351W in 83 T-Bird

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351W in 83 T-Bird

July 04, 2006, 02:11:30 AM

Ok guys I bought a 85 Ford Bronco XLT 4x4 with a 351W for 500 bucks. The body is pretty much gone. The motor was rebulit 2 yrs ago. It runs great. I bought it so I can pull the motor and put it into my 83 T-Bird thats in mint condition that has a 3.8L V6 Carbed 3 speed transmission.

What do I need to make this work in the car? Can I use the ECC computer thats already in the bronco in the thunderbird? Will my 3 Speed transmission hold up that I had rebulit in 2002? Is it best to go the T-5 Route? I just want to know where I should get started. I have $2,600 budget to spend on the stuff that the car will need.

Pics of the vehicles below

The Bird

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #1 – July 04, 2006, 02:50:31 AM

Quote from: FordThunderbird

Ok guys I bought a 85 Ford Bronco XLT 4x4 with a 351W for 500 bucks. The body is pretty much gone.

I dont know where you live but around here that body is in nice shape and worth twice that lol

I dig that air cleaner hold down too :p

Your best bet would be going carb'd with a dura spark system

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #2 – July 04, 2006, 11:30:18 AM

Quote from: FordThunderbird

What do I need to make this work in the car? Can I use the ECC computer thats already in the bronco in the thunderbird? Will my 3 Speed transmission hold up that I had rebulit in 2002? Is it best to go the T-5 Route? I just want to know where I should get started. I have $2,600 budget to spend on the stuff that the car will need.

What EEC??? That Bronco looks carbed to me... I doubt the Bird tranny will hold up for long, but possibly with a good shift kit it would live a couple years, IF you don't continually beat on it... T5s ain't all that strong either, the 5.8s torque would kill a stock one fairly easily.... The Motorsport replacement unit is the best and still only rated at 330ft lb torque, about 60-80lbs less than a healthy 351 can produce... So why ya think the 5.8 '95 Cobra "R" models got the Tremec rather than the T5???? You're gonna have to think about a rear as well, the orignal 7.5 ain't gonna like the torque the 351 is producing either.

Quote from: tbirdscott

I dont know where you live but around here that body is in nice shape and worth twice that lol

And around here it would be worth half that much...

But then 4WD parts are worth something... I'd think the driveline could be sold off to re-coup most of the purchase price...

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #3 – July 04, 2006, 02:57:15 PM

Espically to a Ranger guy wanting to do a SAS conversion to there truck.!!

Not that I am or anything. lol

Daniel

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #4 – July 04, 2006, 04:33:43 PM

bet that bronco aint got a solid axle up front :D
no 1/2ton ford truck/bronco did after around 1980...

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #5 – July 04, 2006, 06:21:57 PM

Yeah that bad boy has a TTB setup..

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #6 – July 05, 2006, 01:26:30 AM

Yeah, Thought about that after I posted. So I was like shoot, givie em something to rant about! lol

Danil

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #7 – July 05, 2006, 07:01:13 AM

lol, no biggie...

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #8 – August 06, 2006, 06:30:10 PM

** Update Im pulling the front clip and fenders off of the Bronco.

What would be a easy way to take the engine out.?? Take it out with the tranny attached to it???? Oh and do I need any major powertools?

Oh and would the rear end from the bronco work on the car????

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #9 – August 06, 2006, 06:40:55 PM

prolly be easier to seperate the engine and trans...since that bronc is 4x4 especially...and the rear will NOT fit under a Tbird w/o serious mods...if you don't have a welder and considerable experience, i'd not even think about it..:D

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #10 – August 13, 2006, 04:16:36 PM

Hey!! I was wondering what any of yall thought about putting a 429 in an 85 tbird!! Im not sure if any suspension would need to be changed!! im not sure but you would think so......its a big ass motor!!!!

All and any help would be appreciated!!

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #11 – August 14, 2006, 07:11:21 PM

just get a 460 kit for a Fox Mustang, should do for ya...
A 460 is the same externally as a 429 thing, just bigger holes and stroke.

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #12 – August 17, 2006, 12:23:01 AM

460 kits for mustangs work for mustang k members... only..

Sorry to post so late to this thread......

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #13 – August 17, 2006, 02:58:37 AM

yeah, i knew i was forgetting something, but couldn't think of it..:D

351W in 83 T-Bird

Reply #14 – August 17, 2006, 09:25:11 AM

Quote from: CougarSE

460 kits for mustangs work for mustang k members... only..

Sorry to post so late to this thread......

His '85 should have a Mustang K-member, shouldn't it? I think it was '86 that the T-Bird got its own K-member