Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Swapping motor in my 86 cougar. It had a 5.0 and aod in it and im going to a 351w with ported and milled gt-40 heads with eldelbrock intake and 750 carb and a c-4 trans. Now i already have the motor mounts, 351w double hump rear sump oil pan and the trans crossmember. Now my question is what else do i need? Like where can i get a driveshaft to fit it? That i have the gt-40's on it. can i use long tube headers or shorties? And will they fit? I still have the stock exhaust manifold on it. I'm new to the forum, so treat me like i know nothing...lol  Thanks

351 Uses stock 302 mounts. you be hard pressed to get hood clearance but it will bolt in place. i know the 3.8 v-6 used a c5 behind them.

I have cowl induction hood on and energy susp. lowering mounts...

Are you swapping k-members? Mustang mounts won't work for 85.5ish to 88 cougar/birds.

Already swapped k-member from 85 mustang 5.0 .......

Sounds like your pretty well set then.

id convert to a floor shifter so you don't need to worry about colum shifter linkages getting in the way. otherwise it should bolt in just like any other mustang.

the gt-40's have normal locations for spark plugs so anything should fitthat would a mustang. if you have gt40p heads then you need to be careful on your selection.

Yeah, going to floor shifter, when i figure out which one can save me from cutting on good metal! I though headers from a mustang would work, but with the block being taller i might run into some issues. And i have to find out if the driveshaft will fit.  Will finish up with engine bay prep later today and be ready to put her in....

Does your car have a console or consolette? The console can be used as a guide for where to trim the sheetmetal. i used a hole saw and some tin snips when i did my t-5 swap. i also had to delete my consolette and add a console to get a factoryish look. check out coolcats.net for help on adding one if you go this route.

what is the legnth differance between the c-4 and aod? I always figured they were the same length.

They make 351 swap headers. Is that 750 vac or mechanical secondaries?

haystack, i have a consolette but going to look at a used console that come with a b&n shifter monday.  And it has vac. secondaries....

You will need a T5 drive shaft....for the C4...

Travis

P.S.  I have a big 351w write up in the lounge....just search for 86XR7 351 swap.

Travis

I re-used my aod driveshaft but suposedly the sn-95's are 5/8-3/4" longer.

Travis, i read your 351w swap thread and watched the youtube video and all i have to say is.......Holy fish paste batman!! It was like i was looking at a reality show!! I found myself cheering and rooting for you. You sir, have one sweet build going. I also cant wait til your rolling.... That's one fat cat!!

Thewestie, edelbrock performer rpm 7181......

You may get away with closing the hood. I'm using the non rpm performer with the 750 dp and no spacer. I asked what carb cause with my combo big cam and decent heads and mechanical advance distributor the double pumper is a little much around town but a blast when WOT. With vac secondaries and a vac advance distributor you should be pretty drivable. Going 5.0 to 5.8 the tranny should stay in same spot and use same drive shaft.
 Good luck as as I was told during my build its a hobby have fun.

Finally feed the cat her 351; other than using a POS hoist, all went well.... Still have to check the driveshaft to see if it will work with the C-4 and see which headers going to fit and convert the shift to the floor

where did the altonator bracket come from? need som pics

Alt bracket pulled from 78 ltd in junkyard....

Well i learn one thing today, mustang gt headers will not fit with this combo! Was trying to wait til later to buy new headers because of my budget. But guess what? My budget just changed! So if anyone can recommend some headers that will fit this combo without breaking the bank, would be much appreciated... Thanks

I would think a set of 351W shorty swap headers for a Fox Mustang would work pretty good in this case.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/BBK-1511/79-93-Mustang-BBK-351-Swap-Chrome-Shorty-Headers

Darren

thats what im using held up nice so far

Thanks guys, going to order the BBK 351w engine swap headers #1511. Then i can start looking for a headers back exhaust kit.... Then on to the braking system....

After eight years in the garage, finally gets to see daylight....  Waiting on exhaust system to get here.(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34489&d=1403040612)

I got the gt headers to fit, but had to "dimple" the third runner from the steering shaft. But will still install the bbk shorties when they arrive......

Is it running yet?  Took. Months off on mine....put a good 10 hours this weekend....u got more pictures?

Travis

Installed new b&m starshifter and three of five gauges today..... On to the brakes next week.

Getting closer.....

Cool deal....looking good.

Travis

Finished with the fuel and brake lines today. Going to replace the battery tray and battery cables in the trunk tomorrow......

Looks like i'm going to have to find some sn-95 sway bar brackets; bars alittle too close to the oil pan for my taste.....

I made some spacer for my Tbird brackets and then cut and shorten the end links, so the sway bar is parallel to the ground

83tb, looks like that's what i'm going to have to do; my bracket is the same size as the sn-95's. Just have to do some measurements and find some material to make the spacer out of.

Well my new ignition module just took a . so i'm ordering a Proform Street/Strip HEI Distributor 66983B and be done with that !

Will BBK 1569 Chrome 1-3/4" Full-Length Exhaust Header for Ford Mustang 351 Swap C-4/C-6 fit my 86' cougar?

