I was thinking 289 271HP...

Backing plate measurement is irrelavent.

The only measurements that counts are the wheel flange to wheel flange

and of course the spring perches.

Actually ALL the 65-66 Mustangs all had 2 1/2 inch axle tubes, even the V8s with 8" and even the 9" rear ends in the HIPO cars.

I am not sure any 60-65 6 cylinder Falcons had 8" rears. Not long ago I changed an unmolested 65 Falcon 6 cyl car to 8" Granada rear and 5.0 V8.

I am going to have to take you to task on this one. A 351W is a tight fit and a 351C makes your sphincter pucker. The only way an FE is going to go down is with apron modifications.

And what was so special about 361 EDSEL exhaust manifolds? They were the same as used on the other FE's of that year.

I am still pretty sure that I said "without major tower modifications".

The car no longer exists. This is 41 years later.

MM, do you want the pictures posted?

Fitting an FE into a 65/66 MUST chassis requires major tower modifications, just ain't no way around it.

no 6cyl Falcon had a 8" rear, all 6 cars had was 7 1/4" rears. but the '64/ '65 Mustang's had the Falcon Axle tube diamater, making them a bolt in, as replacement for the 7 1/4".

OK I concede.

A big hammer is major.

Here's a interesting story you might appreciate.

A few years ago my son and I wanted to put a 302 into a Merkur XR4Ti. Rapido in Portland said it was quite an undertaking, and it took them over a year to get one running in theirs.

At the Duquoin IL Street Machine Nationals a V8 Merkur passed us. When we caught the 2 young guys they said it was quite a job. They said it took them a week to get it in there and close the hood. It did fit under the stock hood. They said it could have been quicker but they spent too much time eating pizza.

The license plate read...... Z EATER

Go figure.....