Is there anything I need to look out for when doing a 302 to 351 swap?
i am thinking about a possible 351 conversion on my 89 hatchback lx, it currently has a 302 with a 5 speed, i am thinking about putting a 351 with a stage 3 shift kit tranny in it, the engine is outa an old 71 notchback, i pulled it out @ my highschool and it has been sitting ever since, it did run, i believe and then the car was hit by a semi truck while sitting with a for sale sign totaling the car, but not touching the engine, accept maybe the exhaust a lil i don't remember off hand about that, either way though, engine is unscathed, i plan to build it up as a street legal drag car, any comments?
First question, is it a windsor or a c/m? The Windsor swap isnt a big deal, but swapping in a Clev/Midland will be a bit more complicated. As far as a speedo being required to be considered legal, yes it would, I dont know what the laws/inspection rules in your area are, but having a speedo on the street is kind of a no brainer.
Hope this helps,
J
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'66 Mustang Coupe-AKA "Lenore"
'93 GT, AKA Fawkes, basically stock
Rice Haters Club Member #239
Carpe Noctum
Beer is my anti-drug
it would be a windsor, but i have been advised that they are pices of sht, so instead of that i have found an old 428 plolice interceptor engine, do a complete tear down and rebuild, and as for the spedo, i was more thinking use a rearview mirror spedo, look, if there is no one behind u, u are going too fast, if someon is right on your ass, speed up, if there is a cop behind you, your going WAY too slow time to floor it and pull away, that will be the truth with a 428
Dude, whoever told you the W is a POS needs to have their head examined. On what kind of basis are they trying to make that claim?
As to getting the Big block to fit, you're going to be looking at a lot more headache's than any other swap. You will need pretty much everything redone, including a new hood, new tranny etc. Not to mention the weight of the engine up front.
But it can be done, and having a "7.0" badge would be cool. Just expect to be sinking a lot of money into your car.
Just my .02
J
__________________
'66 Mustang Coupe-AKA "Lenore"
'93 GT, AKA Fawkes, basically stock
Rice Haters Club Member #239
Carpe Noctum
Beer is my anti-drug
Whenever I had my car inspected, they just did a visual inspection which mainly included the light lenses, lights and signals operating, horn works, and the tail pipes extend past the gas tank.
thanks for the advice, as for the pos comment, it was based on drag racing, suposedly they have a reputation for "being a dog" i don't really know any other way to say it, and the 428, the interceptor i would be getting it outa has an auto tranny, and a 9 inch diff so i am set there, i would probibly spool it, build it for drag racing, no need to lower my front end now lol, but as for accual space, would the engine fit in the pay or would the inner fenders have to come out?
Never have I heard something that hurt me more deeper that that, the 351w is a fine engine, i have several of them in service one is a 392" stroker in one of my bronco's, stanger whoever told you that plainly does not know a great deal about ford engiines.
The engine is small robust and able to make excellent power.....
Oh by the way Stanger, the 351/400m is not a midland the "m" is for modified, when the Cleveland proved to be a good power maker it also showed some negative traits such as a lackluster cooling and oiling system as well as main journals far too small for the engine with this in mind ford rebuilt the engine giving it 3" mains( as opposed to 2.750 in the cleveland) a greatly improved oiling system and a better cooling system as well, the 400" engine being the same just a longer stroke.
to but a 428 in your mustang(a fox body?) would require a good deal of work and fabrication, I am not sure anyone makes a bellhousing to fit a 5spd to that big block which limits you to a big heavy 4spd or a (dare i say it) an automatic(of which i am not personally fond of), anyway good luck in your endevours.....
i know what you mean about automatic, but i would be building this up as a drag car, i race E.T. racing, estimated time, it's all in consistancy, put a stage 3 shift kit in there, it is more consistant, because the shifts are instant, so other than the bell houseing and all that, would it just fit in the car it's self or would i be refabing firewalls, fenders and such?
Is there anything I need to look out for when doing a 302 to 351 swap? 
time to floor it and pull away,
