Topic: 72 mustang engine swap help!!!

[dwolf2002]

ok, i have a 72 mustang with factory short block 302. went and bought a like new long block 1986 5.0 ho motor that can out of a police interceptor car. the 86 motor was throttle body and i converted it to carb by taking the stuff off of my 72 and putting it on the 86 motor. the motor runs great but the problem is that the car has a bad vibration now and its coming from the motor. i used the fly wheel and starter from the 72 and the heronic balancer also but it seems like its out of balance (the car vibrates like the sound of a bad u joint) which seems it was the fly wheel. so i pulled the tranny agian and looked and the 86 flywheel is like 14 1/2 inch and the 72 is 13 1/2 inch so i couldnt put the 86 flywheel back on because it wouldnt fit in the bell housing so can anybody give me any info on how to fix this problem or tell me what the problem is. thanks

[Soaring]

The flywheel and harmonic balancer and crankshaft on the '86 are 50 oz, whereas they are 28 oz on your '72.  The 28 oz will not work on an '86.  Ford changed from the 28 to the 50 back in midyear 1981.  Also, the flywheel on the 86 is 62 teeth, whereas the '67 are only 57.  If the original flywheel, and harmonic balancer on the 86 won't fit somehow, then you either need to make room for it by getting a larger bellhousing, or you are SOL. 

[Jeff73Mach1]

http://www.kmjent.com/cart/product.php?productid=655&cat=7951799&page=1

i think this will solve your problem if it is an automatic transmission and a flexplate.  Use it with the late model balancer.

Also talk to a flywhee resurfacer and see if they can rebalance the early model flywheel to the 50 oz spec.

They may be able to either add mallory metal or remove metal from opposite the balance point.

Do a little internet snooping and you might come up with the diameter flywheel you mneed in the tooth count and diameter.  there are lots of folks that make an oddball part from time to time/

[Soaring]

Good find Jeff.  $45.00 is cheap to help fix this problem. 

[Jeff73Mach1]

Yep, a little searching can be fruitful.  I located a set of MEL valve covers yesterday for a friend restoring a 64 Lincoln.  He hadn't found any and I found the correct ones as well as a set for both a mercury and an Edsel.  The correct Lincoln ones are going to set him back $15.00 plus shipping and he expected it to be 250+ for them. 

I think I'll let him replace my mufflers

[gijoeguru]

I have a 72 as well.  I want to put a 390 in it, but cant find motor mounts that will do this.  If it makes any difference the engine came out of a 72 truck and has two mounting holes in the block.   This is my first Mustang and first restoration attempt.  Any help would be appreciated!!

[Jeff73Mach1]

search the internet or call some of the mustang parts houses.  There is probably a motor mount available for the swap.  While I am not certain, I suspect a mount from a 390 equipped mustang from the late 60's would probably be a drop in deal.

[Jeff73Mach1]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-71-MUSTANG-MOTOR-MOUNTS-390%2F427%2F428%2F429CJ,-PAIR_W0QQitemZ360204620228QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20091104?IMSfp=TL091104192004r11786

These look like they would work, but I would call the vendor and see what they have to say.  Even though the 71-73 mustangs were very different on the exterior, I think the front subframe is still essentially the same falcon based part