i'm sorry, i tried a search, but it only gives 50 results and i don't know any other way to find out except to start a new thread. the 4 cyl car is a 93, so from what i've gathered, if i get a 93 computer and engine harness, there would be no wiring issues. is this correct? other things i will need are mounts, throttle cable, new clutch, 5.0 bellhousing, exhaust, and obviously engine with all accessories, right? i already have the dual hump transmission crossmember and world class T5. i'm not looking to do this 100% the right way up front, just to get it running. will that cover it pretty much?
5.0 swap questions
- Thread starter Jugador
- Start date
I done several of these swaps in past years. The most recent is a 93 notchback and this time I documented every step with pics. Unfortunately I have not compiled all of it into one neat and orderly procedure, or place for that matter, but I will soon. There are only a couple thing I can think of off the top. First is to make sure that you get the A9L computer and harness as it is the one for the manual transmission.
The current suspension will work, but you will probably notice more nose dive when you brake and the front end may bounce a little depending on the age of the struts. I would swap out to a set of coil overs in the front, but your budget may not allow for them.
The real problem area is going to be the 7.5 rear. It will work with the 5.0 but it isn't going to take a lot of abuse especially if you put a healthy 5.0 in the car. If you swap out the rear to an 8.8 and aren't going to upgrade to an aftermarket, redesigned rear suspension system, such as make sure that you get the quad shock mounts and get a new set of quad shocks. I wouldn't use "used" quad shocks though as rarely do they ever get replaced.
When I did my swap I put in a tubular K member and A Arms with the coil over kits up front. It made a lot of extra room in the engine bay and made installing long tube headers an easy task.
As for the rear suspension there are many aftermarket options, all of which depend on budget. I am currently working on getting a griggs GR-40 rear suspension package. This will change the way the car drives completely but it is pricey at just under 2k.
Feel free to give me a yell if you run into any problems or have any further questions.
The current suspension will work, but you will probably notice more nose dive when you brake and the front end may bounce a little depending on the age of the struts. I would swap out to a set of coil overs in the front, but your budget may not allow for them.
The real problem area is going to be the 7.5 rear. It will work with the 5.0 but it isn't going to take a lot of abuse especially if you put a healthy 5.0 in the car. If you swap out the rear to an 8.8 and aren't going to upgrade to an aftermarket, redesigned rear suspension system, such as make sure that you get the quad shock mounts and get a new set of quad shocks. I wouldn't use "used" quad shocks though as rarely do they ever get replaced.
When I did my swap I put in a tubular K member and A Arms with the coil over kits up front. It made a lot of extra room in the engine bay and made installing long tube headers an easy task.
As for the rear suspension there are many aftermarket options, all of which depend on budget. I am currently working on getting a griggs GR-40 rear suspension package. This will change the way the car drives completely but it is pricey at just under 2k.
Feel free to give me a yell if you run into any problems or have any further questions.
computer, harness, fuel lines, motor mounts, tranny stuff for whichever you choose, brakes are pretty good idea. Just a shortlist off the top of my head, mine took awhile because i was in no rush and did stuff like put in a manual rack, moved the battery to the trunk, changed all my suspension with the 8.8 going in, swapped to a 5spd and alot more stuff. Take your time and do it right, the biggest pain in the ass was hunting for all the hardware i hated making alot of trips for misc. nuts and bolts. It is pretty straight forward, ive never touched a mustang just a LS1 header swap and dove into this project it wasnt so bad started so slow but got 10x faster when i finished, now im confident about doing alot more stuff now to, makes you realize most stuff isnt that bad you just gotta do it.
Good luck
Good luck
thanks for the replies guys. i know the 7.5 isn't too great behind a track car, but on the street i know they can take it cause my friends has taken it for over a year, even with the 4 cylinder tranny. now the mention of the fuel lines reminded me...will i be able to just get 5.0 fuel lines and bolt them in or will there be some problem with the brakes? (i only ask because i keep reading that the brake lines are different)
afast93stang
Founding Member
I have a 93 coupe that I did a swap on 2002 and I still have the 4cyl springs in front. I am planning on getting an aftermarket spring kit soon but the 4s will work for the time being.
I also had a 1989 donor car that I used the computer (A9L) from and I bought a 93 harness for it. The harness and the 140 spedo were the only "93" things I had to get for it to work. Otherwise everything else I swapped came off of the 89.
I would also pick up the light/alt wiring harness for a 93 so you can just plug it up to the alt, if you don’t you get to splice your existing wiring for it to work which isn’t too hard to do.
The break lines from the joint of the passenger side back to the rear are different so you will need to get new ones, or at least ones off of a 5.0 put in to avoid hitting the exhaust. You can bend them if your in a bind but I would advise against that.
Your fuel lines will be different also, get them off of a 5.0 donor car if you can or you can go with braided hoses. Either way its not difficult to run them.
Go to a parts yard to get them, it wont take much time to pull them off and that way you could see how they are routed/attached to the car...
I also had a 1989 donor car that I used the computer (A9L) from and I bought a 93 harness for it. The harness and the 140 spedo were the only "93" things I had to get for it to work. Otherwise everything else I swapped came off of the 89.
I would also pick up the light/alt wiring harness for a 93 so you can just plug it up to the alt, if you don’t you get to splice your existing wiring for it to work which isn’t too hard to do.
The break lines from the joint of the passenger side back to the rear are different so you will need to get new ones, or at least ones off of a 5.0 put in to avoid hitting the exhaust. You can bend them if your in a bind but I would advise against that.
Your fuel lines will be different also, get them off of a 5.0 donor car if you can or you can go with braided hoses. Either way its not difficult to run them.
Go to a parts yard to get them, it wont take much time to pull them off and that way you could see how they are routed/attached to the car...
afast93stang
Founding Member
Nope, the 4cyl alt is smaller.
The year of the A9l doesn’t matter, the harness its connected to does.
The engine harness you need is used to hook up to your fuel pump and air bag relays which are in the engine bay, you can actually use a harness from 92 or 93, they are the same thing. This harness connects to the maf, distributor, injectors, fuel pump relay ( 2 square brown boxes) and air bag relays (white connectors that go to impact points).
Engine harness from previous years hook up differently to the dash connectors (drivers side by the firewall) and they also have the fuel pump relays in the interior.
The light/electrical system harness includes front headlight, turn signals, fog lights (on 5.0) and the alt. The 4cyl one currently in there you can reuse but you have to cut the wires to attach the new alt to it.
These harness only hook up to certain connectors in the engine bay and the harness itself lays down where things should be connected
The year of the A9l doesn’t matter, the harness its connected to does.
The engine harness you need is used to hook up to your fuel pump and air bag relays which are in the engine bay, you can actually use a harness from 92 or 93, they are the same thing. This harness connects to the maf, distributor, injectors, fuel pump relay ( 2 square brown boxes) and air bag relays (white connectors that go to impact points).
Engine harness from previous years hook up differently to the dash connectors (drivers side by the firewall) and they also have the fuel pump relays in the interior.
The light/electrical system harness includes front headlight, turn signals, fog lights (on 5.0) and the alt. The 4cyl one currently in there you can reuse but you have to cut the wires to attach the new alt to it.
These harness only hook up to certain connectors in the engine bay and the harness itself lays down where things should be connected
afast93stang
Founding Member
As promised, an article from Mustang Monthly, August 1998.
Im hosting these images, let me know if they dont work.
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