Hi guys, just wanted to introduce myself, I am a 23 year old who loves old iron and going fast with stuff that I built myself for next to nothing! If I could live in a junkyard I would do so.

So to make a long story short, come to find out a guy I know has a '69 Ford truck (F-100 or 150 I think) with what I believe is a 2V 390. I have not looked at the truck myself but it has 390 badges all over it and the guy (who is trustworthy, if not incredibly knowledgeable about old engines) believes it to be the original motor. The motor is apparently locked up, he tried turning it with a socket but couldn't. I offered him $100 for the motor and he accepted.

So I guess what I'm wondering is, is this motor worth $100? I am hoping that there's nothing seriously wrong with the bottom end, maybe it's just been sitting a long time and is rusty or something. Who knows, it could be a boat anchor in need of a lot of work, or it could be a diamond in the rough.

Secondly, the reason I'm considering snagging is this motor is because I'm on the lookout for a low buck performance upgrade for my '68 mustang, which currently sports an anemic 2V 289 and C4 tranny. Tomorrow I am going with my buddy to snag a '69 (high compression) 351W and a 3-speed tranny from an old Mustang. We were originally going to freshen that up and swap it in, but now I'm wondering if the 390 would be better from a performance standpoint?

I've never driven an FE vehicle before, so I don't know how well they perform. And I don't know if this truck motor has crappy heads or not. Which one do you guys think would be a better performer, the 10:1 351W with 4bbl, home ported heads (stock valves), and C4 auto, or the 8.6:1 390 with 4 bbl, home ported heads, and 3 speed tranny?

Thanks for your help!

 

Trust me. Go with either a 351W or better yet a 351C swap. Both are bolt in deals in a 289 Stang (excepting the exhaust on a Cleveland) The 390's a good motor, but it'll cost you plenty to swap one into a 67-70 Stang. And that's money you can spend on performance upgrades to either of the 351's. With a 390 swap, you'll need to shell out a couple hundred bucks for just the motor mounts and brackets, then you'll need an FE specific auto trans. Plus the different trans cross member for the FE trans.

 

Hi! I think I'm your long lost brother!


Standard FE heads are alright, with just a bit of help, they'll handle 400 ponies.

I think in order to wedge an FE in an early 'Stang, you'll have to run the GT Mustang heads and manifolds, both rare and pricey. Or you could cut the shock towers. You'd be better off investing your cash into a 351W for the car.

 

Ok, it looks like I'm going to do the 351W then, in the interests of ease of installation. Just out of curiosity though, which is the better performing engine?

 

The Cleveland has more potential with stock heads. I forgot to add the part about the FE's exhaust. The GT manifolds aren't pricey, they can be had for $150. But they don't flow well. Headers for a big block Stang will set you back $400+ for new ones. Or there's the 428CJ manifolds that flow better than the GT's, but these are pricey and will cost about the same as new headers.

 

I have to agree ..go with the 351 with the after market parts available for both the 351W and C they can be motors to be reckined with...TMD has all kinds of stroker kits for the 351's among others... Thats "the mustang depot" TMD there out in SoCal..Check out there site!!

Good luck on your transplant!! and Happy Gearing!!!

RJ

 

It has been years and years ago, but when we swapped a 428 CJ into a 68 289 Fastback mustang, we had to use the famous Ford wrench to shoe horn it in. I learned much later that during mid year production or something like that...Ford change the shock towers or something to make room for the big blocks. I double it made much room. But learning about that might be handie increase you decide on the FE engine later. And by the way, that Mustang was one bad pony when we got done....almost had to pull the engine to change plugs.... but when you a teenager with a fast fast car who cares....
The ones pushing the 351 W swap are probably steering you the right way.
There isn't anything wrong with a built Windsor.... and parts are everwhere.
According to same books the 1969 Windsor was rated almost the same as the Cleveland for HP. But that is another story....
I'm a little handicap with my memory nowadays....So maybe some of the other guys might remember more about the 1968 Mustang mod.

 

Thanks guys.. I know that the Cleveland is probably a better performer than the FE.. and I know there are billions of aftermarket parts available for the windsor motors... but I don't have a Cleveland (nor the cash $$$ to acquire a good one) and I don't have a bunch of money to spend on aftermarket parts.

What I wanted to know is, in bone stock form, plus a good amount of home port work, using iron exhaust manifolds, a 4100 or other streetable carb, and whatever cheap parts I can scrounge up (aluminum intake manifold for sure, probably a cam too) -- which would be a better performer on the street, the 8.6:1 truck 390, or the 9.5:1 351W?

I will most likely go ahead and swap the 351W in, but I may still get the 390 and get it ready to swap in later on. The engine mount issues are not a problem, I can fabricate something, or if nothing else make solid mounts. I was thinking the Mustang toploader 3-speed would bolt behind the FE using the bellhousing my friend has, correct? If so the mount ought to be the same between the two. If nothing else I can move the engine forwards or backwards a bit to make the crossmember line up. If all else fails I can just fab up a new crossmember. I can built my own headers as well, but would probably run manifolds to start with.

Thanks for the info everyone!

 

The best running stock 351 Windsor was in 1969 290 HP @4600 rpm with 4V. Then in 1993-1996 they were 240 hp @4200 rpm with EFI. 93-96 was net HP which was measured with acc. hook up. Before 72 it was gross HP measure at flywheel
The 390 stock with 2V made 265 @ 4400 with 2V and 315 @4600 with 4V, 320 in the hi perf. version in 1968.
The disadvantage of the 390, very heavy.... but also whole lot of torque
The disadvantage of the 351W , less horsepower, but very reliable lots of options.
But to be honest, if it was me. I would go with the 390 and use either GT heads or CJ heads on it. Alum intake with a 4 V. Just simply because it will look cooler in the large engine compartment of the 69 Pick up.
If you decide to go with the 390. I know a place in Ca. that you can get 390 GT heads for about $200.00 a rebuildable pair. Keep in mind if you go with GT or CJ heads the exhaust manifolds are different and costly.
Hope i didn't add to your problem.

 

If you're on a budget, the 351W is the only game in town. Get a roller 351 from a 94-97 pickup or van and carb it. Swapping in a plain jane 390 from a pickup, will cost you extra pain and dollars that can be used to improve a 351. As for Ford changing the engine bay for the 390's, that happened in the 67 model year, not mid 68. They not only widened the bay and whole front of the car for it, but the shock towers were also reinforced to handle the extra weight.

 

I have a 67 Galaxie with the original 390 and 2.7X gears in the 9 inch. Not that impressive off the line but it will get to speeds that scare me and it still has more go left in her. But I agree for the money it takes to get a 390 to move the 'stang down the 1/4 at even 13's if spent on the 351 would have you going even faster.