302/223 swap

[Rmvr53]

58 Country Sedan with 223/3 speed. I want to do an engine swap but retain the original 3 speed w/overdrive. Anyone know of an adapter plate or similar? Anyone done this?

thanks

Bill

[darrell]

i done this swap in a 57.i just drilled out the bell and bolted it together sounds a little crude but worked fine.also the front bearing cover that centres the trans in the bell is a little smaller and must be built up.

[Rmvr53]

getting this straight...you used the 302 bell housing (and I assume 302 pressure plate/clutch) and drilled it to fit the tranny? Did the clutch plate / splines line up ok? Did you do mechanical or hydro clutch?

[flatrod]

I have not done this exact swap, but a cast iron bell housing usually from a 300 six will bolt on to the 302 and has bolt bosses that can be drilled to fit your trans. Aluminum bell housings usually don't have enough meat to drill and tap, but can be used. There is also center hole size as mentioned to be checked. There are 157 tooth and 164 tooth flywheels, each must match the bell housing. As for flywheel, you need to find out if you have a 50 oz balance or a 28 zo balance engine. After that it should go together easy. Clutch linkage may be a bolt together or just a matter of making a pivot point.

[darrell]

the alum, bell is to thin for tapping as you say i just drilled it and used bolts from the inside with lock washers and nuts and put the bell and trans on in one piece.if you want to tap it you will need the cast one as you say.its really a simple job just use the clutch that fits your trans.

[Rmvr53]

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how do you find out about the balance?

[flatrod]

Do you know what year your engine is? 1980 and newer is 50 oz, in 302's anything older should be 28 oz. But then who's to say if somebody didn't mix a bunch of parts. Any casting numbers on anything like block, or intake anything you can see?

[Rmvr53]

engine is out of a 68 Cougar

[darrell]

any 289 351 early 302 works.only the 302 has 2 different flywheels balance wise

[flatrod]

A 68 Cougar should be a 28 oz balance. Also should be a 157 tooth flywheel. Do you have the bell housing that goes to the 302? Should be aluminum. It can be modified to fit your original trans. Then just bolt it all together.

[Rmvr53]

no BH - don't have the engine yet, just the guy has me on "first dibs" but if someone else shows an interest in it I gotta poop or get off the pot as the old saying goes...Its also an automatic car so I will have to pick up a flywheel as well

[JeffB2]

If you now have a BW T-85 overdrive which is fairly stout that would be fine,but many 223's had a BW T-86 which is much weaker and I would not bolt that up to a 302 unless it will stay bone stock and you baby it. You '58 clutch linkage will not line up with a 302 so figure on probably adding a hydraulic clutch set up.If you were to bolt in a 302/5.0 with an AOD it would be less labor and easier to get parts.

[darrell]

i had no trouble with stock clutch setup in my 57.done this back in 77 and used my 289 starter which came of my 289 auto,.didnt know i needed a end for a standard tore everything all apart didnt know what i did wrong.