Ford Mustang 351w

[texasfairmont]

Well, I thought I snagged a 351W (1970 Mustang) turns out the engine is a 351M out of a 70's Thunderbird. The guy took it back and gave my money back to me.. So I am back to square one, trying to find a 302 or a 351W for my 1983 Fairmont Futura. Will keep looking...

I do have a line on a 1985 Mercury Station wagon with a 302 (has carburetor instead of t-body). Has what I believe is a AOD transmission.. My question is this, will this combination fit into my 1983 Futura coupe and will I have to change out drive shafts? If so what drive shaft will fit..Will I have to do anything special to install the AOD?

Thanks in advance for any information concerning this..

TexasFairmont
(Mike)

[TWR2003]

Well, I thought I snagged a 351W (1970 Mustang) turns out the engine is a 351M out of a 70' Thunderbird.

FYI
351M wasnt produced until 1975

No 351 engine in a Tbird until 1977

[Turbo-Box]

Assuming you already have a C-4 in your car, the 302/AOD combo should drop right in and use the same driveshaft. There are a few Lincoln AOD's that have a longer output shaft and tailhousing.

[texasfairmont]

my 1983 looks to have a C3.... and yes after I looked at the 351 more closely I realized it was not a 351w and yes the 351M that I had was in fact out of a 1978 or 79 T-bird bottom line I goofed up.. Like I said back to square one again, reading everything I can on Ford small block motors and transmissions, you guys here on this tech forum have been MORE than helpful!! I appreciate it thanks again for your expertise and help..

[Mustang-junky]

Try and grab a 5.0 out of an Explorer. Nice hyperutectic pistons, most likely cleaner inside due to the EFI, way better heads, roller cam block. Just a much better place to start.

Jess

[Turbo-Box]

Try and grab a 5.0 out of an Explorer. Nice hyperutectic pistons, most likely cleaner inside due to the EFI, way better heads, roller cam block. Just a much better place to start.

Jess

Agreed.

[NAVYCAT]

find an older F150, they had the 351 in them

[JACook]

Explorer engine with a C4 behind it will be an easy swap, and it'll make for a fun car.
I'm not a fan of hood scoops or cowl hoods on Fairmonts, and a 351 pretty much requires
one or the other.

The AOD is close enough to the overall length of a C4, but the transmission mount sits
about 2" farther rearward than the C4 mount. So unless your Fairmont is an '82, you
would need to relocate the chassis brackets for the transmission crossmember, or fab
a new crossmember.

[texasfairmont]

Jeff, thanks for the reply, FYI I have a 1983 Futura coupe. I would like to go the old school route and install a 5.0 or 351 with carb --I just don't want to mess around with FI -harness and all. Will a have to do any major mods to install a AOD behind a normally aspirated 302/5.0??