Would the engine from a 1989 e150 (351), fit into my 1985 Thinderbird that has a 302? How much work would it require?

 

Should bolt right up.

Now as for work.......

That 89 has fuel injection correct? you will have to find a computer system from a 89 T-bird that had the 351. Or you can simply ditch the fuel injection system & go straight carburation.

 

I have a 1985 T-Bird that has a 302 in it now with blown head gaskets. I have a 351W 4V Ho laying around too, and I plan to swap engines. The engine came out of a 1985 E-150 and is carbeurated, and the 302 is TBI.

The Questions I have about this swap is:
1. Will I have to change the oil pan on the 351 to a car type? If so will the one on the 302 fit?
2. I think the distributors are a little different, will i be able to splice the 351 distributor into the system ok? Will i have to change the Electronic Ignition?
3. How am i gunna hook up the throttle and kickdown linkage?
4. What am i going to have to do about the fuel pumps? The TBI has a high pressure fuel pump, which i dont need with the carb, and the 351 has a mechanical pump on it. Is there a way to just run the gas through the high pressure pump without pumping it, and then run it to the mechanical pump? Or is there a way to Turn the pressure down on the high pressure one to make it work?
ANY HELP IS EXTREMELY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU!

 

I have a 1985 T-Bird that has a 302 it now with blown head gaskets. I have a 351W 4V Ho laying around too, and I plan to swap engines. The engine came out of a 1985 E-150 and is carbeurated, and the 302 is TBI.

The Questions I have about this swap is:
1. Will I have to change the oil pan on the 351 to a car type? If so will the one on the 302 fit?
2. I think the distributors are a little different, will i be able to splice the 351 distributor into the system ok? Will i have to change the Electronic Ignition?
3. How am i gunna hook up the throttle and kickdown linkage?
4. What am i going to have to do about the fuel pumps? The TBI has a high pressure fuel pump, which i dont need with the carb, and the 351 has a mechanical pump on it. Is there a way to just run the gas through the high pressure pump without pumping it, and then run it to the mechanical pump? Or is there a way to Turn the pressure down on the high pressure one to make it work?
ANY HELP IS EXTREMELY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU!

 

Ok, here are some answers for you.

1. Yes and yes.
2. The E150 should be a duraspark, the TBird is an EEC unit. You'll need a 351 EEC distributor if you're running efi, else use the duraspark stuff. Use an 85 Mustang with a manual as a guide.
3. ??
4. Back to the mustang, get the sending unit for the carb'd car and swap it into the tank. Or look for a carb's t-bird part.

You're also going to have a hood clearance issue. You'll need a scoop or cowl hood. Also I think you can use the mustang double hump cross member and mustang exaust parts for the exhaust. You'll just have to lenghten them.

Hope this helps.
David

 

aren't 302 and 351w oil pans different? for some reason I am thinking the 351w oil pan is wider.

 

Cj, I don't think so. I've been told that to swap a 351 into a mustang you use the old 302 pan. You might be thinking about the 351M. Now the intake is wider because the block is taller.

David

 

No, you can't swap oil pans between a 302/5.0 and a 351...they ARE different. The pan rails are about the same, but the 351 ends are much bigger where the end seals go, due to the 351's 3-inch main bearings. If the double sump pan is what you need for the T-bird, you will have to find one from (I think) a 351 powered Police Interceptor Crown Vic. Or buy one aftermarket. -TD

 

Wow, thanks TigerDan. I stand corrected. I thought about putting a 351 in my Cobra up until I found out that I'd have to run a cowl hood, and I don't like them. Someone told me that I could just reuse the 5.0 pan and pickup. I'm sure someone makes a pan for this swap because I've seen plenty of 351 swaps in mustangs (complete with huge cowl hoods... ). Even ford put one in the 95 Cobra R.

David

 

I just looked it up, and my source says that the only (I sort of doubt it) vehicle to use the 351 dual sump pan was the '80-'88 Crown Vic Police car. Ford Motorsports does offer the kit which contains the pan, pick-up tube, attaching main stud for the pick-up, and the dipstick and tube. It's about $150.00 and is part #M-6675-A58. Why would you have to run a cowl hood, David? The 351 is only about an inch taller than the 5.0, although it may be a little taller yet at the top of the intake plenum, I really can't say for sure, just speculating. Is the 5.0 that tight to the hood already that you have no more room to go up? -TD

 

Here in Canada it was an option on both Crown Vics and Grand Marquis, and it's not that rare to find one here.

 

I went to the Ford Motorsports site, and the pan that you suggested is a rear sump oil pan. I noticed it said Mustang and other Fox Body cars though, so it should work right?

 

Also, the Mustang sending unit is for a 302, so will it provide enough pressure and gas for the 351 HO?

 

Okay, let me do some further research. I took that part number right out of a book that I have, I should have checked it first... -TD

EDIT: Okay, several sources call it a rear sump pan, but it is a dual sump. That front sump is just big enough to clear the oil pump, and that's about it. Try this link, scroll down a little and there it is:

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/18818/

Lots of other good info there as well, and since the T-bird is a Fox chassis, all that applies to a Mustang swap applies to the 'bird as well. I see as I read this article that the 351 is 3 inches taller from the bottom of the pan to the top of an EFI manifold, so I stand corrected there.
As for the fuel pressure problem when going from an injected system to carburation, you'll need to pull the pump out of the tank and extend the pickup tube to make up for the length of the pump. Then you can run a mechanical pump, or an external electric pump made for a carburated system. The pump for fuel injection puts out about 40 psi, you only want 5-7 psi for a carb. -TD

 

TD, The 351 just kisses the hood on a Fox mustang with a cobra or similar manifold. You have to remove the hood insulation and I'm worried about the heat damaging the paint. You also might need to clearance the manifold a little. I've later found out that you can order either a tube K member with a 3/4 inch drop or motor mounts that have a 3/4 inch drop and that'll make it work, but then you have to deal with the ground clearance issues. I'm just going to build a 331 stroker with 10:1 compression and aluminum heads. I'm only looking for about 350 hp so I probably don't even need a 331. The 351 is heavier also... The car doesn't need any more weight in the front.

Pedal2themetal, The sender for a carbed car has a send and possibly a return. There's no pump. You'll need about a 5/16 dia pipe. If you're going to soup up the car then you'll need a larger one. You just need one that fits in the tank.

David