Ford's Coyote engine in a 2nd gen Camaro?

[Midlife]

As you can see by my low post count, I'm new to the board. I have a '72 Camaro that I recently bought with the plan to turn it into a track car. As the project update intro says, I'm planning on swapping the stock 307 / 2-speed Powerglide drivetrain for a modern engine/trans combo. While an LS/T-56 combo is the obvious choice, I'm curious about how this would work with a Ford Coyote crate engine - probably the base 412 hp version.

My current project is a Cobra replica (Factory Five version) with a 347 and a T-5. I've been watching quite a few of the newer Factory Five builds where the owners are using the Coyote crate engine and I'm intrigued by the prospect of something like this.

I've done my share of concours restorations, so this car is going to be something fun and not anywhere near "correct," and the thought of a Ford engine in a Chevrolet is sort of humorous, given all the chevy engines in old Ford hotrods.

Does anyone have thoughts or experiences with this that they could share?

[turboclevor]

it would take a little work getting it to run due to all of the wiring that goes into a modular motor some fabrication in making it fit and motor mounts but it definately would be an awesome car and i would love to see your project build on this site

[srh3trinity]

Interesting idea. The Coyote seems wide, but there should be plenty of room. You should look up Ron Deraad's first gen. He had a twin turbo SBF, but it has a twin turbo LQ4 now.

[srh3trinity]

Oh and btw, I like how the Coyote sounds.

[Midlife]

Stephen - Thanks for the tip on the 1st gen - the 2nd gen has such a wide engine bay, I'm pretty sure it'll fit, but will make sure to get some measurements first. But, if it fits in the engine bay of the Factory Five replica, it should certainly fit in the cavernous area under the hood of my '72. And yeah, I agree about the sound - it's pretty distinctive (and Ford-like), so it should cause people who know car sounds to wonder when a 2nd gen Camaro rumbles by with that exhaust note.

Brandon - Wiring shouldn't be a problem as Ford Motorsport sells the harness and necesary bits (ECU, accelerator pedal, etc...). I would also probably look to Factory Five as a unique solution to some of the installation issues as they sell wiring harnesses for their cars that are compatible with the Coyote harness and they are already offering a chassis that has the necessary towers to attach Coyote motor mounts - I'm hoping that I could either source those parts from them (just in cut plate form would be sufficient) or get one of my fellow Factory Five builders to provide me with pictures and dimensions so that I could make them myself. Shouldn't be too difficult to transfer those points to a cross-member / engine cradle in the F-body.

[BonzoHansen]

it'll definitely hurt resale, if that matters to you. i keep hearing stories about those motors eating crank bearings, not sure how rampant that is.

[66larkgs]

i havent heard to much about the quality of that motor, i think different is cool.. good luck keep us posted!!

[surnufz]

Why???

[BuzzKillian]

Why???
That was the first question that went through my mind. With the availability and support of the LS motor, I don't understand why you would want to go that route.

That being said.... I love a challenge, and to see things being done differentlly. SO, If you do it, please keep us posted.

[tommycomfort]

Seems like weight would be the issue for a "track car". If it is really a build for the shock and awe of having the hood open at the local cruise in I say go for it. Although I dig cool/unusual builds, I appreciate form follows function more.
Tom

[andrewb70]

The Coyote engines are fairly light. They have aluminum blocks and heads. I believe the advertised weight is 444 pounds which is only about 75 pounds more than a LS engine. Would it be cool? Sure. Would it be the most cost effective route? Definitely not. The base engine costs way more. The Coyotes have no previsions for power steering pumps, so an aftermarket bracket needs to be adapted. You will need custom header$$$. The list of downsides is way more than the upside.

Doing a LSx swap would be easier and less expensive because there will be parts available for the swap....

Andrew

[SLO_Z28]

Problem number one is its size, its massive, and will not fit without having it sit very high in the engine bay. It is so big mostly because it was designed to be a direct injection, and will be getting direct injection in the near future. It is much more expensive than many other, better engines. In its current form its not that great of an engine.

You really want to turn heads? Toss in a S85B50:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
or something along those lines.

