i am currently looking at buying a '66 Mustang. the only problem is it has a 6 cyl [:@]. how hard would it be, what all do i have to replace, and how much will it cost me (assuming i do all the work) to put in a v8?

 

The cost will vary,, I think it could be pulled off for less than $5,000 to "the skys the limit".... Our swap was somewhere in the middle, but it was not a "basic swap"....

There are for sure different opinions on this subject, but my opinion is that if you have a car with a good body, and little rust, it is a viable swap. Not somthing I would do on a car with a lot of rust though.

Everything that needs to be changed is strictly bolt in or bolt on....

<<and of course the cost of the I-6 car is a factor as well...>>

 

I6 to V8 swap:
http://www.geocities.com/a65ragtop/VM_FAQ/mechanical/i6_to_v8.html

351C and 351W swap into a 64-66:
http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/DanJonesEngineSwap.html

 

ican geta rebuilt motor for about $1100, but what i am worried about is i don't know what everything else is gonna cost me.

 

Well you will need the engine and everything that bolts to it,,,, thus the cost.... If you are a good junkyard shopper, or if you can find a reasonably priced parts vehicle, the costs can be not so bad, if you buy new, it will cost more,,,, My son and I will have about 20Ktied up in his 66 when it is done not counting our labor, but everything that is even related to power-train, steering, or suspension is new andin most cases a significant upgradefrom a stock V-8 of the same vintage... (except for rear springs)

But on the bright side, we will have basically a new car, and we will spend -0- on rust repair and replacing body panels,, zero...

See my "might as well" thread,,,, see how costs can escalate....

 

Flux capacitor






Okay, really. The best bet I've found is a parts car. Maybe something that the @ss end swung around and nailed a tree - that way everything, from radiator to trans, is there and complete. Also, you can get yourself a nice V8 car cheaper...whether it be fastback, coupe, vert. Finding a 66 with a nice body and then a wrecked V8 is really a cost effective way of doing it...as long as the labor is cheap (your own).

 

Here's a good example.

http://auto-rv.com/browse.aspx?AdName=BM2260409

For $2500 you've got yourself a V8, lots of extra parts, etc. He's even got a 429

 

if i decide to keep the strait 6 what is the best way to beef it up? i guess what i am asking is the strait 6 powerful enough-with a few upgrades-for a teenager. can i get it to sound beefy?

 

Stay 6 for now and then when you get slightly older and have some $$$ saved you can convert to V-8. In the meantime your can research the swap process and answer some of your original questions????

 

There is another site that discusses the straight 6's a lot, and those guys know their stuff. It's http://www.fordsix.com You will never get that 6 banger to sound like a V8 though.