2.3L to 5.0L, how hard?

maxsideburn · Apr 16, 2005

Ok here's the deal, my mom bought a 92 Mustang with a 2.3L in it, the motor is now leaking oil from the front and rear main seals and has some other problems as well. I want to know what is involved in swapping a 5.0L into this car? A friend of my girlfriend has a good running (but ragged out) Continental (I think that's what it is) with the 5.0L motor. So what all would I need to do the swap? Thanks in advance.

140CILX-Coupe · Apr 16, 2005

this will be the only reply you will ever get unless soeone wants to pup a joke at ya.

maxsideburn · Apr 16, 2005

Really? Why is that? I visit forums for every car I've owned and most people are quite happy to help out with a few questions. Perhaps an explanation of why nobody will help might be in order eh?

Dr_EluSivE · Apr 16, 2005

I think what he is trying to say is that This particular forum is for 2.3L, and 2.3T's If you wanna know how to throw a turbo motor in it, You are in the right place, BUT.. if you want to know how to throw in a 5.0, You will probably find the most help in the 5.0 forum. Many have done it over there. But its not an easy task, just for starters you will need the computer, wiring harness, Fuel lines (they are different), Transmission, front springs, motor mounts, and probably the intake from a mustang In addtion to the 5.0 motor you have. Its alot of work, thats why i chose to go turbo 2.3. The 50 people can give you more info.

Dr.

Red_LX · Apr 16, 2005

Dude, a 5.0 out of a lincoln continental isn't even worth your time to swap! Those things were like 150 hp and I'm pretty sure the intake came out on the wrong side of the engine bay.

Oh yeah, go ask in the 5.0 forum.

rd · Apr 16, 2005

I have 2 carbed 5.0's and the efi 2.3 I just got. I built the 82 5.0 rom a straight 6 car about 5 years ago.

Given the price of gas, I would keep the four, as that's why I got one, and am busting my tail to fix it up. The price on these puppies is going to go up shortly. As you know from finding this forum, all the non engine stuff from a 5.0 to a 2.3 Mustang is the same, so you can build the rest of the car easily. The 2.3 is an excellent engine in my opinion, and worth keeping. It is relatively straghtforward to work on and repair. Looks like a couple of seals would fix yours.

The 2.3 to 5.0 conversion is very common, but used 5.0's are inexpensive enough that I would not want to go through it unless everything was dirt cheap, or I was building a hot rod. You need so much stuff off the 5.0 car that is Mustang specific that you would have to buy a wrecked or ragged out one anyway. As others have said, you need the wiring harness and sensors, the computer, the engine and accessory brackets, cables, the trans, driveshaft, etc. Some fuel tank work is needed. Nice thing, is that it all does fit, and work.

You could swap using the Lincoln computer, but you will not end up with as good a conversion as using a Mustang. The Lincoln engine may or may not be a 5.0 HO. Someone else here on the 5.0 tech forum could tell you.

And, yes, this is a more appropriate question on our 5.0 board.

gibson89LX · Apr 16, 2005

rd said:
used 5.0's are inexpensive

You'd be lucky to TOUCH a 5.0 for less than 9k around here.

89Stang · Apr 17, 2005

You can pick up 5.0L's starting around 1800 around here and thats running and sometimes in decent shape even.

You can probably find a Thunderbird 5.0 car (88 or down) and use that as a donor car. Also the differences are usually heads cam and yes the intake is facing the wrong way. But these are easy fixes as most people would want better heads or at least ported heads anyway and a bigger cam. The intake can be fixed at any local swap meet or local mustang board. If those fail evilbay..... beyond that these guys can tell you how to do a 2.3T but not how to do a 5.0. This question needs asked in the 5.0 Tech forum

2.3Lxhatch311 · Apr 17, 2005

The Only thing positive I can think about from converting a 2.3 into a 5.0 is that you can defraud your insurance company and have lower premiums. Other than that, I'm a proponent of "buy what you want". It would be one thing to put a 351 clevland in a Fox, but 5.0's already exist. There are only a set number of these cars. Once they all get killed, gutted, donated, converted, and what ever else get's done to them, that's it. No more 2.3's for those who love them. That's just how I feel.

140CILX-Coupe · Apr 17, 2005

yeah soon where gonna be converting 5.0s to 2.3Ts

4bangen · Apr 17, 2005

140CILX-Coupe said:
yeah soon where gonna be converting 5.0s to 2.3Ts

LOL I almost did that! found a real nice 5.0l coupe roller that was caged the engine bay was shaved and the car was painted sonic blue the guy only wanted $2,000 for it, but I already had 2 coupes and a vert at the time, and the city would have had me for lunch

mikeflys1 · Apr 17, 2005

140CILX-Coupe said:
yeah soon where gonna be converting 5.0s to 2.3Ts

I loved my old 2.3 but.....lets not kid ourselves.

89Stang · Apr 18, 2005

yeah 3xs more 2.3s than 5.0l's were sold... maybe more even!!!

140CILX-Coupe · Apr 18, 2005

ok converting back to 2.3s

TurboFlush · Apr 18, 2005

140CILX-Coupe said:
yeah soon where gonna be converting 5.0s to 2.3Ts

Now that is what I am talkin about!!!
I think I am going to swap my spare 2.3t motor into a 99 body. Now that would be a shocker!!

Fix the 2.3. gas is great and they are easy to drive, especially if a mum is driving it. seals are less than $15 ea. and fairly easy to change.
2.3's are bullitproof also! LOL

TF

rd · Apr 18, 2005

If used 5.0's are $9k in Cleveland, I will be there this weeked with a truckload for sale at $7500 each.

I meant wrecked, ragged out, title stuck in divorce, type cars. They are $600 and up, depending on condition. It has surprised me, because when I started looking 6 years ago, wadded up 5.0 cars were $2500. So I started with a $50 six cylinder car and a $400 255 V8 car to make mine.

Brantley · Apr 19, 2005

mikeflys1 said:
I loved my old 2.3 but.....lets not kid ourselves.

Have you ridden in a Mustang with a fully ported 2.3 turbo engine running 20+ lbs of boost? I have plenty of power when I want it, and I also have great fuel economy when I want it.

bvav22 · Apr 19, 2005

Well you really have to look at what you want. If you want a fast street rod, then get the 5.0, no question. but if u want a fairly fast car, but not for all the time becuase of gas, get the 2.3t.

I drove my freinds 88gt, he had a 351c with a supercharger in it, and a bunch of other mods i dont really know about. all i know is that when i punched it in that baby, it lifted off the ground. fastest car i have ever driven. its pure muscle.

t3-svo · Apr 19, 2005

idiot

stick with the 2.3 i gat an svo and it kicks 5.0s turbo it and then think about.

Brantley · Apr 19, 2005

bvav22 said:
Well you really have to look at what you want. If you want a fast street rod, then get the 5.0, no question. but if u want a fairly fast car, but not for all the time becuase of gas, get the 2.3t.

Without very much work, a 2.3 can easily beat a stock 5.0. Yep, fairly fast.

2.3L to 5.0L, how hard?

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