hello everyone...this summer i was hoping to rebuild my 170 i-6 but i am floating the idea of changing the engine to a 2.8 v-6 i figured i could use one out of a 77-78 mustang2 and possibly the standard tranny also but i am wondering how much modification would be needed for my 70 mav any opinions are welcome thanks...carnzy
i don't see much of a gain when the 302 is a bolt in swap. if your going to that much work anyway. jmo
no v-8 gas mileage...i'm not interested in making a hot rod and i was hoping to keep the 4-lug all around but mainly i just want a little more umph without having to pay at the pump. i had a 79 mustang hatchback with a 2.8 v-6 once and i was very happy with the power and gas economy and i figure that without the smog pump etc. the power and fuel economy would be even better.
If you want a good v6, get one from a Explorer or Ranger pickup. My 93 Explorer has 215,000 miles on it and the only things done other than normal maintance was replacing the thermostat and waterpump, and the intake gasket. You could probably get a package deal with motor and tranny for $500-$600. I'm not sure about your options on the ignition and fuel system, stock or aftermarket. The one in my Explorer still gets 18-20 mpg, and it's a 4x4 with the e4od auto tranny. A v6/5 speed combo in a light weight Maverick would probably do even better......... Edit: You want to make sure you get one of the German design engines based on the 2.8 family, the v6 used in the Thunderbirds and Cougars was a differnt engine family design and are not as good a engine in my thinking.....
yea that's what i'm talkin bout i want to keep a stick so the 5-speed would be my choice.i'm looking to pick up the engine used and if i can't use my existing tranny the 5-speed would be nice. thanks for the suggestion,i'll start looking around the local ford junk yards. any ideas on motor mounts? by the way, awsom hat! and nobody could say it better than bon jovi
As Ford never used this combo in a Maverick, I'd say you will have a lot of fabricating to do. It can be done, if your skills with working with metal are pretty good. I put a 231 Buick V6 with a Saginaw 4 speed from a Chevy Monza into a 78 model Toyota pickup, had to custom fab motor mounts, exhaust, driveshaft, you name it. If you can weld and use a torch and grinder,or have friends that can help, you can do it yourself for less money. Even if you have to get somebody to fab up the mounts, it still shouldn't be too awful bad, you can get the engine in place and make patterns from some carboard or hardboard and then have them made. Good luck and if you have any questions, just ask. Somebody on here has done it, going to do it, or have seen it done!!
i mean thay arent a very good engine at all. Id stick with the i-6 if you dont want to put any more engine in it.
Build your I6. IMO both v6s mentioned have serious drawbacks along with the sheer magnatude of making the swap work. I don't know much about the I6 engines, but any engine likes lightweight parts, more compression, good ignition, headers, etc... Just build your I6 to make more power. If the 170 doesn't have much available to pep it up, get a 200 or 250. I believe they all were available in Mavericks. They say 'there is no replacement for displacement. It's true, and a 200 should be a noticable difference. A 250 would surely be a bunch more power. Almost a hundred cubes. I know from experience that going from a 302 to 402 is a massive difference, comparing engines built the same. Dave
I had a Mustang II with a 2.8/c4, got around 15-16 mpg with it. My stock 302 2V/c4 Mav gets 13-14. I had a 66 Ranchero with a 200/c4 in it only mod was Duraspark ignition, got 20-21 on the highway, not sure I ever checked it around town. Also had a 85 T-bird with a TBI 3.8/c5, got about 18 on the highway, my buddy had a 83 T-bird with a TBI 302/aod that got 20+ on the highway (so he claimed, he bought the V6 car from me and was disapointed). My for mav fuel milage- if youre driving around town mostly, go with a 200 with the 7 main bearings (one strong little motor, I used to run the wheels off mine). If youre driving on the highway mostly, put a V8 with an OD....
the problem is finding an i-6 seems like they don't save them anymore and unless you're willing to pay $$ nobody wants to sell one that"s in good shape here around sacramento,ca. or i would just go with a 200 as long as it would bolt up to the existing trans...
Dp people really want I-6's?? I've have a few that I couldn't give away for years.....both low milage, one had only 46000 miles on it.
