engine tranny compatability

[hunting4bear]

buddy has a chance to pick up a 1988 302 from a mustang to go in his older 68 coupe he has a c4 fromt the 68 he wants to bolt up to the newer mototr he has chance to pick up ........he was asking and i couldnt remember if any changes but for some reaosn i was thinking there was a change in either bolt pattern or number of bolts from older to newer style tranny.

any ideas guys so i can let him know ahead of time if the newer 88 motor will fit the 68 tranny or if he will need anything to convert over.

thanks
dave

[mustangII460]

Need more info.

If the 68 has a 289 then simply put , No, it wont bolt up.

289 has 5 bolts 302 6 bolt.

And thats not all.

[Gearhead999]

Sorry to disagree. The 5 bolt 289's were only in 65 and very early 66. All the other 289's are the same bolt pattern [6 bolt] as the 302.

The early 68 cougar came with the 302 till they were running out of engines and dropped back to the 289 to fill the gap.

[mustangII460]

Ah, I stand corrected 6 bolt indeed. First thing that go's is the mind.

[stangbuilder66]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the only thing he will have to change is the flexplate (flywheel...whatever). I am pretty sure that since the 302 was made after the early 70's it will need a 50oz balance flexplate whereas his original 68 will have the 28oz balanced flexplate. They aren't expensive to change, but I think that is going to be your only mismatch I can think of.

[hunting4bear]

thanks guys i will let him know should be ok if not i have a C6 from a small block 79 302 he can use probly. its just i had though that later about the late 80's maybe it was ealy 90's they had changed a bolt pattern in eith size or number of bolts..

thanks again for replies

[mustangII460]

Two sizes of flex plates and two weights.

Asuming the C4 doesn't have the small bellhousing the new flex will work. If the plate wont fit in the bell, then you'll need a 157 tooth (smaller) plate balanced at 50oz.

Make sure the starter hits the wheel before it all goes in. Also that the convertor will bolt to the flexplate.

[Phillyfanfrombirth]

Yep, the 5.0 motors have the 50 oz. weights on them.... I think they started in 1982.

As far as the smaller flexplate with the bigger weight, I bought one for my F100 that I dropped an 87 HO motor in and hooked it up to a C4... I think Jegs carries them for around $100 bucks.