390 into a z?

[norcaljimbo]

i just got my manual trans and r200 diff all set. car runs great.

i kept the car for the sole purpose of putting a v8 in it. i wanted to put a lt1 or ls1. but i got this block and set of heads last night for free.

from what ive read on the internet its a 390. it has a 3U crank with a bore of 4.05. the heads are factory ford D2TEAA.

the block is empty. just has a crank shaft. its setup for hydraulic lifters.

not sure if this would be a good one to use for the z or not? it has the 4 bolt holes for the motor mount.

any input would be greatly appreciated...

also will the r200 diff hold a v8?

[norcaljimbo]

here are some pix

[lbpdz]

might talk to the folks over at hybrid z.. 390 fully dressed is awfully wide from what I can remember, and you may end up doing a lot of the fab work yourself for mounts, etc..

Oh, and the differential will most likely hold up if it's in good shape..

[Kathy & Rick]

A better idea, if you are a Ford guy, would be a 302-based 347 stroker,

which you can get as a crate motor. The nice thing about the small

block Fords, even compared to SBC, is that the block is so little it can

fit practically anywhere. A guy in the next town has a 302 Mustang

engine in a '71 PL521 Datsun pickup which is a nice conversion. I was

thinking of doing the same thing in our '71 510 2-door.

FWIW, ~Rick~

[Bruce Palmer]

Realistically speaking, FREE is not a very sound decision making basis, especially when it's a non main stream big ol honkin' block.....

[Arne]

You will spend a lot more money buying parts for the 390 and custom fabricating mounts and such for an unusual swap than you will in buying a basic Chevy SB and the already proven and engineered parts to install it. Your "free" 390 will be a lot more expensive in the end.