New Guy from Oregon 79 Pace Car

79PaceKar · Jun 28, 2020

Hello from Oregon. Yes, it's raining today! I am restoring a 1979 Pace Car. Yes it is a true one with the "W". This was a rolling chaise only. Body and four wheels. Nothing but an echo in the car if you looked inside. So far I have purchased a 5.0L from a 91 GT, rear end and disc brakes all around from 95 Mustang and a T-5 transmission. I just found out the T-5 came out of a 2003 Mustang. The engine is a complete engine with the EFI system . So far the engine checks out just fine. Inspected the block and lower end. Oil pan was clean, heads seem fine. Just a little dirty from running cheap gas. I was going to convert the 79 to EFI but after finding out how much this will cost along with amount of work, I am considering swapping intake to a carb. Question: Are the heads compatible with a carb or do I need to change them? Look forward talking with folks. Sorry, I don't do Facebook or tweet. Larry from Oregon Oh yea, I have a Mustang II go kart....

General karthief · Jun 28, 2020

Looks like a score!!
Yes you can slap a carb on it, those heads can't tell the difference.

79PaceKar · Jun 28, 2020

Thanks muchly.

Ryuk · Jun 29, 2020

Take plenty of pics and keep us informed of the progress.

96pushrod · Jun 29, 2020

Make sure you get a bellhousing from a 94/95 mustang if you don’t change the input shaft on the t5. You’ll need the clutch fork as well.
Yes the heads will work for a carb intake. They are the same.

7991LXnSHO · Jul 8, 2020

If you want EFI for less $ and hassle, a Holley Sniper TBI EFI and an Edelbrock Airgap RPM Intake and matching cam would be a lot faster than the Pace Car ever started out. The air gap intake would also be great with a carb after you check for hood clearance. The air gap intakes are impressive in testing and customer feedback for street and strip cars. I ran a performer 302 EGR on an E-7 long block (87 up roller cam block and heads) in a ‘79 before the air gap intakes came out and was pleased. I installed a GT type hood scoop on the 79 hood. I placed it for clearance and looks. I cut out the hood under the scoop for more clearance for the air cleaner if I later wanted a carb spacer or taller intake, and it looked like it belonged there. I ran the dual snorkel 4bbl GT carb filter housing (83-85?) and the stock dual cold air hoses and inner fender connectors. The 2bbl, single snorkel housing choked the engine over 4K RPM. The difference was obvious by sound and by seat of the pants feel.

Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap #7521 Intake Manifold for Small-Block Ford 302-331-347 V8

Edelbrock Part # 7521 RPM Air-Gap intake manifold is designed for small-block 302/331/347 Ford V8. Perfect for hot rodders, street machiners, bracket racers or any builder looking for optimum performance in the 1,500-6,500 RPM range.

www.edelbrock.com

Sniper EFI Self Tuning Kits - No Laptop Required

Holley’s Sniper EFI systems bring fuel injection to the masses with carburetor-replacement systems that are designed to have all the benefits of electronic fuel injection without breaking your bank. Perfect for street rods, hot rods, muscle cars, off-roaders and just about any carbureted...

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Please ignore the 61 Corvair in the picture. It was my first car and I scanned both pics when joining stangnet. The black car is that ‘79 Mustang. I am following your build. Please keep up with posting your progress and good luck!
View media item 11237

79PaceKar · Jul 8, 2020

Hello. With the help of this sites Tech I have started a better thread:
Oregon Pace Car Story to Coolness
I guess this will be in a better location. Thank you for the information regarding the Edelbrock EFI system. I had forgotten all about those. And, it seems they have a fuel pump to install in my tank. I am going to looking into this. Also, I will look into fuel tank pump. It may be what I was looking for. So, I did not see the Corvair photo. The hood under the scoop on my 79 is cut already. My dad had a Spyder for a while. I used it in high school. Fun to drive Larry

