89 2.3 to carbd 351w

94GTHO · Oct 3, 2008

Im currently restoring my 89 coupe and am getting kind of excited. The only parrt I am bummed about still is taht 2.3 still being there. Dont get me wrong its a durable motor but I cant stand it. I was thinking alot lately of doing a 351w swap with a carb. So I have a few questions.

1. which year 351 w do I use?
2. What all do I need to do to make it a carbd car?
Can I use motor mounts to make it sit lower than regular height to use stock hood and where can i get them?
3. What all should I do to the motor while its out and on a stand?
4. What can I ditch that is currently in the bay.....charcoal canister and wiring and such.....
5. What power to they have stock?
6. And any suggestions you all have.

I have been seaching a bit but want to make sure I get everything right. Try to keep in mind this is a budget build. Really budget. Thanks stangnet for all the help.

ID89GT · Oct 3, 2008

There is no gain to ditching the charcoal canister, it don't affect engine performance at all

BK_CAULEY · Oct 3, 2008

94GTHO said:
Im currently restoring my 89 coupe and am getting kind of excited. The only parrt I am bummed about still is taht 2.3 still being there. Dont get me wrong its a durable motor but I cant stand it. I was thinking alot lately of doing a 351w swap with a carb. So I have a few questions.

1. which year 351 w do I use?
Any but a 94+ roller motor is prefered

2. What all do I need to do to make it a carbd car?

A swap oil pan and pickup, balancer, flywheel,swap headers, if you sti have a/c the frpp relocation bracket and any older 351 vacuum dizzy

Can I use motor mounts to make it sit lower than regular height to use stock hood and where can i get them?

Convertable motor mounts at any auto parts store. i doubt you will clear a stock hood. but if you want to, try a edelbrock performer intake nd carb with no cleaner and you should be ble to.

3. What all should I do to the motor while its out and on a stand?

Replace the rear main seal and all freeze plugs

4. What can I ditch that is currently in the bay.....charcoal canister and wiring and such.....

The charcoal canister will help with the smell of evaporated fuel but i dont have mine and its not garaged and i cant tell i dont have it. for asthetics ditch it. and yes all EFI wiring. be carefull on the vacuum lines as you might need some of them still.

5. What power to they have stock?

that all depends on the combo

6. And any suggestions you all have.

take your time.

I have been seaching a bit but want to make sure I get everything right. Try to keep in mind this is a budget build. Really budget. Thanks stangnet for all the help.

oh yea i have a bunch of 351 swap parts for sale. pm me or get my # from Fivespeed.

jrichker · Oct 3, 2008

The first question for you is: does the place you live have smog inspections?
If so, a carb motor will never pass visual. If you have smog inspections, you will have to go EFI unless you tow the car to the race track.

The V8 and 4 cylinder cars used different brake and chassis parts. Be prepared to get a V8 car for a donor for things like brakes, rear axle and springs.

The http://forums.stangnet.com/643651-useful-technical-thread-index.html sticky at the top of the 5.0 Tech forum has conversion tech notes on both V8 conversions and 351 swaps. Be sure to throughly read both tech notes. There are many other useful tech notes in the same sticky.

94GTHO · Oct 3, 2008

There are no smog inspection stuff were i live thankfully. will it be drivable with just using a engine and trans. if it can run and get me from point a to b for a while without be having a field day ill be happy.

85_SS_302_Coupe · Oct 3, 2008

You can fit it under the hood but it's gonna cost you power to do so. I had a stock height Performer intake and a tiny little cheap triangle breather on mine and it fit under the hood but with such a low intake and crappy breather it didn't breath very well.

I would put some GT40 heads on it (same thing the '93 Lightnings had) and i'd have them milled down if you have the cash (to increase compression). Put a nice cam and intake on it and a nice 650 (or even a 670 Street Avenger) and you'll be set. Should make at least 300hp at the wheels and tons of torque.

Also, i'd run it with a mechanical fuel pump...that's the easiest and safest way to convert to a carb setup. You'll have to find a timing cover off of an older carbureted 351 and the cam eccentric but those are pretty common in junkyards.

94GTHO · Oct 3, 2008

ok i was at work doing price lookups on random parts for a 351w. Opened up the edelbrock catalog and saw a couple top end kits. Looked up the price just to see and with my discount i can get:
Performer RPM Intake
Performer RPM cam
PErformer RPM Heads
Timing chain and gaskets
for about $600

Does that sound right to you guys?
What are your guys opinions on that setup with a 650 carb?
here is the link.

Edelbrock.com - Power Package - Top End Kits - Ford

kit number 2093

jrichker · Oct 3, 2008

Relative to my first reply to your post. You will have to have an EFI engine to operate the car on Virginia public roads.

The state of Virginia requires a safety inspection that includes air pollution control equipment to be present and operational. See Virginia State Police for more information.

94GTHO · Oct 3, 2008

im not concerned with that. plenty of my buddies have gone from throttle body to carbed that wont pass emissions and they dont have any troubles. not trying to sound cocky or anything but its something that im not to cencerned about.

Axel Kain · Oct 3, 2008

HEY jrichker, thanks for the lookout, but..... im a VA state inspector. ^ his friend...which has no bearing on this comment. norther VA, near DC, and MD has emission testing, not Richmond area. we DO check for emissions components like at least one cat (or 2 depending), EGR, Evap... no smog testing. gutted cat? not my problem, if its there it passes, i dont care if its empty or clogged.

any questions about what will/ won't pass, i have the book for cars, trucks over 10K lbs, and motorcycles here if anyone has a question, i will quote it. just PM me!

94GTHO · Oct 3, 2008

something is way off with that price. either i typed a number wrong or the computer was wrong. there is no way i get all that for 600ish

85_SS_302_Coupe · Oct 4, 2008

Yeah, if you can get all that for $600, you better buy 2 sets and put one set on eBay and then you'll get your set for free plus some money in your pocket

89 2.3 to carbd 351w

94GTHO

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