Getting everything in order to begin an engine swap in my 56 customline. I currently have a 292 and 390 laying around BOTH need to be rebuilt. Should I go the Y block, FE, 351, or foxbody 302 route? I’m looking for the best all around option for a typical hot rod/street rod type application. Thanks!
Any would be good. FE is the heaviest. 302 is the most used and probably the easiest to sell someday. The stock rear can handle most if treated with care. The highest ratio is 3.21. Your six has much lower ratio and could stand an AOD. There are some weird cast iron exhaust which will clear everything. I think they were off Lincoln’s. Many are in wrecking yards. Good luck.
302 is the easiest. It will set on your stock 6cyl perches with fox body mounts. I used a c6 and a universal mount and it sat in the factory trans mount hole. I used fox body headers with slight modifications to clear the steering box. There are headers listed in the fact sticky that will make it even easier with no modifications. An aftermarket aluminium radiator with pusher electric fan on a radiator mounted adjustable thermostatic control. One wire GM style alternator and a GM one wire hook up hemi style distributor. I have done tons of engine swaps that required extensive modifications and fabrication. This was the easiest I've ever done. This is actually the easiest car I've ever built all around. I used Lincoln Versailles front spindles and Ford Aerostar springs to lower it, all bolt on no fabrication, a master cylinder from Nascardave and he gave me the part # for the front brake lines to use. I also used the Lincoln Versailles disc rear and that was the only fab work I did and that was to put spring perches in the correct spots. It's a very easy car to modify. You are lucky, your 56 is already 12 volt. My 55 was 6 volt positive ground. Really the only hard part of the build and it was not that hard just time consuming as I built my own harness from scratch. Good luck with your build.which ever way you decide to go. I know alot of people like the FE motors, just not worth the time and the weight for the return to me. If you go 302 and want to keep the period look there are even adapters to run y-block valve covers.
I did the same swap with a y block. No issues and it was a pretty simple job as far as finding parts and them fitting correctly.
Some things to think of first #1 is your budget (y-block rebuilding can get pricey these days compared to an SBF), #2 is doing a swap in a 54-56 you you need to be concerned with the width of the new engine the 302/5.0 is not a problem with steering box to exhaust clearance nor is the y-block the others may limit you to exhaust manifolds,#3 is what transmission does the car have now and what do you want to run with the swap. Since you are starting with a Six Cyl car you have an advantage because the lower sheet metal places the radiator further forward for more radiator to fan clearance.
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