Distributorless older car
 

Doner

Ugh.
Those motors are huge and heavy.

Based on an engine swap in my sons 2000 F150. That motor was a pain.

Your friend will need the PCM and harness along with the motor. The SCT tuner works well to deal with programming

I would think easy peazy, as long as the stock computer and wiring come with the motor.

I don't know why they are so heavy.

A fully dressed 5.4 stalls my 500# electric hoist. I have never stalled that hoist with a pushrod V-8.

Those motors are also huge next to a pushrod motor - both tall and wide. Your buddy may need to install that motor higher in the frame than he expects (did I mention they are wide?).

Good information on dimensions and weights here...

Ford modular SOHC & DOHC tech & specifications

This. Or you can buy aftermarket standalone ECU systems that are plug and play for most common motors, including the new Coyote V8. The newer the donor car the more difficult the swap, most newer OBDII cars are pretty heavily networked with other vehicle systems. That would push you to a standalone aftermarket ECU.

mega squirt+ spark controler

This is one of those situations where you think a cheap engine with good power will make a cheap engine swap....

It won't.

The DOHC engine is extremely wide and will require a whole lotta surgery to fit into the maverick. E.g. - you're going to lose the shock towers to start with. So budget in about $3K for complete front suspension/removal of shock towers and this starts to become an expensive swap.

Want something that fits? Don't overlook the OHC four cylinder Ford Turbo (Turbo T-Bird, etc). It will fit and makes a surprising amount of power. Also, the older pushrod motors DO fit and would probably be cheaper than either of the above options. Below is a 351 (same external as 302) in the Maverick. Already a tight fit - with DOHC - fugetabout shock towers...

100_3713_zpscdd4d1e3.jpg Photo by Mod94 | Photobucket

angela

Smaller front springs?
Modified custom front clip?

How does this swap change the already existing f/r weight distribution on a pickup?

I'm guessing burnouts will be very easy.
And good luck to the guy buzzing through freeway traffic at speed in the rain or hauling a trailer.

You should Google that swap as I'm sure someone has already done it, felt the pain, dealt out the dollars. Further, I'm not aware they (in stock form) make any power relative to size and weight of other fomoco offerings. I do know that those engines have very little tolerance for power adders, again in stock form.

I'm not seeing the upside......

You are a good friend......to question something that might be wrong.

Waitaminute!
A new AL big block core is heavier than the old iron replacement?

That has to be wrong.

A 302 or 351 with iron heads is about a dead draw with the later DOHC ford engines. Those are REALLY heavy. So 500 to 550 either way. The wiring harness is $700 to about $1,000 plus computer;
https://www.ronfrancis.com/products.asp?dept=292

Put a set of aluminum heads/intake on the 302/351 and they are LESS than the DOHC engines. Cheaper, slightly lighter (than sorting the DOHC engine) in this configuration, FITS IN THE DAMN CAR, and a hairless monkey can make them run.

Build it simple and go fast. On a really cool note though, while we were at SEMA we got to see Sung Kang's 4 cylinder ECOBOOST Maverick. Great mix of old school and new cool. Spectacular car!!!

angela

I did a fuel injected 5.0 into a Volvo. Factory harness and ECU from the donor car. Easy, and everything worked.

maverick engine swap
 

Have you considered the late model Mustang V6? It makes around 300 hp and is about 25% lighter than the V8. Of course you would still have to deal with the width.