mr7confused

What are the mechanical differences between our trucks and the mustangs of the same era? I'm talking drivetrain, all the way back to the wheels. I know the intakes are a little shorter, or so I've heard. What else? Transmissions, gear ratios, cams, heads, etc.

TheCollector

well one is lighter so the ho to lb ratio is a lot better i'm sure there transmissions are geared way different and possibly have better compression but im not 100% on that. i do know mustang guys who know there stuff would rather have the 5.0 out of the truck in there mustang

mr7confused

Damn thats not too far off from what I was thinking. I was just curious how close it already is to being built into a muscle-truck.
Anybody know about the gear ratios?

cgossett

also, the trucks have beds, bigger tires, trailer hitches, etc

walter34payton2002

The Mustang heads breathe better and the Stangs had the roller cams and lifters before F150 even thought about it. Different spark plugs too then F150.

F100builder

Much of it is in the heads and valvetrain including the cam(s) especially in the newer modular 4.6 and 5.4. The short blocks are essentially the same if we're comparing flat tappet to flat tappet or roller to roller. I think it was '94 or '95 when the F150 got its first roller motor (for the 5.8 anyway). As far as gearing, the 3.55 ratio seems to be pretty common for both the trucks and the Mustang. Yes, there are others out there with different ratios but I see 3.55 quite a bit. The only other thing to compare would be the gear ratios of the transmissions in both standard and auto configurations...this is where I lose touch. I've seen the charts but I don't have them memorized.

darkminds

Mustang engines were tuned for top end...different upper/lower intake....roller cams/different cam profiles...heads (combustion chamber size..shape) valve size. Truck engines were tuned for power down low. My GT came with 308 gears I had to swap mine up to 355 gears...and mustangs came with completely different trannys than trucks did...my truck has the mazda 5speed...mustang had the borgwarner t5 then I upped to the tremec. The intake tracks wernt close either...upper to airfilter. Hot rod trucks are kewl...I had a 68 f100 back in the day with a BB was fun as hell. If you want an idea keep the full size for a DD and grab a ranger with a blown engine and throw a mustang or explorer engine in it...late model explorers came stock with roller drive train and gt40 heads.

F100builder

I know what you mean...I currently own a '69 SWB 2WD w/ a 390/C6. It's a blast!

90customf150

How can the heads be much different..they're all e7s

darkminds

My 68 still had no power steering and drums all the way around...scary as hell but fun and on the heads I saw a write up on all the castings ill have to find the link to them again. I think I still have all the part numbers and castings somewhere