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

[pabear89]

It's where body and frame are one.
as in your mustang there is no physical frame to remove.

Sounds like Wolfy is tired of skinned Knuckles.

PB

 

[brianj5600]

I'm confused, why do you need better brakes for a V8, but not a hopped up I6. Hp does not know the number of cylinders. Listen to yourselves. More speed = more brakes. more speed = better suspension. Bottom line. A hopped up 6 takes the same suspension and brake mods as a stock V8, don't kid yourselves.

 

[TheWolf]

I'm confused, why do you need better brakes for a V8, but not a hopped up I6. Hp does not know the number of cylinders. Listen to yourselves. More speed = more brakes. more speed = better suspension. Bottom line. A hopped up 6 takes the same suspension and brake mods as a stock V8, don't kid yourselves.

Depends on how far you go with a 6 build up. Weight is a big factor in the equation not just speed. The more mass the car has the harder it is to stop, its simple physics. Two cars traveling at the same speed, the heaver one requires more stopping distance (or better brakes). I want to add disc brakes up front of my car, but they don't make a kit to do that for an I6 model after 66 without having to go to the 5 lug. Maybe one day they will. I have been thinking of moving up to the 5 lug.

"Sounds like Wolfy is tired of skinned Knuckles." Well,.... they hurt!!!

 

[63_Fairlane]

The multicarb setups on any engine are a major headache. Stay away form those. A small two barrel is about all the six needs. The two barrel unit, a Holley/Webber, for the later Mustang/Maverick 250s is a popular swap. Of course, you also need headers, exhaust, head work, a valve job, etc for the larger carbs to do you any good. Check out Clifford Performance to get some prices.

The suspension and brakes on a inline six are completly inadequate for a hopped up six. To be safe go ahead and swap the brakes and the suspension over to v8 equipment. The V8 hardware also gets you 5 lugs so you can actually find some wheels.

 

[TheWolf]

The multicarb setups on any engine are a major headache. Stay away form those. A small two barrel is about all the six needs. The two barrel unit, a Holley/Webber, for the later Mustang/Maverick 250s is a popular swap. Of course, you also need headers, exhaust, head work, a valve job, etc for the larger carbs to do you any good. Check out Clifford Performance to get some prices.

The suspension and brakes on a inline six are completly inadequate for a hopped up six. To be safe go ahead and swap the brakes and the suspension over to v8 equipment. The V8 hardware also gets you 5 lugs so you can actually find some wheels.

Clifford is over priced, I installed the holley/weber with adaptor, linkage and and air cleaner for under 100 by going to other sources. ford six performance parts is cheaper for most thinks and has better service imo.

 

[Mosse]

So, what was the thing about rear-end? 8"? Zookeeper has good points there, and if you already have 5-lug frontspindles, then I´d say go for it. Maybe better to save some money and drive with your rebuilt I6 and gather parts from swapmeets etc., than spend your money to I6 and be dissapointed. Or what do you guys think?

Even cheap near stock V8 will be better than sparked up I6 ...

Damn IBM keyb...

 

[TheWolf]

Even cheap near stock V8 will be better than sparked up I6 ...

QUOTE]
Depends on the year, and I'm guessing for you; better means faster?

 

[Mosse]

And torque... And sound.. Ok, the fuel consumption could be slightly increased, but altogether it´s not so bad project, if the front is already with discs and 5 lugs? I´d assume tuning I6 isn´t free? I wouldn´t prefer converting to V8, if the car was fully original, low mileage diamond...

 

[TheWolf]

And torque... And sound.. Ok, the fuel consumption could be slightly increased, but altogether it´s not so bad project, if the front is already with discs and 5 lugs? I´d assume tuning I6 isn´t free? I wouldn´t prefer converting to V8, if the car was fully original, low mileage diamond...

Unless you go with efi its a pretty big diffence between an even a stock v8 and nicely built 6 in the case of milage. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying that a conversion isn't a great way to go.... just that, depending on exactly what power level the owner wants to acheive, its not the only way.
I wish I had a good way to record sounds, I'd let you guys hear what an I6 with a good exhaust systme sounds like. You'd be surprised (I was ).

