Ford Automobiles banner
Cancel

Don't know what engine will work

365 Views 14 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  63falcondriver, 
Clayton8589
I am new to all of this. I have a 1967 Fairlane that I would like to find something that could just bolt in possibly from another vehicle. Currently it has no drive train it is a column shift automatic. I would prefer simpler, easier maintenance, and fuel economy, over power. Any advice is appreciated.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Action
Welcome to the FFO!

"Bolt In"!
To achieve bolt in, one would want to obtain an engine (and other pieces) that were available for the model year 1967.

The 5th gen Fairlane had the following engines
200 six
289 V8
390 V8
427 V8
Automatic transmissions would be C4 or maybe a FMX for the six and the 289. A C6 for the 390 and 427

By far the best "bolt in" solution would be to find the entire powertrain in a 1966 to 1969 Fairlane.

What is the 5th character in the serial number of your Fairlane?

Action
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Clayton8589
Action said:
Welcome to the FFO!

"Bolt In"!
To achieve bolt in, one would want to obtain an engine (and other pieces) that were available for the model year 1967.

The 5th gen Fairlane had the following engines
200 six
289 V8
390 V8
427 V8
Automatic transmissions would be C4 or maybe a FMX for the six and the 289. A C6 for the 390 and 427

By far the best "bolt in" solution would be to find the entire powertrain in a 1966 to 1969 Fairlane.

What is the 5th character in the serial number of your Fairlane?

Action
Click to expand...
It is H
Reply
Save
Like
Action
H is a 390 2bbl carb.
Which would be a nice old school engine to install.
The 1967 & 1968 390 in Fairlane was 9.5:1 compression — 270 horsepower (200 kW) at 4400 rpm and 401 lb⋅ft (544 N⋅m) at 2600 rpm. The 4V version in 1967 to 1969 Fairlane had 335 ponies and the compression ratio was 10.5 to 1.

The 390 is part of the FE engine family. (FE = Ford Edsel)
This engine family was used from 1958 to 1976. And had a lot of diffeernt variations.
A 390 would be a lot power for that vehicle
There are a lot of 390 engines out there.

Action
Reply
Save
Like
Action
Most of the time that kind of engine was yanked as an assembly and used for some other vehicle. Meaning your Fairlane was a donor vehicle to someone else's project.

Now the Fairlane of your vintage is much more collectible than days gone bye when they were not as popular.

Action
Reply
Save
Like
charles jahnke
not to crash a party but finding a complete engine and transmission with all the accessories to just drop in a 50 year old car may be a task you maybe able to find them separately but they will probably need some extra parts and the $ of engines these days is going to drain the pile there is no longer ones at a salvage yard you can buy complete and sling it in do you have the motor mounts or the transmission cross member ? the wiring will probably need updating radiator exhaust manifolds ect theres a lot of prep and parts chasing that will need to be done enjoy:oops:
Reply
Save
Like
charles jahnke
where is your location in the states ?
Reply
Save
Like
Action
Here is a used 1967 390 4V with C6. Came from a T-Bord and has all of the accessories including AC compressor.
Located in Missouri

1967 Ford Thunderbird Galaxie Mustang FE 390 Engine & C6 Transmition ~ Complete | eBay

From Texas - the full Monte which the drive shaft may not work

1965 Mercury Monterey convertible used original 390 power train | eBay

Action
Reply
Save
Like
Clayton8589
Action said:
Most of the time that kind of engine was yanked as an assembly and used for some other vehicle. Meaning your Fairlane was a donor vehicle to someone else's project.

Now the Fairlane of your vintage is much more collectible than days gone bye when they were not as popular.

Action
Click to expand...
My Fairlane has been in the family since before I was born. It was going to be a father son rebuild but my dad passed from cancer before we could get back up and running. The engine that was in it he said was too far gone for us to do ourselves deep pitting in two cylinders. We were going to put a 302 in it because he had everything but after he passed my mom needed money so she sold it. Now I'm at a loss as to where to start and what it all needs.
Reply
Save
Like
Clayton8589
charles jahnke said:
where is your location in the states ?
Click to expand...
A border town of Nebraska/Kansas
Reply
Save
Like
Action
Your mom sold the engine or the car?

Assuming the vehicle was purchased new or new used, I have another question.

You said the Fairlane, "Currently it has no drive train". To me the drive train is the engine, transmission, drive shaft/U joints and the rear axle.
Are all of those parts missing?

You also stated these goals, "I would prefer simpler, easier maintenance, and fuel economy, over power."
That is a bit in conflict. Easier maintenance and good fuel economy would be a newer "power train". However that is not simpler or bolt in. And I will add low cost.

The lowest cost, something that is bolt in and easiest to restore in would be the same as what came out.

