1965 Falcon Coyote Project

[protasone]

Hello everyone! I have been searching around for a while for anyone that has put a Coyote motor in their Falcon. Has anyone heard of anyone doing this? My 65 project was originally going to be a 302 or 351 with an AOD. I have already installed the TCI M2 front end and the TCI 4-Link rear with a Currie 9" with 3.89's . I really like the idea of the Coyote but cant find anyone to look to for any guidance that has done this in this particular car. The closest I can find is a 65 Stang. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

[Jetfixr320]

Hello everyone! I have been searching around for a while for anyone that has put a Coyote motor in their Falcon. Has anyone heard of anyone doing this? My 65 project was originally going to be a 302 or 351 with an AOD. I have already installed the TCI M2 front end and the TCI 4-Link rear with a Currie 9" with 3.89's . I really like the idea of the Coyote but cant find anyone to look to for any guidance that has done this in this particular car. The closest I can find is a 65 Stang. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

I was just reading in Modified Mustangs & Fords about the Coyote motor. Listed dimensions of the engine and different ford cars.
Also it said several of the aftermarket company's were working on or have kits to install them. I know for sure it listed Rod & Custom Motorsports.

Maybe give TCI a call?

It will probably be a change to your motor mounts. And you will need a power steering pump kit if your running a power rack. I thought i read that the coyote doesn't have a pump mounted to it?

[protasone]

Good call Jet. I spoke to Sal (general manager) at TCI today at length about my "project". Really cool guy who seemed to want to temporarily talk me down from the ledge To start with, you basically need to fab the whole front clip and even into the cabin (push dash board back) and of course the trans tunnel etc. Not impossible but apparently more money and labor intensive than anyone is willing to put out hence "No one has done it." ..........Yet. I WILL do this.......someday Would have been nice to have a "one of a kind". The Coyote bug has bitten me and I always like a challenge. But not this time with this car.

For now (reluctantly) I'm taking Sal's advice and just sticking with building a bad ass small block and having fun with the car. I know someone will do this and am still surprised no one has yet!

Cant wait to see it when it happens!!

[Doodler]

Not a coyote, but still a mod motor.




We pushed the firewall back 2". The car has a tube chassis now because by the time we redid the rear end and front end, we might as well just do the whole damn thing.

[protasone]

Thanks for the feedback Doodler! Nice! Looks like it fits pretty well!! I have a few questions if you don't mind. Is that mod the same dimensions as a Coyote? What are your plans for a trans? Did you need to make any adjustments under the dash, steering column etc? I assume you built a frame behind the new firewall for lateral rigidity correct? That looks really great and you are making me think I can actually do this now.

[tigerracer]

Protasone, I don't understand why installing a coyote motor in your Falcon would be to much different than installing it in a Mustang. The Falcon and Mustang just about share the same chassis, except the Falcon is a bit wider. I am installing a coyote in a 66 Mustang with TCI suspension and depending on what motor mount you use and what trans you pick determines the amount of cutting. I havent seen anybody get into the dash area. My thread is 66 Mustang, Coyote, T56, TCI

Dale Akuszewski
Dales Restorations
San Berdoo, Ca

[Bryce]

the falcon engine compartment has 3" less room between the shock towers and the firewall. Also the frame rails are 1" narrower on the falcon.

[protasone]

Hey thanks guys. Wow! Hey Bryce! I have been following your build for a while now. You've done a great job and provided tons of inspiration! If I remember right didn't you actually considered a mod motor? This whole thing doesn't seem to be as complicated as people are leading me to believe. I'm either OVER or UNDER thinking it. Sal at TCI seemed to kind of talk me out of it. If you have a moment I would love to hear what you think about this Bryce. Forgive me if your answer is in your 80 page build thread somewhere already I have viewed so many other threads now I cant remember s**t. Thanks!!

[Sales-TCI-Eng]

Sal and I certainly have differing opinions on these types of things. There is a running joke inside the office here about when I was in sales. They'd call them "Jason orders" because I was always thinking outside the box and placing orders they wanted nothing to do with. After all, I was the one that put the order in for "lowfast" who is running our Custom IFS 64-70 Mustang front end on his Falcon. Plus I enjoy a challenge just like many of our customers.

Having said that you'd be opening a gigantic can of worms by going with the Coyote. That engine is as big as a damn Hemi(side to side). Just be prepared to not only modify and or move the firewall, relocate the master cylinder and probably not have enough room for a booster. If you go with a manual tranny you'll be making a new tunnel to accomodate it. You'll probably be looking at custom headers also.

-Jason

[protasone]

There. It fits LOL!

[ramlinman]

"No one has done it". don't let that stop you. if it's what you want go for it. and don't be afraid of being the pioneer on such a build. i say go for it

[Tincup]

"No one has done it". don't let that stop you. if it's what you want go for it. and don't be afraid of being the pioneer on such a build. i say go for it

How hard can it be......

Pick up this months Hot Rod, it has all the dimensions on the Coyote ( it is actually shorter than a 289).

[Jetfixr320]

How hard can it be......

Pick up this months Hot Rod, it has all the dimensions on the Coyote ( it is actually shorter than a 289).

