V8 donor car suggestions please. Hello my 1971 mav grabber is in the shop right now. I am exploring the option of swapping out the straight 6 for a v8 engine, as well as using the donar cars gas tank to facilitate dual exhaust as my gas tank presently is not centred in the rear leaving no space on the right side for the tail pipe. My question is what do you all think the best donor car/cars are and why? Any opinions are appreciated, thanks, -trish- P.S the machanic told me this car never came stock with a three on the tree style shifter but I saw a 1970 mav. like that so was it just not available in 71?
Lots of Mavericks had 3 on the trees. As for a donor car, a V-8 Maverick is always best for the little odds and ends that are Maverick/Comet only parts. A 302 is a 302, you could source one from any Ford.
They did have three on the tree, thought so. Is it neccesary to replace the transmission when swapping a straight 6 to a v8? If so, is it a difficult costly process to then switch the auto floor shifter to standard tranny 3 on the tree? Messy to cut the car to have a clutch? Any one do this? Advantages to standard or just preference?
My 71 has a 3 on the tree. If your trans is a manual, you can get buy with using it on a moderate 302, (a 6cyl auto will not survive long). you will have to spend lots for a stock v-8 z-bar (at least $120) and have to have an older block or a special bracket for the block pivot point (i don't know the price). I am doing a similar swap and going to use a hydraulic clutch; cnc master w/ remote resevor, and a push or pull slave, it will depend on how it will bolt to my toploader. for donars, 87+ mustangs, mark IIV, cougars, etc; lots of cars had 302s. there is a post on here where someone swaped in an early 70's mustang tank, but many have put dual exhuast on cars with the stock gas tank.