Straight off BBK's website:

Q. The Long Tube Header system states that it is for Manual transmissions only. Why won't it work on my Automatic?
(part numbers affected include: 1532, 15320, 1533, 15330, 1541, 15410, 1516, 15160, 1519, 15190, 1594, 15940, [COLOR="#FF0000"]1569[/COLOR], 15690)

A. The Automatic transmissions are much larger than their manual counterparts. This greatly affects the already-small amount of passage space there is for the larger piping required to fit passed this area. There is also the linkage to worry about; the automatic transmission has linkage on the side that the pipes could interfere with, not allowing you to shift properly through the range. You very well might be able to get them to work on an automatic-equipped car. However, we don't advertise it, as it is not a "direct bolt-on." Fitting them to an automatic car requires some grinding of the transmission and bell housing, as well as some modification to the pipes. Since making them work on an automatic requires modification to the part, BBK will not warranty the fitment nor the piece that was modified, and thus they are advertised as a direct fit for manual transmissions only. Fitting them to an automatic car unfortunately becomes a custom application, though we know that many customers have adapted them to fit, and are happy with the performance gains of their new long tubes.

Darren

I was just very curious because i found this on the bbk website:
                                                                                                                                                                           These High Performance BBK Full Length Exhaust Headers will give you much improved airflow, more horsepower and improved performance.

For nearly 20 years Mustang enthusiasts have made BBK CNC-Series Long Tube Mustang exhaust headers the number one choice for their Performance Mustangs and now they fit automatics!

Each BBK Long Tube Exhaust header system is CAD designed and manufactured with 1 5/8" CNC mandrel bent tubing and a 3" collector with a leak-free ball and socket (dome) style collector for unrestricted airflow and a one piece 3/8" laser cut exhaust  for added strength and durability. All BBK Long tubes are pressure tested to ensure trouble-free performance.

Each BBK Mustang Long Tube header system has been designed and dyno tested at the BBK headquarters in Southern California for Maximimum performance. Results have shown an additional 15-20 rear wheel horsepower over stock.

BBK’s Mustang long tube exhaust headers are recommended for built engines and high performance applications. They offer BBK’s distinctive quality that guarantees many years of top performance. They are available in our standard chrome finish with optional high-temp silver polished ceramic coating.

All BBK header kits include new gaskets and hardware.

*BBK Long Tubes for Automatic require a BBK short X pipe part #1811 to complete installation to the cat-back exhaust system

NOTE: These headers fit with OEM automatic transmission.

And just was not sure after i seen this on the bbk website: *BBK full length headers require a BBK short X pipe or H pipe to complete installation to the cat-back exhaust system- see recommended additional parts
*BBK full length headers fit 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions and C-4/C-6 automatics, but do not fit with AOD/AODE automatics.

Call 'em and tell them their website troll is confusing the masses and we want some clarity on this issue. Throw in some kind words and they will most likely tell you that they will not fit an AOD trans.

I called my buddy who owned an exhaust shop and he said they will fit if you are willing to heat them and "adjust" them. I know MAC makes a set that will clear the AOD but their headers are for shiznit as they have individual s at the cylinder head and after they have heat cycled it's about impossible to get them to line up again much less seal. Do some trolling around on the Mustang sites and I am sure this has been raked over the coals a few times.

Darren

Thanks aerocoupe, i will give them a call tomorrow.

Talked to wayne at bbkperformance and part#1569 79-93 - 351 SWAP 1-3/4" Full Length headers will fit our 351w with t-5, c-4 or c-6 combo. Wayne said that the c-4 has a small bellhousing than the t-5 and the fitment is better with the c-4 as far as clearance.

So basically the C6 and AOD are most likely going to need some tweaks to the headers to make them clear?  I am not a betting man but my guess is you will have to but BBK headers are really good especially the primary  that bolts to the heads is nice and thick so it never loses shape.  Be sure to get a carbide bit and work over the welds in the ID of the primaries where they are welded to the  as mine were not all that good.  I showed some of it on this thread, scroll down to post #22:

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34313-Porting-the-Edelbrocks-Heads-and-Lower-Intake/page3

Darren

Finally switch the fuel sender unit from efi to carb. Had a hard time trying to find a carb fuel sender unit that would fit the tank tho...

It's a new year, time to get back on it!! Installing the last three gauges this weekend....

Just got my Innovate Motorsports Wideband Gauge Kit with datalogger today. The kit i got just let me monitor the air/fuel, map and rpm. Is this all i need to get started tuning or do i need more parameter to start tuning?

wow,, what a swap,, what a header learning experience and ........  im still stewing on the paint because its so odd but cool at the same time!!

Finally got the  headers and h-pipe on today. Hooked in the air/fuel gauge kit in too.  Hope to get to the cooling system this weekend.

B&M hammer shifters look and work good.

It's a B&M StarShifter, but it works for me.

That is the single best tool i have ever bought....way back in 2004, well worth it....

Heck still have it and it works well.

Travis

Thank turbo, it was a must have for this build!  Needed to get the first break in period set right so down the road when I really need it,  I will have the data I'm know I will need for future upgrades.