A stock 300 I6 out torques most stock 302s (there are a few exceptions). Yea, we're talking about 200/250s, but I'm just trying to give some perspective on it.
I wish Ford would go back to the I6 like a lot of companies are doing now. Much better than a v6 for a truck

 

[65conv50]

Unless you go with efi its a pretty big diffence between an even a stock v8 and nicely built 6 in the case of milage. I wish Ford would go back to the I6 like a lot of companies are doing now. Much better than a v6 for a truck

Really? My 65 Mustang D-code 289 4v got about 21 on the highway. My second one, a 200 I-6 (the one that's now a 5.0) got about 22 on the highway. I wouldn't call that a lot of difference. A little more difference in town, but basically because of my heavier foot with the 289.

I agree on the I-6. But not just in a truck. My son and my fiance' both have Z3s with I-6. MUCH better engine than any V-6 I've ever driven. V-6s just don't have any serious power. And mileage not great, either.

 

[TheWolf]

Most small blocks (without EFI) that I've seen and driven get mid to high teens, of course there are some exceptions. I get about 23-25mpg out of my 6. A difference of just say 5-7mpg is a lot if you dive often or are on a buget. I'm hoping to get 30mpg out of my I6 once everything is done. Don't know if I'll make it or not but thats my goal.


"My son and my fiance' both have Z3s with I-6."

 

[mtpony]

I have both a six and an eight, and I have to say that I love the six as much or more the the eight.

go to fordsix.com and look around, that is a great website.

I say if you want to spend a little money I would rebuild the engine, and then turbo that sucker.

import killer on ford six has turbo on his 200 and it's awesome.

mike

 

[68_stanger]

I would say it really depends on what you want out of the car. If your just looking for a decent driveable car a 6 would be just fine and can even be made to run respectivly. If your looking for more of a "race" car then you can't beat the extra dicplacement of a V8. I give credit where credit is due I'll appreciate a hopped up 6 cyl just as much as a hopped up V8. I also think there is something to be said for being different and not following the crowd as it appears everyone wants a V8 and thats fine but cudos to the guys with the 6's.
Im kindof in the same boat I have a 89 camaro with a 305 and everyones answer to how to fix it is to get a 350. I don't want one as everyone has one. I'd rather take the time and build a good 377, 383, 400 basically anything other than a 350 just to be differnt. Course I gotta finish my stang fist so just a thought.

 

[66P51GT]

I never regretted the V8 swap I did on my first 66 convertible. After three dead I6 motors, I was tired of the Fix Or Repair Daily routine. I was in college, lived at home, had several jobs and spent a year in junkyards acquiring parts needed for the swap. After ironing out a few kinks in a long-block I purchased, I got over 150k worry free miles from the pony before I sold it in '99.

Personally, I think you should do what you want, it's your car. If you want the V8 - go for it.

I considered building up the I6 as well. When I did a cost comparison, it was about the same (engine for engine). Obviously there was additional cost for drivetrain and suspension components. But, I minimized this with some hard core junk yard shopping.

Time lapse to 1986....

• I had Art Carr bebuild the C4 and I acquired most of the other V8 parts from junk yards.
• I pulled the spindles and brakes of a junked GT for $150 and rebuilt.
• 9" rear housing, axles, and backing plates from a '67 for $100 - 2" wider than stock.
• Purchased new parts for the rear drums.
• 14x6 steel rims from junk yard $25.
• Open rear was leftover from an engine/tranny purchase that I scrapped - actually made money on the deal.
• Bell housing from a junker
• '72 302 Long Block purchased locally $900
• Additional head work $250
• New parts included carb, master cylinder, headers, mufflers, torque converter, motor mounts, distributor, plug wires and other minor stuff.

Would I do it again... probably not. It was very time consuming. I'd look for a V8 car this time around. But, if I had a chance to purchase a '66 vert for $1500 again, I'd do it in a hearbeat!

$0.02