pKokity

Hello, I'm sorry if this has already been posted. I'm new on here looking for answers and have not yet found anything on here discussing it. I am buying a 1966 Mustang coupe that I plan on doing a resto-mod to to have it be a modernized cruiser. I hope to do some nice sightseeing trips with my daughter in it as she gets older. There seems to be so much out there regarding putting newer V8's into classic mustangs, and I admit that I love the sound of a V8, but it really isn't necessary for what I want. I would be content with the ol' straight 6, but why not put the modern equivalent to it in instead.

I am reading about how great the latest (2011+) Duratec 3.7L V6 Mustang is and how it can push 300 HP (as if I would have any reason to take it up to 6500 RPM). That makes it about as powerful, if not more, than a stock 289 or 302. And, it is suppose to get up 30mpg. I think I will try to find a donor car so that I can swap the whole drivetrain through to the rear end and also see if the suspension will work. I've seen someone who transferred the steering/suspension from a 2005 into a 65 and made it work.

So, my question is, how difficult would it be to get one of these 3.7's installed and fully functional in a classic 66? I am guessing that I would need to use the donor car's computer but with how much electronics are integrated together in new cars is it going to work? Or, do they make aftermarket cpu's that work for this engine being used in a retro-mod?

Thanks for your help.

NCRaineman

You would be much, much better off buying a small block V8 crate engine and sticking it in there instead. I'm sure the swap CAN be done, but there is a LOT of computerized goodness going on in modern engines.

MARFOR

Resto-mods are cool, have you considered the 2.3L eco-boost turbo? Lighter, great MPG and that turbo sound coming from a '66 ... wow

pKokity

Hi. You are right and that is my concern. If there is a separate engine computer from the main one then it it may not be that bad of a swap. A salvage company on craigslist that is parting out a newer mustang with this engine has a list of every part available and the lists suggests that there is a separate computer. As I said, a V8 is overkill for my needs and if I was going full-restore I would be content with the 6 cyl.

pKokity

Thanks for the suggestion. I have not considered this one yet because I was checking out V8s until I found something that led me to this cyclone-duratec engine. It, also, is suppose to be a eco-boost engine. It is made by Mazda which I'm guessing that the 2.3 probably is as well. As for sound, my personal preference is for deeper (throaty?) V8 sound to that of a turbocharger.

pKokity

Oops. I looked it up and the 2.3 is not made by Mazda. It appears to be made by ford here in the states. Looks like it is on-par with the 3.7 for power. There is a 3.0 dual-turbo eco-boost engine too, available in two of the new Lincolns, if you are all about the turbo sound. I don't know if its increase in performance is worth the added complexity.

David Young

With a 3.7L v6 your 1966 Mustang will run 1/4 mile in the 12's. Sounds fast enough to me

pKokity

Sounds good. I will be able to keep the Mustang RWD with the 3.7. The Ecoboost is FWD.