good afternoon
thank you for letting me be a part of this club. i purchased a 1957 ford fairlane convertible for my father 8 years ago as a gift. lately we have been having lots of problems with engine tunning and transmission. i wanted something for pops to ride without any problems for long trips. i purchased a 1990 ford crown victorian with a 5.0 with 65,000 miles. runs beautiful.
my question is as followes. does everything fits perfectly or do i have to make modifications?
can i use the same motor mounts and transmission mounts from the maarge?
can i use the rear ends from the marque or do i keep the same ones?
iam not a mechanic so i will have to find someone. its been hard down in new orleans so if you guys know someone please let me know.
I did a similar swap. It's not a simple swap. My swap was from an 86 Grand Marquis.
I went with headers for some clearance issues, motor mount replacement, shifter cable, driveshaft shorten and balance, wiring upgrade, transmission cross member and trans mount modification. The rear end is probably too wide but the 57 differential is in my opinion better left in. I went to a different gear ratio to better match the transmission overdrive. If the donor trans is an AOD/ Metric lokar makes a cable and adapter. If it's electronic shift some others on the site may be able to let you know what's needed.
I may have left out a few things. I did upgrade mine with a mild cam and upgraded heads with intake. I'm not sure if the year you have has fuel injection or not, if it does there's some wiring harnesses and fuel pump upgrades needed.
Hope this help some. The swap is worth it in my opinion but it is some work to do it right.
Welcome. One of our more knowledgeable members lives in Baton Rouge. I'm sure he'll be chiming in when he sees this. Lynn is more traditional, but he or his friends may know somebody in your area to do the swap for you. I'm not sure if the '90 CV has a computer, if it does, I'd recommend checking with Ron Francis Wiring for a conversion harness.
Welcome to the forum.........we like pics!!
Welcome aboard! Natural swap. Speed density system. It is kind of a stand alone system. The EFI system does only one thing in that car....runs the engine. Great swap, easy swap, do what Rich said, look to Ron Francis for the stand along wiring kit for that set up.
Another item to look at is the oil pan, if it's a front or rear sump, if that needs changed it will require an oil pump and dip stick change. Welcome to the forum, we have a lot of great members that have been there done it on most 57 requirements and are a wealth of information.
Joaquinros...........one of the members just informed me he accidentally gave you a smite...........I can't remove it, so just ignore, and have a great day!!
thanks everyone
i called ron francis and got the info i needed for the wiring harnest.
any other comments are appreciated
Ron Francis is the best available, both in quality and correctness. They are a little pricey, but well worth it in just about everyone's opinion who has used them. If you end up needing a rewire of the entire car, their Express kits are great, and made specifically for your car.........no chevy color coding here!!. Be patient, I think given a little time, some more members will chime in. I'm not sure how many members here have done the 5.0 to be honest but I know it's been done a lot, and I'm on another forum that I'm pretty sure has 5.0 members.
It sounds to me that the swap you plan will cost as much as fixing the problems you have.
OK.... it well known that I prefer bone stock cars, so my comments trend to lean that way.
What is wrong with the stock engine and trans?
If you or your father ever plan to sell the car the 5.0 will kill a good amount of it's value.
About 10 years ago I drove a 57 Hardtop with a 5.0, it was a nice driving vehicle but did not have the same feel as a stock 57.
Everyone knows I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum from Lou on how we like our cars, and I feel the quality of the modifications has a lot to do with resale value. With that said, the convertible you have is one of the hardest to find '57s, so extra thought should be given to the mods as I have to do the rare agreement with Low on this one. However, also to be considered is the mods wouldn't require any alterations to the car that couldn't be undone pretty easily. With that in mind, being a convert., I'd if you go ahead with the changes, storing the engine and tranny and anything else removed from the car would be important. BTW, since you're calling it a convertible, we're assuming it's a soft-top, not a retractable.?? And maybe being a newbie to the '57s, what is the engine code listed on the driver's door jamb vin plate? That also might be a huge factor in deciding the swap.
A 312 would be an easy re-build and install...plenty of get up and go...and MUCH easier for a mechanical novice to accomplish without feeling overwhelmed having to learn new technology. I'm with Lou here.
Rich had an advantage of being possessed with an engineering mind...(which explains a lot of other things... :002: )
Hugh, I understand your thinking of 'keeping things original makes it easier', but I have to say that Y blocks may not be for tech novice. Although I love them and they are a pretty simple and sturdy engine, but most engine shops do not have experience with them and parts may become way more pricey than even on a modern 4.6 or 5.0.
Unless someone is a very much interested in modern equipment, like Rich is, somebody else might be much better off using a 351 carburated SBF in a 57. It's a pretty easy swap, and easy to find and easy to maintain and reasonable to rebuild. jmho.
Quote from: mustang6984 on 2021-12-01 19:55
A 312 would be an easy re-build and install...plenty of get up and go...and MUCH easier for a mechanical novice to accomplish without feeling overwhelmed having to learn new technology.
joaquinros, I live in Baton Rouge and I might be able to help. I have little knowledge of shops in the New Orleans area but I do know a shop in Baton Rouge that MIGHT be interested in doing your swap. I know the owner and I will ask him. I do everything pretty much by myself so I have little experience with shops. I will ask around for you. If you'd like contact info send me a PM.