If you want modern that is low on maintenance and better fuel economy that would be the most expensive, more difficult and frustrating to pull off. Even if it is very late 302 that is fuel injected with an over drive transmission. All of that would HAVE to come with electronic pieces that were designed with it. You would want a donor car that the engine had not been removed so nothing would be missing to operate the powertrain. The install would be far more complicated and frustrating. And you would have a one off custom vehicle.

In theory, since the 67 could of had a 427, nearly any engine and transmission would fit the space. However, the details are an every increasing problem. And the amount of modifications necessary to pull off a well running custom vehicle is huge. It is the little things. Like adding an oxygen sensor into the exhaust system. Or getting a pressurized fuel system to work. There are hundreds of those kinds of things that make that kind of project anything but bolt in. Even moving from a period correct 390 to a 302 has some modifications to the fuel system, engine wiring and cooling system routing. BTW 302 was not introduced until 1968.

If you did a totally stock installation and the car is a hobby (not a daily driver) fuel economy and maintenance almost mean nothing, You are never going to drive it enough to justify better fuel economy.

Consider your goals first before making decisions to move forward. BTW classic car ownership is no longer a cheap venture. No matter which direction you take, the choices are expensive and/or costly.

Action
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Clayton8589
Action said:
Your mom sold the engine or the car?

Assuming the vehicle was purchased new or new used, I have another question.

You said the Fairlane, "Currently it has no drive train". To me the drive train is the engine, transmission, drive shaft/U joints and the rear axle.
Are all of those parts missing?

You also stated these goals, "I would prefer simpler, easier maintenance, and fuel economy, over power."
That is a bit in conflict. Easier maintenance and good fuel economy would be a newer "power train". However that is not simpler or bolt in. And I will add low cost.

The lowest cost, something that is bolt in and easiest to restore in would be the same as what came out.

If you want modern that is low on maintenance and better fuel economy that would be the most expensive, more difficult and frustrating to pull off. Even if it is very late 302 that is fuel injected with an over drive transmission. All of that would HAVE to come with electronic pieces that were designed with it. You would want a donor car that the engine had not been removed so nothing would be missing to operate the powertrain. The install would be far more complicated and frustrating. And you would have a one off custom vehicle.

In theory, since the 67 could of had a 427, nearly any engine and transmission would fit the space. However, the details are an every increasing problem. And the amount of modifications necessary to pull off a well running custom vehicle is huge. It is the little things. Like adding an oxygen sensor into the exhaust system. Or getting a pressurized fuel system to work. There are hundreds of those kinds of things that make that kind of project anything but bolt in. Even moving from a period correct 390 to a 302 has some modifications to the fuel system, engine wiring and cooling system routing. BTW 302 was not introduced until 1968.

If you did a totally stock installation and the car is a hobby (not a daily driver) fuel economy and maintenance almost mean nothing, You are never going to drive it enough to justify better fuel economy.

Consider your goals first before making decisions to move forward. BTW classic car ownership is no longer a cheap venture. No matter which direction you take, the choices are expensive and/or costly.

Action
Click to expand...
She sold the donor vehicle that had the engine and transmission that my dad wanted to put in the Fairlane. I believe it was a mercury monarch. The Fairlane does have the rear axle but the rest is gone. Not certain about what condition the axle is in though.

My goal is ultimately getting it just up and running again. As far as easiest I was meaning that if I am having a really hard time find a 390 would I have the option of a different engine without having to swap out everything else. I never really cared all that much about how fast it goes. Also I'm not wanting a crate or newer engine, I just want one that is not impossible to find parts for.

Knowing how my dad was he probably wanted to do the 302 because it would be harder to swap. Which would teach me more than replacing with another 390.
Reply
Save
Like
Iowan
While the FE fits the 66 and up Fairlane chassis, a small black would be my choice. The 351 / c4, FMX or even c6 combo is the way I would go. The FE gets tight and can be a pain to work on.
Reply
Save
Like
Action
Both 302 and 390 engines should be plentiful.
Both engines had a very long production run.
The 302 is from the Windsor engine family and the 390 is from the FE engine family.
Both can be made to go fast. That is not your goal and both do not need to be driven that way.
As to automatic, my choice would be to use a C4 behind the 302 or the C6 behind the 390. Both of those transmissions are well supported.
FMX had a shorter production run and maybe less supported (replacement parts) than the C4 and C6

Action
Reply
Save
Like
6
If your mom still is in the same property, are you sure there's no car parts laying around there that could benefit this project? As far as complexity, installing an engine of a similar era into a car that age is not that difficult. There's only a few wires to hook up and it's nothing like modern engine/transmission combinations that almost have to come from a vehicle the same year. I think you will be surprised by how many of these old engines and transmissions are out there in the back of someone's garage or barn. With the internet you can look right from the sofa and probably find anything you need.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Ford Automobiles
A forum community dedicated to Ford owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Engine, Transmission/Axle & Driveline/Axle Introduce Yourself Ford Escape Ford Galaxie Electrical | Starting, Charging, Batteries & Lamps
Top