question about engine combo?

[petesponies]

Where there any 351W models built with a manual trans? or was an auto the only way a 351 car came? And, were there any documented Granadas that came with the optional rear disc that the Lincoln got? Thanks

[robic58]

Regarding the 4 wheel disc brake set up-
at least the 1976 Grand Monarch Ghia was so equipped.
possibly others,but don't think so.

A Grand Monarch Ghia is as rare as a polar bear in Key West,Fl.

[Jeff Roblin]

Jan 15, 2013 9:25:36 GMT -5 petesponies said:

Where there any 351W models built with a manual trans? or was an auto the only way a 351 car came? And, were there any documented Granadas that came with the optional rear disc that the Lincoln got? Thanks

351s only came with the C4 based on my documentation. All 75-76 Grand Monarch Ghias came rear disc brakes. I have seen a few others that had it as an option but not many. You can't identify them by the axle ratio as this differential is shared with non-disc brake GMVs

[madmike1976]

Hello! Haven't been around this forum in a while so I apologize for the delayed response.

Production figures are sort of a hobby of mine so I dug out some of the old books. War'ds indicates only 0.7% Granada 4 wheel disc installations for 1977 and only 1 percent for Monarchs. The next year was a bit better, 0.8 Ford 1.2% Merc. Still, can't hardly blame FoMoCo for cancelling the option after '78. War'ds didn't list installations for 75 or 76, wish that they had. A fascinating resource, these books.

BTW, 1978 was the first year that Granada/Monarch 6 cyl cars outsold the V-8s always wondered whay that was....as I recall, the gas situation had gotten better by then.

The 351's were indeed automatic only those who wanted a clutch pedal were advised to select a 302. Some of the 75-76 cars were 3-on-the-tree shifters too, wish I could find one of those.

-Mike

[dmyers22]

I too have a question about engine combos, but this has more to do with the suspension. Is there a difference in suspension from the I6 to the V8?

I'm looking at picking up a 75 2dr Granada and the guy is claiming it has the heavy duty, 5 lug suspension set up for a V8, but it has an I6, which he said should've come with a 4 lug.suspension set up.

And madmike1976, this 75 was a three-on-the-tree till someone moved the shifter to the floor.

[robic58]

To my knowledge, Stock versions of Granadas & Monarchs, 1975 to '80 came with a choice of two suspensions from the factories,either standard or heavy duty, and this related to springs,shocks,sway bars and links. Suspension choice was not predicated on number of engine cylinders. Not a whole lot of difference in weight between a 240 ci I6 engine and a small block 302ci V~8.
I also think that all came with 5 lug wheels. Only Fox body Fords of that era ,Fairmonts and Mustang11s for example had 4 lug wheels.
The Granada Ghia I had , was a heavy duty suspension, gave it a harsh ride, but did it ever hug the road at higher speeds, felt extremely stable.
Check out that 75 real good, it warrants it. Good luck!!!!
Ralph

[dmyers22]

Ok, so how do I tell then? I hope its got the heavy duty.

[robic58]

Heavy duty suspension - front coils - shorter than standard but thicker diameter of the coil steel-I doubt that the factory tags are still on the coils but if they are - number would read 5310A-f , standard would be ending with an e. - rear leaf springs/heavy - 5 leaf, standard 4 only. Shocks front would be shorter on heavy duty.
If the rear looks a little saggy, it likely has standard. Many of the granadas/ monarchs developed a saggy rear. Proper stance is for the rear to be a little higher than the front when not loaded. Best way to get the proper stance and ride quality is with rear leaf springs,with the correct spring rate,.
all leaf springs will lose some of their arcing strength over time.
With any 35-40 year old vehicle expect to effect replacement of some suspension components, bushings,hangers,etc.

[dmyers22]

Ok cool. Ill be at the guys house on Monday and will check it then. I'm gonna get it up and running as is and be building up a replacement engine w/auto tranny to throw in to it. The new engine will be a 4.6L Modular V8 w/tranny from a Lincoln Town car. The best part is, I'm getting all for $1200 and I can do all the work there at his house. I'm hoping to not only get better performance, but also better gas mileage out of it too. Don't worry though, the 6 cylinder and tranny will be kept and rebuilt so that I can claim a numbers matching car.

[dmyers22]

And Thanks for all the info man. I know where I'll be coming for any questions.

[madmike1976]

Did you buy the car? It does sound like a cool project.

I browsed thru my Hollander manuals tonite and they show no difference in suspension between 6 cyl and V8. My 1976 250ci car is five lugs and has been such since new....I'm the original owner so take my word on it!

Ralph- I remember when Granadas and Monarchs were daily drivers and most of them did indeed sag in the back, including mine. Also remember a catastrophic failure of the upper rear shock mounts (or more accuratly, the plate they were bolted to) on NYC's West Side Highway back in the days when said highway was referred to as a "paved motocross track" in the local press. This high stress mounting plate was only tack welded in place from the factory and wasn't up to the demands of NYC driving. It's wouldn't have made it as a drive-in hump jumping car for sure! We managed to limp home only to find a large section of the mounting plate missing and the shocks attached only to the leaf spring mounts. We went back the next day in our 69.5 Maverick and actually found the pieces lying alongside the road, where we had heard them implode the night before! Mangled up, but managed to salvege the shock mounts. Got a new mounting plate from Ford, thru bolted it in place, and thirty years later it's still under there. Just wish the rest of the car had survived as well.

-Mike