LSX Swap???

[Wirenut]

Wilnut my intent was to be humorous. Don't take offense. Just wanted to clarify since our site names are similar, and I was mistaken for you before on a post.

[terry_208]

I like a ford in a ford but what anyone puts in their car is up to them.  Although I do like a ford in a ford, if I had a 426 hemi...

[JPotter57]

I guarantee my 427 will scare the beejeezuz out of you.  My last car with stroker windsor ran low 11s with no tuning and worn out slicks.  It was capable of 10s, I just sold it before I ever ran it again.  This car with 427 FE would eat my stroker windsor car alive. 
Not my business if someone wants to ruin their car with crossbred engine swaps, but remember, this is pretty much a Ford purist site, so if you're going to post your crossbreed swaps, better have thick skin, because I don't moderate the forum except to keep the spam, ads and porn off here.  Otherwise, it can turn into a bloodbath.

One more thing...not all of us pay everyone to build their car.  I dragged mine home as a basket case and have rebuilt every part of my car myself, including paint and interior work, other than the sewing part, which I had a friend do.  I know of three other people on this forum who can say that, one of which I know even did all the sewing on his interior.  We're not all checkbook people, and some of us know how to make power with the right brand engine, those that dont' know or just can't do it, go LS.

[Ford Blue blood]

I agree with James 100%.  If you come here looking for what I'm not sure, go find another tree to bark up.  Many folks on this site or perhaps all are purist who strongly believe Ford in Ford is the only way to go.  I would , if I were a betting man, be willing to bet there is not a single member on the forum that has anything but a Ford in Ford 57.  Plenty of other forums out there to get your "kudos" so don't look too hard here.

I am Ford all the way, matter of fact my street rod is Ford powered.  351C/FMX/MII/8" with 138K on the drive train.  Oh, forgot to mention, the car is a 36 Chevy 2dr sdn.  (Couldn't afford Ford sheet metal back in 76 when I switched from SCCA to street rods.)

[RICH MUISE]

Actually there are a few here  with non-Ford drivetrains, but they don't usually bring it up too much. I'm not a dyed in the wool purist, I certainly don't have a problem with pre-war Fords getting a Caddy or Olds or nailhead, even in a shoebox. Heck, that's what we we brought up with. But, for me at least, it stops with the 50's and newer. My biggest thing is, as mentioned, knowing most Ford guys don't want a Chevy engine of any sort, why would you want to limit a resale market by so much? Yeah, I know, build what makes YOU happy, but Jez man, don't you go to car shows? Everybody is sick of seeing 350's in every other car regardless of make. It's just so cookie cutter, and now, getting as bad or worse is the LS craze> Boring as hell for most car guys, even though if I had a Chevy, that's probably the way I'd go too.. And NO, I'm not grandstanding on a pulpit to make me feel important. You brought the subject up, I'm sure knowing the response you'd get, and you'll only make it worse trying to put us down because we see things differently. Last time I checked, there were no awards given at shows for best Chevy in a Chevy. Maybe there should be, they're great engines.

[RICH MUISE]

just realized most of this thread is 10 months old.

[Ford Blue blood]

just realized most of this thread is 10 months old.

YUP....but fun?

[Tom S]

...I am Ford all the way, matter of fact my street rod is Ford powered. ...

Likewise.

[KYBlueOval]

Very nice! Don't see many like that. Very impressive.

[brushwolf]

Nice street rod.. Don't see those cast headers often, but wish I had a set.

LSX definitely seems the overwhelmingly favorite way to go these days with an older chassis GM motor swap, but the thought of swapping one into 54 and newer Ford does really seem alien at first. Initial reaction is "why?".

But then I think back to when I stuck a 413 Chrysler and push button automatic in a 52 Victoria, a small block Mopar V8 in a 40 Chev PU, and before putting a 500 Cad in a Buick, had set the motor and trans in my 57 Ford engine bay temporarily to keep it off the floor. I was struck by how well it fit, almost better than a 460 fit. It was tempting... But, then I sobered up,,.

Now I have a rebuilt 400 Ford and painted it Chev orange for the 40 Chev PU just to see if it gets a rise out of people (and I got tired of the Chev motor in Fords theme too, so turnabout seems fair play..).

