new stang on the block

[King Of Dalley]

Hay guys my name is Nick Mitchell from Dallas Texas I'm new to the forum and I wanted to introduce myself. Whazzzzz upppppp!!!!!!!!.... okay now that that's over time to tell you about my car. a few months ago I purchased a 1971 Mustang Fastback 302 automatic that I am in the middle of redoing. I'm thinking about doing the pro touring / restomod look. I'm also thinking about doing a motor swap for a later model 5.0 liter motor Like out of the fox body's or is it worth me keeping the old 302 and redoing it and adding some performance parts to compensate for some extra power such as heads cam intake manifold bigger carburetor headers. my car has AC power steering but no power brakes so I was also thinking about doing a power brake setup out of the later model Mustangs also. so if anyone has any thoughts on this I would appreciate some advice thank you

 

[Austin Vert]

Hi Nick,

Welcome from Brisbane, Australia.

Greg.

 

[OLE PONY]

Welcome to the site from Virginia. Im not an engine guru, but I'm sure some members will be along with some advice.

 

[whitesoc]

Welcome from Ontario Canada.

 

[Mach1JB]

Welcome from the Netherlands...

:worthlesswithoutpics:

So please post us some pictures , we love pictures

JB

 

[CZ-75]

Welcome from Ohio!

I've been tinkering with my car for about a year now, and the single biggest improvement I have done is to put in a wide ratio AOD transmission with an agressive 3.89 trac-lock rear end.

I have a '73 with a 351c 2V, which is a fairly neutered motor, probably right around 200HP even after upgrading to a 4V Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and carb.

The wide ratio AOD used the gear set from the 43R70W transmission, which has a pretty agressive first gear. Couple that with the 3.89 rear end, and I can burn rubber from a stop, and even get a chirp as the transmission goes from 1st to 2nd. And the OverDrive gives me good RPMs at highway speed despite the 3.89 rear end.

If I had it to do over again, I probably would have gone with the 4R70W transmission, which is electronically controlled. You can install aftermarket electronic controllers.

So now, I feel like I've got a pretty nice cruiser with the ability to burn rubber when I get the urge.

And if I ever want to rebuild teh motor with better CAM, heads and valve train, well... The drivetrain is ready!

Good luck with your car, hopefully it will provide you as much fun as mine has provided me!

 

[will e]

Welcome from Phoenix. The fox body 5.0 engines enjoy a bunch of after market support. The roller cam is a big plus as well. If getting a little more go out of the car is what you are looking for the 302 it has can be built up pretty nice. If you are looking for big power the flat tappet 302 will need a cam that overlaps more than the roller cam 5.0 would. This will start to effect the idle quality. If you are looking for more serious fun go fast stuff, like a super charger or something in that range the 5.0 will be generally easier to work with.

 

[rocro]

Welcome from Fort Worth - good to have another 71-73 owner in N. Texas

 

[Don65Stang]

Welcome from coastal Alabama! I think a 5.0 is a good route to go but I'd put in power brakes from a 71-73 model for an easier swap. Be sure to post a pin on our member map under the fun stuff tab at the top of the page.

 

[Steven Harris]

Welcome.

A well done 5.0 transplant would be a great daily driver improvement.

 

[MechEng]

Welcome from Sunny Southern California! I am also a fan of the 5.0 swap idea, but the 302 isn't a bad motor either!

 

[Mister 4x4]

Welcome from West Texas! ::thumb::

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

Welcome from Middle Tennessee

Assuming the 5.0 you want to swap is the modernized fuel injected version of the 302, I'd say that your gains will be in driveability, not power. The 5.0 uses a 50 oz imbalance in order to allow the crank weights to be smaller. THe cranks are weaker than 302 cranks, but the blocks are set up for roller lifters. It all depends upon your goals.

If you are talking the newer Modular motor-it is an expensive swap as the front suspension will need to be swapped to something that allows the shock towers to be cut back or removed, but then you do get the ability to run the most modern automatic transmission and get better mileage and more power. It would likely be best to find a wrecked but running vehicle as a donor for such a swap.

 

[jbojo]

Welcome from TriCities WA.

-jbojo

 

[mach71351c]

::welcome:: From San Diego.

 

[caspianwendell]

Welcome from Arkansas

 

[luxstang]

Hi Nick and ::welcome:: from Luxembourg, Europe.

 

[droptop73]

Hi Nick, welcome from west Michigan.

It sounds like you have a pretty nice project. For what it's worth, I'm planning to replace the 351c in my car with a 5.0 from an Explorer. They use a better cylinder head and intake than the Mustang engines. The way I see it it'll knock about 100 lbs off the nose giving the car better balance, it should be way more efficient and make real close to the same power as the 351. In my opinion, what's to lose? Eventually I'll build a 331 short block and work up a set of aluminum heads.

 

[jhawk635]

::welcome:: from San Antonio!