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Author Topic: Been thinking... (v8)  (Read 3777 times)

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Offline 2.3stangii

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Been thinking... (v8)
« on: February 12, 2013, 04:42:20 PM »
1st off a little update, in the last year I had to move twice and I had a newspaper route that had caused the 78 Wagon to blow a headgasket, I then had to sell my gas guzzling 71 so I could fix my Mustang II to run it (MUCH cheaper in gas).

After a few months I finally got around to installing a new head gasket and come to realize that  1, I've missed the acceleration I get with the Pinto 3.00:1 rear instead of the Mustang's sluggish 2.79. And two, this engine's age is showing more and more, oil pressure hovers around 20psi and will not go past 30 no matter what the RPM. Valves are starting to rattle and you can barely climb a hill in third gear at 50mph, too steep and you gotta bring it to 2nd all with a 4 speed.
While my Mustang (2.3 also, c3 auto) on the other hand is a major SLUG from a stop but once over 3000 rpm she screams without hesitation.

So I've been thinking about swapping rear ends with the wagon and making my II better all around. And since the Mustang has an 8 inch rear... may be time for a V8!


I already have a 5.0 ho and 4 cyl t5, with all Mustang II hardware I've collected just wasting away in my 78 Cobra II that I can't drive, the guy I bought the body from was supposed to get me the title and never did And NC won't issue a bonded title for a car purchased from a junkyard.

Now to clarify I'm no stranger to v8 swaps, I've done it to my 74 Mustang II (before the 2.3 "downgrade") which is very close in size, using no Mustang II specific parts, but with this engine I have the mounts, oil pan and exhaust manifolds.

But I do have a few questions before I jump into this,

1st. I'd love to keep the 3.00:1 rear but I doubt the little 6.75 would last with a 5.0 (though I did run one in my II for a while before I installed the 8'' with no problems, but that was an old worn out truck engine), so would the 2.79 gears combined with the low 1st of the 4 cyl t5 give it more of a 3:1 feel? And would 5th gear practically be useless?
I also have a 3.55 rear in the Cobra but it has a mini spool and I do a lot of driving in my Pinto so I don't want to buy a new set of tires every 3 months.

2, Could I keep my factory clutch cable or would I need something else?

3, The engine has a weiand x-celerator intake and edelbrock 4 bbl carb, would that setup fit under the hood?

4,Anyone running factory 4 cyl front springs in their Pinto? How low does it sit?

5,I see a lot of v8 Pintos with the inner fenders cut out is there a necessary purpose for that?

All opinions and advice welcome.
78 Pinto wagon
74 Mustang II
78 Cobra II

Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: Been thinking... (v8)
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2013, 12:15:25 PM »
The 8" ring and pinion sets are under $200.00, as for any of the V-8 swap info I'll have to channel my inner "Riff" and say "I 'donnw". You should at least put the V-6 springs in the front and back if you have them, the difference in total weight of the engine where not that much. Note, the wagons have different springs in back than the Mustang II something to look at changing....Yo u might want to get a V-8 T-5 because the gear ratios are different and the V-8 is stronger.

Offline Reeves1

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Re: Been thinking... (v8)
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2013, 05:40:42 AM »
#1 I'll let others answer. Myself, I always go with a 9".

#2 I've always used the factory clutch cable. Never had a problem. Yet. You may need some mods , depending on which bell you use.

#3 No. Well, on 71 - 73 anyway. I've never built newer cars. Even the stock intake is too high on them.
     The single plane you have likely means other engine mods have been done ? They work best at high(er) RPMs. For street use only you would be better off with a dual plane.

#4 I put Mustang ll springs in my car (not back on the road yet). Had to cut one coil off to get them in. With the BOSS 302 I think they are going to be too strong. I will not know for sure till I have the car all back together. In hind sight, I rather have tried the V6 springs. But I do need to raise the car from what it was, for header clearance.

#5 The front two tubes on each side go under the cross member. Back two on each side go through the inner fender & wrap aroung the frame rail to the collectors.
There is a couple other styles that do not go through the inner fender. If you can find them. I have two sets that do not require this, but need to have front engine mounts.








Offline 2.3stangii

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Re: Been thinking... (v8)
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2013, 09:24:35 AM »
Thanks for the replys, I'll stick with the 4 cyl t5, it was expensive enough! I've seen guys with hotter engines than mine do fine with them. My 5.0 I think is an all stock 91 ho mustang engine, well the guy that sold it to me said it had a "hotter cam" but didn't say what and I can't verify it so I just assume he was full of it.

As for the xcelorator, I just traded it with a guy for the old efi intake. it seemed to have positive feedback online so I used it.I'll be staying with stock Mustang II manifolds, I hate headers! ruined a set of (used) Mustang II hedmans trying to make them fit the car they were supposed to go on in the first place.
78 Pinto wagon
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Offline 71pintoracer

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Re: Been thinking... (v8)
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2013, 07:42:39 PM »
Just a little FYI, when you use the 4cyl T-5 you need a different pilot bearing because the input shaft is smaller in diameter, The one I used fits an '84 Ranger diesel
If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

Offline 2.3stangii

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Re: Been thinking... (v8)
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2013, 09:43:32 PM »
Thanks, the trans is already hooked up with he correct pilot bearing.

Its all just been sitting in my Cobra II waiting for a title.  No sense wasting a good drivetrain just sitting there when my Pinto can make use of it.
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74 Mustang II
78 Cobra II

Offline 2.3stangii

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Re: Been thinking... (v8)
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2013, 12:27:26 AM »
Since I now have the 80 ESS I'm planning on it being my primary vehicle, so the Mustang II will be parked for a little more "fixing up" in my spare time.

So instead of immediately changing out the rear I MIGHT just keep the little 6.75 inch and see how long it lasts behind the 5.0. I figure finding another 6 incher cheap if I had to wouldn't be much of a problem since they're not in very high demand.
That's IF it doesn't break on the first time out with the 255 60 15's

I've seen only one instance where somebody kept the stock rear so I'm very curious as to just how much they can take. If it breaks, no worries, an 8'' is waiting.
http://www.gwellwood.com/project-cars/the-v8-pinto/
78 Pinto wagon
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78 Cobra II