I suggest you do quite a bit of reading on I6 - V8 conversions You're not just going to drop a V8 into an I6 car and drive away, there is a bit of suspension and steering work that needs to get done, none of which is free.

OCHOHILL already covered why an HO and exactly why I went with a 1990 HO short block as the base for my build. HO is a good choice for a variety of reasons.

"my goal is a good sounding mustang"......kids, you gotta love em.

 

the mustang was originally a 289 the inline 6 was dropped in by the guy i bought it off of cause he wanted to get rid of it cause it was blown..

 

If its a V8 car then you're in much better shape. It shouldn't be difficult to find a 302HO at a scrap yard. I wouldn't pay more than $200-$300 for the motor. If you can find one with with an AOD attached to it, provided you want an automatic, that would be a very sweet deal. The easiest thing would be to convert it to a carb setup.

 

ok well i just contacted a guy thats selling a 1992 351 windsor for 175 dollars with 90,000 miles on it. is this a good buy?

 

More than likely not. The 351 engine is taller and wider than a 302/289 block. You must use 351 specific headers or your standard exhaust manifolds and adjust the exaust a little to the new location. You will need a 351 intake and front brackets for your accessories. This will drive up the end cost.

Pay attention for this part. Many 351 and 302 engines share the same heads. All performance engine builders will agree that these heads do not breathe well enough for a 302. If that is the case, how can they breathe well enough for a 351? They can't.

In light of recent low budget 302/351 engine discussions I have participated in recently, I asked this question and got an answer from a person I trust to know the truth better than just about anyone else on the planet regarding this particular comparison.

Given a 302 and 351 engine with stock E7 heads, stock HO cam all else the same which engine is better?

The answer was the 302 would be faster.

My input to his answer:

351 has more rotating inertia (more wasted energy)
the heads will reach max volume at an earlier rpm (less work done)

remember torque is a force value, horsepower is work being done

By all means please use the search function. I am not singling you out. So please don't think I am picking on you.

I bet this question has been asked several hundred times. The moderators need to start cleaning up the forum. What is the sense in having a forum where the same 20 questions are asked over and over?

 

No talk of budget either, how much do you have to spend?

 

on the engine itself i have a grand to dump into it and every 302 i found needs to be rebuilt and this 351 windsor ran and only has 90,000 miles on it. im doing a carb conversion on it and of course headers and exhaust stuff down the road but right now im getting an engine to tear apart and check and replace the essentials. and clean it up and port and polish and a little machine work for some upgrades since the class im in is engine overhaul and machining so we have all the equipment and its free so that takes the cost way down... My teacher said that a 351 windsor would be an awesome motor to put in my mustang and he knows a few cheap mods we can do since itll be apart, plus 351w is alot easier to find and i found them cheaper, they have more torque...

 

also the 351w is out of a 92 van.. is it the same as the 351w that people have been putting in there mustangs?? My teacher seems to think their all the same and i trust him but i would like someone else to tell me as well..

 

anyone??

 

??....