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Topic: I think DART lies.... (Read 4012 times) previous topic - next topic

I think DART lies....

Since i work for ROUSH and get a 30% discount on all parts, i decided to Finally start my engine swap plans this year.

So i had performance division order me a 351w stroker short block ( Which is an aftermarket dblock that comes out to be a 427 ci shortblock)

Now DART states that all its aftermarket blocks Accept all standard parts a normal block would and will accept all oer components such as transmissions, and fit in standard mounting locations.

Well heres the 3 main problems ive had so far with no explanation.

1. The engine sits farther back in the engine bay causing my BBK headers to sit right on steering shaft. (had to custom fab one up)

2. Im using the recomended Canton racing oil pan for 351w swaps into a fox body and the oil pan sits on the sway bar.

3. And since the engine sits farther back, I now barely have any end play where my driveshaft goes into trans.

What gives!!!! ugggggggh
1986 Ford Thunderbird
!!COMPLETED!! 427 ci ROUSH engine swap<<!NEW! Fed by a Holley Terminator EFI setup/ custom COP setup ignition
 8.8 rear. with 4:10 gears, Eaton Trutrac diff, 31 spline axles and external breather system. Had it cleaned, sandblasted, and powder coated.
Holley Terminator EFI with custom made CNP ignition system

"Its kind of like driving the red headed step child of the mustangs" :hick:

I think DART lies....

Reply #1
You are going to be better off searching for info on this on the Mustang sites or http://www.sbftech.com.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

I think DART lies....

Reply #2
Well i got it all in and working, but i was just hoping someone on here who also has a DART block would be like, "Oh yeah me too, really sucks." Or something lol  It was just really frustrating because if you go on DARTS website, they state all the blocks fit stock locations and parts.
1986 Ford Thunderbird
!!COMPLETED!! 427 ci ROUSH engine swap<<!NEW! Fed by a Holley Terminator EFI setup/ custom COP setup ignition
 8.8 rear. with 4:10 gears, Eaton Trutrac diff, 31 spline axles and external breather system. Had it cleaned, sandblasted, and powder coated.
Holley Terminator EFI with custom made CNP ignition system

"Its kind of like driving the red headed step child of the mustangs" :hick:

I think DART lies....

Reply #3
I have a buddy that built a 427 with a dart block and his sat right in fine, no muss,no fuss.... what k member did you use?

I think DART lies....

Reply #4
are you sure your mounts didn't move somehow? On my old Sport, when I did the 5 speed swap I had to shorten my driveshaft and couldn't figure out why when everyone else says theirs worked just fine. Come to find out my motor mounts had shifted and let the engine move back roughly 2" while the tranny was out. didn't figure it out until I parted the car out and noticed the mounts were pushed backward
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

I think DART lies....

Reply #5
did the trans mount not line up either?

I used my stock aod cross member with my t-5.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I think DART lies....

Reply #6
nope, I had to grind the welds off and slide it all the way back and reweld on mine. I didn't think anything of that though because I looked up under my brothers mustang and his crossmsmber was slid all the way back.
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

I think DART lies....

Reply #7
Its the stock k member.

I have a pair of what i believe are 5.0 motor mounts (stock) that consist of the lower bracket that attaches to k member, with a large rubber disc in the middle, and top bracket that even has the tabs on it that run through a metal loop on bottm bracket in case of a mount braking.

This is how the story went. I took the motor mounts apart to clean and paint them. When installing new engine, i noticed the bottom bracket will only fit on a certain side, so no problem so far. Then i went to attach upper bracket to engine and the block hit the plate before the holes could line up, so i had to put spacers between plate and block. Then as i was getting the engine settled in and about to install trans mount, i noticed the trans was about an 1 1/2 inches to far forward.

So naturally i swaped the top plates of mounts around thinking i put them on wrong. Well that worked.....kind of. The trans mount now lined up perfect but other things were off. Such as the slop in my driveshaft was reduced and my air cleaner no longer sits directly in the middle of the hole in the hood.
1986 Ford Thunderbird
!!COMPLETED!! 427 ci ROUSH engine swap<<!NEW! Fed by a Holley Terminator EFI setup/ custom COP setup ignition
 8.8 rear. with 4:10 gears, Eaton Trutrac diff, 31 spline axles and external breather system. Had it cleaned, sandblasted, and powder coated.
Holley Terminator EFI with custom made CNP ignition system

"Its kind of like driving the red headed step child of the mustangs" :hick:

I think DART lies....

Reply #8
at least get so.e chuck mounts.

with a stock s.o. and t-5 I've ripped both my motor mounts apart twice. can't imagine if it had any power.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I think DART lies....

Reply #9
I would put a mustang k member in it and run mustang mounts. Use the tbird  a arms and such and just change the k. You could even do a tubular k for a fox body....direct bolt in.

I think DART lies....

Reply #10
but, its a lot of work. unless your stripping the car out and racing it, the stock member is fine. chucks motor mounts have been in some really high hp cars without issue and cost the same as most mustang mounts.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I think DART lies....

Reply #11
ahhh....didnt know what chuck mounts were....linky?

I think DART lies....

Reply #12
chuck w, he is the forum administrator over our classifieds. he also builds them for mercuks and svo's.

 http://www.turbochuck.com/motormounts/

I need to pony up for a set before I end up with helicoils in my block for motor mounts.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I think DART lies....

Reply #13
Personally, I made my stock mounts on my old Sport solid. was extremely easy to do, would be even easier now that I have a welder... some allthread, spacers of your choice, some nuts, and drilling of ONE hole in each mount...
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

I think DART lies....

Reply #14
I tried using all thread because of the motor mounts being back ordered. I sheareed the top bracket on one side, it was completely gone on the other. what's really funny, I was on my way home from ordering the mounts.

I think it had to do with my aggressive driving.and.the.275/60/r15's I had out back. had to really beat on it to get a one wheel peel.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com