General karthief · Jul 8, 2020

^^^he called me a tech^^^

Progress Thread - Oregon Pace Car Story to Coolness

New Guy here. I am restoring a 79 Pace Car. It was a roller with no engine/trans or interior. I have purchased a 5.0 from a 91 GT. After researching i have decided to convert to a carb from the EFI. Are the heads on the EFI engine compatible with a carburetor? All the other stuff I...

www.stangnet.com

revhead347 · Jul 8, 2020

Welcome to Stangnet. If the T-5 is out of a 2003 Mustang, then it's out of a V6 car. Those actually came with the World Class T5 (T5z), so nice score. The input shafts on those are longer, as is the bellhousing. Is it a complete setup with fork and bellhousing? The heads will work, but you will need to plug the thermactor ports on the back of them. That's no big deal. I don't recommend swapping a cam with stock 91' heads; there is no gain in it. I'd bite the bullet and get the Holley Sniper EFI as suggested. Carbs are becoming a lost art, and finding anyone that can dial it in right is tough. You are going to need to change the distributor and ignition system to run it with a carb. Not sure if the Holley Sniper EFI will allow you to run the 91' distributor, but I'm guessing it will. Keep in mind that the 91' engine is an HO, which has a different firing order than what came in a 79' car. Just for future reference. You just have to plug the wires into the distributor in a different sequence. Keep us in the loop. Looks like a great project.

Kurt

Davedacarpainter · Jul 8, 2020

General karthief said:
^^^he called me a tech^^^

Progress Thread - Oregon Pace Car Story to Coolness

New Guy here. I am restoring a 79 Pace Car. It was a roller with no engine/trans or interior. I have purchased a 5.0 from a 91 GT. After researching i have decided to convert to a carb from the EFI. Are the heads on the EFI engine compatible with a carburetor? All the other stuff I...

www.stangnet.com

An obvious blunder.......

7991LXnSHO · Jul 8, 2020

revhead347 said:
Welcome to Stangnet. If the T-5 is out of a 2003 Mustang, then it's out of a V6 car. Those actually came with the World Class T5 (T5z), so nice score. The input shafts on those are longer, as is the bellhousing. Is it a complete setup with fork and bellhousing? The heads will work, but you will need to plug the thermactor ports on the back of them. That's no big deal. I don't recommend swapping a cam with stock 91' heads; there is no gain in it. I'd bite the bullet and get the Holley Sniper EFI as suggested. Carbs are becoming a lost art, and finding anyone that can dial it in right is tough. You are going to need to change the distributor and ignition system to run it with a carb. Not sure if the Holley Sniper EFI will allow you to run the 91' distributor, but I'm guessing it will. Keep in mind that the 91' engine is an HO, which has a different firing order than what came in a 79' car. Just for future reference. You just have to plug the wires into the distributor in a different sequence. Keep us in the loop. Looks like a great project.

Kurt

After about 30 years, you are probably right about the cam. I think I had the Comp cam in the original 302 block, then a stock style roller cam in the 5.0 replacement.
I do think the Air Gap manifold would still be good with aluminum heads if they get upgraded.

revhead347 · Jul 8, 2020

7991LXnSHO said:
After about 30 years, you are probably right about the cam. I think I had the Comp cam in the original 302 block, then a stock style roller cam in the 5.0 replacement.
I do think the Air Gap manifold would still be good with aluminum heads if they get upgraded.

The air gap would be fine. I don't keep up on carb intakes these days.

Kurt

79PaceKar · Jul 8, 2020

I am trading the T-5 from the 2003 to a T-5 built for a Fox body. Transmission plus cash. Good deal. Looking at the EFI carb option. Larry

General karthief · Jul 8, 2020

You got the fox bell housing?

79PaceKar · Jul 8, 2020

Yes. Now I have an extra V6 bell housing. Anyone need it?

revhead347 · Jul 9, 2020

The 2003 Transmission is a better transmission. However, if the foxbody one has been upgraded, it's probably just as good.

Kurt

79PaceKar · Jul 9, 2020

According to the builder, it has been updated. Thanks for the tip. Larry

New Guy from Oregon 79 Pace Car

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wanna catch the space herp

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

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