Thread: Help putting a 78' 302 in a 91' 4 banger body

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Hey guys could anyone be so kind as to tell me what will be needed to change a 91 mustang with a 4 cyl. over to a 78 302? As far as motor mounts,trans mounts,fuel pump,wiring etc.,etc.
I already have the 78 302 motor out of the truck and have started unbolting the 4 cyl from the mustang but seeing that I am an old chevy guy gone bad (got a mustang of all things) lol,I havn't a clue as to what will work and what won't.
Oh,the 302 has a c4 trans and was also wondering about that fitting and of course drive shaft length.
And obviously I am not a mechanic but have rebuilt several chevy motors and can do the work efficient enough.
Any help would be greatly appreciated especially links to such articles on here that cover this. Thanks,Jerry.

Originally Posted by FAYLUR

Hey guys could anyone be so kind as to tell me what will be needed to change a 91 mustang with a 4 cyl. over to a 78 302? As far as motor mounts,trans mounts,fuel pump,wiring etc.,etc..

You will probably have to make your own mounts....depending on what fuel system you are using for fuel pump..as for wiring find a donor car that had the same engine setup..

Originally Posted by FAYLUR

I already have the 78 302 motor out of the truck and have started unbolting the 4 cyl from the mustang but seeing that I am an old chevy guy gone bad (got a mustang of all things) lol,I havn't a clue as to what will work and what won't.
Oh,the 302 has a c4 trans and was also wondering about that fitting and of course drive shaft length..

drive shaft length will be the last thing your wil fiqure out once you have the motor/trans sitting in the car

Originally Posted by FAYLUR

And obviously I am not a mechanic but have rebuilt several chevy motors and can do the work efficient enough.
Any help would be greatly appreciated especially links to such articles on here that cover this. Thanks,Jerry.

Best thing is do a search on Google for Mustang forums...and do lost of reading

It is virtually a bolt in.........the four cyl cars and v8's are the same. You will want to use a double hump transmission crossmember that you can get off of any V8 car (it comes out with two bolts) and use 79-93 v8 motor mounts, that also bolt on.

For an oil pan you will need to use one of the double sump models, the one on your 78 is a front sump probably, but any double sump pan will work. For exhaust you can use any header or manifold that a regular 5.0 Mustang accomodates.

The four cylinder cars are actually preferred for these swaps as they generally haven't been abused, and the torque boxes in the back are not torn loose, as are many 5.0 cars that have been hammered.

You probably already have an 8.8 rear in the 91 (the rear cover is square on all sides, the weaker 7.5 has round sides on the cover.) You can use any 79-93 Mustang or Capri driveshaft and just need to make sure the front yoke is compatible with your C4. Any driveshaft shop can change it out for you if not.

From that point on it becomes just like any other 5.0 mustang, regular shifters and all will fit. For a radiator just use any 5.0 radiator, and since your 78 engine has a V belt pulley system you will need to use a V belt power steering pump if you have power steering. However, I would use a manual rack and eliminate all of that.

Wiring will be a little challenge depending on what ignition system you use and what components you use, but it is still pretty straightforward.

Ford really gave hot rodders a gift for the 14 years they made these fox platformed cars, everything just drops into place. Good luck.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

It is virtually a bolt in.........the four cyl cars and v8's are the same. You will want to use a double hump transmission crossmember that you can get off of any V8 car (it comes out with two bolts) and use 79-93 v8 motor mounts, that also bolt on.

For an oil pan you will need to use one of the double sump models, the one on your 78 is a front sump probably, but any double sump pan will work. For exhaust you can use any header or manifold that a regular 5.0 Mustang accomodates.

The four cylinder cars are actually preferred for these swaps as they generally haven't been abused, and the torque boxes in the back are not torn loose, as are many 5.0 cars that have been hammered.

You probably already have an 8.8 rear in the 91 (the rear cover is square on all sides, the weaker 7.5 has round sides on the cover.) You can use any 79-93 Mustang or Capri driveshaft and just need to make sure the front yoke is compatible with your C4. Any driveshaft shop can change it out for you if not.

From that point on it becomes just like any other 5.0 mustang, regular shifters and all will fit. For a radiator just use any 5.0 radiator, and since your 78 engine has a V belt pulley system you will need to use a V belt power steering pump if you have power steering. However, I would use a manual rack and eliminate all of that.

Wiring will be a little challenge depending on what ignition system you use and what components you use, but it is still pretty straightforward.

Ford really gave hot rodders a gift for the 14 years they made these fox platformed cars, everything just drops into place. Good luck.

Don

Thanks much Don. The car has the weaker 7.5 rear but it may be fine seeing this 302 is a low compression daily driver and will be used for transportation only.
Evidently the cars with the 302 use a very different motor mount because this 302 has the mounting bolts go vertical or straight up into the block whereas the 4 banger mount bolts look like they go straight in horizontally.
Oh well,all your help is appreciated and gives me plenty of reason to spend time in my place of paradise,the wrecking yard,lol. Thanks again.

The 7.5 will hold up fine under those conditions. They were actually used in the early 5.0 cars (I had an '84 T Top car with a V8 and 7.5, and it never blew)

Don

Your '78 mounts are wrong for a Fox body. Get a set of '79-up mounts and it all fits. I put an '82 351 Windsor in my '79 'Tang and it bolted right in. The 7.5 rear stood up to 60K miles of abuse and never faltered. Only trouble I had was buckling the body, a set of homebuilt subframe connectors fixed that. And a shock tower/firewall brace, so the hood didn't pop up on a 1-2 powershift. Those bodies aren't all that tough, but that's why they go, they're light.

Guy i know out by you on the indiane border has a 8.8 posi for sale is asking $250 could give ya his email addy . Pm me if your interested in it . Matter of fact he stripped a 88 i believe may have some more stuff you need . He also has a T10 4 spd wants $400 for says he gave that for the hurst shifter .

Hey,thanks very much everyone.As far as the fuel pump differences,can I use a regulator to drop the 91's pressure down to carb.level for this motor?
I think that will work,not sure though.
And Bobby thanks for the lead but I wouldn't need a stronger rear,,,,but may someday decide to hotrod it and go looking.The body the motor came out of was an F100 and had the original 9 in.so I could have kept that but would have had to put over a grand in narrowing and freshing it up but may eventially go looking for an 8.8 because the 1/4 mile bug 'hath smitten me',,,just that I am in denial right now,lol.