engine swap ideas???

Sixty Nine Mach · Aug 3, 2004

i have made up mind to finally build my car, but i have decided not to but decided not to build my stock engine. i am goin to swap the engine for a gt-40 crate motor, rated at about 325hp. its a 302, but i am open to ideas, so if anyone has any that would be great.

xoxbxfx · Aug 4, 2004

screw the crate motor...that thing is too expensive for what it is. I would look into Coast High Performance motors. Great company that I know many people are happy with their motors. A 351 or 302 would fit great. How much money you want to spend. You could go EFI

VictorII · Aug 4, 2004

How about a local shop built 302 with 8.5:1 compression and a blower running around 7 or 8 PSI? Balance it, have the rods resized and drilled for 3/8 ARP rod bolts and you'd have a decent bottom end up to about 5,000 RPM. Since it is blown, stock heads should be fine if new guides and a decent 3 angle valve job are done. Plus use the recommended head gaskets (recommended by the blower maker). The engine would think it was a big block but be lighter so your car would have better front/rear balance for cornering. I've got an SN-92 Paxton unit that I'm thinking of doing that exact thing with in my '65 convert with an extra 302 I have. Even if you buy a new blower, the cost for the entire engine/blower combo shouldn't run a lot more than a performance crate engine, but research it, I'm not sure. The additional power shouldn't kill your rear end assuming it is a Traction Lock in good shape with somewhat deep gears.

Sicarius428 · Aug 4, 2004

I agree. The crate motor is really not worth the money. You are much better off getting a CHP motor. A stroker would be a nice twist on things for your Mach which will give you some good torque. All in all it really depends on your budget and what you want out of your motor. Even consider rebuilding your 351, although I know that you don't want to, into something more.. possibly a 408 stroker. It will probably end up being the most power for the least ammount of money.
Kevin

ratio411 · Aug 4, 2004

Your car is on the heavy side.
Don't step down to a 302.
I think you would be happier building the 351 you have.
Even in mild form, it should beat a crate 302 in your application.
If you have the means and ability, there is nothing wrong with more cubes if you like.
Good luck
Dave

63_Fairlane · Aug 4, 2004

Unless, the 351 has been really abused, I would find a good local engine builder and let them know what you want. If the 351 is not salvageable, then a crate engine might be worthwhile.

Let us know where you are located, and someone should be able to guide you to a reputable shop.

Good luck with your project.

PoliceInterceptor · Aug 4, 2004

Genesis 427 - stroke to 454, Blue Thunder Heads and Medium riser intake with 2 4's. Should make about, oh, 700 horsepower.

Keith Craft will hook you up.

If you are going to swap it REALLY SWAP IT

allcarfan · Aug 4, 2004

am i the only one partial to the crate engine?

an aluminum headed 345hp crate engine from ford...that all you need is an oil pan, dist, intake, and carb can be had for $3000 shipped to your door and comes with a warranty. Thats not a bad price...especially since you get a 5.0 oil pan, balancer, valve covers, water pump, tcc..etc etc. With an RPM intake and the right car you could even squeeze a few more horses out of that.

Shane

hummer784 · Aug 4, 2004

I agree with police interceptor, if you are going to swap it, atleast make it worth wile. You can take a 460 all the way to 557 with some of the storker kits that are available and being that your car is a 69 you would have enough room. If you were on a budget you could stick with a .030 over 460 with a cam, some head work and a decent intake and have more power then you would know what to do with.

xoxbxfx · Aug 4, 2004

hummer784 said:
I agree with police interceptor, if you are going to swap it, atleast make it worth wile. You can take a 460 all the way to 557 with some of the storker kits that are available and being that your car is a 69 you would have enough room. If you were on a budget you could stick with a .030 over 460 with a cam, some head work and a decent intake and have more power then you would know what to do with.

be aREAL MAN

65straightsick · Aug 4, 2004

Why does the site say chevy stroker kits when that is advertising a ford 460 stroker kit....am I the only one seeing that?

63_Fairlane · Aug 4, 2004

allcarfan said:
am i the only one partial to the crate engine?

an aluminum headed 345hp crate engine from ford...that all you need is an oil pan, dist, intake, and carb can be had for $3000 shipped to your door and comes with a warranty. Thats not a bad price...especially since you get a 5.0 oil pan, balancer, valve covers, water pump, tcc..etc etc. With an RPM intake and the right car you could even squeeze a few more horses out of that.

Shane

There is nothing wrong with buying a crate engine for FRPP or any of the other good builders. Just with the larger car I would shy away from the 289/302 and move up to a 351. FRPP does have some 351 crate engines. They are a bit more expensive than the 302 version, but the extra torque would be really nice.

My car is a lightweight 65 coupe so the 302 crate engine would be a better fit compared to the later cars. IMHO.

xoxbxfx · Aug 4, 2004

65straightsick said:
Why does the site say chevy stroker kits when that is advertising a ford 460 stroker kit....am I the only one seeing that?

engine parts are engine parts... if they were selling ford fuel injection equipement or ford cars, it would be another story. Companies play favorites to certain manufacturers. Take TrickFlow...they specialize in ford but sells cheby stuff too

ratio411 · Aug 4, 2004

A crate engine is fine if you can afford it.
The warranty is usually pretty good. BUT, if they want a way out, they will find an excuse not to warranty. You are also stuck with all labor and shipping with a warranty.
My point was that he should go with at least 351 cubes, even with a crate engine.
You should watch the parts that come with the crate engine too... you want early model accessories like oil pan and timing cover. Otherwise you get stuff you don't need and are stuck putting alot of your old 351 stuff onto the new engine.
Another point:
You have a 351 car with a 4 speed.
If you use an engine that doesn't have the same bellhousing or engine mounts, you are stuck buying a bunch of new stuff that you could have reused if you stayed in your engine family.
SBF, W, and C are direct (for the most part) swaps.
429/460, M engines, and FE engines all would require alot of fabbing and/or new accessory parts.
Personally, I would get a well built 351w that is within my budget, just for the bolt in factor. Then I would store the original 351 in 'mothballs' incase you ever restore or sell the car. It looks good if a buyer sees the original engine in the deal.
Good luck
Dave

mustang70 · Aug 4, 2004

Something else to consider is that the crate motor won't have the hole to bolt in your equalizer bar. You'd have to get the bracket for that.

As for engine, I went from a 302 to a 351 and don't regret it. I would look into rebuilding your old motor just for the fact that you know what's going into it. Take it from a guy that's rebuilding his motor for the third time.

Ronstang · Aug 4, 2004

Just remember that a Ford crate engine is a virgin block, crank, and rods and has at least one more rebuild in it whereas something from Coast or other REBUILDER will consist of all refurbished parts and you will not be using the block again when rebuild time comes around again.

If you want a Ford engine then get it at the closest FRPP participating dealership so you can simply take it back there if warranty issues arise....which they will not unless you screw something up for the most part. The dealer I use will even deliver crate engines to my home garage if I wish.

67GTA-FB429 · Aug 4, 2004

Go with a big block no matter what. But trust me a 429/460 is a tight squeeze. Lots of potential in a Big Block.

engine swap ideas???

Sixty Nine Mach

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VictorII

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Sicarius428

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ratio411

63_Fairlane

PoliceInterceptor

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allcarfan

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hummer784

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xoxbxfx

ratio411

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