Cleveland FoxI recently got a good deal on a '74 351 Cleveland engine and have been thinking about doing a Cleveland swap into an '87-'93 Mustang. I know it's unusual to put a Cleveland in a Fox Mustang, but I guess I just want to be different. Although a Windsor swap would likely be easier, I think I might be up to the challenge. Is this possible?Ron Machleit Traverse City, MI
Coincidentally, another reader, John Croft, wrote the next letter and he seems to have most of the info needed to do the conversion. But be warned: getting a carbureted or FAST EFI-controlled, Cleveland-powered '86-'93 Fox-body Mustang street car past your state's emissions-check inspection is likely impossible. If one were to do this swap on a Fox-body, I'd consider starting with a pre-'86 carbureted 5.0, which would take any factory fuel-injection issues out of the equation.
Cleveland-Fox, Part III am writing because I read once about someone who wanted to install a 351C in a Fox-body Mustang. It's not that difficult to do with the exception of the fuel injection.
To address the various issues: The stock motor mounts will work. The transmission will bolt to the engine. The driveshaft will work, and the radiator (if in good condition) will work. I used Blackjack headers listed for a '70 351C Mustang with a few minor alterations. For the flywheel, you would need to use a 28.2-ounce balance such as Ford Racing's M-6375-A302, the same as if you were putting a 351W in the car. For the oil pan, use one from an '80-'81 F-150 with a 351M or 400 (with a few modifications) as well as a pump pickup and main-bearing stud. Aftermarket swap pans are available from Moroso and Canton. For fuel injection, use an aftermarket type such as a FAST (www.fuelairspark.com) EFI system.
Once installed, the stock Cleveland runs circles around a stock Windsor and if modifications are to be done, the money saved for aftermarket heads could be used elsewhere to make the Cleveland even stronger than the Windsor.John Croft Blockhouse, Nova Scotia, Canada
I don't think a Cleveland swap into a Fox-body is impossible, but it would probably be expensive and involve a lot of parts chasing. And, as I said, you can likely forget about making the car emissions legal, especially in California, and probably many other states as well. Most of our readers are usually more interested in street-performance-type upgrades that are done to street-driven and street-legal cars. I agree that a Cleveland/Fox swap is a more feasible idea for a drag car, and maybe a little less so for a street car.
I understand the desire to be different, and if that appeals to anyone by all means go for it. However, I'd also like to point out that a 5.0 in a Fox Mustang can be made to run as strong as any stock 351 (W or C) with the right induction upgrades (headers and exhaust, intake, cylinder heads, cam, and so on), and with less headache than any engine swap.
Rebuild A Four?I currently own an '86 Mustang coupe. It has a 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 294,000 kilometers on it. I'm planning on rebuilding the engine and adding more power at the same time. Sadly, it seems no one out there builds performance parts for the 2.3 anymore. Any help you could give me with names of companies and/or ideas would be appreciated.Matthew ArtibiseWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
You're in rarefied company in wanting to rebuild a 2.3-liter engine. Unless the engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged version, as used in the '84-'86 Mustang SVO and the late-'80s Thunderbird turbo coupe, 2.3-liter stuff seemingly gets little attention. You might consider searching the Internet for Mustang SVO sources or T-bird Turbo Coupe activity.