My metals instructor has a 1988 Ford Econoline "Club Wagon" sitting in the parking lot. If he lets me have it im taking the engine out which is a 351 Windsor and I would like to either put it in a fc or a suzuki samurai. first off, which would you guys do? and second, how much would it cost or how hard would it be if i did all the fabbing myself.

 

i would put a rotory in the suzuki and take it fourwheeling. you could be the first

 

you are asking the wrong people. and odds are if you have to ask, its going to be too hard.

that has been done before.

 

Yep, the rotary into a samari has been done. As far as the 351 in a fc...... Go for it. I may get laughed out of here, but the next fc decent body I find with a blown motor may become a all out big block drag car, it will take all custom fab work, but.... I think it would be cool to have a TII to drive and autox with and a built out the *** v8 hotrod as well.

 

Hey man go to www.v8rx7forum.com they will have more info there on your swap you want to do, oh yeah they are a hell of alot nicer than the people on this forum.
good luck man sounds like a fun project.

and check out www.grannysspeedshop.com

also go to www.wrongmotor.com

 

For the sake of kind feelings im gonna take this as constructive criticism. But dont underestimate what i could do given the materials and some time haha.
What i was thinking it would take would be, relocate steering because i doubt a v8 clears it. Motor mounts, tranny, tranny mounts, might have to fab a new tranny tunnel, fuel lines? all that shiz and chances are a shitload more.

 

same custom mounts as a 302.... dont you know anything? they have kits for that to make it a bolt on. no one is underestimating... you just overestimated yourself...

 

Hmmm..... there is a bolt in 302 kit? Never seen one for a FC. Actually while the mounting points are the same the differance in deck heights will probably cause problems as it does in most other swaps.

 

There is a bolt on 302 kit, but unless I am mistaken, the 351W has a longer stoke and a higher deck height than the 302 and is also much physicially larger (and heavier).

Don't take offense, but in my opinion, the 351W is probably the worst V8 engine that you could find to put in an RX7 short of a 454 chevy or 460 ford.

V8s are a dime a dozen, why not put down $200 to buy a 302 Ford or 350 Chevy that is lighter, will fit much more easily, put out more stock horsepower, and have less expensive performance parts than the 351W?

Keep in mind that part of the reason that people like the way RX7s handlie is their neutral stance in a turn. To add a really heavy and clunky engine to the front will lose the 50/50 weight distribution that makes this possible.

Please consider another option.

 

Yea, but you might wanna check your facts there bub. Adding a v8 will change the weight balance as you said, but it wont necessarily screw up the handling. The difference can be minute. Also, you are correct on the deck height. I would probably go with a 302 myself, but to the op, do what makes you happy.

 

A. a 351 is lighter than a 350
B. a 302 doesn't put out more stock hp than most 351's
C. the weight thing is over rated
and D. a 351 is too tall to fit into a RX7 without a cowl hood

 

I put a 302 in my 1st gen and it was a very nice fit, but the extra "deck height" of a 351 also gives you extra width, which is marginal with the 302, and I concluded it was going to cause compromises I didn't want to make in the 1st gen. With the 2nd gen, it may not be an issue. In any case, the 351 block is about 50 pounds heavier, and a 302 has all the torque you need.

 

Agreed. I briefly contemplated switching my 302 FC for a 351 but the weight, width, and height differences weren't worth the added torque. A built 302 is a ton of fun, even if it can't twist the frame as hard as a larger displacement V8.

 

With the 351W, width is not an issue, as it is only an inch wider than the 302. But it's also an inch taller, and will in fact have hood clearance issues if you want to leave the stock crossmember and steering rack, like I did with my 302 conversion.

The mass issue is a non-issue, as there is enough room that the engine can be far enough back to keep the balance f/r perfect, as it will sit exactly where the 302 would.

As you can see from the 302 in my car that there is more than ample room for a 351W:



Another inch in width will not be an issue.

 

^Nice!

 

I would much rather have a chevy 350 or 383 stroker. But the only reason i am thinking about this project is because I already have the engine.... i dont see enough downsides to want to get rid of it for another engine. A fuel injected 351w will have plenty of power and wont have to deal with the cold start problems of most of the other v8's (except a vette engine).
And merc63, thats why i said i was probably going to have to do something with the steering rack and crossmember. Since theres no carburetor theres no reason to have a hood cowl or have the aircleaner go through the hood.


edit: and the mounts should be the same as the 302 even with the higher deck height of the 351w. its generally a direct swap between the two.