If my mav had a i6 and swaped it for a 302 will it need 302 enigne crossmember? Would any one be willing to sell me somes in case i do them them? What about the i6 tranmission would it need the v8 crossmember to? Just got it rebuild don't want to damge it again. Thanks Danny
It makes for a nicer job if you use the V8 pieces but they're not necessary. I did my swap 32 years ago and I'm still using the I6 trans crossmember and no engine crossmember.
The only thing 100% necessary are the engine mounts. The engine cross member is to strengthen the front end and the tranny x-member was double humped so the factory Y-pipe would fit. I suppose it does help run headers and dual exhaust but not totally necessary either. A V8 throttle cable is also nice or you gotta put a big loop in a 6-cylinder throttle cable and risk a kink or hangup ..
Even the frame mounts aren't necessary, I used longer 66 Mustang motor mounts and just drilled holes through the frame horns.
Gosh, I don't feel so bad now. All the V8 swaps in Mav's, I have always done it that way. Too hard to find frame mounts and weather street or all out drag racing, never had any problems doing it that way. For original restoration purposes, get the frame mounts.
As for the tranny, is it a manual or auto? The 3-speed manuals were the same for all engines, 200s had weaker automatics than 250/302s.
Drilling? Would drilling the holes not casue the horns to weaken? what about the high of the engine wouldn't it go lower would that be a big problem??
Your replaceing the metal you drill out with bolts, so I would say it wouldn't weaken it much if at all. I would think the lower you could get the engine the better it would be for the cars center of gravity. Can't see why it would cause a problem other then maybe having to adjust linkages to the transmission and stuff.
The horns already have holes in them for assorted frame mounts, one more hole in each side won't matter. You can adjust the height of the engine by using a spacer plate between the mounts and the engine block and using longer bolts. I'm using '66 Mustang mounts that are a little taller than Mav mounts. In my case, since I have clutch linkage to deal with, I had to make sure the z-bar pivots in the block and the frame lined up just right. I have 3/4" spacers installed to do that. Easy way to determine where to drill is to make a small wooden frame that simulates the outside dimensions of your block and has holes drilled right where your motor mounts would bolt to the block. Bolt the mounts to the wooden frame and set them down over the horn. That will keep the side-to-side spacing correct to drill the holes in the horns. As mentioned previously, I did this in 1973, so for nearly 32 years of not so gentle driving, it has worked fine for me.
Update Transmission fixed and speed-o cable working. All i need is some V8 frame mounts anybody have some? Thanks