Got to jump in here....can;t help myself....I'm of the opinion cars are a hobby. I like cars, I don't hunt, don't fish and don't chase little white balls around the pasture. If I break even with buying/selling/modifying a vehicle I'm happy.
Cars are not an investment, at least not at my (many of us) income level. I build and modify to my taste, no one else. The number of hours put into a project are immaterial, not part of the "investment". They fall into the "relaxation and re-boot the mind" to keep my sanity arena. So building a car to provide fun and relaxation moves right out of the "investment" category into the "therapeutic" category and that extends into the driving category as well.
Off my soap box now....:<)
Preach on Brother Bill.
You have hit the nail SQUARELY on the head.
Exactly, and besides, our new member has had his/his dad's car for 7 years....he has already bought the donor car......so obviously they have done their research and have a fair idea what they want....just need help gettin' it done!!
If they were asking about a 4.6 install, I could give all the tiniest details they would need..........I'm hoping someone here can/will do that for the 5.0.
Windsor engine in a '57 is nearly factory next to a FE. The '57 frame is extremely similar up through the '64. '63 and '64s offered the Windsor option. A 5.0 bolts in with very minor adjustments. The donor car should have an AOD transmission that will bolt to the '57 cross member with minimum tweaking. First generation Mustang headers will fit. Lokar for accelerator setup. Y-Block radiator will work. If '90 donor has 3G alternator, there are pigtails and plenty of install directions. I think the AOD uses a C4 yoke. With a long yoke on the 9", the Crown Vic drive shaft should be very close. PI (P70) cars have aluminum drive shafts...just for bragging. What did I leave out?
Same thing I did, Gary. He asked about the '57 rear end vs the one from the CV.
My answer, and I think all will agree,.........leave the OEM differential in place. 1957 was the first year for the famous 9" rear. Anything you would possibly need for it is readily available..........rebuild components, any ratio pinion gears, conversion kits for upgraded brakes, trac-loc, hd axles, extended racing pinion yokes, bearings, etc etc.
x2 on the 9. OEM gear ratio might be a little high...3.89 might be better...tire height would be the issue. The 8.8 would be too wide. But quite a few 8.8s had TractionLoc...most of the PIs.
'92-02 CV rear disc brakes are a 9", small bearing bolt on. Donor car is a '90 so do a little research.
I wonder why anyone would want to swap a 312 for a 302. Just seems like a lot of work and money for no real gain in performance or economy.
Ted Eaton is next door in Texas i'm sure he could do a great Y-Block for the op.
Goodluck,
Ron.
Depends on the end game. A modern 5.0 wit EFI has in essence an unending life. The fuel management is so superior to the of carburetors the engine will run forever with proper maintenance. Power and reliability are improved considerably, drive ability is vastly improved (think cold start/immediately drive off) add to that it can all be done on regular gas. Let's not even talk about mileage, wrong thing to worry about if you are playing with cars....
Good suggestion though with the Ted Eaton recommendation.......they did say they haven't had any luck with their local guys working on it. I just hope we haven't driven our new member away with all our opinions.
I do like Y Blocks, and have built a few of them, but for a practical standpoint, I can certainly see where a 302 makes sense. First off, a 302 is about 150 pounds lighter, has much more power potential, is many times easier to get parts for, and has been refined over many years. No rope seals to leak, effective crankcase ventilation systems, you can bolt up a 5 speed overdrive transmission or AOD without any adapting. That said, I much prefer to see a Y Block or FE under the hood of a 50s car, but to be honest, for a car that I planned to drive several thousands of miles a year, for me, a warmed over carburated 302 with a T5 would be at the top of my list. Of course, I chose performance and old school with my 59, by choosing the 428CJ FE and 4 speed Toploader, but another car with a 302 5 speed would be nice for another toy . Funny, until about 25 years ago, I wouldnt give a 289-302 any consideration, until I was able to pick up a free 78 Fairmont with a 302, didnt take much money or effort to have a low 13-high 12 second daily driver, that I could drive to work thru the week, race on weekends, and take on long road trips if desired. And other than 1 broken axle while racing, in the 8.8 rearend, I never hurt that car in the 12 or so years I had that car.
I guess one could add a Holley Sniper, Pertronics and a PVC for a no maintenance 312.
A 302 will never out torque a Y-Block in a heavy 57. I too have a 302 Fairmont, runs good because it is 700 lbs lighter than a 57
Engine swaps for a novice can be an overwhelming first project. I remember swapping a MEL into a 51 Victoria, a Y into a 1950, an 361 Edsel into a 57, a mopar 383 into a 65 Valiant. looking back the only one that made sense was the FE to 57.
Goodluck,
Ron.
i do appreciate all the inputs. i wanted to keep the car original but it was getting hard to find people to work on it at a reasonable price. everywhere i went they would tell me the same thing,live the car, and iam not letting that car sleep outside. it has sentimental values and if something happens to it i will be very dissapointed. iam sure fixing the engine and transmission would be cheaper but i really like the feel and sound of the 5.0
i will send pictures when i figure out how
Good luck in your decision. Whatever you decide, it will be good to keep it on the road and functional. Original or modern, its always good to see them being driven instead of rotting away.