Finally chose the engine for my 68 coupe!

Well, I have been going back and forth like a pendulum - do I rebuild the
289? Do I just go nuts and drop a 460 in there? Do I build a 351W
stroker? ARGH!

So I thought I had finally settled on a 351W with a PAW Automotive stroker
kit, taking it out to 420 cubes. I was referred to a Mustangs- and
Fords-only bone yard in Temple, Texas (I am in Austin). I called them up,
told them I wanted a 351W bare block to start the project, and also
scored the complete front disc brakes off a 1980 Grenada cheap in the
process.

So this morning I was supposed to drive up, and I called them and asked if
there was any chance the block I was getting was from a 1994 or newer
vehicle, i.e. a roller motor. He said, "No, it's a 1970 block. But," he
says, "I have a complete 1994 Ford Lightning engine for sale" (from the
oil pan to the fuel injection, with computer and complete wiring harness).
So I look it up. Hrm... 351W, GT40 heads, roller motor, fuel injection,
plenty of horsepower and gobs of torque. So I ask him a bunch of
questions, and find out that the engine was running around a year ago when
the Lightning was wrecked, and has been in a covered warehouse ever since.

He also refers me to a local mechanic who put one of these in a '67 coupe,
and told me to call him. I call, and the guy says that it is not a hard
swap, all you need is a high pressure fuel pump and lines.

I ask how much for the engine, and he tells me $2600. So, there's a new
(to me) fuel-injected Lightning 351W on a stand in the garage!

I think it will be really slick - a fuel-injected 351W roller motor with
GT40 heads in a 1968 Coupe. I am also seriously considering the Ford
Racing blower for the Lightning - at 6psi boost, it pumps up horsepower
and torque by about 30% according to the Ford Racing web site. And it's
only $2050. Hell, I was planning on spending $4000-$5000 on the stroker
motor. If I spend the same amount on this engine and the blower I will
probably wind up with around 375-400 ponies and a more reliable engine.

Thoughts?

Thomas

Thomas Cameron wrote:

> Well, I have been going back and forth like a pendulum - do I rebuild the
> 289? Do I just go nuts and drop a 460 in there? Do I build a 351W
> stroker? ARGH!

> I ask how much for the engine, and he tells me $2600. So, there's a new
> (to me) fuel-injected Lightning 351W on a stand in the garage!
>
> I think it will be really slick - a fuel-injected 351W roller motor with
> GT40 heads in a 1968 Coupe. I am also seriously considering the Ford
> Racing blower for the Lightning - at 6psi boost, it pumps up horsepower
> and torque by about 30% according to the Ford Racing web site. And it's
> only $2050. Hell, I was planning on spending $4000-$5000 on the stroker
> motor. If I spend the same amount on this engine and the blower I will
> probably wind up with around 375-400 ponies and a more reliable engine.
>
> Thoughts?

I think you'll have more hp than 400. Sounds like a good direction to
go. And you'll surely never see another one like it, which is a big
plus.

180 Out

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 06:53:28 -0700, one80out wrote:


>
> I think you'll have more hp than 400.

Me, too. I'm just trying to keep from getting my hopes up too high.

> Sounds like a good direction to
> go. And you'll surely never see another one like it, which is a big
> plus.

Yeah, it will definitely be unique!

Thomas

How many miles on the lightining moter? Try getting it running first and
then upgrade to the blower. You may like it naturally aspirated and can
spend the money on better brakes, etc. If you get it running as is, you'll
be able to work out the bugs before installing a blower. Remember murphy's
law. Just my opinion.

--
Mark
--
"I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who once said, "I drank
what?". " Val Kilmer in Real Genius.





"Thomas Cameron" > wrote in message
news
> Well, I have been going back and forth like a pendulum - do I rebuild the
> 289? Do I just go nuts and drop a 460 in there? Do I build a 351W
> stroker? ARGH!
>
> So I thought I had finally settled on a 351W with a PAW Automotive stroker
> kit, taking it out to 420 cubes. I was referred to a Mustangs- and
> Fords-only bone yard in Temple, Texas (I am in Austin). I called them up,
> told them I wanted a 351W bare block to start the project, and also
> scored the complete front disc brakes off a 1980 Grenada cheap in the
> process.
>
> So this morning I was supposed to drive up, and I called them and asked if
> there was any chance the block I was getting was from a 1994 or newer
> vehicle, i.e. a roller motor. He said, "No, it's a 1970 block. But," he
> says, "I have a complete 1994 Ford Lightning engine for sale" (from the
> oil pan to the fuel injection, with computer and complete wiring harness).
> So I look it up. Hrm... 351W, GT40 heads, roller motor, fuel injection,
> plenty of horsepower and gobs of torque. So I ask him a bunch of
> questions, and find out that the engine was running around a year ago when
> the Lightning was wrecked, and has been in a covered warehouse ever since.
>
> He also refers me to a local mechanic who put one of these in a '67 coupe,
> and told me to call him. I call, and the guy says that it is not a hard
> swap, all you need is a high pressure fuel pump and lines.
>
> I ask how much for the engine, and he tells me $2600. So, there's a new
> (to me) fuel-injected Lightning 351W on a stand in the garage!
>
> I think it will be really slick - a fuel-injected 351W roller motor with
> GT40 heads in a 1968 Coupe. I am also seriously considering the Ford
> Racing blower for the Lightning - at 6psi boost, it pumps up horsepower
> and torque by about 30% according to the Ford Racing web site. And it's
> only $2050. Hell, I was planning on spending $4000-$5000 on the stroker
> motor. If I spend the same amount on this engine and the blower I will
> probably wind up with around 375-400 ponies and a more reliable engine.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thomas

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:02:18 -0700, Mark C. wrote:

> How many miles on the lightining moter?

