351 install info?
 

i see a lot of posts about 351's, and i was just curious about the pros and cons of such a swap and where i could find info about HOW to do it.

i have a 89 5.0 lx convertible, that i have had for years and want to retire it to toy status, and i don't plan to keep driving it everyday, so a 351 might make it an even more fun toy for the weekends.

I did this swap with a 4 cyl Capri. Starting with a 5.0 is the best thing. You do not have to upgrade your (wimpy 4 cyl) brakes or your springs. the 351 bolts right in, pretty cheap too (if that is a concern, it was for me!). Most parts interchange with the 5.0 but some dont. You need a oilpan out of a 351 crown vic, a 351 intake manifold, and front bracketry out off a 351 (once again, mid 80's crown vics have the correct bracketry w/a serpintine system) You also cannot use the distributor. Stock 5.0 headers hit the steering so you need custom headers as well (the most expensive part). The ones I got bolted right to the H-pipe. I had no electrical issues but then again, I didn't go fuel injected. I had the dual snorkel breather cover - it barely touched the hood. T5 bolted right up as well.
Another thing that may be an issue is emissions. Colorado is bad for emissions, hope they're not as crazy where you are. It was nice knowing that i had a 5.8 when everyone else had a 5.0. Mine wasn't hopped up and I'm sure alot of the 5.0's would have beat it because of that. But man, did it have torque.

My 351 now resides in a 78 truck, I still have the correct headers and an extra factory 4 bbl intake if your interested.

Jayson