79 RANCHERO ENGINE SWAP

I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SWAP MY 351W (BURNT VALVE) FOR A 429. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY RECOMENDATIONS OR WARNINGS SUCH AS: MOTOR MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION, EXHAUST, AIR CONDITIONER ETC.

THANKS
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I believe it uses the same basic front end as an LTD or other full-size Ford/Merc...so finding a donor car with a big block should be a piece of cake for the most part. Headers might be a different story, though

you are gonna have a problem with the enigine mounts. not the same between the 351w and the 429.

also, gonna need the tranny for the 429. not the same bolt pattern between the 429 nd the 351. measure the width of the 429, might get tight in there on the sides....

just my 2 cents

I have the mounts...
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It's a bolt in, and headers ARE available if you shop around. Hooker has them, maybe Hedman and a few others. You'll need a trans from one with a 351M/400/429/460, but other then that, it'll bolt right in with your (factory, I'm assuming) mounts.

Easiest thing to do would find a big block donor car somewhere, like a 70s Torino wagon with a 429/460. Your chassis is pretty cool and was basicly the same from 72-79 on the Torinos/Montegos/LTD IIs, 77-79 Cougar/T-Birds, ect...

We made a pretty slick Ranchero with mostly T-Bird and Torino parts years ago. Used a 79 T-Bird front clip with the hideaway headlights and a bunch of other stuff. Buckets, console, floorshift, factory gauges, power windows, ect... all pretty much a bolt in.


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