Hi All. I stumbled about on the net and found you guys thought you all might be able to help me.

I have a 1985 Lincoln Town Car that is in perfect condition. While I was on Chemo for lymphoma I totally rebuilt the suspension. Great therapy I might add. In the morning I would ask myself "You can stay in bed and feel like crap or you can get up and work on the Lincoln and feel like crap, what do you want to do" SO now I am off chemo no more cancer, yea, and would like to start on the engine.

It has a 302 with a speed density EFI. This beast weighs in at around six thousand pounds, especially when you add my fat behind behind the wheel. A small block works good in a Mustang that weighs as much as a large cardboard box but not so well in a six thousand pound land yacht.

I was looking into stroking the 302 out to 347 but every aftermarket item is for the mustang and high end horse power. I'm looking for low end torque. My search lead me to the powerstroke diesel with the TorqShift 5-speed automatic.

The powerstroke has the torque I am looking for, actually much more then I'm looking for. Now comes the big question, drum roll please, will it fit under the hood of a Lincoln Town car? What kind of electronics does it need? Are the electronics used just for the engine or do they need to be hooked up to other things?? Can I use the same fuel tank and just change the filler neck and get a different fuel pump?

I know this is an out of left field question but it would be an interesting project and would give me the torque I was looking for.

Thanks in advance for all your help.
Joe

 

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The wieght and size are two important concerns. I dont think that it will fit. The diesels are very tall. You would of course need the wiring to controll the engine and tranmssion. Then probably new gaugues (at least spedo) or some adapters to make them work.

Since I dont think a powerstroke is the answer to your torque, let me give you a couple of gas ideas.

347 is a great idea. The RPM range of the engine is going to be based on the cam, intake and head sizes. If you get or build a 347 shortblock then put some smaller components on there, it will build a lot of torque to move the car. Even a cheaper way to go is a set of gears. Give the 302 more leverage for moving the car off the line. You probably have 3.08 or even 2.73's in that car. Try a 3.73 or if you have OD a 4.10. Its like cheap torque. Highway RPM will be increased. City fuel economy probably will go up because the engine will have to work less to get the beast moving.

PM me if you have something else I can maybe help with. I dont normally use this forum.

Another option if you want to do an engine swap - 351W. It will bolt right up to your tranny and heads. You will need a 351 specific intake, distributor, exhaust and oil pan (because the 351 is wider and taller by about 1 inch. A 351 can easily go up to 408 with 393 and 408 being common strokers.

For a stroked 302 to run well, you are going to need a better cam and heads than came on the lincoln, but just not the all out race pieces. Any good engine builder can build a nice combination that you would be happy with.

 

I just reread your post. The speed density is sensitive to major engine changes. I'll resuggst gears, add in a AOD swap (automatic overdrive non-computer controlled) and get a good exhaust system on that car with a free flowing intake filter.

There has got to be a lincoln entusiasts group on the web that can give you some lincoln specific support.

 

The 7.3L Powerstroke might fit. I measured one and got these dimensions:
32 in. long (fan pulley to back of exhaust manifold into turbo)
30 in. wide (across the heads from outside of exhaust manifold to outside exhaust manifold)
33.75 in. high (top of turbo to bottom of rear sump pan)

They aren't too much bigger than a 460.
The real problem is weight. Try 938 pounds. That much weight will make your Lincoln too nose heavy and effect the ride and handling greatly.

You would be better off with one of the gasoline engines like a 351 Windsor. It strokes better than the 302 because of the taller deck height. And the weight is similar to a 302. You'll be happier, not as poor and it is a less challenging swap.

Phil

 

Thanks Phil
938 pounds!!! Oh my god that's heavy. Well I wanted to run biodiesel but it looks like it won't be in a powerstroke.

 

Big Joe,
There are smaller diesels in some of the European sedans. The Mercedes 300TD engines are around 3.0L and are turbos. This might be too small a displacement for your Lincoln. Something in the 5.0L range might be better. Try to stay away from the truck engines and stick with the sedan engines. The Europeans sell way more diesels than we do in the USA; therefore, their engine selection is better. That is starting to change. Diesel is a good way to go.

If you really want to do an alternative fuel engine, you might think about swapping in an engine from one of the Ford Flex Fuel Vehicles. Check out the Ford web site for what cars are offered as Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV). See what the engine options are for these cars. Finding a wrecked FFV car for a donar engine will be harder because there aren't too many of them in the junk yards yet.

Phil

 

You sound like a great candidate for a supercharger. Tons of options for that 302, and you'd have a real nice car - total "sleeper".

 

would make a good motor and ive find the mb 300t and tran in the cars pretty cheap but the porblem ive seen is the oil pan is front sump ive you could make the pan to a rear sump then it world work