How much room between firewall and back of motor (maximum)?

[dville_gt]

Putting a 351C into a 66 fastback and trying to get the engine orientated as rearward as possible. The car has a Heidts Mustang II front clip on it and the cross member has been notched and the rack mounts relocated to give as much room as possible. Even so, the furthest back the motor can go is still leaving about 3" gap between the firewall and the rear of the motor. Before fab'ing up the motor mounts I was wondering what everyone's opinion of this is.

[homealone]

From a handling aspect, as far back as you can go. But I'll leave enough room to get the bell housing bolts out. Don't forget to leave clearance for your air cleaner, headers/exhaust, and oil pan.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I did the math once, and moving the engine back a couple of inches didnt make much difference on balance. It needs to move back more than a foot to get the balance shifted back.

Not that moving it back in the engine bay wouldnt help with overhang, but you arent moving that weight off the front end.

[sickpony]

Strut towers cut? I was just wondering about the width of it? My windsor was a pain to fit into my old 64 1/2.

[dville_gt]

Strut towers cut? I was just wondering about the width of it? My windsor was a pain to fit into my old 64 1/2.

towers are cut out. not sure a Cleveland would fit with the towers.

[Baron Von Crowder]

James, you have brakes sorted on the front yet?

[dville_gt]

James, you have brakes sorted on the front yet?

ya, all of the front suspension/brakes are in. i believe the kit came with gm calipers with ford bolt pattern rotors.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I ended up with cnc'd brakets to bolt a mustang dual piston caliper on a MII spindle with the ford pattern 11" rotor, and I now have no use for them.

[JC316]

There is a pretty good gap on my 70 cougar, that looks about right to me.

[Kart21]

From a handling aspect, as far back as you can go. But I'll leave enough room to get the bell housing bolts out. Don't forget to leave clearance for your air cleaner, headers/exhaust, and oil pan.

yep.