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Ok this is my first post on the tech section. I have an 89 LX with the 2.3l NA. I bought a 351 modified with an auto tranny. I am wondering if the
351M/400M has a big block trans or if its a small block like some people say. Ive read that its a small block engine with a big block trans but ive had a few people say that its all small block. Would this motor and trans fit?
Another thing. I am curious as to what other cars i could use a radiator out of as well as if any other car have the same headlights, hood, and fenders as the 89 Mustangs.
I am working on a rebuild of the front. I had a deer pop out in front of me at about 65mph and gave it a good whack. I just finished tearing the front bumper cover off as well as pssenger fender which was also damaged. I left the hood on for now but that will have to be changed as well. The radiator was also tweaked and has a couple holes in it where it pushed into the fan.
Any information and tips will be appreciated.
Thanks, Zach
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1989 Mustang LX
2.3l NA Converted to 5-speed manual
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The 351M is a small block. It is from the 335 series Ford Engine family. It has 2V Cleveland heads on it which are a decent head compared to factory Windsor351/302 stuff. It will use the 429/460 tranny bolt pattern. It is smaller than a 429/460 but taller than a 351W There are not many intakes available for this engine but there are also adapters made so you can run a 351 Cleveland intakes on this engine. The tall deck 335 engine came in two cubic inch forms. 351 and 400. The 400 can be made quite strong for very little cost.
The difference between the 351M and the 400 is the stroke and pistons. The block, heads, intake, and connecting rods are the same. If doing a rebuild and you have the 3.5 inch stroke try to find a 4 inch stroke factory 400 crank. The just get 400 pistons that are the oversize you need and you have bumped your engine to 400 cubes plus the over size of the pistons.(.030 over becomes 408)
The 400 can make alot of torque and decent HP with the factory 2V heads(2V means 2 Ventury or 2 Barrell carb) A buget build on a 400 with 2V heads can make 500 ft lbs and 400 HP all around 5600 rpm. Pulling as much as 400 ft pound down at 2200 rpm.
It would be an interesting project. Dare to be different. That is what Hot Rodding is about.
Joe
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Always in search of faster ET.
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Thanks for the reply. I was working with my dad at a friends garage and the motor was sitting in the garage. From what the guy told me it only has about 40000 miles on it so I couldnt pass it up. And for right now I just want to get it in the car later on I may bump it up to the 400 but me just turning 20 I don't need that much torque and hp just yet. Ill get myself into way too much trouble. But thanks for the information.
How well would a 4 barrel carb work on the 351? I have a 4 barrel on i think its a 460 in an old f250 my grandpa used for a plow truck.
460 is more than likely spread bore carb you will need a 4 barrell intake for the 351M and an adapter to let you run the spread bore carb. How well will it run?? Who knows? Try it. Oh you will need a rear sump oil pan fo the 351 M an rear sump oil pick up tube. 1980 to about 84 trucks were set up with 351M and 400s with rear sump. May need to do a junk yard cralw if your 351M is front sump.
Joe
__________________
Always in search of faster ET.
]IMAGE][/IMG]
thats the problem with the 335 series engines, there is soooo much misinformation out there that they get a bad rap, a little research and youll just begin to realize the power potential from these engines, as said above the 351m and 400 share the 385 series bell bolt pattern, the 351cleveland shares the 289-351w bell bolt pattern. as far as radiator you can use a foxbody unit, i actually use a lincoln markviii radiator, same dimentions as a foxbody but is much thicker, and cools extremely well with a junkyard taurus electric fan. if you want to see a 335 series in a foxbody check out my supermotors page i have several pics in there of my cleveland swap. good luck
thanks for the information guys...and thats a nice lookin swap wrenchturner...
On another note right now i have a 2.3l. My uncle converted it to a 5 speed from the stock auto before i bought it from him. Would i be better off using the auto tranny thats already bolted up to the 351 or selling that and finding a 5 speed manual? and how long of a driveshaft would i need? i plan on just using the driveshaft thats in the car now and just having it shortened to the correct length.
I'm really hoping that its not going to be too difficult fitting the trans in this car. I dont have much for tools or a shop so it's just my dad and i and a couple friends. I know its going to be a lot of work but im looking forward to it anyway. I had a ball tearing the front end apart. I just wish that it wouldve been just for fun to swap the lx bumper for the gt bumper rather than having damage to fix.
thats the problem with the 335 series engines, there is soooo much misinformation out there that they get a bad rap, a little research and youll just begin to realize the power potential from these engines, as said above the 351m and 400 share the 385 series bell bolt pattern, the 351cleveland shares the 289-351w bell bolt pattern. as far as radiator you can use a foxbody unit, i actually use a lincoln markviii radiator, same dimentions as a foxbody but is much thicker, and cools extremely well with a junkyard taurus electric fan. if you want to see a 335 series in a foxbody check out my supermotors page i have several pics in there of my cleveland swap. good luck
Hey nice to see someone else thinking outside the box. How hard does it run? I have headman husslers on my cleveland ina fox(1990) hatch with 3 inch exhaust. I have ported factory heads(aussie2V) with a T5 facetooth tranny and 4.30 gears. Funnel web intake and it runs 10.74@128 in the 1/4 mile on motor. Pump gas too.
Joe
__________________
Always in search of faster ET.
]IMAGE][/IMG]
Good news...I bought GT front and rear bumpers for my 89 LX today. Going to clean them up and paint them. Test fitting the rear bumper tomorrow hopefully. Soon i'm going to get a set of Halo Projector black headlights. Still looking for a hood and passenger fender now. But slowly but surely shes gonna be pieced back together and ready to go. I know I'm having withdrawals not being able to drive it. And I believe I'm going to take the advice of using a lincoln radiator. I'm gonna take a look at the local junkyard to see what I can find. Thanks for all the help and advice. It sure does help.
hey cobra! those are some really good numbers your puttin down, that cleveland is stout! i love collecting cleveland engines and parts so putting one of em this car was bound to happen sooner or later, the power is awsome considering my build is fairly stock except for a couple items, but thats the cool thing about the cleveland it doesent take much to make em fast, and this car is driven damn near daily except for rain and snow. this car had a 306 with windsor jr heads that ran pretty good but this motor puts it to shame, with 4.10s this car just frys the rear tires in 3rd gear! and im already thinkin about buildin a 408 cleveland stroker. ahh its only money!
hey it sounds like your on your way and thats great news, just dont lose sight of your goal, strike while the iron is hot and get it done, youll be drivin it before you know it. just remember the radiator i used was from a lincoln mark viii, which is is a foxbody platform, the other lincolns are not so the rads will be different. dont forget youll have to run an electric fan so you may want to grab a taurus fan while your scroungin throught the yard, mine came off of a taurus with a 3.8 v6. good luck
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2.3l EFI to 351M Carb swap
