Ram Jet 502 engine swap

[monomial]

I'm looking to build a general use machine; sand dunes, volcanoes (Flagstaff Az.) Moab, general 4-wheeling etc. I'd like to install a Ram Jet 502. Anyone know if it will fit? Is this vehicle a good candidate for such a motor?

Thanks.

 

[S_bolt19]

You are joking right? That is one helluva way to make a splash on a new board....Welcome..

I wouldn't even think of putting a 10k engine in to one of these....let alone a Ch*vy block. An EB is in no way, shape or form built for that kind of power. Even if you are just kicking the idea around, you would be better building a 460 and putting it in. As it is, the 460 requires huge modifications and it is a Ford engine. Honestly, unless you just have money to throw away, build a Windsor engine and put in one rather than just having the awe factor with an enormous engine.

 

[monomial]

You are joking right? That is one helluva way to make a splash on a new board....Welcome..
I wouldn't even think of putting a 10k engine in to one of these....let alone a Ch*vy block. An EB is in no way, shape or form built for that kind of power. Even if you are just kicking the idea around, you would be better building a 460 and putting it in. As it is, the 460 requires huge modifications and it is a Ford engine. Honestly, unless you just have money to throw away, build a Windsor engine and put in one rather than just having the awe factor with an enormous engine.

Thanks for the response. I was looking at a 73 Bronco with no motor or tranney for $3K. I know the 502 has been put into a Jeep but I've always liked the EB. Guess i'll keep thinking about it. Thanks again.

 

[S_bolt19]

What kind of shape is the vehicle in with out the drive train? It would have to be in pretty good shape to get $3k without that stuff.

To give you an idea of what kind of mods are needed for the 502, you are going to be cutting the fire wall, probably the frame & then rewelding it back with stiffeners & cross members, body & engine mounts, a body lift in conjunction with a high hood or scoop (unless you just plan on litting it hang out the top) and more than likely you will have to remove the inner fenders. On top of that, you will also be looking at re-routing your steering shaft to clear the heads & headers and you are going to have to change the front suspension to handle the weight of that engine. Not only is the engine going to cost in the neighborhood of $10K, but the mods & shoe horning to get it in there will run in that same neighborhood. I didn't mean to burst your bubble like that, but even a Jeep that has that engine in it has had close to $20K spent on it to get it in there proper. It can be done, it just depends on if you have the money to do it.

 

[Broncobill78]

Like S bolt said, it's *possible* but the time, money & hassle of a project like that makes it simply insane. I have personally put a 460 into a 71' and it was an absolute nightmare. If the guy who owned the truck & wrote the checks hadn't been a childhood friend I wouldn't have even considered getting involved with it at all. EVERYTHING needs to be fabricated and then everything *else* needs to be moved to make it fit. The work involved is just crazy and then when you're done you have a 4mpg truck that's so nose heavy you're terrified of getting it airborne and everytime you hit a mudhole it promptly buries the front bumper. The handling was simply nonexistant, it never wanted to turn and acted like a submarine every time you hit the brakes and there aren't *any* springs or bushings made anywhere in the world that will solve THAT problem. Oh, I see you want to use it on sand dunes, well considering how well the 460 EB handled mud I'm sure sure sand will be quite an adventure. Be sure to bring a camcorder. Everything S Bolt said was true and then some. A 351W is a large motor to fit in there and after doing a couple of *those* swaps I'm absolutely convinced the 289/302 is the best overall engine for the EB's.

If you've got pockets deep enough to swap in a 502 then you'd be much better off building yourself an injected & supercharged 302 instead. ****, get all sorts of freaky & run a twin turbo or something but accept the fact that there are physical space limitations under the hood and there's really only so much you can do before it starts becoming a one-off undrivable trailer queen that you dumped $25K into.

 

[dukdogz]

I have a buddy that put a 5.3 vortec in a 77' with the 4l60e and all and it was a pretty easy swap, he purchased a wrecked tahoe. I am not a huge fan of chevy but I will say the thing runs like a banshee, I could not put a ford running gear together with an overdrive trans and close to 375 horse for what he has into the swap. If your bent on gm look into that it is turn key dependable.

 

[Bully Bob]

YAAAP..!

Drop a smallblock performance (like mustang) Ford eng. right in with computer & all.....save yourself $20K & send us all a case-a-beer...! >

Otherwise, everything fr. the rad. to the rear pumpkin has to be changed to handle that punishment.

Then again, if you do it....post weekly so we can all learn, enjoy, and/or suffer with you. (Hopefully not the latter) (

 

[racebreedbronco]

Why a 502 chevy??? explain!! theres more than enough Ford power to around...

 

[S_bolt19]

This kinda ties into this thread so I thought that I would add it for thought.

