Mustang Engine Swap

[WickeDKlowN]

My dad has a friend that trying to push this 85 Mustang on us. We don't perticularly want it, we want a Camaro or Chevelle ro something, but beggers can't be choosers. Anyway, I'm sure it has a little v6 or something in it and that juat ain't gonna cut it. Yea, we could put a 5.0 in it, but I'm looking for something with a little more. I'd love to stick in a 390 or 400 but I don't know if that feasable without tons or work. Basically, I'm wondering what the biggest "drop in" motor. Alo, what would be the best automatic tranny to go with it.

[Bear_Claw]

Probly the best bang for the buck (hp and labour to install) would be a 351 (5.8). BUT DONT underestimate the 5.0L as it truly is an amazing poerplant VERY capable of moveing the TINY mustanges to amazing times.

I have driven a couple 80-90s cameros (my favorite was 1993 pontiac firebird with a 350 mulitiport injection). BUT NONE of em can move (IN A STRAIGHT LINE) like a lightly moded 80's stang like my buddy runs.

[WickeDKlowN]

We have a 5.0 that we're putting in our 49 F1, and my F150 has a 5.0 in it. I don't feel liek having 3 vehicles with 5.0's in them, lol. I could settle for a 351 I suppose. What would be the best automatic tranny though? I'd kinda like a manual but auto is just so much simpler.

[Flow_Tech]

351 Windsor is the biggest drop in i would consider putting in..but then you have to change the suspension around because the block is much more heavier..but i would stick with the 5.0 with a stroker kit..that will get you more HP,Torque,and power then a 351W...all you need to do with a older 5.0 is stroker kit,underdrive pulleys,new carb,and new intake and youll have ALOT of power..
EDIT-
Right now,my brother is runninga holley 650 double pumper,Edelbrock air gap intake,B303 cam,and Shorty headers on Dynamax mufflers and hes pushing 315...so thats just to give you an idea without pulleys,stroker kits,and all that stuff.

[mihanikos]

351 is prob the best way to go, lots of performance parts available. As far as auto trannys, a 4R70W beefed up is the way to go if you want an auto. They can handle up to 750 horses if done right

[ascetic1]

hey not to put you down or anything, but for a first car why do you want something with a V8?
a V6 is fine, but V8 not only eat alot of gas, but that kind of power in a teen's hands may lead to temptation to push the engine a bit...and may get you into some trouble..just voicing some concern :D

[SCpoloRicker]

351 Windsor. You can likely find one at a pick and pull that will work, or you could go nuts and get a crate.

Although you don't want to run the 5.0, for anyone else interested they are great motors. Head, cam, and gears will likely break 13's.

[WickeDKlowN]

hey not to put you down or anything, but for a first car why do you want something with a V8?
a V6 is fine, but V8 not only eat alot of gas, but that kind of power in a teen's hands may lead to temptation to push the engine a bit...and may get you into some trouble..just voicing some concern :D
My truck has a V8(5.0) in it and I already push it :p. So it's not like it's going to be my first car with a V8. I don't really care for V6's, Especially in cars that are meant to be powerful(like Mustangs and Camaros). And just for the record, I refuse to own a 4-Banger.

[ascetic1]

what kind of truck do you have? yes i am a fan of V8's myself, but not for a power hungry teens first car lol....but that only applies to some people

[Adrenaline_Junkie]

My stepdads nephew has a 85 mustang with a 351W and its great. Im not a fan of mustangs, especially 80's, but it runs great. I wonder if a 351C would fit? Anyway, id look around a lil bit and see if ya can find a camaro before ya jump on the mustang but if your goin with the mustand a 351W will work great.

[SCpoloRicker]

My stepdads nephew has a 85 mustang with a 351W and its great. I wonder if a 351C would fit?

Bwah?

He seems to already be a Fix Or Repair Daily guy.

[frop]

Though I've not done it myself, last I checked(a long time ago), big blocks dropped in Fox-bodies pretty easily, mainly being a matter of hood clearance, etc.

[WickeDKlowN]

what kind of truck do you have? yes i am a fan of V8's myself, but not for a power hungry teens first car lol....but that only applies to some people
95 F150. I'm thinking of just dropping a big block in it because I don't perticularly want a Mustang. I guess I could get the Stang and sell it to buy a Camaro or Nova or something.

[9868Classic]

I helped a local tuner shop install a front tube chassis frame, and a completely built 460 Big Block setup for a stage 3 nitrous(valve opens in three stages. Its not FnF style) All the suspension perks, and then change it from an 84 style to a 91 style front end. Nice setup. Not sure on the tranny. They were debating between a 5 spd and an Automatic, so it never got that far.

We were guessing that without the spray the car would run 12 sec. 1/4 miles, and with spray low 11's. But the shop got closed and all the race cars got towed away when the owner failed to come and gett'em.

