Engine swapping 63 fairlane
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2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2025
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Engine swapping 63 fairlane
Hello all, I’m looking into swapping a 302 into my 63 ford fairlane. The car currently has a 260 v8 in it but 302s are more available around my way and parts are easier to come by. I was wondering if anyone has done this swap, and if you have, what were some things you’d recommend doing or acquiring? I read on another forum that the motor mounts would need to be swapped (which is something I was expecting). I already have an extra 9” posi trac rear end my dad gave me from his old “race car”. The car is an auto 3 speed. Transmission recommendations are also welcome.Any compatible parts or info would be greatly appreciated.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
The big difference that you will have to accommodate is the 1963 small block engine has 5 bell housing bolt holes, while the engines after about 1965 have 6 bell housing bolt holes. So if you get a later model engine, you will also have to get at least a new bell housing for your transmission.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2025
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The big difference that you will have to accommodate is the 1963 small block engine has 5 bell housing bolt holes, while the engines after about 1965 have 6 bell housing bolt holes. So if you get a later model engine, you will also have to get at least a new bell housing for your transmission.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,032
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From: NE Ohio
The big difference that you will have to accommodate is the 1963 small block engine has 5 bell housing bolt holes, while the engines after about 1965 have 6 bell housing bolt holes. So if you get a later model engine, you will also have to get at least a new bell housing for your transmission.
Your '63 auto trans is likely the old cast-iron Cruise-o-matic if your shift indicator has that weird green dot. (I have one in my '66 Comet Caliente), OR you might have the even older Ford-o-matic two speed. Parts for those are getting hard to find. The C-4 automatic came out in '64, and the C-6 in '66, but those are also just about impossible to find these days. You might want to consider an AOD from a '80s Crown Vic/Marquis. That'd give you an overdrive and converter lockup for economy. Just don't forget to properly adjust the TVS cable (It is NOT a kickdown cable!)
Your '63 260 would also have come with an 8" rear end, so unless dad's 9" traction lock rear is drum-to-drum, that will not be much help, and also require a different driveshaft length.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
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From: British Columbia
I believe only the top plates of the motor mounts need to be swapped, or additional holes drilled in, it's been many years since I did this.
The clutch equalizer bar relies on a ball stud screwed into the engine block, later (post 1970?) won't have the threaded hole for this, but there is an adaptor available.
I installed a 1969 351W in my '64 Fairlane, also with an overdrive toploader "imposter" type transmission.
The 8" diff is plenty strong for these engines, and is a bunch lighter than the 9", so the car is faster with the 8".
You could also consider a 5 bolt 289 engine for the car, then everything would bolt up just like the 260.
The clutch equalizer bar relies on a ball stud screwed into the engine block, later (post 1970?) won't have the threaded hole for this, but there is an adaptor available.
I installed a 1969 351W in my '64 Fairlane, also with an overdrive toploader "imposter" type transmission.
The 8" diff is plenty strong for these engines, and is a bunch lighter than the 9", so the car is faster with the 8".
You could also consider a 5 bolt 289 engine for the car, then everything would bolt up just like the 260.
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