Hey guys,
Im looking at what i believe is a 1970 mustang/mach 1. I haven't seen the car yet, this is just what I'm told. The advice I have been given is to 1) keep the original motor 2) if going ti change the 385 series is cheaper to upgrade, bolt-ons are more readily aavailable and cheaper. However, with the 70, i'm not sure if the 385/429/460 would fit. I read something about a special master cylinder, having to cut and reweld the strut towers, and something about it would fit if it didn't have boss heads. Could someone please point me to the straight and narrow. This isn't going to be a drag car, something to cruise around town, get on the freeway (speed limit is 70), smoke ricers, and just look cool. If anybody knows or cares, my dad's Banjopicker66 and we've got a 460 sitting in a 66 f100... no modifcations needed, all ford parts I'm not so worried about building the engine as I am it fitting. Thanks Guys and happy New years

 

Funny you should ask:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...0-mustang.html

Short version:

The 385 will fit, as will the FE, both approx same width and the FE was a factory option. The Boss 429 is 3 inches wider, that's what required the rework of the front. HOWEVER if it's not a dedicated drag car, stay small block--a 331 can make crazy power, a 351 can be stroked out to 392 or even 427 if you buy a sportsman block. "Road Hugging Weight" on the front wheels is not your friend. Sure, you can hang pot metal on the 429/460 but it will never be as light as a sb with the same treatment. (imo)

Anyway, good luck.

 

Ha ha, That's the link I was reading and it went downhill into weights and such and there were all the things about the heads, master cylinder and yada yada, all I needed to know was willit FIT Thanks for the help

 

physically it will fit. you may have some minor issues with headers etc but nothing major as it's actually been a common swap.

 

I probably was in on the other thread that went into weight etc. I have a 70 Mach I in the garage, pretty well dissembled and on dolly wheels.

I agree with 85e150. Most anything will "fit" (not all) but if you have not done it before, the hassle of other issues will bite you in the wallet and on the a##. MB is right, it has been done, so parts are available or can be made.

Coupla things right off, once you "fit" it into the bay. The oil pan will have to be custom. OEM front sump or rear sump, I dont think will fit on the xmember. If the car has power steering (mine did) the drivers side header/headpipe area has a lot of trash in it. For a meer ~2K + global west has a rack and pinion setup. If you are going to drive the street, without the pwr steer that weight will definately be felt.

You already have your answer about fit. Not trying to complicate things for you. It is just important you consider all things and also depending on your mechanical abilities etc.

My wishbook for my 70 Mach has a 434 w/alum hds/beefed 4R70W and add air conditioning. If I were smart, (never, on this board or any other have I tried to pass myself off as smart ) I would maybe stroke the 351C a little, Alum heads, change out that FMX for the beefed 4R70W and put 3.25's in it for the street driving. LOL anyway

 

YIKES... so for anything 1970 and below.. I think I'll just stick w/an FE! cuz all this mod and fit this/fit that, aftermarket this and that... geez... too much for me I've still got college to pay for and I make 10/hr Or just get a 71 and THEN drop a 460 in it

 

What's in the car now? Don't bankrupt yourself, ruin a classic, and derail your college to put a bb in a Mustang. It won't fit in a '71 any better than the '70.

 

Let me know if you do it. I`m going to do the 460-70 Fastback swap myself because I want to build a radical Pro Streeter.I had my Mustang since `89. I had a built 351C Boss in a 69 coupe that had 400+ and toploader and I wanted more .Go for the Gusto

 

I bought my 67 cougar xr7 back in 88 and a 70 tbird with a 429 and had plans to put the 429 in the cougar. But the Air Force sent overseas orders that changed that. I kept the cougar and the 429. Ended up putting the 429 in my 75 F100 4x4 like 4 years ago. Really awesome. Still have the cougar. I think a stroked 351W would be the better choice. Time will tell.

 

70 Mach 1? The base motor is a 2bbl 351Cleveland . Don't swap the original engine out for anything else, bad move. All 70 Mach 1 engines were thumpers. The 250 hp351C-2bbl, the 300hp 351C-4bbl, the 320hp 390,and the 335hp 428CJ's.

Check the VIN and warranty plate on your door jamb to decipher what engine you have originally.

The Cleveland is one of the baddest V8's ever produced. You'll be MORE than satisfied with the performance, and parts availability is fine. Staying with the Cleveland is the easiest and probably the cheapest option for you.

And the Cleveland scares the chebby boys like no other Ford engine does.

 

Thanks so much for the advice guys. Unfortunately the car was sold out from under me However, I would still like to have one I'm assuming the engine bays are the same from the mustang to the mach 1? And peganit2, If i'm not mistaken, from what I've heard, the 351C was the precursor to the 385 series. That's just what I've heard. If anybody's giving away free bodies and interior gimme a shout Thanks guys

 

The 71 was bigger and heavier. They could be bought with the 429. The shock towers were wider to accomodate the 429. 64/66 were smallest bay. Next was the 67 to 68 and 69/70. I think the 67/68 and 69/70 were about the same size bay. If I can ever get back on my 70, I will remember

 

Nope, the Cleveland is a small block, it has the same bore spacing and bore size as the 302. The 385 series came out at least a year earlier then the Cleveland, and is at least 33% bigger in every dimension.(I'm being semi-serious here, nobody flame me on it please. It is MUCH bigger.) There is NOTHING but the conceptual architecture in common between the 335 series engines, the Clevelands, and the 385 series, except for the distributor and the rockers.

The Mach 1 is just an option package for 69-73 Mustangs, not a different car or chassis. 64 1/2-66 have the same size engine bays, 67-70 have the same sized engine bays, and the 71-73 has the biggest engine bay of all early Mustangs. The 429 was available as an option in 1971. 460's will bolt into any 67-73 Mustang. They WILL NOT fit into 64 1/2-66's without some major surgery.

P.S. I'm not including post 73 Mach 1's because the OP isn't inquiring about those vintages.

 

I stand corrected on the '71. Funny, since I graduated HS in '71, you'd think I'd be more in tune with the '71.... According to:

2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 History and Archive Photos 1969-2003

"few" had the 429.

BUT, the '71-2-3 were the "Forestall" class Mustangs, quite a different car than the early models, not that it matters here.

Anyway, tool up some 500+ CI mountain motor if you like.

 

This site just reminded me of something that I have not been able to resolve. Mine is a 70 Mach I, 351C/4bbl heads/4 bbl carb/ FMX tranny and is "Gulfstream Aqua". I have only seen that color listed as a 69 color. . Any of the other green colors are not even close---certainly not "Grabber Green"

It usually gets quite a thread going when you discuss the weight of the 429/460 over the weight of the 335's going. They are much heavier. The 434 I am thinking about is a 400 based stroker and is only 25# heavier than the 351C. Would certainly be a departure from a RPM capable motor such as the "C"'s are. Same bore spacing with more deck height plus a few other differences. We certainly dont want to get the "small block"--"big block" going here either----trust me

I think Havi is planning one for a fox body "bird"---he may be slower than I am