please explain to me the big deal about a six cylinder to larger engine swap?

[brtnstrns]

I dont see what the big deal is about this....is it hard to do or are most people in here just more concerned about money? From what i've researched and talked to some guys I know that know a lot about cars I could spend about 3000 or so on a new turnkey 302 or 351 ready to drop in. couple thousand more on a new transmission...change suspension, motor mounts, etc. Doesnt seem too time consuming...especially with all the help I can find from just buddies of mine seems like I could get it done just during one summer. This is my frist car so theres no way I can sell it and go and buy a v8 simply because i'm only a teenager right now and my fathers paying for most of the restoration...but we're doing it all ourselves. Now for a new engine I'd have to find the money for that but I could get that kind of money within like 2 years of having a job or so. So I'm not seeing why its such a huge deal and everyone in here says not to do it? Just wonderin

 

[69 302/351c]

The difference in value between a six cylinder coupe and a comparable V8 coupe is a lot less than $5000. Why bother to mess with updating a 6 cylinder car when for a little more, you can start with a V8.

 

[TheWolf]

69 302/351c makes a good point.
There are different reasons people say not to do it. Each case is different. If a person is looking for a car to buy, I say go ahead and buy the v8 if thats what they want. Since you already own the car, its different. It can get time consuming though. I have not converted an I6 to a V8 ( I have researched it compeltely because I had planned to put a 390 in mine), I have done an upgrade from a 302, 3spd combo to a 351W-c6 swapping the rearend too which was time consuming in spells. My advice is to you is to go slowly and don't cut corners, and enjoy.

 

[SuperDave]

Providing that you have the money, skill and time, go right ahead. DON'T SAY that we didn't tell you that is is a HUGE project. Six cylider cars were built with much lighter duty components than V-8 cars. That is a simple INDISPUTABLE fact. Look at any parts catalog and see.

 

[D.Hearne]

Yes, it is hard to do, and yes, it cost's money, how much money depends on how you shop. You can pay almost nothing for the swap parts, or pay thru the nose for them. The 6 cylinder suspension and brakes were never designed with a high performance vehicle in mind, they're both not up to the task of handling the extra power, the handling demands, and the braking power necessary to stop the car. Dropping a couple thousand on an engine and more on a transmission sounds easy, but if you'll go out and get a job, you'll find that making the money to pay for all the crate motors and transmissions isn't as easy as it sounds. It's a big deal to me and others like me that have other obligations, and families to support, not just living at home with your parents, with free room and board. And even at my age ( old enough to be your daddy )it's tough to scrape together that kind of cash, to just blow on an engine, transmission, and suspension when there's other things that are higher on the priority list.

 

[SuperDave]

D Hearne says it well. You've been advised on this and now it is TOTALLY up to you! I've worked on Mustangs since they were new and during that time, I've seen more cobbled six/V-8 converasions than ones done correctly and within the bugtet estimated.

The only sensible way to even approach the idea is to work from a
V-8 donor car.

 

[D.Hearne]

Thanks, Dave !! Although I've never done a 6 to 8 swap in an early Stang, the V8 swap I did in my 89 Ranger seems like a piece of cake in comparison.

 

[brtnstrns]

theres many things in my car that have been upgraded before I bought it that probably have covered certain things needed for a v8 swap...since someone brought up brakes...mine have already been converted into disk so i'm pretty sure thats one thing that's been covered.

 

[SuperDave]

Then there's the differential........... Oh well, it has all been said. Enjoy!

 

[TheWolf]

Is it that 4 lug disc conversion kit or was it converted over to 5lug? You need the 5 lug.

 

[rbohm]

for the time and money you would spend doing this swap, you could build a healthy six, either a 200 or a 250, that would surprise many V8 cars. it would also garner more attention at car shows, if you are so inclined, because most cars there are either V8 cars or ricer types. very few inline six powered cars at shows, thus they tend to stand out.