[Willystyle21]

Yeah with a little work you could easily put a 5.8 in the Stang. But why stop there. Stroke the motor to 392 first. Don't underestimate the 5.0. Very easy to get 400+ horses out of it with out spending too much money. I've got right at 300 out of might with out replaving anything in the block, just the heads, ignition, etc.

[Adrenaline_Junkie]

Bwah?

He seems to already be a Fix Or Repair Daily guy.


Im a CHEVY guy, my stepdad and his family are more Ford people...sadly.

[Chris42050]

First On Race Day

You can fit any motor in there up to a 460. I have seen people put 460 7.5 liter motors in thier mustangs that were around the same year as mine (1990). 90 is the same body as the 85 so it should be fine as far as I know. You dont have to cut the wheel wells or make any body modifications to make it fit.

Edit: All you Chevy guys bad mouthing fords listen to this. The most reliable car in America is the Ford Mustang. And I beleive it is the 2nd most reliable car in the world.

[Migz]

Yeah if I was building a Fox body stang I'd definetly go with the 5.0 parts are cheap and plentiful I have a couple of friends running stangs and they are definitly fast.

[Bear_Claw]

For
Only
Real
Drivers

If it were my progect id opt to stick with the 5.0 as i simply love the engiens ther simple but they WORK. Great base for plenty of power. You have to remeber that the fox body stangs are a SMALL light car. a 400hp small block in a SMALL car like that hey sign me up.

[WickeDKlowN]

We got the car today. It's nice and all, but I dunno. Not really my thing. I'm sure it'll could be a really nice car and all(especially with a 302 or 351) but I'm not sure. The breaks need work, and I've only driven it up and down my road once. In the rain. While it was nighttime. So I might have a slightly distorted opinion of the car...

[billybob_81067]

If you really wanted a sick setup (and to spend lots of money) you could throw one of these Man O' War 351 blocks in there... Same block as the 302/351 but can be bored and stroked out to 470 cu. in. :eek: :headbang: :clap:

[teufelhunden]

Edit: All you Chevy guys bad mouthing fords listen to this. The most reliable car in America is the Ford Mustang. And I beleive it is the 2nd most reliable car in the world.

No. Not possible. [That means prove it].

[Chris42050]

No. Not possible. [That means prove it].
Easy go to any store that sells magazines and pick up a Consumer Reports. Then read.

[Thordic]

Sorry dude, hes right :) About the "In America" part anyway.


The 2004 Ford Mustang was the most reliable car made by a U.S. manufacturer

Heres the link, since I know people will be clamoring for it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7119221/

If you look, they also have alist of brands with problems per 100 vehicles. Ford was 15, Chrysler was 16. So shush.

2nd Edit: You can also see german cars are going down the crapper. BMW 21, Volkswagen 23, and Mercedes-Benz 25. Ouch.

[ascetic1]

Hey Wicked maybe you can post some pictures of your mustang?

[WickeDKlowN]

I'll post some when I get home.

[SCpoloRicker]

Sorry dude, hes right :) About the "In America" part anyway.
Heres the link, since I know people will be clamoring for it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7119221/

If you look, they also have alist of brands with problems per 100 vehicles. Ford was 15, Chrysler was 16. So shush.

2nd Edit: You can also see german cars are going down the crapper. BMW 21, Volkswagen 23, and Mercedes-Benz 25. Ouch.


Wow. Thats kind of surprising. Woot for the Focus.

Chevy is still faster...

[WickeDKlowN]

I'm still not sure if I like it, but my cat seems to approve.

If you can tell me how many Fords are in the 1st pic, I'll give you a cookie.

[Destructo6]

Put a 347 stroker motor in it. It should just drop right on in (I know, famous last words) since it is outwardly nothing more than a 5.0L.

The 1985-1986 body style is my favorite of the Fox bodied Mustangs.

I had a '85 GT that was probably one of the best cars I ever had. The worst problem I had with it was a bad water pump after 80k miles and it gave me plenty enough warning to allow me to drive from San Diego to Thousand Oaks and half way back.

I had a '87 GT that looked pretty good, but just about every system developed problems at 50k miles. Worst car I ever had.

[teufelhunden]

Most reliable American car and most reliable car in America are two different things.

[WickeDKlowN]

For what it would take to get it to my liking, I could sell it and get a nice F-Body car which is what I really want. I might have to go that route.

[ascetic1]

it looks nice, not too bad, and i guess at 6 Fords in that picture

[9868Classic]

Its the wheels man. Trust me its the wheels or the hubcaps in your case. thats why you don't like the car. They look like crap. I always liked the look of that style, with the t-tops. I wanted an 86 Mustang GT with T-Tops for a while. First year of the Fuel Injected 5.0 if I remember correctly.

