390 in a 58 wagon?

[Rmvr53]

I know since its an FE it will fit, but what else do I need to change? I'm pulling a 223 6 cyl thats in front of a 3 speed w/overdrive (keeping the ******). Besides the motor mounts, what else needs to be addressed

thanks

Bill

 

[Daves55Sedan]

The radiator brackets may be shaped differently on the 6-cyl cars to allow for the extra length needed for the engine. If you swap to a V8, you will have a mile of empty space between the radiator and fan blade. This can be fixed by getting a fan blade spacer or by swapping to a V8 radiator.
The 6-cyl clutch, flywheel and bell-housing will need to be swapped with Standard trans parts that fit the back of the 390 and allow the starter motor to mount and mate with the ring-gear. But the factory parts, I believe should be a direct bolt-up to the existing gearbox you have.
There will need to be some modifications done for gas pedal-to-carb linkage. Might be easier to scrap all the old mechanical bell-cranks and linkage and swap to a new gas pedal, cable and bracket that holds the cable to the engine block.

 

[Oldmics]

Exhaust manifolds will need to be addressed. Especially on the drivers side.


Its a tite fit for the exhaust and steering.


Repro manifolds for the 361 F.E. engine into an Edsel are availiable.


Oldmics

 

[Rmvr53]

would the 352 linkage work? What years bell-housing (any big block FE?)/flywheel. I assume what ever spline the input shaft is on the ****** I need to stick with a corresponding clutch

thanks

 

[Ford blue blood]

The 390 I had in my 57 Ranchwagon came out of a 74 truck. Stock exhaust manifolds, any FE bell housing and if your current transmission is manual it should bolt up.

 

[Rmvr53]

I assume 352 motor mounts?

 

[Daves55Sedan]

I assume 352 motor mounts?

I don't think so. I believe you can keep the original '58 motor mounts. No modification required there. Somebody correct me if I am wrong.

 

[scicala]

Rmvr53 said the car had a 223 6 cyl. in it, so the mounts won't work with an FE engine.


Sal

 

[KULTULZ]

I don't think so. I believe you can keep the original '58 motor mounts. No modification required there. Somebody correct me if I am wrong.

The frame mounts (57/58 223/Y/FE) will be the same. The difference will be the actual insulators and metal spacers for the six. The eight (both 57Y and 58FE take the same insulator.

The biggest problem will be the year of the 390 as FORD changed the engine side support mounts/skirts in 64/65. So you need to know the year of the 390.

A log type L exhaust manifold should work as the 58 steering box was redesigned and smaller. You will need a V8 rad.

 

[Rmvr53]

engine is out of a 64 Galaxie

 

[KULTULZ]

engine is out of a 64 Galaxie

You should be OK then.

I had a photo showing the skirt differences but cannot find it.

Remember, the 58 FORD came through with an FE so changeover shouldn't be complicated. Be nice to have a donor though...

 

[Rmvr53]

unfortunately, its just an engine. Car the engine came out of was going to be restored. When the guy got it back from the blaster and saw all the rust holes in 90% of the car he scraped it. That was 4 years ago. Engine was still in the shop which is where it still sits and he wants it gone - wants $300 for it - carb to flex-plate

 

[KULTULZ]

Engine was still in the shop which is where it still sits and he wants it gone - wants $300 for it - carb to flex-plate

Sounds good to me as things are getting harder to come by.

Of course you will not know exactly what you have until it is on the forensics table.

The 390/300HP engine of that period is a nice engine.

 

[Rmvr53]

should I be able to pull this off - suggestions on disguising a 390 to look like a 352 (or 401)?

 

[Daves55Sedan]

Rmvr53 said the car had a 223 6 cyl. in it, so the mounts won't work with an FE engine. Sal

The 54/55/56 Ford 223 motor mounts are the exact same part used for the Y-blocks in those years. I know, I have both 223 and 292 in '55 Ford cars here. I have swapped engines in '57 cars and they have the same motor mounts as the earlier V8's. The '57 & '58 car frames are identical.


I have seen a 390 installed in a '56 Ford car and he used the original motor mounts. But it may have been an early 390 engine.

 

[KULTULZ]

- suggestions on disguising a 390 to look like a 352 (or 401)?

401? You mean a 1961 390CI/401HP?

Just paint and trim the 64 engine to 1958 colors. The 390 will have THUNDERBIRD stamped on the rocker covers while a 58 will be stamped FORD or no stamp (regarding build date of engine).

Let me find a 58 332/352 trim-out.

It's just like PREGO, it's in there somewhere...

OK, finally found them...

 

[Rmvr53]

cool pic - thanks! So I wrote 401 but was thinking 410...

 

[KULTULZ]

...I wrote 401 but was thinking 410...

The 410 FE was a later MERC only engine.

For the 58 model run there was a 332 (2V or 4V), a 352 and 361 EDSEL. The 361 was also available as a 58 FORD Police Option. So you can decorate a little differently or even decorate as 58 BIRD or EDSEL. Depends on how you decide to go.

 

[5851a]

Newer blocks back fit earlier cars, they have both old and new mounts and I believe 63 up came with alternator boss.

 

[scicala]

The 54/55/56 Ford 223 motor mounts are the exact same part used for the Y-blocks in those years. I know, I have both 223 and 292 in '55 Ford cars here. I have swapped engines in '57 cars and they have the same motor mounts as the earlier V8's. The '57 & '58 car frames are identical.


I have seen a 390 installed in a '56 Ford car and he used the original motor mounts. But it may have been an early 390 engine.

Sorry, I stand corrected. There are mount brackets on the 223 six engine that let it use the same rubber mounts as other engines that year. A little slip of the memory.


Sal