 

[dolfan87]

for the time and money you would spend doing this swap, you could build a healthy six, either a 200 or a 250, that would surprise many V8 cars. it would also garner more attention at car shows, if you are so inclined, because most cars there are either V8 cars or ricer types. very few inline six powered cars at shows, thus they tend to stand out.

YES. I really don't understand why more people don't build up 6 cylinder cars. My very first Mustang was a 200 I-6, and I loved that thing.

If I had a project with the 6, I would take that little 200, and make it everything it could be.

He is right about the show circuit too. I pass by a lot of V-8 Mustangs, but I would stop and ponder a killer I-6 set up.

Just my opinion though.

87

 

[TheWolf]

Glad to see I'm not the only one that sees the merit in these little engines. Long live six cylinder Mustangs

 

[mp67]

Lots of good points of view here. Even though some people here may think I'm against the six, as I have said before if you have a nice six car and its value would be enhanced by the six's originality, then by all means build the six. But if thats not the case and you really want the 8, then go for it. It is a lot of work, but what some people consider a lot of work, others don't. But you mentioned getting the money in two years with a job, so in that time you could be on the lookout for an eight car and if you don't find one and still feel like you have to have the 8 then you will have had two years to research it and make an informed decision. BTW, what year is your car?

 

[lidflipr]

I'm in the process now of swaping a 6 for a V8. I picked up a stright no rust arizona 6 and i'm putting in a V8/289. Lucky for me I found a donor and got the engine, c4, 8" rearend and springs. I've been busting my hump for two months to get it down to a shell stripping it. If you are going to replace all the drive tran, might as well do it the right way. I also just welded in a custom rod front end with power discs brakes (good kit by the way). It takes alot of time you need to bag and tag everthing and if you don't have a good place to work or the tools good luck. If you need to replace or rebiuld the egine, trans and suspension/brakes because they are old and worn out then doing this swap is upgrading and just a more money .

 

[68stang351]

It's not as bad as everyone thinks it is. I took out my 200 3 speed and put in a 351w, T5, replaced springs, a arm shafts, upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends, spring perches, Granada disc spindles, shocks, rear end, rear leaf springs. Sure it sounds like a lot of work, but if you love Mustangs and love the car like I do you wouldn't think twice about it if that's what you really want. I would do it all again in a heartbeat (I should say hoofbeat).

YES, that's right, I said I would do it again!!!

It was an invaluable learning experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

 

[usedtobe 67p51d]

one thing not mentioned....the 6 banger mustangs are often in better shape that there v8 brothers! less torque and hp = less stress on the cars shell. and if your doing a total car, what motor,trans, diff, and brakes that you want a 6 banger might be the way to go.

 

[65StangBoy]

We did this to my car about 2 years ago. I would say that if you have your heart set on swapping a V8 in, find yourself a donor V8 car. We got a good deal on a I-6 fastback that we had to have and already had a V8 coupe that I was going to drive. So we just swapped everything between the two and sold the coupe and ended up only paying about $400 to put a V8 and all the required suspension in the fastback. It is a HUGE amount of work but I don't have any regrets.

 

[zookeeper]

Just because something is hard does NOT mean it's not worth doing. A couple years back, when I was searching for a fastback, I was actually looking for a 6. Why? Simple, I was sick of looking at abused and cobbled up cars, that had been owned in the past by high schoolers. A 6 banger was most likely purchased new by an adult, and they generally saw easier lives as well as were garage-kept, since older people usually treat cars with respect and most likely own a home with a garage. Plus, let's be honest, all the parts that need to be swapped (rear end, trans, brakes, etc.) are stuff I plan to change anyway, so why get hung up on originality? After all, my car is presently COMPLETELY disassembled for a top-quality paint job, yet I don't hear any of the "experts" warning against the hassles of repainting. If working on cars is that intimidating to them, maybe they should own Toyotas.

 

[SuperDave]

I've never said ANYTHING against the six; only the V-8 swap. My first Mustang was a 200 six and it was a great intro to the marque. My current Mustang is, and will remain, a 260.

I just don't understand the obcession with power and speed.