Didn't some part of the Tiger lore, the bit about
Shelby or somebody
driving around to dealerships measuring engines, state that the 215
was a bit too wide across the valve covers to fit in an Alpine? Or is
that story just used to justify Shelby's using Ford motors in
everything?
The Ford V8 is one of the narrowest v8's sold. Easy 4 inches narrower than
Chevy.
However just about any engine will fit without exhaust manifolds. Thats why
a lot of swaps use custom headers to get clearance.
The only one I ever drove, a '62 F-85, had something called a
RotoHydroMatic,
cannot remember if was one of the last 4sp autos or early in GM's
adoption
of 3speed autos. I dunno enough about GM trannys, they seemed to have
come out with a new one every 20 minutes or so. Could the hypothetical
SuperCrosser live with a 2sp slushbox? Or perhaps use a Rover SD1
manual?
GM's powerglide 2 speed was used everywhere...however for the F-85 they did
design a
really light 2 speed.
My 65 GTO had a 2 speed the 3 speed didnt appear until 67. It would do the
quarter
in 16 flat at 83 mph with a regular 4 bbl 389. Long rev to 5200 rpm (about 55
mph) then
BANG shift to high and long moan on up the scale. This performance was similar
to what
Road & Track got out of a StingRay from the mid 60;'s with a regular 327 and
powerglide.
The 67 Corvette 427 had powerglide!
Just releasing old memory banks...
mBrad
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