Have a Datsun 280ZX with a 327 SBC and Ford Toploader, Toyota Supra with SBC and T5, and working on an MGB convertible with Explorer 5.0, aluminum heads and T5, so I have done and still do some unorthodox engine swaps..

But the latest GM motor I put together is an old-school 348 tri-power for a 60 Impala, spending perfectly good money on the costly oddball motor when I already had perfectly good SBC and BBC motors that would have worked just fine. Nothing else suits the era of that car for me quite like the old "W" motor look does though..

Didn't even consider using an LS motor and still wouldn't. I did cheat on the transmission though, and have a T56 with relocated shifter rebuilt and ready to go in it.

Definitely better eventual resale prospects with sticking with the same mfctr of motor and car when mid-50's and later though. Otherwise, one group hates it because of the motor and another group hates it because of the chassis it's in. Really cuts down on the potential buyer field, not that I always care..

Then there's people like me who never cared for the 80's boxy Mustang look and so one with a Chev LS motor (a fairly popular swap the last few years) doesn't really phase me one way or the other. Not appealing to me to start with, so you can't really hurt it with a motor swap in my view.

With a 57 Ford though, there are so many Ford motors that there isn't really any logical reason to go with a GM motor. Y-block, FE, MEL, 351C, 351W, 400M, 429/460 4.6, 5.0, 5.4, and even Coyote's are becoming available in the junkyards now. 

If I had an LS drivetrain, I'd look for an old GM car to put it in, or just sell it and buy a Ford motor for my 57, if I didn't already have several. I actually think Chev motors of the past decade are a little better than the Ford motors in terms of longevity, but too much like trying to mixing oil and water to use them in Fords.

But, do whatever makes you happy...

[brushwolf]

Here's my low buck 40 Chev PU motor... $10 local auction sale core motor, with older 351C heads, used EBay aluminum 4v intake, used EBay valve covers, $50 set of Pistons and used headers. Same cam as old Hot Rod mag "down and dirty" 400m build.

[djfordmanjack]

A SBF is a wonderful replacement in a 57. it hugs the firewall nicely and pushes the CG of the car back. it's also much lighter than a Y block. Maybe not a rocket, but SBF equipped 57s handle so well. had a 302 in the SD Courier and a 351W in the Del Rio. fantastic drivers.
I love the stunning sound and torque of the og 292 Y in my CS though. Nobody could make me replace it with anything else than another Y block. stunning engine.

[RICH MUISE]

well said, brushwolf. You certainly have had some interesting projects.
Gunther, your comment about the sbf making the 57's handle well makes me wonder about something I hadn't thought too much about before. I wonder if the reason I've been happy with the way mine handles is more due to the light weight of the aluminum 4.6 dohc/4R70W than I had previously considered, and other '57's with suspension similar to mine but a y-block or ? might handle altogether different. It's been 50 years since I've driven another "not-worn-out" '57. It would be interesting to drive someone else's '57 for a bit of testing.

[djfordmanjack]

Rich, you have a real good point there. I do have a story to back this up.
When I had my Courier 20 years back I didn't think much about it and was just enjoying the great ride and handling in the 302/C4 equipped car.
when I bought my Del Rio (351W/C6) from Az, I drove it to Ca. we attended the Long Beach swap meet and by total coincidence I met the previous owner of the car, who did the engine swap. He's a 'Nam Vet and has seen quite some things I guess. He told me he put in the 351W totally on purpose and he was fully aware of the ride improvement. my Y block equipped CS drives really nicely, but the SBF equipped cars were probably handling nicer. at least the steering was lighter. also bottoming out in the lowered Y block CS is heavier than in any of the lowered SBF equipped wagons I had. with a SBF you have easy access to each and any part including headers, plugs, oil filter. fuel pump, whatever comes across your mind. it is a great swap in my mind. I am aware of the electronic hassles you get into when using a 4.6, so that would be out of my reach, but I'd put in a carburated SBF anytime. as a matter of fact I still have my 69 351W and another 66 289 sitting around. If I should run into any trouble with the og drivetrain, the 351 could go in in a week or so, until another Y block would be build. I just can't get enough of the good Y block sound and nice torque. it sure is no slouch at all.

[Tom S]

Unorthodox engine swap? Put a 351W in a friends Cheby Luv truck years ago.