dterry68

so i got a 1965 ford thunderbird 352 or 390 and we tried to put it in my 68 mustang. Well its the same length as the i6 with the tranny. But i need different mounts. What should i do? i was thinkin of just gettin the frame mounts off the thunderbird and welding them onto my frame. Is that a good idea or what should i do?

1965screamer

If it was me I would attempt to get the correct mounts first. I wouldnt think it would be too hard to find a set since the 390 was an option in 68.

2+2GT

Upper, lower, and middle 390/429 motor mount parts are all available new. The T'bird uses big car heads, though, so you'll need dual-pattern headers to connect exhaust, the Mustang manifolds won't attach.

28HopUp

Agreed. If you had 390 GT heads, then you could use the stock GT manifolds (if you can find them) to clear the shock towers. Using dual pattern (on the flange) headers will save you alot of hassle.

And the 390 was the only engine option for the T-Bird in 1965 - it's not a 352 unless it was swapped in. Some 390's had a '352' casting mark in them, which identified the engine type, not the cid (the 352 came before the 390).

dterry68

ive got the motor in the car the only thing i was worried about is the frame mounts that connect to the motor mounts. The 200 inline six was in there and the frame mounts are too close together and the motor mounts on the 390 are farther apart. I have the stock exhaust manifolds on for now just to hear it run so im not worried about headers just yet. Couldnt i just cut off the frame mounts on the thunderbird and weld them to my frame? then the motor would have the same mounts it did in the thunderbird so it should drop in.

rbinck

That could be done, but what they are saying is the 390 was an option for the '68 Mustangs and there are frame mounts available for your swap. Try: 68 69 70 390 428 67 289 Cougar Mustang Engine Stands

dterry68

well i couldnt get them to come up at firrst didnt know exactly what to call them. So they do kust unbolt from the frame so wouldnt it be easier to just get the ones off the thunderbird?

2+2GT

No. The Thunderbird mounts are entirely different, not even close. Just get the Mustang brackets. All 67 V8 frame brackets, even the 289, fit the 390. Then you need the rubber insulators, and the engine plates. Too easy, it all just bolts in.

dterry68

so where is another place besides ebay to get some good brakcets? i dont wanna spend 100 on them on ebay if i can get them cheaper somewhere else. How would 289 brackets work i thought that small block brackets wouldnt work with a big block.

2+2GT

The 67 lower bracket was the same either way:



How to identify a used set:



These upper plates bolt to the engine 390 or 428 block in Mustangs, Cougars, Fairlanes, etc.:



The upper and lower 390/428 brackets are connected in the middle by these rubber insulators:



There is no cheap way around this, the 390/428 is just too rare and desirable.