Swap a 302 into an Escort?

tjm73 · Aug 18, 2004

Michael Yount said:
Bein's how the Festiva is front wheel drive, can you elaborate on how they 'changed nothing other than put it in car' and got it to run at all? I suspect it was a bit more involved than you were led to believe.

Sorry.......I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been. I was actually referring to the engine when I worte they didn't change anything. The car was obviosuly extensivly modified.

They built a custom engine cradle and moved the bulk of the enigine back under the windshield (yes interior space was VERY tight). Then bolted it into the car and they then also cut out the of back of the car and hung a ladder bar setup in it and a pair of 28x12.50-15 Mickey Thompson tires.

It was a good first build of this kind of car, but they needed to do a couple things differently.

dastang2 · Aug 18, 2004

how about a datsun 240z. they make kits to put ford,chevy and dodge motors in them and they can go pretty fast.

Asha'man · Aug 18, 2004

Do the Rx7! I know a guy who has a bone-stock Turbocoupe 2.3T in one and he was running mid-high 14's last June, and that's at 5800 feet.

Ash

Gearbanger 101 · Aug 18, 2004

Asha'man said:
Do the Rx7! I know a guy who has a bone-stock Turbocoupe 2.3T in one and he was running mid-high 14's last June, and that's at 5800 feet.

Ash

That's a lot of trouble to go through to only save about 200lbs?

Michael Yount · Aug 18, 2004

There are LOTS of first and second gen RX7's around with small block Fords and Chevys in them -- fairly common swap.

The problem with the old Z cars is finding clean ones - and they've actually started to increase in value a bit. So when you find one that's nice, you kind of wonder if you want to swap the original motor out.

Boss351 - pick up a copy of the mag - my dad told me about it, but I haven't seen it yet. He mentioned 500 HP - I think it's a 5.4L supercharged Cobra motor - could be wrong though. Can you say understeer, and throttle on oversteer?

Boss 351 · Aug 18, 2004

I found this concept from Ford:

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/focus_rs8.asp

afast93stang · Aug 18, 2004

There is a kit thats all bolt on to drop a 5.0 and a 5spd into a Focus.

http://www.atimotorsports.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=77

You can also put an 03 Cobra drivetrain and rearend in a Focus...

Michael Yount · Aug 18, 2004

Everytime I hear more about the Focus swaps, I keep looking at how far forward the engine sits compared to the front 'axle' (look at the strut tower tops compared to the engine) --- that thing must handle like an absolute pig when pushed hard -- Push is the term of the day. Of course as soon as the turn straightens out and you can lean on the loud pedal, you probably forget all about it.

Gearbanger 101 · Aug 18, 2004

Michael Yount said:
Of course as soon as the turn straightens out and you can lean on the loud pedal, you probably forget all about it.

That is assuming of course that there are a couple of linebackers in the back seat to counter all of the weight and poor weight distribution on the nose of that thing, to keep the rear tires from going up in flames when more than 1/4 throttle is applied.

That thing must be great for buffing asphalt!

Michael Yount · Aug 18, 2004

....oh come on now, once you get into 4th or 5th it'll stop spinning....what do you want?

Michael Yount · Aug 18, 2004

My dad tells me they actually tested that one against the new Lamborghini in this month's Motor Trend - but he has Parkinson's and often gets the details (humorously) mixed up.

TT91 · Aug 18, 2004

Michael Yount said:
My dad tells me they actually tested that one against the new Lamborghini in this month's Motor Trend - but he has Parkinson's and often gets the details (humorously) mixed up.

Your old crazy man is correct, it was an RS8 from Ford, Cobra motor vs a murcealugo(spelling)...i was reading it while on the thrown......dreaming...damn it was nice. Anway, yes, the stats were nearly identical, 12.7 1/4 times, 450 hp, and it actually beat the Lambo in the slalom(spelling once again)couse. They said it handled awesome, despite the looks, the einge sits way back into the firwall. Ill see if i can get more info later.

Michael Yount · Aug 18, 2004

Here ya go....you may need a box of tissue handy once you start opening these up..... http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/listbyengine.html

PNY PWR · Aug 18, 2004

We have a red RX-7 here with a SBC in it. It's pretty cool. Those Focus swaps are wild, esp. the Cobra conversion.

dastang2 · Aug 18, 2004

you should look at those kickass z's

87'GTstang · Aug 18, 2004

Mosse said:
Yep, here it is:

http://ffp-motorsport.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=19387

And it was with blower...

LOL that is goofy as hell.

PNY PWR · Aug 18, 2004

I wanna put a crate Lightning engine in my Stang, how hard would that be?

dastang2 · Aug 18, 2004

a 5.4 or a 351, both shouldn't be that hard. you may need the K member for a 4.6 equipped car.

Michael Yount · Aug 18, 2004

Just know, from a handling and fitment perspective, a blown 5.4L is taller, longer, wider and heavier than a 460 -- so if you thought it had a front-heavy weight distribution before, well....

Of course if acceleration is all that really matters - knock yourself out.

tjm73 · Aug 18, 2004

Michael Yount said:
Just know, from a handling and fitment perspective, a blown 5.4L is taller, longer, wider and heavier than a 460 -- so if you thought it had a front-heavy weight distribution before, well....

Of course if acceleration is all that really matters - knock yourself out.

I'd suspect that the blown Lighting engine might be lighter than a 460.

Swap a 302 into an Escort?

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