"the epitome of class" thread got me thinking

Ice always wanted a big american sedan from the sixties or early seventies as a long distance road tripping car. My first choice would be a suicide door continental. If I found one original unmolested and running well, I would leave it that way, or more likely I wouldn't buy one like that because I love to tinker.

What I would really like is to find one with a clean body and bad or missing engine so that I could swap in a more modern drive train. If I were doing this with a Lincoln I would keep it FoMoCo, if it were a Caddy or Buick it would stay GM.

So my question to the GRM comunity is: Is it possible to build up a luxobarge like this that's capable of a legitimate 25mpg or better on the highway? Sticking with the Lincoln example, would a 351w & AOD trans with a 2.90 rear have enough power to move a Continental down the interstate comfortably. More specificly, I'm thinking of a 351w with aluminum heads and intake +EFI, either aftermarket or FoMoCo. Also could an amateur concoct a home brewed ecoboost style turbo system, one designed more fore improving efficiency than for increased power? Heaven knows a small block in a Continental's engine bay would leave tons of room for what ever was needed to make any conceivable system work.

thinking of a 351w with aluminum heads and intake + EFI. E

Go with a big lincoln and a powerstroke?

I can't see how that would happen, not that I'm an expert or anything. Those things weigh north of 5000 lbs, that's a TON (literally) more than a c6 vette. I've heard they can get 25+ on the highway, plus you are pushing a much bigger body through the air.

I think it could be done with the right engine, transmission, and gearing, but I still think it's a bit optimistic to think you can get more than 22-25 mpg highway with the typical 2+ ton '60s-'70s American car with the aerodynamics of an angry brick.

BTW, if you're going with a FoMoCo product, this would be my vote... been lusting after 'em for years and years now:

BTW, a photochop of my "pro-touring" version:

just have to love those "pillarless" coupe's

In reply to darkbuddha: A pro touring Marauder would be sweet. The early sixties Conti that I'm imaging would have a similar treatment. Mine be ivory or pearl.

I forgot to mention in the OP that a friend of mine used to have a mid-seventies NewYorker Brougham with a 440 that would routinely exceed 20mpg cruising at 75mph on the highway, back in the days when you could still get real gasoline. We called that car the magic carpet.

Ford did an Ecoboost-powered '39 Coupe for SEMA 2009. 400 horsepower. No word on MPGs. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/ford-ecoboost-34-hot-rod-sema-2009/

You could buy one of those engines and slap it in there. I wonder what RWD transmissions it mates up to... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Transmission-Lincoln-MKS-3-5L-EcoBoost-V6-Twin-Turbo-/330666794792?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item4cfd46df28#ht_1236wt_1160

probably whatever comes in a 2wd F150... ecoboost Model FX2

imirk wrote: probably whatever comes in a 2wd F150... ecoboost Model FX2

Or 2011+ V6 Mustang

Likely Jag S-Type/Lincoln LS V6 as well

I actually think its possible.

My 1966 Impala weighs in at 3600lbs and gets about 18mpg on a great day (original engine). I think with a couple more forward running gears, a better rear end ratio, and different (injected v8?) motor I bet I could start knocking on the 24mpg door.

I say go for it, but I wouldn't use gas mileage as my sole motivation for doing a swap. I don't think the savings at the pump would really pay for the new motor etc unless you got parts really cheap, drove the wheels off of it, or held on to it for a long time.

I had a 64 Caddy that I'm certain would get decent mileage with a modern engine-it looked really cool and I think they can still be bought at a reasonable price.

I totally want a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado, but I'm pretty sure it will just miss the 25 mpg mark. By about 15 mpg!

If you're looking for mileage out of a late-model Ford drivetrain, I wouldn't go with a Windsor, I'd be looking at a mod motor, probably a 3v 4.6 (all aluminum 4.6 from the S197 GT) since Ford sells the kit that allows bolting it in to something else without having to bring the entire wiring harness over.

LMR has a writeup about dropping one in an '79 Fairmont, I imagine that putting one in an old Lincoln would be fairly similar with the exception of you having to fab your own motor mount bracketry for the k-member.

For hitting 25+ mpg, though, I think you're looking at an Ecoboost. Turbo so you can actually get going, but only 3.5L to suck down fuel when you're cruising.

For styling, the 1960s cars are probably a better choice (depending on your tastes, of course) but best bang for the buck would be a 1971 or newer full size GM car - front disk brakes were standard, suspension parts were finally standardized between the divisions, and the suspension geometry was better than the older cars.

Personally, I'd keep the original drivetrain and update the engine with EFI.

stuart in mn wrote: Personally, I'd keep the original drivetrain and update the engine with EFI.

Problem with that is overdrive wasn't really available until, what, the mid-'80s?

ReverendDexter wrote:

stuart in mn wrote: Personally, I'd keep the original drivetrain and update the engine with EFI.

Problem with that is overdrive wasn't really available until, what, the mid-'80s?

True, but the big cars in that era used really tall differential ratios, like 2.69 or thereabouts, so they were turning pretty slow at highway speeds. And, at least for big GM cars they were mostly using the TH400 transmission - you can't get more bulletproof than that. A newer OD transmission could be installed, but it would take a lot of gas savings to offset the additional expense.

I know a guy who's been nosing around for something big and American. Here's my thoughts: Don't be picky and just start looking. Keep your options open to anything big and American that has a column-shift automatic, and you'll find something cool.

Mercury Montego. Love that reverse-canted rear window...

If you are going to do a riveria.. do one with the clamshell headlights

Anywhere a big block Chevy can fit, a 6.5 diesel or a Duramax can fit.

Duramax powered Caddy would be at the top of my list. Probably could knock down mid 20s and still pass anything on the road.

The Powerstroke and Cummins are stupid-tall because they were put into vehicles with a straight front axle. The Chevy had IFS so the packaging was a lot better.

Early 80's Oldsmobiles with a 307, Q-jet and 200r4 would get 29mpg (Imperial, you do the US conversion) all day long.

I think it would be pretty easy to get a 60's luxobarge (I'd do a '66 Delta 88 like I had in 77) up around 30 with a 4.8 LS and the right gear ratio. They don't really weigh as much as you might think- no door bars, rust proofing etc.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Early 80's Oldsmobiles with a 307, Q-jet and 200r4 would get 29mpg (Imperial, you do the US conversion) all day long. I think it would be pretty easy to get a 60's luxobarge (I'd do a '66 Delta 88 like I had in 77) up around 30 with a 4.8 LS and the right gear ratio. They don't really weigh as much as you might think- no door bars, rust proofing etc.

Imperial gallon is what... 1.2 US gallons? That works out to about 24ish.

David S. Wallens wrote: I know a guy who's been nosing around for something big and American. Here's my thoughts: Don't be picky and just start looking. Keep your options open to anything big and American that has a column-shift automatic, and you'll find something cool.

Thats how I found this for $900 and drove it home. Just typed in a bunch of years and a price range on Craigslist.

Plus Four or Five Years

If you have your mind set on an EFI 351/AOD I would look at other options. I built a carbed 351 for this car, but all the little differences between a 289/302 and the 351 really limit your choices and can nickel and dime you. Truck intakes don't flow well and GT40 intakes are pricy. If I were to do it again I'd just go 5.0 HO/AOD from a mustang or lincoln. Granted, this is more of a midsize car and can get away with less torque.

If I were to do it again I'd probably go GM. More aftermarket support, more modern suspensions. They have a higher buy-in though.