After running my car with a I6 and being satisfied with mph and mpg, I got an offer too good to refuse, a free 302. It's a 35,000 rebuild from a 72 Ranchero. It's been sitting in a garage in San Dimas, CA about 4 years and is missing valve covers and oil pan. It was removed for a larger engine and saved for "something else" as it was a such a nice running engine. What do I need to start gathering for this upgrade? The car had the option of a 289 when offered so engine mounts are stock off the shelf at any auto parts store and I've already upgraded my axle and brakes. I have a C4 (from a 6 cylinder) in the garage I hope can use unless I come across a good deal on an AOD. I need an oil pan just to get it home so I can sit it in the truck. Any particular type I need to clear linkage and such on a Falcon?
hmm, if you swapped everything over to 5 lug and upgraded it shouldn't that be all you need to convert?? well minus the V8 mounts? the V8 is a mighty tight squeeze in my '63 ranchero and mine came from the factory with it! headers suck, i'm running headmans with the ball flange at the collector and they suck dude. the headers that came with my car were just as bad. uni-bodys blow for sure. i'm kind of thinking about maybe trying to swap to the tri Y headers, the kind Dougs sells... hows the I-6 running? my brothers bro in law might be in need of it if you'd like to part with it??
My 63 is actually a 63 1/2 so it's really like putting a V8 into a 64-65 body style. The engine compartment is configured a bit different. As for giving up my I6, I'm sure I will but in all honesty, this swap probably won't happen for some time. My I6 runs super and I just spent $1000 on a rebuilt head. The big reason for the swap delay is I'll need to pick up something else to drive before I can do an engine swap and times are really tight right now.
You may want to check out the Falcon site,,,,they are a helpful bunch,,,a lotta knowledge on the ol birds,,HRP http://tffn.net/phpBB3/
Thanks, I'll make it over there eventually. I've been on the FordSix site so long, I feel like I've betrayed my brothers.
I feel the knife twisting in my chest.... Ditching the inline for a bent...so sad. But in the end its what you got to do...Do it... FrankBoss www.PintoWorks.com
I just placed a 302 into my 63 econo. I ended up with a few parts. A dual sump oil pan and a pair of stock valve covers. If ya need them you can have them for shipping or come to San Diego and pick them up. If you're coming to the Big 3 swap this weekend let me know and I'll drag them out there. If we are there at the same time that is.
Your going to have to change the steering componets to v8 falcon , or use 65 mustang steering. I have a factory V8 Ranchero, found out obout the difference when I bought replacment steering parts...
FrankBoss, I hear ya. For now, I'm just going to pick the engine up and gather parts. We'll see if I ever actually get it installed. I'll need another car before I can start the swap as this is my daily driver. ibcalaveras, I thought some steering stuff had to change too. And I'm still not sure about the C4 I have either. I won't even start this until I feel confident about the details.
Fredo, that's a deal too good to pass up. I can't make San Diego, but if you're willing to stick em in a box and ship em to Mission Viejo that works perfect for me. Let me know the cost and I'll PayPal ya if that's cool. Thanks!
you are going to be surprised about the eng mts. the rubber parts are on the shelf, but the frame mts are going tohave to be found. the eng compartment is the same on all 60 thru 65 falcons.really good info on the tffn. don't ignore it.
I landed a Aussie head for $100 of craiges list and a intake off ebay for $100.. I'm sticking with the six. but after driving with the 2 speed for a few months the 5 speed is heaven. I'm casting a new intake for the auss head in a month.. I don't like Mikes and the stock on only holds one carb if you get my drift. We do what we need to do. FrankBoss www.PintoWorks.com
You're going to love that 63 1/2 with a V8. I had a 63 1/2 with a built 289, 4 speed and 4:11's. Talk about a screamer. Had to sell it so I could concentrate on building my AV8. I was having too much fun burning up the tires instead of burning the mid-night oil in the garage.