He said it was about 40K miles. I'm going to do compression and oil
pressure tests off the bat to make sure the engine is OK.

> Try getting it running first and
> then upgrade to the blower.

Yeah, I probably will. I have a budget for this project, but blowing it
all up front worries me.

> You may like it naturally aspirated and can
> spend the money on better brakes, etc. If you get it running as is, you'll
> be able to work out the bugs before installing a blower.

Yeah, good point. I *really* want to get the suspension worked out, too.

> Remember murphy's
> law. Just my opinion.

Heck, it's not opinion - it's the LAW. :-) Murphy was an optimist.

Thomas

Thomas Cameron wrote:

> Well, I have been going back and forth like a pendulum - do I rebuild the
> 289? Do I just go nuts and drop a 460 in there? Do I build a 351W
> stroker? ARGH!
>
> So I thought I had finally settled on a 351W with a PAW Automotive stroker
> kit, taking it out to 420 cubes. I was referred to a Mustangs- and
> Fords-only bone yard in Temple, Texas (I am in Austin). I called them up,
> told them I wanted a 351W bare block to start the project, and also
> scored the complete front disc brakes off a 1980 Grenada cheap in the
> process.
>
> So this morning I was supposed to drive up, and I called them and asked if
> there was any chance the block I was getting was from a 1994 or newer
> vehicle, i.e. a roller motor. He said, "No, it's a 1970 block. But," he
> says, "I have a complete 1994 Ford Lightning engine for sale" (from the
> oil pan to the fuel injection, with computer and complete wiring harness).
> So I look it up. Hrm... 351W, GT40 heads, roller motor, fuel injection,
> plenty of horsepower and gobs of torque. So I ask him a bunch of
> questions, and find out that the engine was running around a year ago when
> the Lightning was wrecked, and has been in a covered warehouse ever since.
>
> He also refers me to a local mechanic who put one of these in a '67 coupe,
> and told me to call him. I call, and the guy says that it is not a hard
> swap, all you need is a high pressure fuel pump and lines.
>
> I ask how much for the engine, and he tells me $2600. So, there's a new
> (to me) fuel-injected Lightning 351W on a stand in the garage!
>
> I think it will be really slick - a fuel-injected 351W roller motor with
> GT40 heads in a 1968 Coupe. I am also seriously considering the Ford
> Racing blower for the Lightning - at 6psi boost, it pumps up horsepower
> and torque by about 30% according to the Ford Racing web site. And it's
> only $2050. Hell, I was planning on spending $4000-$5000 on the stroker
> motor. If I spend the same amount on this engine and the blower I will
> probably wind up with around 375-400 ponies and a more reliable engine.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thomas
Score! That's going to be a heck of a motor. What about the trans? The
Lightening AOD would fit in there very easily, and would be a blast to drive.

--
..boB
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged!
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1966 FFR Cobra - Ongoing project

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:41:20 -0600, .boB wrote:


> Score! That's going to be a heck of a motor. What about the trans? The
> Lightening AOD would fit in there very easily, and would be a blast to drive.

He wanted $700 for the AOD, and I have no idea if it will fit in the '68
coupe's tunnel. I actually *want* a T56 six-speed manual, but will
probably go with the C4 until it breaks.

Thomas

A T56 will definitely require tunnel surgery. I don't believe I've
heard of any need for that with an AOD. I don't think $700 is much of
a bargain for an AOD. Those things are not rare, and these days
they're not young either. I would think about the 4R70W instead.
Here's one guy's web page on his '66's conversion:
http://www.blueriver.net/~finite/project_od.htm

180 Out

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 13:56:09 -0700, one80out wrote:

> A T56 will definitely require tunnel surgery.

Really??? I was under the impression that the T5 and T56 would bolt right
in!

> I don't believe I've
> heard of any need for that with an AOD. I don't think $700 is much of
> a bargain for an AOD. Those things are not rare, and these days
> they're not young either.

Yeah, I wasn't interested in it at that price. If the T56 won't fit, I am
leaning towards a C6 then.

> I would think about the 4R70W instead.
> Here's one guy's web page on his '66's conversion:
> http://www.blueriver.net/~finite/project_od.htm

Wow - that looks like a pretty serious, expensive job. I am not sure I
want to go that route... I was really hoping for a bolt-in, avoiding any
more fabrication.

Thomas

Yeah, a T-5 will go in with very little trouble, and the adaptors are
readily available. I'm putting one in my kids' '65 as soon as I can
round up the parts. But other than the fact they both have an input
shaft and an output shaft, a T-56 has no similarity whatsoever to a
T-5.

Here's a website about getting a Tremec 3550 into a '65
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/Pages/Tremec.html

Check this photo for an idea of how much sheetmetal needed to come out:
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/Pages/Tremec014.jpg

A T56 is bigger than a Tremec.

180 Out