Engine swap help?
 

Hey all, I have recently aquired a 1965 mustang and also a 428 thunderjet engine. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on going about putting a big block engine in a 1965 coupe. please let me knowif you know anything, Thanks.
Anthony

I am not sure if there are any kits out there to do that. Unitl 67 they didn't put any big blocks in the mustangs. I am sure with some cutting you could make it fit. But finding headers and being able to take heads on and off and check spark plugs might be a huge problem. Have you thought about selling it and buying a nice windsor? You would only have to change your hood, motor mounts, headers, and it should fit right in there. Lots of people do that swap. Just think that 428 is to tall, wide, long, and heavy. Sorry probably not the answer you wanted to hear.


One

The real problems are going to be all that weight in the front end. The '67/'68's are bigger cars and are just able to handle it and in fact don't handle it well. My advice is not to do it. You'd be much better off trading away the 428 for a 351w and installing it in your '65.

hey,

The biggest engine that will fit w/o chassis modification is a 351W, and at that it still needs special headers to fit properly. If you have the money, im sure it can be dont, but it wont be cheap.

Won't fit between the spring towers without "extenstive" modifications. Then as said earlier you have the weight to contend with.

Get a 351W and stroke it. It will fit and give you just as much power.

Ron Fadema (sp), aka Ron1, has a 385 family (I believe 460) in an early Mustang. I think it's a drag strip only car with the engine sticking way up out of the engine bay and no hood. But it is possible without shock tower removal if enough concessions are made.

Rev

Can be done but requires rebuild of the front end using a Mustang II R&P set up. Several fabrication places, Fatman's, make these in kit form for early Mustang. This permits you to get rid of the shock towers allowing installation of big block engines. This still does not overcome the front end weight problem with a big block so if you do this you'll have a straight line racer only or a very poor handling street car.