FrankBoss, what's so special about the Aussie head? I must admit I lost interest in the Falcon 6 when they changed to the crossflow head around 1976 and there's been lots of changes since then that I don't know about. Two of my boys have 250 cube 6's in their Falcons and I've got lots of spares on the shelf in the shed. swifty
Its just a 2V Aussie head. off a 250... I'm in Oklahoma, Mid US.. the 2V head was a rare score. I wished I could score a Aussie exhaust manifold. FrankBoss www.PintoWorks.com
thanks for the tips. I'm in no rush for the swap so I'll gather these things up, clean and paint the 302, and one of these days, I'll be ripping it up the street.
you will need to build or purchase the frame side engine mounts. check the falcon forum for swap info. i have a 62' and have been to the site a few times dreaming and found any info i was looking for.
wow finally becoming a man, congrats you just need a standard ford front sump pan, v8 frame mounts & motor mounts, your need to modify the crossmember that runs under the engine, or just buy a v8 one, steering should be okay, but v8 cars just had beefier shit, v8 radiator, i'm running patriot try-y headers on my ranchero right now, they fit really well, & tuck up nice mine hardly ever scrape.
how much clearance do you have between the bottoms of the headers and the ground Ricky?? and how much did they set you back??
Thanks Ricky. This is the specific info I was hoping to find. I'm already running a Northern aluminum radiator, 11" disc brakes, but my 8" axle may prove to be too week for 300 plus hp. I remember you mentioning that in a 8" vs. 9" thread.
i think i have like 3.5 inches or so ground clearance, i used to have headman long tube mustang headers but they hung at least 1.5 inches lower. the patriot headers fit really nice around the shock towers, and i think they were 175 from jegs. i did notice a slight power loss though going from the long tube to try-y style, good thing small block fords can spare some power here & there. also, la grasta, hammer the shock tower brace flat when you have the engine out, it helps out alot with header clearance & changing spark plugs.
I have the Doug's Headers on my 63 1/2 convert. Thet fit great and work great. Follow the instructions for install (from the bottom) and you'll be fine.
LaGrasta, I was actually rather lucky. My 61' had a froze 6 with all the four bolt/6 cylinder underpinnings and steering when I bought it. At a local show there was this 1964 Falcon Wagon, Friday it was $1500. Saturday he knocked it down to $1000. On Sunday. my dad says, "If he'll take $500, we'll buy it for you. You just pay us back in time." Well, my dad never gives me deals like that anymore. I just swapped everything over, practically perfect fit. Idler arm has a different pattern as far as where it mounts to the frame there in front. I have a buddy (Terry Rahn, he posts regularly on the falcon site) that does the V8 swap and I'm fairly certian he's always just used the standard 6 cylinder underpinnings/steering his 61's come with without any problems. -Gayl
thanks for the details FalconRod. Looks like you have a nice wagon there in your avatar. Well, as luck would have it, i cannot get the 302 from the guy. He put me off around Easter time and have not contacted me since. Looks like I'm still slow for the time being. In fact, even Fredo from this thread flaked out. The sump and covers never showed up. I guess it's just as well.
Thats alright anyway, The six is cool in it's own right. You can't throw a stick without hitting a 302 powered falcon, or if its not a 302, it's any other small block ford. Just my .02; Free of charge
Sorry to jack the thread but man can somebody send me in the right direction for some spring perches for my 64 falcon.Napa locally does not carry them so I ordered them online from Georgia...Tuesday night.I guess that's the warehouse well come Wednesday I check my e-mail and there is a message that the order has been cancelled because the parts are not in stock.Now I have found them with Kanter and Falcon Enterpises but out of the three Napa seem to have the best quality ones even thought they are 70$ compared to Knater 39 and FE 29.Man I feel like I'm chasing my tail to try and get some decent parts.Hell for all my other suspension stuff ( I prefer Mooog ) I got them from RockAuto becuase they carry Moog.But wouldn't you know it they don't carry Spring perches.Man do know where else to look.Oh I forgot to mention Autozone does not caryy them and O'rileys as well.They couldn't even give me a straight answer if the could even order them for me.If it's not in the computer they don't know nothing...
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