Hi guys. I just wanted to post this as a reference for other users thinking of this swap.
First of all the car is a 2000 Mustang GT. It was my daily driver, so when I started noticing engine trouble I started doing extensive research as to which swap I wanted to go with. The motor held on for several months until it finally quit. I wanted a performance upgrade so which ever engine I picked would be a good one. However I wanted it to be fairly simple and straight forward. I bought the engine out of an 01 Lincoln Navigator because it has SOOOOO much potential. Also it's a modular N/A engine so it will work with my stock ECU along with bolting right up to the stock mounts and transmission.
Everything I could find suggested it's not a complicated install. It looked like you just extend a few wires and drop in the motor. However.........
It so far has turned out to be much more involved. As far as extendinding a few wires......... More like extending the entire harness. I think there may have been 1 or 2 sensors that didn't need to be modified. Also, the Mustang coils can't even be used on the Navigator engine. The Navigator also happens to run a fuel return line back to the tank. So since the stock Mustang fuel rails are too narrow to fit the new engine, custom fuel rails need to be purchased. I bought the $220 BBK setup which worked after we had to build custom brackets out of scrap metal laying around the shop. Which brings us to clearance....... It was suggested that spacers for the subframe/k-member were optional. We ended up fabricating spacers when nothing would fit. After the spacers were installed there's still not enough room to clear the brake booster. I'm not sure where to go from here, so I'm researching my options. I imagine I'll have to find a way to get the brake booster out of the way.
It looks like head gasket changes, along with cams, valve covers, valve cover gaskets or anything else on the driver side will require the engine to be out of the car.
This is the point where I wish I had opted for a more compact motor such as a 302, 351, or GM 5.3 or 6.0.......... Sorry, just frustrated with having to go through so much work just to be able to fit an engine into an engine bay. This is a REALLY big engine that will BARELY fit if you modify and move enough things. I've done lots of engine swaps of all kinds over the last 15 years. But this is by far a swap I would not recommend to anyone wanting to use it in a street car. This engine belongs in a MUCH larger engine bay.
Edit: I continue to try posting pics of the engine hitting the brake booster, but the site won't accept the file. I'll resize it and try again.
First of all the car is a 2000 Mustang GT. It was my daily driver, so when I started noticing engine trouble I started doing extensive research as to which swap I wanted to go with. The motor held on for several months until it finally quit. I wanted a performance upgrade so which ever engine I picked would be a good one. However I wanted it to be fairly simple and straight forward. I bought the engine out of an 01 Lincoln Navigator because it has SOOOOO much potential. Also it's a modular N/A engine so it will work with my stock ECU along with bolting right up to the stock mounts and transmission.
Everything I could find suggested it's not a complicated install. It looked like you just extend a few wires and drop in the motor. However.........
It so far has turned out to be much more involved. As far as extendinding a few wires......... More like extending the entire harness. I think there may have been 1 or 2 sensors that didn't need to be modified. Also, the Mustang coils can't even be used on the Navigator engine. The Navigator also happens to run a fuel return line back to the tank. So since the stock Mustang fuel rails are too narrow to fit the new engine, custom fuel rails need to be purchased. I bought the $220 BBK setup which worked after we had to build custom brackets out of scrap metal laying around the shop. Which brings us to clearance....... It was suggested that spacers for the subframe/k-member were optional. We ended up fabricating spacers when nothing would fit. After the spacers were installed there's still not enough room to clear the brake booster. I'm not sure where to go from here, so I'm researching my options. I imagine I'll have to find a way to get the brake booster out of the way.
It looks like head gasket changes, along with cams, valve covers, valve cover gaskets or anything else on the driver side will require the engine to be out of the car.
This is the point where I wish I had opted for a more compact motor such as a 302, 351, or GM 5.3 or 6.0.......... Sorry, just frustrated with having to go through so much work just to be able to fit an engine into an engine bay. This is a REALLY big engine that will BARELY fit if you modify and move enough things. I've done lots of engine swaps of all kinds over the last 15 years. But this is by far a swap I would not recommend to anyone wanting to use it in a street car. This engine belongs in a MUCH larger engine bay.
Edit: I continue to try posting pics of the engine hitting the brake booster, but the site won't accept the file. I'll resize it and try again.
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