Technical Larger engines in a 62 to 64 Fairlane

Looking to buy one and a 289 looks tight,I was planning on using a 351-w that's presently in my 55 Sunliner so will headers be a problem and would a 390 also fit.

 

Yeah, FE fits alright.

 

If you are expecting little to no modifications in the shock tower area and/or done cheaply (unless you have the skills and equipment) you may want to stay with the 289.




Lots of inspiration
Here:
https://www.google.com/search?clien...Ha6ABRIQ0pQJegQIEBAB&biw=1280&bih=800&dpr=1.5

 

351 Windsor is 1” wider than a 289-302. If you’re handy with a welder you could easily trim back the shock towers and fill it back in.

 

Yeah, those FEs fit with a bit of work, and some grease!


Found this on the first page of searching
https://www.fordmuscleforums.com/threads/will-351w-bolt-in-64-fairlane.502964/

 

They came stock With 427 side oilers.

 

The 351w should fit without modification although spark plug access is limited. I had a Boss 302 in my Comet without any modifications. (The Cleveland heads make a 302 block quite wide)
Fairlanes have a larger engine bay than a Comet/Falcon.

 

They weren’t stock, as in built on an assembly line.

They were dedicated race cars built by Dearborn Steel Tubing, if I remember, under contract to Ford.

Nevertheless, it shows that it can be done, given enough skill and resources.

 

Correct, Dearborn Steel Tubing modified Fairlanes into Thunderbolts and Comets into A/FX’ers. (Calientes in ‘64 and Cyclones in ‘65) All the fiberglass parts were supplied by Plaza Glas in Toronto.

 

Yes, anything can be made to fit with enough time, money and talent, but why bother? Today's built stroker 302"s will make all the power you need.

jack vines

 

I'm biased, have an FE in my 64 and had those the period correct decals reproduced

 

If I get one I was planning on a stroked 351 since I have three in the garage but do have a rough 65 Galaxie with a 390. I know the FEs would require some surgery so I will stay with the small blocks.

 

If it were me I’d be going for a 408 stroker kit. They really are quite well priced and with a half decent set of heads you could have a pretty quick car. Toughest part of the swap would be building or modifying a set of headers for it.

 

I have been wanting a car I could take to the track occasionally and all I have are Galaxies and was wanting something a little lighter,I looked at a 62 2 door last night but it was a little tougher then I would want to mess with plus they were wanting around 5000 for it so it looks like my 65 Custom 500 4 door will be what I build. I will still keep a eye out for a decent non running Fairlane but just spent 12,000 on the house so it's best I use what I have,my 4 door already has a 9 inch and good brakes and set up for a 302 so 351,AOD and 3.70 gears should get me going and then if a lighter Fairlane shows up then transfer the drivetrain.

 

You can fit almost anything into any car, providing you've got the skills to do the modifications to make them fit! And the modifications to the chassis and drivetrain to handle the power those bigger engines can put on the car itself.
I was told I couldn't put a BBC in my '63 Falcon gasser, but it worked, and handled the 550 hp 464ci BBC with some major frame mods, and good drivetrain.
I did have to modify the shock towers.

 

The purple '63 Fairlane stuffed up against the wall of my shop came from an old friend who passed on. He had originally planned on stuffing one of those ridiculously wide 4.6L SOHC motors in it from a mid 90's Lincoln. The shock tower to mod motor kit is in the trunk, I just had to weld it in. I plan on putting the 351W sitting in front of the car into it, and sold the 4.6L a long time ago. My point being, if you can get a 4.6L in there, a 351W or FE, will be a piece of cake.

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If you’re building the Galaxie and you’ve got an FE lying around…

 

The 62-63 Fairlanes can be bought much cheaper than the 64 models, it seems everyone wants a T-bolt replica. 65’s go cheap also then the price goes way up for the 66-67 models.

I used to have a 65 Custom 4-door sedan. 289 2v c4. Bought it for $100 for a winter beater, drove it for 3-4 years then sold it for what I paid for it. A buddy of mine wanted the engine for his 62 Fairlane wagon.

 

That would depend on the individual wouldn't it ?

 

Big difference in the mid-range torque hit between a 347 and a 408. There's no replacement for displacement....

 

Due to lack of funds at the moment the Custom 500 will be the better choice and plenty of room for a stroked 460 when the budget allows,just wanting to have some cheap fun and never been down the track so time to do it. If I get a Fairlane I will have to spend some money to put a 9 inch it it where the Custom 500 already has it,will continue to look for a deal on a 62,63 or 65 Fairlane but will have a car to play with until that happens.

 

I'd sell the Galaxie 4 door because its never gonna be what you really want. Either build the 351 with a stroker and use it in your 55 or keep looking for a lighter car till one comes along. Nothing kills a project more than working on a car that isn't what you really want.

 

Right now I just want t

Right now I want to get a car put together cheap as possible to see if playing at the track is something I would really like doing and then I can transfer the engine to a lighter car when I find one I like,I can still use the 4 door while I get the Fairlane ready. I am thinking I want a 62 and might take me a couple years to find the right one,the one I looked at yesterday needed a rear frame rail repaired and has cobbled up floors and a cobbled up lower quarter and just not worth ,5000 dollars. It ran good but is the opposite of what I want,do not want a car if it runs but needs to have a good body since all the mechanicals will be replaced. Another money pit in the making.

 

Yes, I realize that you are in Ohio.....this is just a reminder that the early cars are still 'out there' so keep your eyes open.

1962 MERCURY COMET | Collector Cars Classic & Vintage Cars Classic & Vintage Cars - 1960's | Online Auctions | Proxibid

 

You may even want to convert that Galaxy to a 2 door if you really like it after a while. A few home made fiberglass parts and panels to fool the unwashed masses and Bob’s you’re uncle!

 

You have a nice garage with a nice looking collection of cars.

 

My plan is to use the 351/c-4 from the Sunliner as is in something for awhile while saving money to have the AOD built the install it along with the 3.70 gears I have for some time while saving up to have a engine built and maybe a decent Fairlane that's iny budget will show up. This is not going to happen over night and be a few years if I live long enough.

 

Don’t forget the first T bolt was a 63….

 

an other way to go is a 428 in a 57 t bird...lots of low end power in a sports car...

 

A buddy of mine had a 64 Fairlane with a 351C in it, until he sold it a few years ago. It bolted right in but took some clearancing on the headers.

Devin