So, I swapped out the old 250 for the smaller 200 and now the front of my car sits considerably higher that I think it should. Any sugestions on how to get the nose down? I have never changed out shocks or springs so if you know the answer to lowering the front of the car then please please let me know.
Silly question but you have driven the car or alteast moved it up and down the driveway right? Usually a car will sit higher after it is let down from the jackstands until the suspension has a chance to settle itself back in place. Otherwise it should be sitting about the same, never heard of different springs for different six cylinder engines, just 6 or 8 cylinder springs. But if its still too high for you then you can always remove a spring and cut half a coil off. If you haven't done it before have somebody help who has so you don't injure yourself or your car.
Some six cylinder springs actually had higher rates than some V8s ones. There were alot out there, i believe Jeff has a list of them on his site.
Hmmm...so the answer is no I haven't had it out of the driveway yet because I need a shift linkage bracket that apparently I have misplaced. So it sounds as though I should get it out on the road before doing anything at all. Thanks fellas. I'm a serious newbie to all of this. Though not my first project it is the most in depth.
It's almost 2AM I'm headed to bed. I am frozen but very happy. I got the shift linkage issue ironed out temporarily, I used a coat hanger, the original plastic boot and a 1/4 inch nut and bolt to hold the linkage until I can round up a bracket. The car is shifting fine. Need to add some transmission fluid and top off the rest of the fluids tomorrow. The engine is missing on one cylinder still, but maybe not as dramatically as before. I will check the plugs, wires and distributor tomorrow as well. Hope it's not a bad valve.
OK may be a little off topic.... But what would I have to do to swap a 302. out for a Ford 200 or 170??? Trany??? mounts??? YES DOWNGRADING THE CAR FROM AN 8 to a 6!!!! LONG STORY,,,, but my old man says I can buy the car if I can put a 6 in it,,I got the money and everything...,, Im a new driver and he dosent trust me with "ALL THAT POWER" -_- (even though a stock 302 dosent have a whole lotta power anyway ,,,, DUHHH DAD) PLEASE HELP SOOOON..... THERES A DAMN NEAR PERFECT 1970 maverick grabber in orange, (for $4,500) and if I dont get this figured out that cars gonna be gone............. Im pretty shure its just got a 4 in the floor,,,,,,, I know its manual (might be a 3 speed) ,,, Does it matter what kinda tranny its got......... Ive heard their all the same,,,,, Im sceptical.... is this true???
If you can find a 250 inline 6 then it will bolt up to the trans that is in there with the 302. Just need to get the 6 cyl. frame mounts and engine mounts, should be easy since everybody likes to take them out and put in a v8. might have to remove the belly bar too, under the engine. and change out the throttle cable. Easy swap and plenty of guys here to help find you the parts. Now go get that Grabber.
Downgrading I would suggest yanking the motor and the tranny out of the same car so that they are already matched. No matter how you do it though your going to learn a ton so I say get the car and ask questions later. I would also suggst a 250 instead of the 200 or 170. There are tons of 250 motors still on the road. The 200 was a beast to find parts for. Post an add in the parts section of the forum and I bet you can get the motor and the transmission for cheap. My tranny is the C4 automatic and all I had to do was get a different bellhousing and linkages to make it fit the smaller motor. This is going to be a project so just be patient and do your research as you go. It is totally doable. If the 302 is running you can sell it to finance most of the rest of the build
