What should I do??

[Anonymous]

Hey

So I was driving down the highway in my 1966 mustang with a 200I6

just cruisin along... when BAM
I threw a rod, cracked the block and punched a hole in the oil pan

Got it towed to a mechanic, says the engine is totalled.

Now, I've been wanting to get a V-8 for a while.
So i asked if that would be a possibility

He said that It would be cheaper to get another I6, sell my current mustang and just buy one with a V8 in it already, because of all the extra parts you'd have to buy.


I didn't think it would be that much? Just an engine mount, new radiator, bellhouse and such? Am I wrong?

Anyways, he said he's going to look in local mustang junkyards for an I6, and if he doesn't find one i'll have to buy a new one.

I don't know what to do.

Should I fix it up, and sell it? My only problem with that is that my current car is very nicely restored, and Im worrying about getting a lesser quality car just for the V8

Or ignore what he says and drop in a V8 (351w? )

Or should I opt for an upgraded 6, like a 250 with OZ heads and headers and such?

I'm stuck.

Thanks for any input.

 

[wsa111]

Your choice, if you want the fuel mileage of the six go with a new shortblock or a used engine. If you want power swapping to a v-8 will require many changes. either just put a used engine in your car & sell it or put in a v-8.
If going to a v-8 i would just look for a car with a v-8 in the vehicle.
Unfortunately your car with a blown engine is worth very little.
With the many performance parts available for the six you might just want to salvage your present vehicle by hopping the six.
Your choice, let your bank account be your guide. William

 

[Anonymous]

Is the engine compartment on a 66 wider then a 65, because if its not you'll probably have to pull the engine everytime you need to change the spark plugs.

It's a piece of cake swapping to a V8, Though I have never done this before I did swap a V8 out for a I6; nothin to it.

 

[Anonymous]

It's a piece of cake swapping to a Vee-Eight, Though I have never done this before I did swap a Vee-Eight out for a I6; nothin to it.

So why do you think the mechanic would discourage swapping in a V-8?

 

[Anonymous]

In my opinion the gains would not be worth the time. You would need to change the front springs too, I hate doing that bad memories.

 

[gtm1086]

Some of the items needed to properly switch to a V-8

All new front end suspension. The Stock four lug will not handle the weight.
New transmission.
New rear end. The stock four lug will not handle the power of an 8
New exhaust.

If you have your heart set on a V-8 go buy a car with one in it.

Or you could build up a nice six and have something different from all the rest. :nox:

 

[Anonymous]

i strongly agree with your mechanic. you will save a lot of hassle and worry. be best to get a stang with a V-8 already in it.

 

[mustang6]

stangster66,

I've got a good rebuildable 200 six (disassembled) from a 65 Ranchero, would take $50 for the shortblock. If I remember correctly it was not overbored at all so it has plenty of meat to work with. I live down near Tacoma.

 

[mugsy]

Go get a National Parts Depot catalog; and look at all the V-8 specific parts; especially for the suspension and steering linkage. If you want to do it properly (i.e. like the FoMoCo engineers did) you'll be surprised. It is a basic entire swap, it's not just "coil springs".

As others have stated earlier, there will be other total changes, mostly the entire drive train (tranny, prop shaft, U-joints, rear end) and brakes.

So if you want a V-8, go buy a car that started life with one.

Dollar for dollar the V-8 would probably be your best (read: cost efficient) path for better performance. But then you have a belly button car. Sticking with a I-6 or a Hi-Po I-6 is definitely the path less chosen. (and more challenging )

 

[Anonymous]

When they say suspension, that also includes your brakes etc. The brakes need upgrading for the power and weight of the V-8. The radiator also may need to be replaced. Your mechanic is right. You'll have more money in it than you could ever hope to sell it for. That is unless you sell it at Barrett Jackson's Auction. The BJ auction got me thinking my Fastback would be worth much more as a V-8 restomod. You might be able to recover the costs if you did some kind of resto-mod and the car was a convertible or a fastback. I don't think a coupe would command a premium.
There has been no mention that the 250 is not a drop in replacement due to its larger size. It would take some custom work to get it to fit in an early Stang. You could however, use the 250 head on the 200 block.
Doug

 

[ruckus68]

well don't hate me for saying this but some of us are already changing out parts to make a v8 swap alot easier. (ie 5lug disk brakes, T5 tranny, 8" axle w/5lug etc.) The amount of money that i have spent/spending i could very easily swap to a V8. My car has sentimental value (in the family for 20 years and used to be mom's) so i do not care about resale value and i like to be different than Just another V8

You must decide what your future plans are with the car. Are you going to swap out major driveline and suspension anyway. Sounds like you have put alot of time into the car already so you've got alot to think about. No matter what you decide it will all be good fun

Good luck

John

 

[Asa]

to install a Vee-Eight properly, you're going to spend much more money than just buying the Vee-Eight and dropping it in

here, this site tells you all you'll need to install a Vee-Eight in a '68
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/3573 ... I6tov8.htm

i believe that there's a link to what's necessary for the earlier years on that page

 

[LameHoof65]

I have looked into this and right now I pretty much have everything on my 65 other than kickdown, the V8, and the proper bell and tranny. My goal is to get the tranny and the nine inch pumpkin for my nine inch disc setup....But, I am not going with a V8 and I don't think I ever will. These little sixes are a thrill...easy to access, pull, put in, play with, and damn reliable if fixed up right and with what I have learned on this forum I think these things can compete against most V8's and now we have more performance parts than ever..And guys on this site are researching and developing more...I gotta go with the SIX... Sorry, man I started out thinking the same thing "could've had a V8" But where is the thrill in doing what everyone else is doing??? Just my dime on your time!