Hello. I am new to the wagon world, but I have a project that will be a 1988 Ford country squire with a 1970 olds 455 rocket and 350 turbo trans. The components were a great deal and with the stock power it fit my desires. Any idea what I will need to hook the motor and trans to the wagon? Will I be able to plug the current harness into the old school set up? I am going with a 4bl and HEI. Thanks for any input.
You will have to do a great deal of adapting work, to get the various things powered and working, but your biggest load will be the HEI. I can't remember offhand if the power wire in the GM harness has a resistor wire or not, but if it does, you'll need to verify the Ford harness' resistor is the same or close value, otherwise, you'll keep burning up the HEI.
HEI should run off of the full 12V, no resistor. I'm not sure what you mean when you ask if you can plug the current harness (which one?) into the old school setup, but the answer would be no. Are you sure you don't want to sell the 455 and trans (should be worth a fair amount) and build a 302 or 351 for your car? It would make life so much easier.
Thank you. I do have a points distributor that is the stock one for the motor, so maybe I'll try that first.
Thank you. The car still has all the original wiring in it. The motor and trans were pulled but everything is there. Easier yes, but it would take a lot($) to get the power out of the 302/351 that I'll be getting out of the 455. The motor and trans were less than $800.
You really would be better off building a Windsor (Ford had a 351W that's 365 HP, nearly 450 lb-ft from carburetion, factory new at one time) that bolts right up to the AOD, and with a change to the TV cable attachment, that AOD will work with the carb. Then you can deepen the rear gearing on a '90s disc brake rear, add an LS, and away you go! If you find a 1968 to 1973 460-4V and C6, you get 365HP/500 lb-ft FACTORY rating, and it's much easier to plug in/adapt that combo. Otherwise you have to build from scratch to adapt a drivetrain not even made for it.
