed that way. It is designed for starting only with heavy loads to prolong clutch life. normal driving conditions you use 2nd 3rd and 4th gears. The transmission is designed that way.

[marvin2]

To be honest with you, I have only driven the truck once. It was given to me as a gift from my family for my wedding, but I have not had the opportunity to take it home yet. I kind of figured that 1st gear was too low to use for daily driving, but how is the transmission (T18 or NP35) for daily driving. My plans are to turn the truck into a street cruiser, but the trans doesn't seem like it is much of a "hot rod" transmission. Any short shifters available?

[sideoilerfe]

They're truck transmissions. That being said they'll take a lot of abuse. THey don't shift real fast but they're fast enough for a cruiser or daily driver.
as far as the shifter goes, you could remove yours and cut it shorter if you wish but I'd leave it alone.

[fomocoguy]

I would say it looks like the fan sits back further becasue it's supposed to have a shroud on it. If it did, that gap would be filled and it wouldn't look so funny to you. A 302 is a 302 is a 302; one model won't sit back further in the perches than another model. I would say buy yourself the correct radiator, then hit the junkyards and find yourself a fan shroud. If not you may run into problems with it running hot in the summer or if your working it because it won't draw air through the radiator in the correct way. Good luck with it!

BTW you need to get the stamping off the block (behind the starter) and we can tell you if the engine year is close to your trucks year. Basically if it starts with a C 9 or D0 it's probably original; C is for 60's and D is for 70's. For example if it said "D5" then that casting was created in 75. So, C8, C9, or D0 would mean it's probably original (or at least a replacement engine from the same era).

[marvin2]

Thanks for all of the information guys. I have already bought an electric fan to replace the current one, but I have not started hunting a replacement radiator yet. What do you think...a new stock replacement radiator, a correct sized aluminum radiator, or a junkyard pulled radiator?