# Mercury capri **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mercury, capri\ **Created:** [May 7, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-capri/30145 "2009-05-07T00:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![\_80\_MERC\_CAPRI](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/_80_merc_capri/32/1277_2.png) [@\_80\_MERC\_CAPRI](https://community.cartalk.com/u/_80_MERC_CAPRI)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-capri/30145/1 "2009-05-07T00:31:53Z")
I RECENTLY BLEW A HEAD GASKET IN MY 1980 MERCURY CAPRI AND I WANNA PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT.I GOT A 2.3 LITER 4 CYLINDER IN IT NOW AND WOULD LIKE TO GET THE SAME IF I COULD FIND A CHEAP ONE OR POSSIBLY UPGRADE TO V-8.SO WHAT TYPES OF ENGINES WILL FIT IN NO PROB AND WOULD I HAVE TO CHANGE MY REAR END FOR A V-8…THANKS ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-capri/30145/2 "2009-05-07T00:41:32Z")
The 2.8l V6 was an option that year. I don’t know if a 302 or 5.0l would fit or not. It would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-capri/30145/3 "2009-05-07T01:09:52Z")
You should be able to drop a small block Ford (289/302/etc.) in with few problems. A 351 or 400 should fit but this might require a change in the hood to a cowl induction or scoop type hood as these engines have a higher deck height. The rear ends hold up pretty well as they are so I would not worry about that. Depending on the transmission used you may have to modify the driveshaft. There would be a number of changes to be made (motor mounts, exhaust, cables and wiring, etc.) but it should be a fairly straightforward swap. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-capri/30145/4 "2009-05-07T03:44:08Z")
This was the Mustang twin, so listen to OK, should be very straightforward to put in a v8 (302), just takes $$$, but would be easier to find than the 2.3l 4, and the tuner options are unlimited. ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-capri/30145/5 "2009-05-07T04:17:53Z")
As stated above, the Capri and Mustang were twins so any engine that fit a Mustang should fit.