My 1956 f100 272 came with a 4 speed and the 1963 f100 292 that I am considering installing came with an automatic. Would this be a basic engine swap or will there be issues to deal with? Also will the value of my truck take much of a hit if it no longer has the original engine?

1956 F100 272 4 speed
Northern California

It will be a pretty easy.  Swap anything necessary from the 272 to the 292, possibly the front mount bracket, flywheel, clutch, etc.  If the 292 has a carb and distributor, in good condition, use those.  Even if they aren't in good condition, the intake will be better and accepts most "modern" 2 barrel carburetors.

Effect on value is complicated.  That depends somewhat on the buyer and how informed they are but in general, original is worth more than not original.  To the right buyer, a larger engine will increase value but to an informed buyer, a '63 292, as supplied from the factory is not much of an upgrade, if it is at all, from a '56 272, as supplied from the factory, although the '63 will be a better platform to start with and is a little easier to upgrade.  It's also possible, 65 years later,  that your engine is not original so it may not matter, in terms of originality.


Lawrenceville, GA

Thanks, it is the ECG block but I have no idea if it is original. I have only had it for 2 years and know nothing about the history other than everything appears to original

1956 F100 272 4 speed
Northern California

Are you going to use the automatic or stay with the 55 trans?  If going to the automatic, you will have rear mounts to fabricate.  Note that the truck uses  rear mounts off the bellhousing so if installing an automatic presents a rear mount problem


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Thanks I will be staying with the manual 4 speed but that's good to know about the automatic

1956 F100 272 4 speed
Northern California

Doesn't the truck auto mount into the chassis in the same way as a truck manual transmission?


Lawrenceville, GA

This should be a basic swap.  You may need the front engine mount off of the ’55 engine if it’s not the same as the one you find on the 1963 F100 engine.  The ’63 engines used a ¾” pilot on the water pump versus a 5/8” pilot on the 1962 and earlier engines so there may be some pulley swapping going on.  The water pump on the ’55 engine may also be physically different but the timing covers are the same so swapping water pumps will not be a problem.  The same goes for the damper in that if the original engine has the adjustable up and down fan blade assembly, then the damper or lower belt pulley is specific to that water pump.  The dampers are interchangeable on the crankshaft if needing to swap them out only to retain the original water pump.  Bell housing and crankshaft flywheel patterns are the same so no problems with physically just moving the later model engine into the earlier trucks.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks

1956 F100 272 4 speed
Northern California

I would hang on to the original engine. If you ever decide to sell the truck it will add value to the truck.

Durham Missouri

yes you are correct