I was watching Speed TV the other day and they did a whole episode on big block engines. They dyno'd original equipment of the 409 Chevy, 427 Ford, 440 Hemi, and a couple others, I don't remember. Anyway, with completely original engines, the only 2 that produced more power than the "factory advertised power" were the Ford & the Hemi. The Ford plant was billed at 445 hp (+/-) and the Hemi at 465 (+/-). They both produced substantially more hp more than that and in the case of the Hemi, it was almost double the power into the 800+ hp range. The Ford plant was in the 650+ hp range. The only engine that failed to meet factory specs was the Chevy 409, billed at 409 hp and it came in a just under 400 hp.

Just thought that it was interesting.

 

[TX '73]

I agree....of course anything is possible, they build freightliners with rocket boosters but keep a ford a ford and a chevy a chevy. I went to some car shows recently (I think hot rods are cool). I saw some nice old fords cars, 30's models with 350's in them. I can't stand a ford w/ a chevy motor. I also wouldn't like to see a ford motor in, say a '55 chevy bel air (I love 55 chevy's). If you want a muscle'd up bronco, you can get MORE than enough power out of ford motor. For me it's just a matter of principle....ford bronco = ford motor. If you're stuck on a 502 that's okay but I'd put it in a K5 or blazer.

Respectfully, just in case you didn't know....a strong 289 or 302 w/ a good 4bbl carb will run it's a$$ off. I personally think FORD hit the nail on the head w/ planting 289s and 302s under the hoods of EBs. Coinsidentally, the 289s and 302s work real well in other ford models also like PUs and mustangs, some are even on the dragstrip. I guess I'm just really proud of mine but these motors have been tried and tested over several years and in many ford people's opinions, are some of the best motors FORD ever made. I think ford should go back to them w/ some modern touches of course.

To answer your original question, my 2 cents is - NO, not enough juice for the squeeze.

 

[Redneck86]

This kinda ties into this thread so I thought that I would add it for thought.
I was watching Speed TV the other day and they did a whole episode on big block engines. They dyno'd original equipment of the 409 Chevy, 427 Ford, 440 Hemi, and a couple others, I don't remember. Anyway, with completely original engines, the only 2 that produced more power than the "factory advertised power" were the Ford & the Hemi. The Ford plant was billed at 445 hp (+/-) and the Hemi at 465 (+/-). They both produced substantially more hp more than that and in the case of the Hemi, it was almost double the power into the 800+ hp range. The Ford plant was in the 650+ hp range. The only engine that failed to meet factory specs was the Chevy 409, billed at 409 hp and it came in a just under 400 hp.

Just thought that it was interesting.

Just so you know they also tested a Chevy 427 MrkVI Big Block, chevy said it had 435 hp but it put out 550. I do happen to like chevy too so i wanted to defend them /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> . The one i wanted to see them test was the Chevy 454 LS-6 and the Ford boss 429

 

[Broncobill78]

Just so you know they also tested a Chevy 427 MrkVI Big Block, chevy said it had 435 hp but it put out 550. I do happen to like chevy too so i wanted to defend them /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> . The one i wanted to see them test was the Chevy 454 LS-6 and the Ford boss 429

The question is how valid a comparison would that ever be ? The Boss429 was built to compete in NasCar and they pretty much only sold enough units to certify it for that. Fact is that I don't think enyone's ever been able to conclusively show that they even did *that*, there are all sorts of stories about the Boss-429's coming off the assembly line, having the NasCar guys count them & then being run back to the beginning of the line to go thru it again and be counted 2 or 3 times. Same deal with the SuperBirds. Back then it was all about getting your $hit certified regardless of HOW you did it. If you needed to send 2 or 3 girls to the inspectors room each night then the companies were willing to do so if it got their engines certified for NasCar. Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday mentality. Nobody doubts these engines/cars exist, it's just how *many* of them that were produced. Comparing a Boss429 to an LS-6 ?!?!?!? Kinda seems like apples and oranges to me. Why not compare a modern 5.0 to an early 350 ? While I agree it might be interesting just for the sake of seeing what the numbers are I'm not quite sure what it would prove & to *whom* it would prove anything.

 

[Redneck86]

I didn want them to be compared i just wanted know what a 1970 LS-6 454 put out, from what i know the '70 LS-6 was the most bada$$ 454 Chevy built, and made way more then the 450hp/500lb tq Chevy *said* it made. I got to drive my friends dads 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS-6...it threw me in the seat more then anything else ive been in....f*ckin FAST off the line too. Thats why i wanna know what one makes on the dyno.

 

[bidibronco]

502 is a big motor? If you want that kind of power for the same price you could build a nice stroker motor and for that kind of money I don't see why it wouldn't be reliable as well. If I had it my way a DD would have a super charged 351w in it while my toy would have a simple 8-71 blown 460 running on some high grade 110+ octane. But then again, that's just dreaming at the moment. I would just say build a nice 302 that's balanced with some forged internals along with a nice set of flowing heads, a roller cam and some roller rockers and either a nice carb and intake set up or nice intake FI set up (a matched one for your power range and RPM range of course). Had to put my money in on that one.... PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS?