im thinking about buying a 1976 mustang cobra 2. i think it came with a 302. i dont know much about classic cars so i was just wondering. i was also wondering how hard it would be to drop a 351w in it. any comments are greatly appreciated.
Dropping a 351W in isn't a bolt in operation. It requires a lot of finesse. ;-) Anyhow 76 Cobra II's are regarded by many as the best year for the Cobra II due to the stripes. Sounds like a cool car.
i don't recommend the 351w swap, from my experience, it's not a very enjoyable swap. you can make plenty of power with the 302. you can stroke it out some, get some good heads on it, etc etc.
im pulling the old motor out and putting a newer 302 in it but to you recomend keeping it carb or efi? its a long block that still needs alot of stuff.i dont really know much about engine swaps so i dont want to be doing anything to difficult and from what i have heard yall say the 351 will be kinda hard. oh and if i was going to drop a 351 in it would be the modified version. just curious what makes it so difficult?
For the plain fact that the 302 and 351 are not derived from the same size block like the brand X motors. The 351 is 2 inches wider and about an inch taller. look at the room you have for a 302 and subtract an inch on each side. Don't get me wrong, it will fit. But knowing what I do now I probably would have stayed with the 302. The swap isn't just one little pain but a series of litle pains that get downright anoying: Headers (good luck or custom built or 450$ + extras), making the oil pan fit, the height of the intake/carb, the extra weight, brackets, cooling, dealing with the extra torque.
Do what you want, but you'll get to drive your new found fun much quicker with the 302.
As for fit the 351W, the bottom end (starter and oil pan), the sides (headers) and the top (new hood or gigantic scoop) all have to be heavily modified.