I have a 1979 Bronco with a V8 351 standard and a 1988 Bronco w/6 cyl. automatic.  My 1979 body is pretty much shot but motor is in great running condition. My 1988 body is great with a bad 6 cyl.motor.  How hard is it to put my good motor in my good body.  How would the wiring and motor mounts work?  Is there a conversion kit? Is the 1988 transmission compatible w/the 1979 V8351?  

1.  look under the dash of both vehicles... you're looking for the pedal config at the mounting points... is there a spot to add the clutch on your good body?
2. lift the carpet on the tranny hump... there should be a bolt in inpection cover... that'll make your shifter installation easier... you might just look at doing a body swap...it may make life easier... but you should have all the parts you would need... as for swapping the tranny to keep it an auto... don't know about that...  

Looking for an easy button.  Just want to put the V8 in the 1988. Was wondering primarily about the wiring and motor mounts. Does anyone know if there is a Kit or has anyone experienced this particular task.  

Ford was never very friendly about bellhousing bolt patterns as they had several of them over the years unlike GM which had one for all inline 6's and V8 engines since 60's. FM finally changed it with modular V8 motors (4.8/5.3/6.0) but 4.3 still uses it as does 8.1 in MD trucks. In your case you are "lucky" if you have a 4.9/300 six  and a 351W the bellhousing bolt pattern should be the same.  

why do you hate on fords so much snoboy?? u do know that fords still run straight axles in 2500 and up? and you do know that all of fords desiels are way better than any gms  

i think a standard 79 bronco would be cool,thats just me though. i like to decide when to shift.good wheelin to ya!  

wait, my bad L and L is the name of the place,sorry bro  

wookie2395:
why do you hate on fords so much snoboy?? u do know that fords still run straight axles in 2500 and up? and you do know that all of fords desiels are way better than any gms

Actually if I where to buy a new 4x4 truck today it would likely be a Ford as I am very disapointed with new model GM trucks big time. BTW, I never really hated a Ford outright but rather some of the things they did and the design or older models in body/drivetrain and chassis. I do have a very poor opinion of the TTB front axle that Ford dumped on public for a lot of years and the way they blamed Firestone for Explorer roll overs when Ford also recommended under inflation of tires and no vehicle should be so unstable that a tire failure is almost a sure ticket to roll over. After the big scandal Ford quietly dumped TTB front axle (which tendency to tuck under added to roll over tendencies) and lowered CG. They got kinda carried away and took too much metal out of top and it then failed the 3 foot drop test where vehicle is dropped upside down to measure crush resistance in a roll over. I do not like Dodge 4x4's of any type because Dodge left out any ability to disconnect front wheel from axles or differential in 2wd which for me there is no excuse. BTW, while a solid axle is appealing to some, after living with a IFS GM 1 ton for 8 winters I prefer it for over all handling and ride and no steering wheel whip in tight turns plowing snow hard because of CV joints in axles up front. Now if they would just offer a solid front axle with CV's in it over Ujoints they would really have a winner.  

the one bad expeireince i had with the ttb was with my first truck, fords misfit child the bronco 2. talk about bad enginering, cast alum front hubs that slip on like hub caps. those things would brake every time i put in4low. also the tranny crossmember was a two pc, split in the middle, bolted togather than rivited to the frame. So if any one ever had to remove it they would of had to grind the rivits out. the explorer was first in high risk roll over, this thing was. im sure those big rear side windows added to the high cg  

you are an abslotute wealth of info snoman, hats off. i have a 93 f-150 4x4 with the 4.9, 5spd man, non eletric t-case, std cab short bed with 195k on the odometer. it also has 3.55 gears w/o limited slip. i dont plan on makeing it a serious offroader but i do use it to go hunting and go on the beach surf fishing. i would like to ask you though if you have any thoughts or advice for things i should look out for. thanks  

ok back to the guys question.....YES you can just bolt the 351 to the 6 cylinder's transmission.....i have personally done this swap in the opposite order....pull the 351.....pull the flywheel off and toss it.....pull the 6 cylinder and you'll need the flex plate off of it to bolt onto your 351 crank....then i can't remember which but one of the motor mounts will need to be moved about 4 inches and reattached....the other will stay in the same location....that is all you need to do to mount it, the holes may even very well be there, if not you'll need to do some minor fabrication on said motor mount.....as for the wiring.....the 79 and the 88 should have the same electronic ignition....if i am not mistaken you will be able to unplug the distrubitor from the 6 and plug the 351 distrubitor in and not even worry about changing the ignition box as it won't know the difference.....I did this very thing on a 83 ford ranger that was a 4 cylinder truck....we put a 302 of same year in and i'm still running on the 4 cylinder box....the 2 motors SHOULD use the same wiring......shouldn't be a very difficult swap at all....radiators are basically the same biggest thing will be you'll have to have exaust put on the thing after you get the 351 in there and also the 79 will be carberator so you'll have to find the gas feed line and the return line on your fuel injection and tee them together and run one line off the tee to the carb so that the gas can circulate back to the tank without building over a couple pounds of pressure.....because fuel injection uses like 80 pounds and carb's use around 5.....any questions feel free to PM me, i've done several engine swaps in my day.
DK