Richard L. “Scott” McKie from Seattle, Washington, Asks … Who Can Make an Adapter Plate to Bolt Up a 1961 Olds 215 V8 to a Ford Probe FWD Automatic Transaxle?
Q:
This question might be considered a little off target, but I think it’s pure hot rodding. I’m trying to find a company that can make up a custom engine/tranny adapter plate for my project car: a 1989 Ford Probe with a 1961 Oldsmobile 215ci aluminum V8 engine.
The Olds 215 engine is about the same length and weight as the [Probe’s] Ford/Mazda 2.2L four-banger. What really seals the deal is that the stock horsepower and torque ratings for the 1961 215 Olds engine—with 140 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque—are almost an exact match for the 1989–1991 Ford Probe GT turbo, intercooled engine with 140 hp and 195 lb-ft. The automatic transmission in the Ford Probe GT is stronger than the base 2.2L unit and is a bolt-in replacement. In stock form, it can therefore handle the output of the stock Olds V8.
The Ford Probe 1990 V6 engine mounts can be modified to mount the V8. A larger, all-aluminum Modine radiator is already installed. A custom stainless-steel dual exhaust, fashioned after the Ford V6 installation for equal-length collectors, will connect to a dual in/dual out single-unit Flowmaster catalytic converter. The engine will
