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I have a 1955 Ford Customline with the original engine. I want to update it with a new engine. What would fit in best? Ford 302, Checy 350 or what??? I know I have to be careful of the oil pump location front or back and the steering. Any Sugestions????
Need Help
See junkyard Jeff's response in this thread. email him for details of a 351W swap....
http://www.clubhotrod.com/t4925.html
Thank You Very Much. I sent an email to him
For heavens sake, don't put a friggin' Chevy in it. :mad:
Daver.
A 302 would be just fine with me. Do you know anything about that swap? or do you just hate Chevy's
My first car was a 56 Customline 2dr. post. Go pre 73 351 Cleveland, they scream and get mileage. Best motor Ford ever made,,, just like Ford of the past, if it works can it and go on to the one that gets no mileage and has no power. AKA 360, 351 Windsor. The Cleveland is a direct copy of the most excellent big block Chevy, but lighter and loves the high RPM's. Do it man, you'll love it. Use 2 barrel heads and a crane high intensity cam. Be prepared to knock down any late model Mustang with ease.
Dave
Also,,, if you have to stay with something simpler to fit, a 390 will go right in, use the 332-352 mounts from 58, they fit. Just remember what a disaster of a design the FE motor is, half the head is the intake! God help you if the engine is a few years old and you need to remove the exhaust manifold as you will at least break off three of the exhaust bolts. As an added result of the FE, they get about 10 mpg and can't handle RPM's. Once again, go Cleveland amigo.
Best,
Dave
Thanks Dave!! I will put 351 C into my list of possible Ford engines. What would be a good automatic trans to back it up.C-6?
Dave, What engine mount would I use for the 351? What about the trans? I would like to put Power steering and brakes on it. Do you have any ideas on that?
Thanks
I am putting a 351C in a 56 customline. The motor fits like a glove. I used motor mounts from www.speedwaymotors.com Used the small block ford universal fit mounts. Took some doing, but turned out really nice. I also used a speedway trans. crossmember. I am using an AOD tranny, by the way.
If you use a C6, you will have to raise the tunnel. the AOD fits, and a C4 fits even better.
For headers, I used 71 cougar/torino/mustang w/ 351C and C4 and they fit VERY nice. No alterations were needed. For steering, I am using a cavalier rack and pinion set up, using brackets from fatmanfab.
Please keep me posted on your project. Sounds like I am a few steps ahead of you, so if you have any questions, feel free. Or, suggestions, for that matter. I have done hours of research but I a m still finding new stuff.
Fatnlo, Thanks for the info. I have located a 351 C. now to find a trans. What rear end are you going to use? I would like to talk to you on land line. Can we set that up ?
Thanks
Dkmachine
Anytime. I am running a 9" out of a 57 sedan. It bolts in w/o any modifications. I should revise my last comment on mods for the headers. I cut out all the crossmembers under the floor boards. the tranny member and the 2 supports that run diagonal. It opens up the underside alot. send me your phone # to this email kokobeach@cableone.net and I can give you a call. I have unlimited on my cell so it wont cost anything
do u have any pics or any advice on that swap**)
Welcome Aboard Cmore... that thread you hit upon was last active in 2005! Don't know if those guys are still around or if they ever got those projects finished.
302 or 351 should be a breeze to fit - my mate has a 460 in his and it wasn't TOO much of a problem, he's had it in the car for years (like 30+) and does a few miles in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by dkmachine
So a 302 would be dead-easy to fit and not to hard on gas if your car originally came with an automatic trans. (The autos had a better ratio for keeping the revs down)
Maybe he completes projects at the same right I do, could still be contemplating things!!!!!!!!!!!:whacked::whacked::whacked::whacked:;)Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
:mad:No-one is that slow.. Well, can't be more than a few of us, could there?:LOL:**)
biggest issue with any of the 1958 and later engines is the oil pan front sump and crossmember conflicks
ok thanks guys
And that can be fixed via a different pan or by re-engineering the crossmember. No big deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry clayton
.
well, actually, with the side skirts on the fe block plus the length of the oil pump---that area at the front of the engine is pretty well dictated to be require a different approach on the crossmember just as Ford did in 58---------the Windsor package isn't quite as bad altho the rearsumped do have a bulge in the front-------
But I mean don't you find it incredible that some fellows view a pan/crossmember interference as a killer on a project. It's just as simple as welding in a new crossmember that will clear the pan and then torching out the old one and grinding the whole mess down so that it looks pretty. Not a problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry clayton
.
Oh Yeh----------if there aren't aftermarket mounts, adapters, accessory drives(need power steering, air condition, electric water pumps, etc etc) transmission adapters, clutch t o bearing, shifters-----------------then it can't be done--------
give me a car that I can park across the ditch by the driveway, a cutting torch, old $100 180 amp welder-I can put anything in anything-------------others do the sbc 350/350 thingie------
Sometimes it's a matter of acknowledging your limitations. Better to scrap the project, than to have an unsafe vehicle, or have to scrap the project due to expense of having that custom fabrication farmed out.
I put an E475 Edsel engine into my 1955 Ford--------was able to get an bell housing from a speed shop to fit the back of the Lincoln style block (No sticks in the Lincolns) to my ford 3 speed top loader od trans ----------then I used the electric welder turned way up in amps to burn out a section of firewall so the engine could be moved back into the interior enough to get the oil pan sump to clear the crossmember-(gassers were allowed 10 % set back ) required removing heater and radio---------