351 swap in 88 GT.

Dasykopath · 06-03-2001, 11:12 PM

Today I bought a 1970 Mach One w/ a 351 and a c4 in the car. I paid $250 for it. I'm going to throw the 351 in my 88 GT Conv. and wanted to know if there was anything else that I should know before doing the swap. Granted, I'm going to go completely through the motor, and convert to carb. I already have a c4 trans, so I don't have to worry about the swap there. The other question is what kind of intake/head combo do you recommend ? I've heard good things about the stealth intakes and the AFR heads, but can you get the heads for a 351 ? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Justin Moore..

P.S. after the swap, if anyone knows anyone looking to get a 70 mach one lemme know and I can get you some pics of the car once I have everything out of it.

------------------
88 GT Droptop. Not sure about the heads, stocks shaved mebbe. Intake, stock, think there's some work. Flowtech headers, off road h-pipe, flows, 3.55 FoMo., aluminum driveshaft, C-4 trans. w/ B&M shifter, Ram air, and more on the way.

wiggy · 06-04-2001, 09:34 AM

Boy man are you lucky. I'm about 3/4 of the way through the swap and doing exactly the same thing you are doing.
I have a 73 351W, strong rebuild.
This is what I found:
You'll have to buy the following parts:
351 Oil pan, double sump for the conversion, PAW sells it for $125 with the pick up and dipstick
351 Electronic distributor from a bronco or like vehicle $75 new
MSD or aftermarket ignition $130
351 Headers specifically for the swap $220
You'll need to keep the balancer and flywheel from the 351
I haven't gotten to the accessories but I have bolted them up and seem to fix right now
you'll need to get a fuel pressure regulator and wire up a hot to your pump relay, I have it to a switch for an anti-theft cut off.
3-core radiator
I'm not sure on the C-4 conversion, I'm using my AOD. I've heard there is a special crossmember or something

They make heads for the 351 so you shouldn't have any problems finding them in the performace catalogs.

These guys on this forum are really helpful.
Let me know if I can be of further service.

------------------
Mike Wigton
89 LX 351W
64 1/2 Convertible

[This message has been edited by wiggy (edited 06-04-2001).]

Stang951 · 06-04-2001, 04:50 PM

I just got my 351 in my car, and can't keep it from getting hot. We have all new parts and the motor gets up to 210 in no time flat. We're trying to figure out what the hell is going on so that I can have my car back. Any suggestions to look for?

------------------

06-04-2001, 09:19 PM

What water pump are you running? Radiator? Thermostat?

------------------
'69 Coupe with 351W
=========================
Edelbrock RPM intake, Edelbrock RPM cam, Edelbrock 750 cfm carb, Edelbrock lifters, Edelbrock double roller timing chain, Edelbrock valve springs, Accel coil, Moroso Blue-Max wires, Hedman headers, 2 1/2" pipe, glasspacks, Flex fan, Lakewood traction bars, C4, 3:1 gears, 290hp-stock heads
=========================
The Surgeon General didn't say anything about smoking your azz!!

Stang951 · 06-04-2001, 11:10 PM

I got all of them from PepBoys, I think the rad is a GDI or something to that effect, and the waterpump and thermostat are the along the same lines. I have to call him back tomorrow and touch base. I think I mightsuggest we try a restrictor instead of the thermostat, I really dont need a heater too bad down here.

------------------
1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Perfromer Intake/ Edelbrock Performer RPM cam and lifters/ Edelbrock Performer street pump/ Edelbrock timing gears/ Ronald Boudreaux custom headers and exhaust/ Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers/ March Performance billet aluminum underdrive pulleys/ MSD billet distributor/ MSD 6AL ignition box/ MSD Superconductor wires/ Energy SUspension polyurethane engine and transmission mounts/ Ford Motorsports blue silicone hoses/ GDI 3 core radiator/ Carter 625cfm carb/Maximum Motorsports

wiggy · 06-05-2001, 10:27 AM

You cann't use your stock radiator, you must get at least a 3-core.

Dasykopath · 06-05-2001, 08:18 PM

head gaskets on backwards ? I know that it could happen on a 302.

