[geofferito]

The good news is that my mustang now has a 1978 302 v8 installed. My Dad and another friend came over to help me today. It will probably be weeks before I start it, but it's very good to have it installed. It looks much better in the car than on the garage floor.

Only two problems we had:

1) I had bought the wrong shorter v8 motor mounts. Did not find this out until after trying for quite a while. I happened to remember that I had some old, original motor mounts from a v8 parts car. I got them out and noticed the originals were taller. Lesson learned: size matters

2) the oil pan on the 1978 302 hits the lower crossmember that goes between the two shock towers. It's hard to see this from above when two people are trying to make the left and right motor mounts line up while the third person is moving the transmission side to side to help. Lesson learned: ask more questions

So I have engine and C4 transmission installed but the lower crossmember is not there. What should I do about a crossmember?

 

[geofferito]

A few photos:

http://www.geoffe.com/65mustang/2007_05_may/2007_05_12-1engine_hoist.jpg

The old mounts I had to use.
http://www.geoffe.com/65mustang/2007_05_may/2007_05_12-3old-mount.jpg

Engine in:

http://www.geoffe.com/65mustang/2007_05_may/2007_05_12-4engine_in.jpg

 

[Guest]

Geooff, is it just the camera angle or is the motor sitting in the bay crooked?

 

[geofferito]

Geooff, is it just the camera angle or is the motor sitting in the bay crooked?

It's funny that you spelled my name that way, looks like goof.

It looks rotated to the passenger side. I'm not sure why. I had to use the old motor mounts to get it in. Maybe I reversed the transmission mount? The front frame rails could have slid apart because I removed the cross member. I'm really not sure. I can try jacking the engine up by the motor mount and see if I can get it more square.

 

[Guest]

Sorry about that Geoff, didn't mean to spell your name wrong :blush: I would try the correct mounts and see how things look

 

[Hemikiller]

I think you have a marine pan there, I haven't seen one of those in years and it definitely is an issue. You'll have to switch to a front sump pan in order to use the engine crossmember.

FWIW, the engine compartment looks real nice, but the motor looks like it could use some detailing and you have none of your wiring or brake lines installed. If it were me, I'd yank the motor, change the pan and detail it up. Get all your brackets and pulleys sorted out. I would also get everything I could installed in the engine compartment before I set the motor back in. It's a lot easier to do when your not leaning over the aprons. You've already done it once, it'll be a piece of cake the second time around.

 

[geofferito]

Sorry about that Geoff, didn't mean to spell your name wrong :blush: I would try the correct mounts and see how things look

No problem. At least you did not put a T in my first name between the E and the O.

I know that I will buy new mounts. I'm sure I'll need to redo it.

 

[geofferito]

I think you have a marine pan there.

Hmmm... Well I didn't have any history of the engine. Very interesting.

I would also get everything I could installed in the engine compartment before I set the motor back in. It's a lot easier to do when your not leaning over the aprons. You've already done it once, it'll be a piece of cake the second time around.

Yea, I do plan to put chrome valve covers on it.

Thanks for the advice. I did not do the brake lines yet. I was afraid I would hit one. when I put the engine in. I have to re-install the engine anyway because I need to get new motor mounts. I did figure out the belts on the alternator. It's the only one I have.

 

[rderr]

Your engine bay looks good. I just got done putting my 302 in my 66 this weekend. My engine bay used to look so good. My headders caused me such a pain. It was just my son and I so it was lower a bit stop and inspect, lower a bit more, look for binding etc...All said and done the headders scraped my engine bay/shock towers quite a bit but it is in and all can be fixed. I hope headders are worth all the trouble they cause! I think they are hooker long tubes.

 

[geofferito]

I hope headders are worth all the trouble they cause! I think they are hooker long tubes.

I'm glad you got yours in. I did not do my headers yet. I'm kinda dreading it.

Do your long tubes go lower than the transmission?

Which model of hooker headers did you use? Could you post a photo?

 

[yelostang]

When you get the engine back out, be the time to address the gas line from tank to engine. For convenience and safety, the 6 cyl. fuel line needs to be replaced with the V-8 line.