V8 Swapping a Bullnose Ford for Dirt Cheap: A Junkyard Digs Adventure

Initial Truck Assessment and Engine Hunt

• 🚚 The team begins with a carbureted Bullnose Ford truck featuring a 300 inline-6 engine that runs poorly, making it a prime candidate for a V8 engine swap.
• 💡 The goal is to complete the swap using only used parts to keep costs extremely low.
• 🛠️ After a brief struggle with a dead battery, the truck is started, revealing its poor performance, including a clutch issue and a general lack of power, reinforcing the need for a V8.
• 🔍 The search for a suitable V8 engine leads them to a shed filled with various options, including Ford 302s, a 460 Ford, and others.

The "Shiny" 302 and Its Problems

• 💰 A 302 engine, purchased for $100, is chosen for its perceived potential, despite being a marine engine with a two-barrel carburetor.
• ⚠️ Upon closer inspection, the chosen 302 reveals significant issues: missing frost plugs, milky oil suggesting water intrusion, and heavily rusted cylinders.
• 🔬 A borescope inspection confirms severe cylinder wall damage, indicating the engine is likely junk.
• 💡 The team then turns their attention to a second 302, a roller block from a late '80s Crown Vic, which appears to be in better condition and has desirable E7 heads.

Engine Preparation and Swap Challenges

• ⚙️ The chosen 302 is disassembled, converting it from fuel injection to a carbureted setup with a manual fuel pump and distributor.
• 🔧 Challenges arise with sourcing specific parts, including engine perches for the truck and adapting the serpentine accessory drive system.
• 🚗 The original 300 inline-6 is removed, making way for the V8.
• 🔩 The V8 engine is prepped for installation, including addressing a broken bolt in the water jacket and using a boat timing cover.

Installation and Initial Startup Issues

• 💥 The V8 engine is finally installed into the truck, a process described as making the truck fit the engine rather than the other way around.
• ⚡ Initial startup reveals significant problems: grinding noises from the starter, indicating it's not disengaging properly, and a lack of oil pressure.
• 💨 The engine exhibits excessive blow-by, suggesting worn-out components, possibly a bad head gasket or severely worn rings.
• 🔧 The team attempts to diagnose and fix the issues, including swapping the starter and attempting to tune the engine with Sea Foam.

Performance Testing and Conclusion

• 📈 Despite the problems, a 0-60 mph test shows an improvement over the original inline-6, dropping from 14.98 seconds to 11.21 seconds.
• ⚠️ However, the excessive blow-by and a dead cylinder (likely due to a bad exhaust valve or head gasket) indicate the 302 is also significantly worn out.
• 🏁 The team concludes that the $100 302 is not a viable long-term solution and the truck still requires substantial work, leaving the project unfinished.
• 🤔 The video ends with the team expressing frustration and uncertainty about continuing the project, hinting at potentially starting over or moving to a different vehicle.