Progress Thread My 76 Mach1 Or Fastback Whichever

[Ih8chrome]

So I'll start by giving a little background of the car I bought it 5 years ago found it for $400 on craigslist the seller had it as a parts car so when I got it the interior was completely stripped and the tranny was in the back seat radiator among other things like alternator fan etc were pulled off the motor it's a 302 4 speed manual car and I've got it completely stripped down to a shell I wish I still had the pictures of it the day I got it but I have some pics of what it looks like now and it isn't pretty by any means the rear driver side quarter panel has some damage didn't notice it when I got it till I started sanding and removed the bondo was going to replace the rear quarter panel but I'm thinking I'll just clean it up the best I can and move on. the inner fenders were pretty rusted so I spent a few hours with my grinder and cut them out I was in the process of stripping down the 302 so I could take it over to the machine shop and get it cleaned up checked etc when I got offered a 68 thunderbird with a 429 in it and a equal lock rear end so my plans have changed and given how far I've gone I. Think I can build the car around that big engine so to say I'll stop rambling and ask some questions to get a conversation going the 429 runs and sounds healthy aside from a gasket refresh and intake I don't plan on doing alot of performance upgrades to it my main concern is getting it to fit in the car do you think the torque from that stock 429 would be enough to start twisting the car? Would through the floorboard sub frame connectors be my best bet not to turn the car into a twizzler? I would like to keep it a manual and im pretty sure the rad 4 I got is a no go any suggestions on a transmission that would get along with it? And the quality of the pictures suck im doing this in a single car garage barely any room to move in there so my apologies

 

[LILCBRA]

Here is what I can tell you off the top of my head. The transmission tunnel will probably need to be worked a little bit to fit a transmission other than the stock 4 speed or a T5. Other newer manual transmissions I can't speak for, but an older Toploader won't work without reworking the tunnel. There isn't enough room for the linkages if you were to go that route. The length of the 385 series will probably require some experimentation with radiator placement, or you might be able to extend the nose a little bit OR recess the engine into the firewall. That's what Roush had to do to the II he stuffed a 460 based engine into in the 70s. This article will probably be the most helpful piece of literature for you if you go down that road. Most everyone I know of sticks with Windsor based engines for ease of installation. There is a guy in Dubuque, Iowa that has a 4.6 DOHC on Facebook and another couple of IIs with mod motors running around, but the Roush car is the only one that I can think of with a 385 or FE series stuffed between the fenders. Best of luck!!

 

[LILCBRA]

Oops!! Forgot to link the article!!

http://www.mustangandfords.com/feat...ed-that-infamous-ruggirello-roush-mustang-ii/

 

[Ih8chrome]

No worries I googled it up and had a good read old Jack didn't mess around that's for sure ha anyways I appreciate the feed back and the luck im gonna need it and seeing the visual of the 460 in the car is really inciteful seems like the best route would be to recess the engine back into the firewall (real happy it's not a chevy engine for this reason haha) any how once I get that 429 pulled I plan on leaving everything on it and hanging it in the engine bay just to get a better visual I'll post pics when I do as far as the transmission goes I was thinking a 5 speed out of a 2wd f250 might work ill head down to the scrap yard this weekend and see what's available being this is wyoming 2wd trucks are a rare find so I don't have high hopes haha any way I appreciate your time and input thanks again