[turboclevor]

Chris,
You should check junkyards before you buy a crate engine, it would definitely be cheaper going that way. My brother works at a machine shop and he makes the majority of his money from GM and Chrysler crate motors that have blown up. I don't hear much from him (or his coworkers) about ever working on a blown up Ford crate motor but it is better safe than sorry. Also there has got to be somebody that has wrecked a newer 5.0 mustang, which leaves the car free for the picking.

[ILLMATIC]

if $$$ is no object just do a LS9

[dontlifttoshift]

Do it! It will help restore balance to nature so that the rest of us can put ls motors in whatever we want.

[Derek69SS]

If you're really building it to be a "track car" then I'd suggest picking up a NASA, NARRA, or SCCA rulebook and seeing what a different make engine swap does to your classing... I don't know the answer to that, but in SCCA autocross, a different make engine swap automatically puts you in XP, which pretty much means no Camaro could ever do well in the class.

[Midlife]

Why???

Exactly - that's one of my reasons.

[Midlife]

If you're really building it to be a "track car" then I'd suggest picking up a NASA, NARRA, or SCCA rulebook and seeing what a different make engine swap does to your classing... I don't know the answer to that, but in SCCA autocross, a different make engine swap automatically puts you in XP, which pretty much means no Camaro could ever do well in the class.

By "track-car," I mean a car for open track days. I'm an instructor for NASA HPDE and sometimes freelance for other local clubs at places like Road America, Autobahn, Gingerman, and Blackhawk Farms. I've been car-less since selling my former-Bondurant Mustang (with a hybrid Roush/Maximum Motorsports suspension) a year ago, so I'm looking for something fun to put together as a replacement. Whatever guise it ends-up taking, it will see track use mostly, but will need to remain barely streetable so that I can still run it on public roads occasionally. I've been involved with SCCA, Midwest Council, and NASA since '91, so I've had my fill of wheel-to-wheel and have found that I like the "all you can drive" track-time that I get at HPDE events as an instructor. So, I'm more interested in something fun, fast, reliable, and - most importantly - different.

Please keep the opinions and ideas coming - I'm open to suggestions and look forward to the creativity of this group!!!

[Midlife]

if $$$ is no object just do a LS9

Money is always an object, that is, as it's measured in percieved value. While an LS9 isn't something I've looked at, I am considering the LS7 - nice motor.

[surnufz]

Money is always an object, that is, as it's measured in percieved value. While an LS9 isn't something I've looked at, I am considering the LS7 - nice motor.

Hhmmmm...coyote or LS-7? What to do? What to do?

[Peter Mc Mahon]

I put a coyote in my 56' F100. Let me know if you need any dimensions or info. Go for it!

[clayton25]

I would just go the LS route.

[MrQuick]

I'd save the Coyote for that GT40 you've always wanted.

[zombiekiller]

while i think the swap would be neat and would also do its part to balance out the droves of lsX motors transplanted into fords, I think it won't net wou anything over an lsx. it will be more expensive and not perform quite as well.

I will be more than happy to take the coyote off of your hands for my galaxie though :)

on a side note, a turbo or S/C'd coyote in a daytona coupe would be the cat's ass.

[bikefreak600]

sounds like many gm fans dont like hearing of a ford powerplant replacing a gm haha....the coyote motor is far far better platform than the LS. costs are only higher because its still brand new engine. 500 hp is simple n/a out of the box crate motor. just wait until the aftermarket blows up with coyote parts. btw stock coyote long blocks can support 1000+ hp. as far as doing your build i think doing an LS engine would be more practical. i would put that coyote in your cobra ! or as another member said coyote + GT40 or daytona coupe = ultimate street/track car !

[ace_xp2]

If you're doing a new crate, it looks like the price is pretty close to a wash with an LS3 for price. If you were swapping in a pullout, I'd say a much cheaper lsx, but since you're going for a new one, why not?

[rustomatic]

Different is good--it's what gives you the grins and chuckles while driving what you've done, alone. Nobody really needs to look at it, but it does result in an excellent conversation piece. Before I chickened out and put the 5.0 in my Falcon, I really wanted a Honda S2000 motor/trans (4-banger, yes). I still think it'd be cool, but the cost would more than likely not be reasonable, as import geeks still seem to hold these things in high regard, oil-burning aside...

I'd still like to put a 350 Chevy in my old Dodge pickup...