engine swap
ok,i have done the 1974 swap...my car originally had the 2.3 four banger with 4 speed manual,i took it out and stuck in a 289 hi-po with automatic tranny. This is what i had to do...first you will need to find motor mounts...they are not easy to come by...then you will need to locate a fan spacer that is only 1 inch or less in length(I had to have one machined.) The wireing harness from a v-8 mustangII will work,but you will have to modify a couple of the plugs...ie for some reason you will need to lengthen the wires going to the altenater.
next...you have to take your hood latch off of your hood,and actually cut the hole bigger so your radiator cap will fit inside of it,when its closed...then you will have to cut the top of the radiator mount off the car,this includes takeing off the hood latch,and you will need to remave the air conditioner condenser from its place in front of the radiator,also remove the power steering cooler and splice your power steering lines back together without it.
now you will have to locate a square radiator out of an older model ford car or truck...late 50's or 60's,as the original rectanguler radiator will not work...make sure if you plan on useing an auto transmission,that it has coolant ports for the transmission coolant lines...the radiator must be removed from the car,andthe new one placed in front of the old radiator mount,directly behind the grill...a few other odds and ends will probably have to be removed from there...ie...the horn,and so forth. you will have to drill new holes to mount the radiator with,next you will have to find a long universal flex coolant hose to use on the bottom of the radiator.
a fan shroud must be used,and you will have to make one...i used some old tin i had laying around...DO NOT USE A FLEX FAN FOR YOUR FAN...you will not have room for a clutch fan,and will probably want to buy a flex fan...dont do this,as the flex fan actually will cause your v-8 to over heat...for some reason it actually will block incomeing air,instead of bringing air in...you will have to find a solid four or five blade fan,and bolt it direct.
the transmission coolant lines are a bear to get in,as the tranny is a tight fit,if you go with an automatic...the 74 mustangII wasnt made for a v-8 so the lines will have to be routed through your frame rails,and back out and up to the tranny...otherwise they will be to close to the exhaust,and cause the transmission to overheat and burn up(I learned all this the hard way...lol) If you use an automatic transmission the fram crossmember near the rear of the engine compartment will have to be unbolted and removed,and a new one fabricated,preferably out of stonger material,but it will have to hang much lower.
the springs,need to be changed to heavier ones...i did not,and as a result,i only had 1.5 inches of ground clearance...if you like low riders then this is fine.
you will need to install hood pins to keep your hood shut...
now all this being said...i did all this,and the car was fun,but i broke two door hinges and a windsheild,because of frame flexing...also i couldnt keep a transmission as they kept burning up...my little 6.25 rear end handled everything ok...never had a problem with it,but i kept the 13 inch tires,so spinning them was very easy,and traction wasnt hard on the rearend. BUT I HAVE NOW CONVERTED THE CAR BACK TO A 2.8 V6 and it is waaaaaay more fun and driveable!
here is a website for v-6 performance parts for the 2.8ltr (i am new to this so i hope this works...)
Ford Ranger/Bronco II 2.8 liter Engines
anyway if it doesnt link then copy and paste it minus the parts.
good luck and have fun...MUSTANG II'S ROCK!