Thinking about swapping tired 292 with Fordomatic in '56 Fairlane for a 302 with C-4 I recently acquired. Can anyone give me a brief description on what to expect with motor/transmission mount swaps and suggest some suppliers if over the counter parts don't do the trick. I've heard some of the stuff from China is pretty shaky. Thanks
Join this forum on JalopyJournal. Tons of great info under the FAQ sticky. 1952-59 Ford Social Group | The H.A.M.B. Stupid me I guess you're already here! Look at the FAQ sticky
Replaced my Y-Block with a 302 C4 using 66 Mustang 289 engine and transmission mounts. Required making three small adapters and a small bit of welding but was pretty easy and very inexpensive. Everything can be reversed if at any time I wanted to go back to original, no modifications to the Frame or body. Hardest part for me was finding exhaust headers that would clear the steering gear on the drivers side. Be aware that this combination weighs 200+ pounds less than the original powertrain so you will need to lower the front end, instructions on this are in the sticky pages as well. Good luck!
Just click on this https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/users/jeffb2.24352/albums There are plenty more Swap Tips in the "Sticky FAQ" Not much advantage to using the C4, later 5.0s AKA 302s came with the AOD which will give you a .67 Overdrive.
The 289 has a shorter stroke than the 292 so it lives better with 3.08 or so rear gear the C-4 is a good choice as I’m not a OD fan. As stated the as long as you have a front sump pan everything clears. I’ve heard/read the 302 left side manifold from a Lincoln clears everything, not sure on the year. If your Ford-O-Matic was air cooled you will need a separate cooler.
Back in 2000, when we swapped the 302/C4 into our 56, it was a different world. I ordered a mount kit from (then) Butch's Rod Shop. That kit was the front mounts and plates that bolt onto the block. On my own, I had to find an oil pan from a 70's Bronco, truck drivers side exhaust manifold, handmake my own transmission crossmember mount bracket, and utilize an accelerator cable as opposed to a mechanical linkage (too close to firewall). Now, my son is looking to put a 302/AOD into his 56 Town Victoria. I see the kit from Shoebox Central has the trans mount included in the kit, and everything seems way better. The biggest challenge, from what I can see, is the money conversion to Canada, and the Tariffs. Ballparked around $650 for almost the same kit I got in 2000 for around $100!!!
The cost of the Mustang mounts shown here https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/albums/289-302-351w-swap-mounts.41498/ would run you about $75 total in America, try using those part numbers in Search on Ebay Canada and see what comes up. I just checked for you. https://www.ebay.ca/itm/134420909512? Motor mounts https://www.ebay.ca/itm/264931996131?
Shoebox Central bought out all the mount kits from Butch's when they folded, Butch's only put together their kits from parts from other sources, the transmission mount is the same early Ford unit they used for about two decades, Speedwaymotors sells the style of front mounts used in the Butch's kits. Shoebox Ford recently is showing that some of their mounts are on "backorder"
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