78 fairmont v8 swap

[mr.b]

hi! just joined. stopping in to hello & ask some questions. i want to put my 450+hp 351w in my mint 1978 stright six fairmont wagon. i would like to know what would be the best donor car for this project.

[jonmark1985]

I'd seek out a roller camshaft 5.8. Ford trucks (excluding the Lightning) are either roller cam or roller cam capable.

If you really want to build a 450 horse motor I wouldn't sweat on finding to many donor parts. Get a double sump oil pan from a performance manufacturer rather than a stock appearing pan. For brackets I'd try to get the brackets from a 87-93 5.0 Mustang. Then get the bracket adapters from Ford Racing to adapt them to a 351W.

Personally I say forget the 351W and rather build a 351 4V Cleveland. The factory heads can support 500 horsepower.

[mr.b]

thanks jonmark 1985. i guess i should have said i aiready have the motor. what i need are all the suspension parts. i see stymie`s mont used an 98 stang on his 83 futura.

[jonmark1985]

Stymee says you can use that straight six crossmember but I'd go about putting a V8/V6/4 clyinder crossmember in the car. 87 and on crossmembers are lighter weight too. Basically if you can get a wrecked "areo" fox get it. The brakes and spindles are better from these cars.

[mr.b]

what is an "areo" fox? i found a 98 drum brake 8.8 rear end. will this work in my 78 fairmont?

[1Bad78]

Id say yes on the rear axle mr.b

I got a 96 in mine bolted right up

[ambersdawg]

My 78 fairmont wagon has a 5.0 from the factory and I've added a four core radiator,mustang alum. coat headers, spin tech x pipe,alum. drive shaft, edelbrock 600 carb. edelbrock alum. intake3.73 rear from a 1990 lx mustang mustang auto. shifter mustang bucket seats shaved the rear door handles Tony