Mockup engine
 

Does anyone know the official name for those life size plastic engine and transmission models that are used by custom car manufacturers when they are designing a car?

Thanks. That was just what I was looking for. I am working on putting a 5.0 Ford in my 450 slc in the next year or so-after I build a new house, retire, have prostate cancer removed, start on an RRV park, and probably recover from a complete mental break down.

Personally, I think you should stuff that 5.0 in a Miata. You'll wrap it around a tree within a week and that mental breakdown will be the least of your problems. Good luck w/ the project though, you're braver than most of us.

My slc runs very well now but every time I get into the car the price list of fixing various 30 year old components flashes through my mind. I want to put the Ford in the car mainly for the gas economy and reliability, but also just because I need a mechanical project. If it works outs I might write up a 'how to do' proceedure and post it.

Plus, I have an slc and I don't have a Miata.

Well, it's been my experience, if you want quality shop time, use Ford products. I also have an autoshop owner friend who says he loves Ford, because they keep food on the table.:D

Good luck with the project. I wonder is a Pontiac 389 to 455 would work. The outer dimensions are the same.

Seriously though, why not just rebuild the MB engine? No modifications needed to make it all fit.

Come up to River City and help put a VNT on my wagon...:D

The existing 450 engine is still in very good shape aside from one cyl. fouling because of bad valve seals. There is no real economic justification for the swap. I don't really drive the car very much, but the thought of breaking down on some lonesome S. Texas road at zero early thirty in the AM if not very enticing. Mostly, I just want to try the swap.

I had looked at Chevy products but apparently the bell housing is about 1 inch too big and requires some serious beating back of the transmission. I am sure I could get the 4.3 lt. V-6 in there but I have set what is left of my mind on the 5.0 Ford

Randy,

Come down here and help me finish my retaining wall and seriously consider heading your way. With all the cold beer you have to offer I might come see you.

I believe the Ford motor is the choice due to the oil pan configuration (similar to MB). Other transplants require serious crossmember refabricating...

Sounds like you need my Mixasarus Rex.

http://berryhillfarm.us/gallery/albu...n/P5280020.JPG

I have an Euro 280slc parts car in which someone (who was very incompetent) tried to install a 5.0 Ford. He never got it running but he did get the engine in. He made mince meat out of the cross member simply because he did not know what he was doing, but it did prove that the engine will fit very nicely. I think that if he had altered the oil pan and perhaps had properly taken a little off the cross menber it would have fit very nicely.

I think that Fords are slightly narrower than a Chevy which will make it easier for the exhaust to fit. I'll let you all know in a copule of years.

And lighter

Randy,

As bucolic as your picture is I am not interested in any job that starts with that many bags of concrete. Its like those jobs at work whose instructions start with, "First get a 48" pipe wrench and a 16 lb. sledge".

Oh, yeah. I'd love to have a nice little 5.9L Cummins replica sitting in my living room. :D