If you wanna see something ugly...

www.cardomain.com/id/thebooger <-- my truck
www.cardomain.com/id/mafixstealth <-- my stealth
www.cardomain.com/id/mafixcelica <-- my buddies Celica

None of them are too pretty, but they all run extremely well.(x'cept the Stealth. I sold that.)

[Flow_Tech]

Its the wheels man. Trust me its the wheels or the hubcaps in your case. thats why you don't like the car. They look like crap. I always liked the look of that style, with the t-tops. I wanted an 86 Mustang GT with T-Tops for a while. First year of the Fuel Injected 5.0 if I remember correctly.
correct.

[WickeDKlowN]

Anyone want to photoshop me some nice rims(not giant black people rims) on there?

[ascetic1]

ill give an attempt at photoshop if you'd like, what are you looking for

[9868Classic]

Weld Prostars!!! Yeah!!!!

Or some Cobra R wheels. Both of which are cause the nessary 5 lug upgrade.

[WickeDKlowN]

I'm not sure. Mabey some Cragar's or Weld's or something along those lines.

[WickeDKlowN]

Weld Prostars!!! Yeah!!!!

Or some Cobra R wheels. Both of which are cause the nessary 5 lug upgrade.
Yeah, either of those would be nice.

[Thordic]

I like the GT500 wheels that they re-released for the 2005 Mustang. Not everyone agrees with me though.

[Chris42050]

Rims really do make the car. Also there are a lot of different body kits you can get for your stang. You can make it look a lot different if you dont like that body style.

[WickeDKlowN]

For the money it would take to make it into something I would like, we could sell and put the money towards a Camaro/Chevy II/442/etc.

I'd love to find a Javelin, but I don't see that happening any time soon...

Anyone know anbout what we could expect to get for this car? It's in excellent condition. The previous owner had iot completley redone with the same paint and upholstry the factory used. No dents or dings, no scratches, etc.

[ascetic1]

depending on miles it has, and if there is anything wrong with it, i would take a guess at maybe $3,000..if you want, check the price through kelly blue book.

http://www.kbb.com/

[WickeDKlowN]

KBB told me like $1,800. Mabey I screwed soemthing up.

My dad said he thinks we can get atleast 6 grand for it. I tried not to laugh when he said it.

[9868Classic]

6 grand if it had a V8, 9" Posi Rear, and really good tranny with alot of custom work already done.

[PyRo]

Probly the best bang for the buck (hp and labour to install) would be a 351 (5.8). BUT DONT underestimate the 5.0L as it truly is an amazing poerplant VERY capable of moveing the TINY mustanges to amazing times.

I have driven a couple 80-90s cameros (my favorite was 1993 pontiac firebird with a 350 mulitiport injection). BUT NONE of em can move (IN A STRAIGHT LINE) like a lightly moded 80's stang like my buddy runs.
Get a 97+ Ls1, that will move :)

[PyRo]

We have a 5.0 that we're putting in our 49 F1, and my F150 has a 5.0 in it. I don't feel liek having 3 vehicles with 5.0's in them, lol. I could settle for a 351 I suppose. What would be the best automatic tranny though? I'd kinda like a manual but auto is just so much simpler.
It's not harder to install a manual tranny so long as you have all the parts and an idea where everythign goes.

[PyRo]

Chevy is still faster...

I know most years the fastest camaro beat the fastest mustang stock for stock, I forget if their were any exceptions or not :)

[PyRo]

For what it would take to get it to my liking, I could sell it and get a nice F-Body car which is what I really want. I might have to go that route.
Do it, I could never stand the look of those mustangs.

[PyRo]

For the money it would take to make it into something I would like, we could sell and put the money towards a Camaro/Chevy II/442/etc.

I'd love to find a Javelin, but I don't see that happening any time soon...

Anyone know anbout what we could expect to get for this car? It's in excellent condition. The previous owner had iot completley redone with the same paint and upholstry the factory used. No dents or dings, no scratches, etc.
Exactly by the time you make somthing of the car you probably could have sold it and bought a faster mustang, camaro, or somthing else unless your're really good at scavenging parts for the motor swap.

[PyRo]

KBB told me like $1,800. Mabey I screwed soemthing up.

My dad said he thinks we can get atleast 6 grand for it. I tried not to laugh when he said it.
Maybie 6 grand if it was still on the dealers lot.

[rkjunior303]

I owned a 78 F100 back in High school that had a 351W in it and boy did that thing scream.. It ate gas like a mother, though.

[Brak]

ive got a 71 caddy 500 big block ill sell ya! 8.2 liters of awesome

[WickeDKlowN]

With a 500ci, I'd kill myself. Twice.

[billybob_81067]

Hey Pyro... You might consider trying to NOT BE SUCH A LOSER by consolidating your quote/rants to one post so I can skip over the entire thing much easier. :tard: kthx!

:dance: :ninja: :)