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Author Topic: 78 cruisin wagon v8 swap  (Read 1196 times)

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Offline Tinson

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78 cruisin wagon v8 swap
« on: June 06, 2016, 08:18:22 PM »
So I'm finally getting around to starting a project thread on my 78 cruisin wagon.  It is 4 years in the making so far due to the usual, money, kids, nagging wife etc.  but here it goes

I picked the car up from Brian Saunders a.k.a OkiePinto back in 2012. While trying to bring it home the lug studs on the drivers side rear tire broke and rolled the rear quarter panel under.  So I picked up a new set of rear quarters from Fred Morgan.  Got both sides due to amazing amounts of bondo on the passenger side(really it was impressive how much was there).  Found a "302"/c4 combo on Craigslist for $200 and commenced to rebuilding it. Well it turns out it was a 289 not a 302.  Went .030 over with flat top pistons, .493/.500 lift cam, gt40p heads, edelbrock aluminum intake and a Holley 650 on top. I ended up modifying the 2.3 frame mounts to accept the 64-70 mustang motor mounts I have and it seems to have worked out pretty well so far.

The gt40p heads presented their own problems with fitting headers due to the spark plug angle but it turns out that the drivers side hedman shorty header flipped around on the passenger side of the motor, and the ford racing gt40p specific passenger side header flipped to the drivers side of the motor will work out well, and clear my power steering pump with room to spare. Just have to run the pipes under the front cross-member, but that's nothing new for these cars from what I can tell.

Snagged an 8.8 rear end out of a 95 mustang and it turns out it's only 1/2 inch wider on either side than the stock rear end. I plan to fix that with wheel offset. Had to grind off all the brackets and shock mounts for the mustang and weld on new perches, but it went in relatively easy after measuring 4 or 5 times to make sure it was centered.

Car will soon be sent off for paint and body, because I am by no means a body man and don't want a shotty job on something I've waited this long to do. Once it comes back it's final fitment time and hopefully I'll be driving it soon after.

Pictures and more info to follow when I'm not on my phone typing all of this up. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this
Jon
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'78 cruisin wagon - work in progress as of 5-7-2012
289 - C4 - 8.8 posi - keeping power steering and power brakes.

Offline dga57

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Re: 78 cruisin wagon v8 swap
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2016, 08:56:41 PM »
Glad that you're getting your project off the ground!  I just saw a few very nice Cruisin' Wagons with the Pinto Stampede and at Carlisle this past week, so I know just how nicely they can turn out.  Keep us updated as you progress!


Dwayne :)
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Offline Francis Stanisci

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Re: 78 cruisin wagon v8 swap
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2016, 05:47:35 PM »
OMG! Same color as my 77. Look forward to the details.
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