I own an 86 T Top with a 6 cylinder. Its a running driving project. I've built several cars before, but never a muscle car, and this is my first mustang fox body car, so I still have limited knowledge. Additionally, I'm not a motorhead so I've never built an engine, although I have dropped in a couple crate motors. These were simple, a rebuilt 390 into a 73 f100, and crate 350 into a 64 impala.
This will be my first muscle/performance build where I want high hp and performance as a priority goal. I do also want to reserve the option of possibly adding turbo down the road.
Considerations are 347, 351, 408 sbf... or possibly a coyote swap. I do want v8 sound, so turbo v6 is out.
I've heard(which i dont know if its true) that blueprint 302/347 blocks are much stronger than factory, and are built in same place as dart motors. If this is true than the 347 is an option. If its not true, I'd rather step into 351 blocks for stronger reliability, especially since I may add turbo some day.
Priorities are not only cost(trying to build this on a budget), but also ease of swap. I know there will be some custom things here and there that will need to be done, but one of the reasons I eliminated the godzilla motor is after research it seems theres just too much custom things along the way to a full complete swap. I would like this build to be as straight forward, plug and play, bolt in as possible, within reason. Now I don't mind leaning on a little more custom work to save a few thousand if that comes into play.
Given this info, and given todays practices and parts availability to make a coyote swap that much easier than 10 years or even 5 years ago, Would it be more straight forward, easier, and budget friendly to go coyote or sbf? I know I can get a gen 1 coyote with trans for 6k or so, and a blueprint long block or close to turnkey would be 6-9k and would still need trans(probably a tkx).
I like the the fact that the pushrod sbf is a much simpler easier to work on engine, but I like the modern reliability etc of the coyote.
I should note this will be a weekend driver, hit a car show every once in a while, and maybe hit a drag strip once in a long while car.
So give a pretty much newbie your advice. Thank you.
This will be my first muscle/performance build where I want high hp and performance as a priority goal. I do also want to reserve the option of possibly adding turbo down the road.
Considerations are 347, 351, 408 sbf... or possibly a coyote swap. I do want v8 sound, so turbo v6 is out.
I've heard(which i dont know if its true) that blueprint 302/347 blocks are much stronger than factory, and are built in same place as dart motors. If this is true than the 347 is an option. If its not true, I'd rather step into 351 blocks for stronger reliability, especially since I may add turbo some day.
Priorities are not only cost(trying to build this on a budget), but also ease of swap. I know there will be some custom things here and there that will need to be done, but one of the reasons I eliminated the godzilla motor is after research it seems theres just too much custom things along the way to a full complete swap. I would like this build to be as straight forward, plug and play, bolt in as possible, within reason. Now I don't mind leaning on a little more custom work to save a few thousand if that comes into play.
Given this info, and given todays practices and parts availability to make a coyote swap that much easier than 10 years or even 5 years ago, Would it be more straight forward, easier, and budget friendly to go coyote or sbf? I know I can get a gen 1 coyote with trans for 6k or so, and a blueprint long block or close to turnkey would be 6-9k and would still need trans(probably a tkx).
I like the the fact that the pushrod sbf is a much simpler easier to work on engine, but I like the modern reliability etc of the coyote.
I should note this will be a weekend driver, hit a car show every once in a while, and maybe hit a drag strip once in a long while car.
So give a pretty much newbie your advice. Thank you.