X2 on the comparison to a 289. That's what Modified Mustangs & Fords said also. Get a tranny tunnel from a late model mustang and your done with that mod at least.

Call R&C Motorsports and see what William or Willy have to say.

[Sales-TCI-Eng]

Call R&C Motorsports and see what William or Willy have to say.

^^^ Make sure not to do this.
Pretty much anything they tell you won't apply to our front end. Our crossmember tucks up tighter against the frame rails to allow more ground clearance while sitting low. This also puts the control arm pickup points closer together for more camber gain which couldn't have been done otherwise(uppers are as low as they can go on top of the frame rails). Sure, Falcons with our front end may have less space in the compartment but we feel it was a necessary trade off for improved geometry and ground clearance.



-J

[Jetfixr320]

Sal and I certainly have differing opinions on these types of things. There is a running joke inside the office here about when I was in sales. They'd call them "Jason orders" because I was always thinking outside the box and placing orders they wanted nothing to do with. After all, I was the one that put the order in for "lowfast" who is running our Custom IFS 64-70 Mustang front end on his Falcon. Plus I enjoy a challenge just like many of our customers.

Having said that you'd be opening a gigantic can of worms by going with the Coyote. That engine is as big as a damn Hemi(side to side). Just be prepared to not only modify and or move the firewall, relocate the master cylinder and probably not have enough room for a booster. If you go with a manual tranny you'll be making a new tunnel to accomodate it. You'll probably be looking at custom headers also.

-Jason

And thats coming from the guy that sold a Mustang kit to a Falcon guy. :-)

Not saying to do what they say, but I would be curious to see what the response would be for "Their" IFS.

If the Coyote is shorter, there shouldn't be much firewall issue. I've seen more then one Mustang II style IFS crossmember notched out for oil pan clearance. Were there not a bunch of people doing that to retrofit LS motors when they 1st came out and still doing it?

Who needs power brakes in a Falcon? No issues with stopping mine with manual disc.

If the OP or anyone else can source a engine for cheap enough, why not see how it fits. I think that will be the big hurdle. Finding one cheap enough. I checked ebay the other day $8 to $9K for a take out Coyote.

I may go pick up a used LS next week instead. Cant pass up $150 LS. Can't believe I even said that. LOL

[protasone]

^^^Jet. agreed 100%^^^ One of my main issues is finding the actual correct dimensions including headers. You know, something like an actual blue print of the engine showing motor mount bolt locations, overall dimensions with ALL accessories installed etc. I could even make my own measurements by looking at one that is complete and on a stand. That way I can do a mock up without actually plunking down the 13k for the motor and trans. Unfortunately I cant find anything on the net that I can trust. The drawings I do find are just that. Drawings. No actual dimensions. None of my friends have a Coyote just laying around. Maybe a Ford dealer has one on display? How do I do a mock up you ask? Its actually very easy. Block of Styrofoam rough cut into the actual dimensions of the motor and trans. Don't laugh. It works. Just don't spill any gas on it and your golden Saves TONS of time and labor for doing mock ups for **** like this. Much easier than hoisting the motor in and out 50 times with 3 or 4 guys helping you. For this build I'm in the unique position of NOT having the motor and trans in hand to "sculpt" after. Since I have not completely decided which route to go, foam is even more valuable to me. Just need to find the actual motor dimensions and I will get started.

[ramlinman]

How hard can it be......

Pick up this months Hot Rod, it has all the dimensions on the Coyote ( it is actually shorter than a 289).

be the pioneer. if we can get the new hemi in earl valiants and darts. ou can get the coote in a falcon

[Doodler]

Thanks for the feedback Doodler! Nice! Looks like it fits pretty well!! I have a few questions if you don't mind. Is that mod the same dimensions as a Coyote? What are your plans for a trans? Did you need to make any adjustments under the dash, steering column etc? I assume you built a frame behind the new firewall for lateral rigidity correct? That looks really great and you are making me think I can actually do this now.

I'm not sure if they are the same. A 4.6 is almost as wide as the 460 that I was originally going to put in there. It's shorter but gets really wide, really fast. I ended up going with a Lentech 4r70w auto trans. I didn't touch the dash at all for the conversion. When I started, I just decided to go all the way knowing it's not going to be easy or cheap. But it's what I wanted, so why not try. So the frame is 1 piece all the way to the rear clip.

LIke Jason at TCI said, there are a lot of little things that I've found out with the 4.6. The Heidt's crossmember need's 1/4" notched out to clear the water neck on the block, new trans tunnel (but I was going to have to do that anyway), remote oil filter, master cylinder was relocated with no booster, and there is no way you are going to get off the shelf headers to work. Going into it, I knew almost all would have to be custom made so nothing really surprised me to this point. The car hasn't seen the road since 1996, so if it takes a little longer to get it to where I want it, so be it.

[Dave B]

The latest issue of Hot Rod Magazine has all the dimensions in it...makes me want to find a coyote for my Maverick....

[Jetfixr320]

The latest issue of Hot Rod Magazine has all the dimensions in it...makes me want to find a coyote for my Maverick....

What Grabber said. June issue of Hot Rod

And the March issue of Modified Mustangs has engine dimensions and also Engine bay dimensions of most of the Ford cars through out the 60's.