need advice on ford engine swap

[50mercfan]

the cars o/t but i thought some of you could help. i've got a 72 cougar with the 351c. will a 390 bolt in? motor mounts/trans have to be changed? it's automatic, i don't know if it's fmx or c6.

[skipperman]

Nope....won't bolt in ....trans is different too ... why not keep the 351 C ?? they're a GOOD motor......you want the 2 BBL heads for the street tho' .....

jersey Skip

[Flat Ernie]

Bolt-in? Doubtful. I don't believe there were FEs offered in intermediate cars after '70, so there's no factory set-up. A 429/460 will bolt in with the right parts though.

That's not to say it can't be done, it can. Anything is possible given enough time and money! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Engine mounts may have to be fabricated, but you might try mounts from '69 Cougar w/390 or 428 - might be close or even the same. Anyone else know?

Trans definitely has to be changed - different bellhousing pattern. FWIW, you probably have an FMX. Small-block C6s were pretty rare until the early/mid-'80s when they became available in trucks. Having said that, they did come behind 351Cs.

Headers will probably have to be fabricated or cast iron manifolds used. Again, you might get lucky with '69-70 FE headers...

Not a lot of help I'm afraid...a 429/460 would be a lot easier.

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[50mercfan]

thanks guys, thats about what i figured. the 351 runs sweet enough. just was thinking about a little more grunt. my brother had an old ford truck years ago. it had the 390 and ran well. thats why i was thinking about the 390. the best i remember about fords is that the 2 barrel heads don't like 4 barrel carburators. is that true? mine is 2 barrel.

i could fab some mounts for the cougar but really don't want to spend the time. this car is just a patch and go. i want to get back to my merc.

[Flat Ernie]

[ QUOTE ]
the best i remember about fords is that the 2 barrel heads don't like 4 barrel carburators. is that true?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not on your life! If you've got a 2bbl engine, get an aftermarket 4bbl intake & bolt one on! It'll run great!

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[AnimalAin]

The chassis for the later ('71-'73) cars is mostly like the earlier. Likely that you could get frame mounts from a 67-70 and make it work without too much hassle, but it would be sort of an orphan. If you want to go bigger, go 460. '71 Mustang/Cougar mounts/headers/etc.

[Fat Hack]

Keep the Cleveland!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

But...if you WANT a bigger engine, a big block IS a bolt in deal!

71-73 Cougars use the same chassis, and the 429 engine was available for sure in 71, possibly in 72 and 73 as well. Factory 429 mounts and hoses, etc will allow the installation of a 429 or 460, but you'll need to get a transmission with the 429/460 bellhousing, too.

(A buddy of mine built a 72 Cougar with a 460...easy as Hell to do, and it was a tire shredder!)

The 390/428 FE engines can be bolted in using 1970 Mustang 428 mounts, but if memory serves on this one, you have to elongate one of the holes somewhere. Don't recall EXACTLY, but I know it can be done with minimal fuss! The FE engines use yet another different tranny, too...so you'd need an FE trans for the swap as well as the mounts and such.

See my post on 351 Cleveland engines for some background and general performance guidelines on these engines...2v Clevelands respond REALLY WELL to an aftermarket 4v intake (for 2v heads), a good Holley carb, headers and a mild cam.

A 302 or 351W will bolt to your existing mounts and trans, but that's going backwards!

USE THE CLEVELAND!!!! (or deliver it to ME! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

[Flat Ernie]

The more I think about this, the more I vaguely remember that the 71-73 Mustangs (and I assume Cougars) w/429 in them used a unique shorter water pump.

Am I smoking crack again?

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[50mercfan]

thanks again for the good info. i'm thinking now i will keep the 351. maybe a 4 barrel and some headers. maybe a cam swap. but damn, cleavland parts are expensive.

[Flat Ernie]

[ QUOTE ]
damn, cleavland parts are expensive

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, they only made them (in production) for 4 years. Fewer & fewer folks are running them too it seems.

If you're going to go through it, I'd keep an eye out for some Aussie heads. They pop up on eGay for <$400 fairly regularly. You get 2bbl ports/valves, but 4bbl closed chambers - best production head out there for the 351C.

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