Anybody Try A Big Block Ford

The CA20e is starting to die on me.  Its burning more and more oil. Its not healthy and I beat the living hell out of it.  Anyways I have 2 BBF motors just laying around.  One is an FE 390 and the other is my 460.  I am going to measure it up soon.  I know both motors are huge and weight probably about 700-800 lbs but the 460 has 400+tq and ran amazing in my Lincoln Mark IV 5500lb car. I also have an extra Buick 3800 that I mated to a W58 with a Jeep bellhousing that I could swap but it wouldnt make anywhere near the power or sound as amazing as a Big Block.

So has anybody attempted a Big Block in an S12 or on an S platform?

BTW:  I am a fabricator so I dont need to hear all the Fab comments.  I already understand its not going to drop right in.

If im not mistaken, small blocks barely fit...so a big block may even be outright impossible to do without a tube front end.

I wouldnt be surprised if it were too big.  Ill do some measuring tomorrow.

premo put in a 302, it was a pretty tight fit...

And I thought I was partialy crazy with my plans for a ford 2.3 turbo outta my merkur parts car.. hehe..

Would deffinately be something to see though!

i like the the 302 idea, i would go that way if i could go back and do it again.

Johnny_boii like the the 302 idea, i would go that way if i could go back and do it again.

no i did a ka, now i wish i just did a 302. more power out the gate. 130hp vs 225hp

KA only has 130..?? WTF?
that seems.. sad.. I thought they would be up around 200ish since they're so popular... hell thats too much work for such little gain even over the ca20e as far as im concerned.

seriously? only 130hp...?
hell I can have the 2.3T pushing over 200 for next to dick all.. it runs at 175 stock... 220-230 with some thunderchicken parts that are dirt cheap.. that even beats the 302.. Muaahahaha!!!

okay then, KA VS 2.3T = 2.3 WINS!

2.3T VS chevy = debatable...
(Based on above statement.. hahaha!!)

If I'm not mistake the ka24de has 155hp from factory. The install also seems fairly easy with almost no modification. The  ford 2.3l turbo your most likely looking at all-custom drive shaft engine and tranny mounts and maybe cross member modification. So in my opinion ka win.

To keep on subject the big block you will definitely have issues with fitment but if your like me, and you have fab skills you can make anything fit. In the end it all depends on how much work you want to put in this.  Also motor weight is a concern not because of hp to weight ratio ,but because of weight displacement.  If the motors do weigh what you stated above I think it would handle like shit  
Sorry to say but that's my input.

no arguing with you there!!! haha

but one thing I've always wondered.. the horrible understeer.. maybe more wieght to the front/on the front tires would help correct some of that. I mean its not that the tires dont turn far enough.. so if more weight was transfered to the front and increased, perhaps it would help negate some of the understeer... ??

I think it would be worth the experiment of adding a stupid amount of wieght to the front just to test the theory out.

but if my guess was right, then a big block would be good!

the only thing id worry about, is getting strong enough suspension and frame support to hold up to all that wieght. Im sure it would be fine.

and if one had the fab skills to put a big block in there, Im sure they could likely manage handling re-inforcing everything as well..

302 dont weight that much for a v8. ppl do vq45's there pretty heavy, same with ls1. from what i read a 5.0 weights something like 400lbs-500lbs, but i might be wrong on that, it was some time ago when i read that.

oh and just imaging rolling up on some honda boy or anybody else for that matter with a v8 under the hood. oh and the sound of a 5.0 in a s12 is just win to me.

then talk about after market support! $14 each for high compression pistons!!!

did you just say ls1 is heavy?

hmmm.. i know where i can get a 5.0 for 100$... out an f150.. get the whole truck for 100$

oh wait.. then Id have two!! almost forgot that 4x4 truck the lil brother inlaw gave me.. its a 5.0 engine as well!!!

its funny cuz a guy at work has been looking for one for months.. hehe. hes also the same guy with an exploder 8.8 rearend

brewster240did you just say ls1 is heavy?

MaxpowI lol'd too.
There is no way that motor will fit and it will throw the car off tremendously. Small block would be sex though, and its possible because the one guy fit an LS1

i think someone here tried it a long time ago.. but never updated it.

He had pictures of putting a v8 in the s12.. but did not tell us if it starts, or runs..

He did not yet prove it can be done.. but it shows a v8 can fit with alot of modifications.

hehe.. I should buy one of joeys race engines off him.

for his sprint car.. around 5-600hp.

has a belt going from the crank to the water pump.. nothing else.

has no wires for distrib or nothing, runs off a mag.. and holy fuck have you ever seen a spark jump 3-4 inches!!! and bright, like mini lightening!

but for a v-8, im sure its smaller than half the engines everyone puts in here. full assembled, I bet its very easily comparable to the ca20e even!!!

all you'd need is a fuel line,and add a starter!! haha

ya a ka makes 155hp at the crank, but im talking wheel hp.

if a vg30dett fits then there a good chance a big block could fit.

how huch does a vq45,vh35 or a vg30dett weight?

Johnny_boiya a ka makes 155hp at the crank, but im talking wheel hp.

if a vg30dett fits then there a good chance a big block could fit.
how huch does a vq45,vh35 or a vg30dett weight?

It would fit... A Ford BB is what, 28-30" wide?
S12 bay is 32" wide, 27" at the frame rail, the BB block is about 10" wide, so no problem there.

I don't see why it wouldn't fit... Now the newer DOHC modular, that might be a challenge.

I can get any other S12 bay dimensions if you want, since mine is empty ATM.

seishukuIt would fit... A Ford BB is what, 28-30" wide?
S12 bay is 32" wide, 27" at the frame rail, the BB block is about 10" wide, so no problem there.

I don't see why it wouldn't fit... Now the newer DOHC modular, that might be a challenge.

I can get any other S12 bay dimensions if you want, since mine is empty ATM.

LyniumOH OH OH OH OH!!! PICK ME PICK ME!!!

Can you take a couplequick measurements for me?

motor mount point to motor mount point (basicaly where the enings mounts would sit on the cars brackets/mounts kinda thing)

line across the bay, centered on motor mounts to about where the tranny bellhousing would sit, and as well to the front edge of the shifter hole (if your trannies out and can measure that) and from the same imaginary line to the inside edge of the rad?
and then from the highest point of the crossmember to the bottom edge of where the mounts would sit..

I hope you can follow what im trying say. If you cant or anything thats okay, I'll just have to wing it, but the more info I can get in advance for planning the better.. lol

pretty sure Im gona have to get a new pan with front sump n pickup... lol but maybe a split one would be better..

yes and no. depends what they tossed em into.

like the 2.3, depending on the car, it had front or rear, or split sumps. lol

I think 5.0s vary as well depending on the vehicle, but not 100% sure.
Dont know diddly bout any others though.

Ok, I think this is what you're looking for...

Motor mount to motor mount = 19.25"
Strut tower to tower = 32.18"
Front of shifter hole to motor mounts = 35.75"
From motor mounts to lip in front of rad = 12.5"
And
Top of subframe to bottom of motor mount slot = 2.75"

I would give you top of subframe to hood clearance too, but I don't know how accurate it would be, since I have a MK2 and the hood is gutted.

Sweet! I think i understand it all.. haha.
thanks tonnes.. now if I had my other measurments here instead of at teh shop in my toolbox, I could do some figuring..

however, just from what i can recall of things, looks like it should fit in there!!

And no worries about the hood clearance.. I'll cut the hood out and put a scoop or something on top if I need to to make it clear!! lol