------------------
88 GT Droptop. Not sure about the heads, stocks shaved mebbe. Intake, stock, think there's some work. Flowtech headers, off road h-pipe, flows, 3.55 FoMo., aluminum driveshaft, C-4 trans. w/ B&M shifter, Ram air, and more on the way.

rob90gt · 06-05-2001, 09:30 PM

I don't know if you guys are running this but I heard using the stock fan and shroud help some.

slider · 06-06-2001, 10:34 PM

stang951
I suggest you get a biger radiator and a biger fan. specially IF the internals are new. new motors get hot until you break em down.
a stock fan should work fine as long as the clutch its working perfectly. My friend with his newly built 351 is using a 3 core and a flex fan. thats the only way he can keep it under 190 for now.

<img>http://24.177.53.45/351.jpg</img>

slider · 06-06-2001, 10:36 PM

wtf

Stang951 · 06-07-2001, 07:04 PM

Finally we found the problem. Apparently Edelbrock does not tell youin the cam and lifter it (ust on thier web site that I have seen so far) that you have to use either adjustable rocker arms or pushrods to eliminate valve train slack. Without eliminating this problem, the valvetrain does not create enough flow and produces a ticking (whici I never knew was there since I havent heard the car yet) and excess heat.
Thanks to everyone that tried to help me out.

------------------
1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Perfromer Intake/ Edelbrock Performer RPM cam and lifters/ Edelbrock Performer street pump/ Edelbrock timing gears/ Ronald Boudreaux custom headers and exhaust/ Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers/ March Performance billet aluminum underdrive pulleys/ MSD billet distributor/ MSD 6AL ignition box/ MSD Superconductor wires/ Energy SUspension polyurethane engine and transmission mounts/ Ford Motorsports blue silicone hoses/ GDI 3 core radiator/ Carter 625cfm carb/Maximum Motorsports

06-03-2001, 11:12 PM	#1
Dasykopath Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 6	351 swap in 88 GT. Today I bought a 1970 Mach One w/ a 351 and a c4 in the car. I paid $250 for it. I'm going to throw the 351 in my 88 GT Conv. and wanted to know if there was anything else that I should know before doing the swap. Granted, I'm going to go completely through the motor, and convert to carb. I already have a c4 trans, so I don't have to worry about the swap there. The other question is what kind of intake/head combo do you recommend ? I've heard good things about the stealth intakes and the AFR heads, but can you get the heads for a 351 ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Justin Moore.. P.S. after the swap, if anyone knows anyone looking to get a 70 mach one lemme know and I can get you some pics of the car once I have everything out of it. ------------------ 88 GT Droptop. Not sure about the heads, stocks shaved mebbe. Intake, stock, think there's some work. Flowtech headers, off road h-pipe, flows, 3.55 FoMo., aluminum driveshaft, C-4 trans. w/ B&M shifter, Ram air, and more on the way.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Are all 8.8 rears the same?	82 GT	Windsor Power	29	08-23-2004 01:06 PM
Tips on buying an 87 GT(is it really a GT?)	LincoConti87	Windsor Power	9	07-23-2004 08:08 PM
'02 GT Drop top Vs. '94 Cobra	EZRIDN	Stang Stories	3	03-26-2004 04:23 PM
4.6L DOHC Engine Swap into a 90 GT	00'BlackSteed	Modular Madness	6	08-02-2001 07:08 AM
86 GT -vs- 99 GT auto	withamc	Stang Stories	2	04-03-2001 12:48 AM

06-04-2001, 09:34 AM	#2
wiggy Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Spring Lake NC 28390 Posts: 19	Boy man are you lucky. I'm about 3/4 of the way through the swap and doing exactly the same thing you are doing. I have a 73 351W, strong rebuild. This is what I found: You'll have to buy the following parts: 351 Oil pan, double sump for the conversion, PAW sells it for $125 with the pick up and dipstick 351 Electronic distributor from a bronco or like vehicle $75 new MSD or aftermarket ignition $130 351 Headers specifically for the swap $220 You'll need to keep the balancer and flywheel from the 351 I haven't gotten to the accessories but I have bolted them up and seem to fix right now you'll need to get a fuel pressure regulator and wire up a hot to your pump relay, I have it to a switch for an anti-theft cut off. 3-core radiator I'm not sure on the C-4 conversion, I'm using my AOD. I've heard there is a special crossmember or something They make heads for the 351 so you shouldn't have any problems finding them in the performace catalogs. These guys on this forum are really helpful. Let me know if I can be of further service. ------------------ Mike Wigton 89 LX 351W 64 1/2 Convertible [This message has been edited by wiggy (edited 06-04-2001).]

