How many swear words do you know??? You’ll be using all of them trying to do this. Its not so much that its hard more so that you are pretty much rebuildin the whole besides the body and even that might need a few changes. You have to change the wiring the computer if your 4 cyl is automtic and your makin it stick thats another thing you gotta worry about doin. i’d worry the most about the electrical cuz thats whats gonna be so time consuming. tearin up the carpet and dash and such. The mechanics wont be too bad til you hit the diff cuz thats another pain to get done properly. But changing everything else wont be too hard. then again there isnt much left after the electrical and mechanical. then you got hoses(vacuum) and you gotta get the cooling set up correctly. the timing should be easy if you know what your doin. But i reall dont think its worth the effort. you’ll spend more money trying to do this than if you sold the 2.3L and bought a 5.0L. Now what you could do is pop a turbo on there…that would be expensive but it’ll give you the power your lookin for.
very hard. It is not just swapping engines but you have to modify the exhaust system. On some years, there were also different size rims, different brakes, etc. Don’t do it.
My husband works at a Mustang place as the mechanic and this is what he said to tell you…Use the same motor mounts that came off the 5.0, it will bolt straight in, you will have to change the front springs, if the car was originally fuel injected and if you want to use the electronic ignition the plug off the 4 cyl. car will plug right in, all you will have to do is change the computer, use the one out of the 5.0. Are you using a carb. or fuel injection? If you are using carb. just put a manual fuel pump on the side of the motor, if you are using fuel injection you will have to change the whole wiring harness in the car. The easiest way around it is the use a carb. If you have any more questions let me know and he say he help you out.
He said that you can change the rear end cause the 4 cyl. is geared higher and it is just single track.
it is not as hard as everyone says it is. it is just the matter of finding the right engine, tranny, and driveshaft but since the mustang is such a common car you could find a donnor car from a junkyard and find a driveshaft, and a tranny. the engine is the easiest part
You need to change lots….motor mounts, transmission, also you may have to cut wheel wells in order for motor to fit…also you may need to change the rear end because they are geared for a 4-cylinder engine. Sometimes you may have to weld new motor mounts in place for the 8-cylinder because 4-cylinder mounts are not in the same location
Sell the 4-cylinder car, use the money to buy a 5.0 with a blown motor/tranny and replace that. If you haven’t done this before and don’t have good amount of experience in replacing drivetrains, it is easy to get in over your head with these kind of swaps. If you know a lot about Fords, they are not as interchangeable as GM.You will end up replacing cross-members, radiator, brakes, suspension parts, transmission, driveshaft and possibly some electrical components. Is the car you acquired worth putting this kind of time and effort into it. If you are planning on highly modifying it or something maybe, otherwise the older 5.0 are dime a dozen.
Good luck
it is nowhere as near as hard as you people are saying ive done 6 of theses conversions the only thing that realy needs changed is. motor & trans computer &ecu wiring that runs under hood from passenger side to driver side vacuum cannister fuel lines and rear end the 4cyl dash harness will plug right in and the 4cyl brakes will still be functional you will need the brake line off of the 7.5 to put on the 8.8 rear. as for the springs 4cyl will work but it will drop the front of the car i hope this helps anyone who truly wants to do a conversion thanks
How many swear words do you know??? You’ll be using all of them trying to do this. Its not so much that its hard more so that you are pretty much rebuildin the whole besides the body and even that might need a few changes. You have to change the wiring the computer if your 4 cyl is automtic and your makin it stick thats another thing you gotta worry about doin. i’d worry the most about the electrical cuz thats whats gonna be so time consuming. tearin up the carpet and dash and such. The mechanics wont be too bad til you hit the diff cuz thats another pain to get done properly. But changing everything else wont be too hard. then again there isnt much left after the electrical and mechanical. then you got hoses(vacuum) and you gotta get the cooling set up correctly. the timing should be easy if you know what your doin. But i reall dont think its worth the effort. you’ll spend more money trying to do this than if you sold the 2.3L and bought a 5.0L. Now what you could do is pop a turbo on there…that would be expensive but it’ll give you the power your lookin for.
it’s some work but if you love these cars as much as i do it’s well worth it
very hard. It is not just swapping engines but you have to modify the exhaust system. On some years, there were also different size rims, different brakes, etc. Don’t do it.
nothings too hard if someone else is doing it, and you have the money.
you dont have the time or money if you have to ask.
My husband works at a Mustang place as the mechanic and this is what he said to tell you…Use the same motor mounts that came off the 5.0, it will bolt straight in, you will have to change the front springs, if the car was originally fuel injected and if you want to use the electronic ignition the plug off the 4 cyl. car will plug right in, all you will have to do is change the computer, use the one out of the 5.0. Are you using a carb. or fuel injection? If you are using carb. just put a manual fuel pump on the side of the motor, if you are using fuel injection you will have to change the whole wiring harness in the car. The easiest way around it is the use a carb. If you have any more questions let me know and he say he help you out.
He said that you can change the rear end cause the 4 cyl. is geared higher and it is just single track.
it will probably be easier to buy a 5.0
it is not as hard as everyone says it is. it is just the matter of finding the right engine, tranny, and driveshaft but since the mustang is such a common car you could find a donnor car from a junkyard and find a driveshaft, and a tranny. the engine is the easiest part
You need to change lots….motor mounts, transmission, also you may have to cut wheel wells in order for motor to fit…also you may need to change the rear end because they are geared for a 4-cylinder engine. Sometimes you may have to weld new motor mounts in place for the 8-cylinder because 4-cylinder mounts are not in the same location
Sell the 4-cylinder car, use the money to buy a 5.0 with a blown motor/tranny and replace that. If you haven’t done this before and don’t have good amount of experience in replacing drivetrains, it is easy to get in over your head with these kind of swaps. If you know a lot about Fords, they are not as interchangeable as GM.You will end up replacing cross-members, radiator, brakes, suspension parts, transmission, driveshaft and possibly some electrical components. Is the car you acquired worth putting this kind of time and effort into it. If you are planning on highly modifying it or something maybe, otherwise the older 5.0 are dime a dozen.
Good luck
it is nowhere as near as hard as you people are saying ive done 6 of theses conversions the only thing that realy needs changed is. motor & trans computer &ecu wiring that runs under hood from passenger side to driver side vacuum cannister fuel lines and rear end the 4cyl dash harness will plug right in and the 4cyl brakes will still be functional you will need the brake line off of the 7.5 to put on the 8.8 rear. as for the springs 4cyl will work but it will drop the front of the car i hope this helps anyone who truly wants to do a conversion thanks