Ls1 and the 351w are really close size wise

 

So I have a small car that the previous owner swapped a 289 SBF in. The SBF sits pretty tight. I mean really tight.

Eventually, I'd like to swap in a LS based engine. I think it would be nice to know what I'm up against before I'm doing this swap though.

So I'd love to know if a LS is any wider, longer or taller than a SBF.
I've done some researching and I found that a SBF and a LS are 'about' the same size.
I'm pretty sure its not going to taller, going from a carbed SBF to injection so I don't think thats a problem.
What I am most concerned about is the width at the heads, and the length from the rear to the front of the waterpump.

I took some shitty pics, to give you a idea

Driver side looking up: left is the chassis, middle is steering rod from R&P to steeringwheel, blockhugger header and the red thing is the block itself. This side is the tightest. Unfortunately I didn't get any better pics.

Paasenger side looking up: this is the widest side, I have nearly 3 inches from the cil head to the body, header is only ~ 1 inch though, looks wider in the pics than it is

289 isn't as wide as a LS or 351 Windsor,put a 331 stroker kit a nice cam and some good Aluminum heads in and on the 289 block!!!!

 

LOL I was kinda expecting a reply like that

I'm just not a ford guy. And I figured, with the millions of LS swapped mustangs, surely someone took the time to take a few measurements...

 

As was mentioned above LS1 and 351 Windsor are close in width.A 289 or 302 are not as wide as a 351 Windsor.So IMO without cutting the car up the 289 or 302 would be your best bet.

 

This might help:

https://eb9239d2b3c1bda1d53d-6b4eb8...-6b4eb896915f5ae433f1eefb2b932a4d.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/castexhaustdimensions.jpg

The Hooker manifolds are about as tight as you can get.

Andrew

 

Awesome, thats very helpfull! Was thinking about shifting the engine 1 or 2 inches to the passenger of the car, but it seems the passengerside of the engine is already a bit wider. Figure I'll just have to drop it in and see what happens!

 

If it is a 60s Ford with shock towers,be prepared to cut! We did a 65 falcon a few years ago and retained the stock suspension/shock towers (owners request) by the time we finished all of the fab work, he could have easily bought an aftermarket clip. As a side note, the LS is wider than it looks( 2" wider than a traditional sbc)

 

Us mustang LS swappers are not good for much info since we are usually fox swappers and can drop a big block in there without trying. So we don't measure that stuff.

 

I saw a new LSX block at the shop the other day and was talking to the builder. It's funny how much that engine is like a Ford. Main caps are just like a modular Ford too, which is the windsors weakness. Kind of looks like the took the best of both and improved upon it, good stuff!

 

And then Dart comes along and builds a skirtless version. Lol! Ford and Chrysler were both doing skirted blocks a LONG time ago. Great for strength, not so great for windage. I'm with you though. I think GM took a lot of old technology, tweaked it, and ended up with the LS1--I see several SBF and BBD similarities in the LS1.

 

Have had both engines in the past, really doubt a 9.24" deck LS is going to fit in the same space as the little 8.2" SBF engine. Especially as the windsor head is also physically smaller than the LS head design.

If your engine is a tight squeeze now, I wouldn't even bother getting out the tape measure.. unless you plan to maybe get out the angle grinder also!

 

The car is actually a Lada. A 2105, basically a russian shitbox. But a russian shitbox (2300 pounds BTW) becomes so much more fun with a nice V8 in it

Here is some pics from the top. As you can see, there is way more room in the engine bay itself. Its the firewall/trans tunnel that is tight. Angle grinder and BFH it is!

(please excuse the grime)

 

show us a picture of the car if you could.

 

Sure, this was back in its glory days:

It looks like crap now, the previous owners have really abused it

 

I have a 5.3 on the stand ... I'll take some tomorrow..

 

If your not a Ford guy, why the hell are you building a Mustang? Sell it and buy a camaro.

 

Reading comprehension > you.