Good to know. What do I all have to change? I'm really lost on this. I've only did one engine swap. I just had to change the engine mounts and the crossmember for the trans. Went from a 235/Synchromesh to a 327/TH400.
They are a solid six, Cliff. No doubt about it. Just won't fit in mine. A turbo will, with a lot of engine plumbing. An Aussie 6-banger head would take care of that though.
If I remember correctly some one did a LT1 swap a few years ago here. I would do a search. And SF is right LS is the way to go.
Well....if you want to go to an LT1 or an LS....you have to change EVERYTHING. Lots of time and money but would be kick ass when you got it done. You are going to a PCM engine and everything has to go into the Cappy. Not easy. The 455 Olds BB that I put in my wagons is easy...bolts right up. But you probably want to rebuild it first and change a few things on it. A lot easier though. A LOT easier.
Thanks for all the comments guys. The BB is very appealing, certainly considering the problems I had with a Caprice with 307, I just want to make sure I have enough power for the long trips to Italy with a full wagon. Just to tease Norm a bit and to confuse things, a third wagon I have my eye on is a 79 Mercury Zephyr wagon in super condition with a 302. The 302 needing to pull only 3200lbs looks like a winner combination to me with taking into account all your comments about parts and upgrades and of course full economy. The only issue is that is has no airco, but I have been looking into the underdash systems and although not beautiful, it is pretty easy. Last option for me is a later Chevy Van with 6.2 diesel block. Very comfortable for the long trips but also good to use for my business. But ignore this last option for the sake of the discussion...
Yep, you got my attention. Who makes an aftermarket AC for these Fox wagons? Knowing the inner sanctums of a Fox dash, I can't imagine how you'd ever install it. Its a plastic dash structure, so they'd have to have a set of brackets that hold it independantly, and the vents would be a nightmare. Can't even visualize how the kit would look. You got me.
You haven't seen my new grille, have you? Zephyr Old Fairmont 2-eyed: Just missing the fender side vent mouldings, but I know a couple of Lincolns that could part with theirs. Plus the Floor console and ebrake never came optioned on any of the sedans or wagons, just Capri and Mustang. Its a SuperFox! With stock AC!
If mine had performed better with the 302, I might have gone with it, but the 200 CID six is quite peppy for most of my needs. A Turbo 2.3L from a Mustang or Capri dishes out more HP, but not enough torque at the bottom end (city speeds in Stop and Go traffic.) Put a Turbo on the 200 and you'd have it all, and a whole lot more at highway speeds.
Here a picture of a underdash unit from Classic Auto Air. It is a complete independend system, that only uses this unit and the two lines that connect to it (with the normal stuff under the hood of course). It has a blower to suck and cool cabin air. It might not be the most beautiful piece, but it will work and I would plan on building a custom unit that would fit nicer with a sort of mid console (4 vents in a square?) O by the way, this is a picture of the mercury. It also sports bucket seats and a floor shifter....
