1987 302 into 1964 T-Bird

Cool Hand Lurker

Cool Hand Lurker

Well-known member
The 390 engine in my 1964 T-Bird has not run in 30 years. Some things are stuck and it might not be salvageable. Will a 302 EFI motor out of a 1987 F-150 bolt up to the 1964 Ford-O-Matic transmission?
 
For a fast answer NO.
The 390 is 1 of fords FE style, they are all big blocks 352 360 390 428 the 5.0 is a windsor style small block, big difference in bell housing sizes and bolt patterns. If you look around you can find FE motors all over. Or just up grade everything and use a later ford AOD trans with the 5.0. Motor mounts are not hard to make to mount it, just have a drive shaft made and then you would have a sweet T-Bird
 
Thanks Iowandratty. Would you consider a C-4 or C-6 instead of the AOD? Would the shift mechanism have to be changed for the AOD?
Do you have a drawing of the fabricated mounts or a description on how they are made? I have done some of this stuff but I always ask again so I don't have to "re-invent the wheel" if it isn't necessary. :)

Thanks
 
Ask yourself how much off-the-line power are you willing to sacrifice by going with a high-rev, low-torque engine like a SBF versus the torque-monster 390 that is original to the car? The T-bird is NOT a Mustang - it weights nearly 4300-4500 lbs and needed a big, torquey engine to get it moving. You'd also have to go with a stouter gear ratio than the stock 3.00:1, which will also cut into mileage and cruiseability. My personal opinion is to stick with a 390 and recondition it - parts are plentiful, and most T-bird buyers will be looking for the FE in the engine bay.
 
I'm just looking at alternatives right now but I will be getting into the 390 engine a bit more before I do anything. Thanks for the 390 info.
 
I found a smooth running 390 FE out of a truck for $400. He will make the switch this winter when work is slow. And cheaper. :)

Thanks everybody!
 
The 302 truck engine would not have fit under the hood of your T-Biird anyway. It would have been too tall because of the intake manifold.
The 390 you found is a much better alternative. Being a truck engine, it may have less HP but it will probably have more torque.
 
That truck engine will more than likely have less hp than the stock tbird. The tbird is 300 hp stock. I have a 64 conv and would like more power not less. jmo good luck Paul
 
The specs for the 1964 T-Bird say the in-town MPG is 5-6 and the highway is 11 MPG so it won't be a daily driver. We won't worry about the HP rating since we will only be using it for local cruise-ins and Sunday drives through the river valley. I think I will hang onto the old engine in case the next owner would want to rebuild it though.
 
There may be some port match issues between the truck heads and the '64 intake. The later truck heads will probably have visibly shorter intake ports to the intake manifolds taller.
 
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