'85 LTD wagon 302 swap.

[frankiesaysrelax]

Ok heres the deal. Down at my buddy's shop we have an '85 LTD wagon. It has a 3.8 with (big shock) blown head gaskets. The owner forked over the title and told them to junk it so it is a free car. What I'm thinking is to use the leftover parts from my '82 GT buildup to pump some life back into the wagon. The wagon itself is in great shape aside from being painted a rather hideous maroon color, now somewhat faded. Here are my questions.

How big of a deal would it be to axe the CFI? 3.8 and drop in my old '82 GT 302 2V HO? Fuel lines? Fuel pump? Wiring?

What kind of rear gears are probably in the thing? I could swap over the whole 7.5" 3.08 trac-loc rear from the '82 GT or just the diff if the V6 cars got better gears. Also don't the wagons get 10" drums I would have to swap over if I changed the whole axle?

Wassup with the tranny? Will it bolt up to the 5.0? Eventually I'd like to swap over my old SROD but that could come later.

Any other tips/suggestions?

My idea here is to build a reliable parts chaser/people hauler/ roadtripmobile, not a dragstrip terror. I'm not worried about running a 7.5" rear or 3.08 gears.

[85stang]

The 5.0 will bolt to the tranny and duraspark is simple to wire in.

[Dean_T]

Your 302 will bolt to the 3.8 K member and since you have a 7.5 with 308, might as well toss that in too. Yes, the wagon has 10" drums so swap them over. If you are careful, you can do it without cracking open the rear brake lines. Didn't the '82 have the traction bars in back? Currently, my '78 Fairmont Wagon of Evil has an '83 or '84 Mustang rear with the slapper bars and it even has a working Trac Lok!

I'd ditch the electric fuel pump and run the mechanical but others may disagree. Adapting the fuel lines may be a hassle.

You will need to get a 302 flexplate and possibly a torque converter too.

Sounds like a cool project - Good luck!

Dean T

[frankiesaysrelax]

Cool, thanks for the help guys. Yeah, the '82 has "slapper bars".

Ideally I'd like to swap in the SROD too, but using the existing auto would make the swap a lot quicker and easier. The SROD could come later, bring ing with it increased fuel economy for road tripping.

[rbohm]

8) regarding the cfi fuel system, if you have two pump, one in the tank and one on the frame rail in front of the right rear tire, then eliminate the rail mounted pump as that is a high pressure pump, and just use the intank pump. if you only have one pump, then eliminate the electrical connections, and use an external low pressure pump.

[nitroracer]

A while back I found someone online who had a pair of fuel injected LTDs, one being a wagon. The site looks to be down now but I used internet archives to get back to it.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040217145452/home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ltd.html

[LTDScott]

A while back I found someone online who had a pair of fuel injected LTDs, one being a wagon. The site looks to be down now but I used internet archives to get back to it.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040217145452/home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ltd.html

The white LX sedan he owns is my former car. His mom drives a 4-eye Stang too. I should get him to come over here.

[frink84]

im the guy with the white ltd, and my dad has the 84 ltd wagon. my new site is here: http://home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ and the ltd section has some info on the cars.

[Mumfts85gt]

Welcome to FEP.
Rob.

[V6DR]

3.8's usually got 2.73 gears.

[LTDScott]

im the guy with the white ltd, and my dad has the 84 ltd wagon. my new site is here: http://home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ and the ltd section has some info on the cars.

Yo Frink, your dad hasn't upgraded the stock front 10" brakes yet? It should almost be a required modification.

[frink84]

yea i know, the brakes need upgrading.. but i think we are gonna do a huge project with it in a year or two and upgrade them then

[mfpmax]

im the guy with the white ltd, and my dad has the 84 ltd wagon. my new site is here: http://home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ and the ltd section has some info on the cars.

Took you long enough.

[frink84]

im the guy with the white ltd, and my dad has the 84 ltd wagon. my new site is here: http://home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ and the ltd section has some info on the cars.

Took you long enough.

heh noone told me about 4eyedpride!

[mfpmax]

im the guy with the white ltd, and my dad has the 84 ltd wagon. my new site is here: http://home.sandiego.edu/~pkostka/seahaus/ and the ltd section has some info on the cars.

Took you long enough.

heh noone told me about 4eyedpride!

Mentioned it plenty of times, not to mention the site owner is a mod on Corral ;)

[frankiesaysrelax]

been thinking about the brake upgrade too. I have the spindles and brakes off an '87 GT kicking around. First i'd like to just get the wagon running with the 302. Then I can swap over other goodies.

[Zephyr 351C]

Yo Frink, your dad hasn't upgraded the stock front 10" brakes yet? It should almost be a required modification.
Whoa, those are brakes? I didnt think my car came with any...