06-04-2001, 04:50 PM	#3
Stang951 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Metairie, La. USA Posts: 132	I just got my 351 in my car, and can't keep it from getting hot. We have all new parts and the motor gets up to 210 in no time flat. We're trying to figure out what the hell is going on so that I can have my car back. Any suggestions to look for? ------------------

06-04-2001, 09:19 PM	#4
BennyBoy Guest Posts: n/a	What water pump are you running? Radiator? Thermostat? ------------------ '69 Coupe with 351W ========================= Edelbrock RPM intake, Edelbrock RPM cam, Edelbrock 750 cfm carb, Edelbrock lifters, Edelbrock double roller timing chain, Edelbrock valve springs, Accel coil, Moroso Blue-Max wires, Hedman headers, 2 1/2" pipe, glasspacks, Flex fan, Lakewood traction bars, C4, 3:1 gears, 290hp-stock heads ========================= The Surgeon General didn't say anything about smoking your azz!!

06-04-2001, 11:10 PM	#5
Stang951 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Metairie, La. USA Posts: 132	I got all of them from PepBoys, I think the rad is a GDI or something to that effect, and the waterpump and thermostat are the along the same lines. I have to call him back tomorrow and touch base. I think I mightsuggest we try a restrictor instead of the thermostat, I really dont need a heater too bad down here. ------------------ 1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Perfromer Intake/ Edelbrock Performer RPM cam and lifters/ Edelbrock Performer street pump/ Edelbrock timing gears/ Ronald Boudreaux custom headers and exhaust/ Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers/ March Performance billet aluminum underdrive pulleys/ MSD billet distributor/ MSD 6AL ignition box/ MSD Superconductor wires/ Energy SUspension polyurethane engine and transmission mounts/ Ford Motorsports blue silicone hoses/ GDI 3 core radiator/ Carter 625cfm carb/Maximum Motorsports

06-05-2001, 10:27 AM	#6
wiggy Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Spring Lake NC 28390 Posts: 19	You cann't use your stock radiator, you must get at least a 3-core.

06-05-2001, 08:18 PM	#7
Dasykopath Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 6	head gaskets on backwards ? I know that it could happen on a 302. ------------------ 88 GT Droptop. Not sure about the heads, stocks shaved mebbe. Intake, stock, think there's some work. Flowtech headers, off road h-pipe, flows, 3.55 FoMo., aluminum driveshaft, C-4 trans. w/ B&M shifter, Ram air, and more on the way.

06-05-2001, 09:30 PM	#8
rob90gt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: luling, la, usa Posts: 83	I don't know if you guys are running this but I heard using the stock fan and shroud help some.

06-06-2001, 10:34 PM	#9
slider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 86	stang951 I suggest you get a biger radiator and a biger fan. specially IF the internals are new. new motors get hot until you break em down. a stock fan should work fine as long as the clutch its working perfectly. My friend with his newly built 351 is using a 3 core and a flex fan. thats the only way he can keep it under 190 for now. <img>http://24.177.53.45/351.jpg</img>

06-06-2001, 10:36 PM	#10
slider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 86	wtf

06-07-2001, 07:04 PM	#11
Stang951 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Metairie, La. USA Posts: 132	Finally we found the problem. Apparently Edelbrock does not tell youin the cam and lifter it (ust on thier web site that I have seen so far) that you have to use either adjustable rocker arms or pushrods to eliminate valve train slack. Without eliminating this problem, the valvetrain does not create enough flow and produces a ticking (whici I never knew was there since I havent heard the car yet) and excess heat. Thanks to everyone that tried to help me out. ------------------ 1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Perfromer Intake/ Edelbrock Performer RPM cam and lifters/ Edelbrock Performer street pump/ Edelbrock timing gears/ Ronald Boudreaux custom headers and exhaust/ Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers/ March Performance billet aluminum underdrive pulleys/ MSD billet distributor/ MSD 6AL ignition box/ MSD Superconductor wires/ Energy SUspension polyurethane engine and transmission mounts/ Ford Motorsports blue silicone hoses/ GDI 3 core radiator/ Carter 625cfm carb/Maximum Motorsports