Engine swap on a 67 fastback..

[omegalink5]

The car has a 289 and I would like a little more "go" out of my pony. Looking for some feedback as to the best solution for a new engine. What I am considering is:
1 - Buying a T-Bird with a 428
2 - Buying a 351
3 - Buying a crate motor from Ford Racing.
My only big concern is if the 428 from the T-bird will fit/work.

Thanks for any help!

 

[grego37]

Id go with a 351w
and if you can afford to spend a little more
get a stroker 351W

 

[bleedfordblue65]

351... cheapest, easiest, and make gobs of power. That is my next project for my 65 coupe. Good luck

 

[5.0ina66]

FE stands for F'king Expensive. I love 'em and given the choice, I'd do that just because. Otherwise a built 351W or 393W would do the trick. I've never been overly impressed by FRPPs crate motors. A 400hp 351W would be easy, with a set of ported Trickflows, Wieland excellerator and custom cam, how's 455hp?

I Must....resist...temptation...to....build 351W '66

 

[danny clemens]

The 428 will fit but you'll have to change a lot of parts. The 351 W probably has the most bang for the buck and fits nicely in a 67. You'd be able to put it in without too much change. If you do go with a 351 W a 9" rear would be recommended. With a 428 the 9" rear would be almost a must.

 

[rbohm]

I Must....resist...temptation...to....build 351W '66

dont resist. you know you want to. think of the power. step out of the darkness into the light. build the 351w 66. join me and together we can rule stangnet with a pair of 66 351w coupes its there just waiting for you. you can do it.

 

[FORCED2DV8]

Depends on how in depth of a swap you want to go.... find a smashed cobra put a mod motor in it.. or a stroked 351 would also be nice.. 408 ci.

 

[SoCalCruising]

Ford now offers the 392 crate motor with the the "Z" heads, rated at 475hp - which means it makes 500+ "magazine" hp. Not bad, if you don't want to build your own.

 

[Stangninjak]

Hmm I say go with a 351w. Its light, can make a ton of power. Also you can always stretch it out with stroker kits. I love my 351 in my 65 coupe. heh when people look at it in the car shows, they say "Thats not a 289..."

Must...get....351....badges !

 

[kmterrill]

FE stroked with a blower...

 

[D.Hearne]

The T-Bird 428 won't work. Simply because of the exhaust bolt pattern of the heads. It'd be easier and cheaper to go with a 351, Windsor or Cleveland, stroked or not. And you can make the power of an FE with either without the swap hassles.

 

[danny clemens]

The T-Bird 428 won't work. Simply because of the exhaust bolt pattern of the heads. It'd be easier and cheaper to go with a 351, Windsor or Cleveland, stroked or not. And you can make the power of an FE with either without the swap hassles.

Do they have headers to fit that application? The heads can be drilled to fit the GT exhaust manifolds or aftermarket heads would work. The 351W would be my choice though.

 

[Edbert]

351W all the way.

Cheap and easy way to add powah. My 357W weighs about the same as the stock 289 did, and makes almost twice the fwhp and more than twice the fwtq.

For an early car (light weight) or for a open-track car I would not stroke it. You'll find a lot of differing opinions on that subject but the big windsors are not known for their ability to rev, and if you stroke it it only gets worse. A 351-357W will have a ton more torque than a 289/302 anyhow, so unless you plan on building a drag car and NEED the cubes then leave the stock stroke...just MHO.

 

[SoCalCruising]

Edbert makes a good point - especially if you are talking about a 393 built with stock rods and 302 pistons, as is common. However, if you pay attention to rod ratio and obtain a light rotating assy, you can do better. My favorite compromise is a 3.75" stroke and 6.2" rod combo. Keeping things lightweight will allow a motor like this to rev pretty well, but it costs more. Pick your poison.

 

[Sicarius428]

A 351w or 351 stroker would ideal for your setup. The FE is an awesome engine but it is very expensive and the weight something else when compared to a 351.
Kevin

 

[omegalink5]

Thanks for the wisdom guys. A 351 really sounds like the way to go.

 

[D.Hearne]

Do they have headers to fit that application? The heads can be drilled to fit the GT exhaust manifolds or aftermarket heads would work. The 351W would be my choice though.

Some of the later FE heads have the bosses cast in them for the GT/CJ bolt pattern. C8AE-H's do, D2TE's also. Can't say for any of the others. I've got several sets of C8AE-H's all but one set have the std. pass. car vertical bolt pattern.

 

[D.Hearne]

A 351w or 351 stroker would ideal for your setup. The FE is an awesome engine but it is very expensive and the weight something else when compared to a 351.
Kevin

FE's are no more expansive than some 351 builds, just that it takes more cash to swap one in where a small block was. Weight's not that much different either. An aluminum headed and intaked FE weighs about what a stock 351 does.

 

[FiveOfastback]

If you want it to look like the stock motor IE: (Sleeper) go 331 or 347. 400 fwhp is very possible with a decent set of heads on a 347 and it won't ooverheat on cruise night in summer like an FE will in traffic. Plus if you go aluminum head motor, new suspension, maybe even do a OD swap you can run a higher number rear and still get 15-20 on the highway. I run 3.89 with Holley 650 DP on a aluminum head crate 302 and get 16 on highway with a T5. There are alot of choices out there. It all depens on what you like to do most with your Stang Steet/strip cruising or all out HP. Like was mentioned above a 351w or a stroker 351 will get you more HP than any street tires can handle, but a wild combo can be a bear on the street to keep tuned right. Just my .02$. BTW my FRPP crate 302 made 308rwhp and 310 torque and runs 12.70 at 111 thru the mufflers. I have a 100 shot for the times when I run across a big block or some GM product that needs to see taillights of a Mustang.

 

[mtbdoc]

I can hook you up w/ my builder...he's putting the finishing touches on my blown 408W!