OOps, forgot. Diffs are rated by torque. I'll keep that in mind.

Nothing to do with 300 HP. 300 ft. lb. torque can be exceeded by a 200 HP 5.0.

Anything more the 300HP wouldn't be necessary at the moment. A 12 second car is plenty fast for me. I'm selling my 73 Honda this weekend, so I'll have some money for my car.

Thanks for the info again! I'll start shopping around.

351W is a bit wider than 289/302(5.0), because it is a tall-block variant. Dunno more than that.

You will need a 8.8 or 9.0. Even Ford quit using the smaller rear ends when the torque came up after 1984. 9.0 is popular because it is inexpensive to narrow (at least in USA about $500). T45 is used behind 4.6 engine but is good for 325 torque. 351W is a 5.8 liter engine, so T45 would be good for a stock 351W, but I wouldn't expect the T45 to live behind a "mild" built 351W.

Use the overdrive and 3.08 gears and I bet you could get 30mpg with EFI 5.0 and turn a 12 sec 1/4 mile with the right rear suspension (factory 8.8 LSD + slapper bars?). Use a Ford Ranger 8.8 shortened to use two left-side axles.

You would have to use a very short driveshaft as the 1200 wheelbase is 10.5 inches shorter than Mustang wheelbase.

That's some good info. A friend has an old 351W on a T45(?) tranny in an old Mustang that he's scrapping. It always seemed like a cool idea. Would if be an okay fit?

Also, what are some good options for rear diffs? I've been told the Ford 9 inch is a popular and strong choice for the 1200. I know the stock is only rated to 200Lb-FT and I don't want to take any chances.

For 50+ photos, see V8.

A HEMI is just overkill. But maybe that's your goal:


Other engines can put out as much HP and be more driveable than the 700 pound Chrysler HEMI.

The Ford windsor is narrower than chev small block and fits nicely between the 1200 strut towers:



Some have speculated the Hayabusu-derived aftermarket V8 would be the ultimate, but to my knowledge no one has fitted one to any Sunny, or any other Datsun.



Datsun Z-cars (S30) I have seen many with Ford and Chevy V8s. The Z is a narrow engine compartment, I doubt if it is any wider than B310.

Transmissions are sized by the torque output. So the new 5.0 has a huge transmission. The 1988 5.0 was 300 lb. ft. so uses a standard T5 which is not tiny. The T5 TKO can handle more torque.

If I were to put a V8 in a 1200 my choices would be:
* Budget: 5.0 iron Ford
* A bit more $: Buick 3.5 aluminum (Rover 3.5)
* Research: 60-degree Ford SHO V8
* No-budget: Ferrari V8

The SHO V8 hasn't the best reputation but might be narrower than the rest. And still provides a V8 sound. I guess my #1 goal would be the sound more than the performance.

I suppose that's where I'll look since it has a tiny T5 tranny that would be light as well.

Thanks!!

small block ford fits the best, and is 50 pounds lighter than small block chevy

Makes sense. How about a small block ford? Maybe a 5.0?