88 Cougar 5.0 into a 88 2.3l stang

[nbsracing]

I just got finished searching this topic and got some good info but this is what I am lacking. I have a 88 cougar with the 5.0L( Im guessing Speed Density) it has a posi 8.8 rear and an AOD Tranny. I know this motor sucks but what can I do to make it semi decent and Im not looking to spend alot of money. Im going to put it into a 88 2.3L 5speed car.
What are going to be my main problem childs with this combo. I would like to stay EFI at all costs. Basically want will I need to get off of a 5.0 Mustang that I am unbale to use off of the cougar.I know a double hump cross member, motor mounts, fuel lines, and Im fubared on the wiring harness and what i should do about it.What is the cheapest but yet productive wiring harness option that I have. I am also thinking about finding a 5spd tranny instead of the AOD since I like the 5spd better. I know I cant use my current 4cyl tranny.A: should I atempt to get another donor car from mabye a junk yard (5.0 stang) or B: Should I just rob parts of of one in a junk yard. If B: then what parts do I need. Thanks in Advanced for any helpful information. Sorry for the long post and the repeat post on this topic.

 

[nbsracing]

Im sorry I thought I might have got some valuable information from this forum but I guess Im not in the "IN" Crowd. Didn't mean to stomp on your more important issues. It makes me happy that my bike forum people welcome newcomers as soon as they post.

 

[88stangmangt]

most dont even post to these threads anymore because they are several brought up a week. for that swap you need a efi from a stang as well as the computer and you can use the tranny from the 4-cyl all you need is a new bellhouseing. also you will need to swap out the rear ends IMO swaps like these are time consumeing and costly but if you got the time and money go for it.

 

[nbsracing]

Im just doing it cus im bored and have two pieces of ****, so why not make 1 big piece of **** with a little more class.so I thought about bore job to a 306 for so more performance you never know maybe I'll actually build a decent 11 sec car, and I just scored a set of mustand heads for free..thanks for the reply

 

[88stangmangt]

well then i guess it wont be to hard..... just gonna be a PITA to swap out that rear.

 

[nbsracing]

Why is that?

 

[jrichker]

M.U.S.C.L.E....

It takes 2 guys one day to remove the old rear end & bolt the new one on place. That doesn't count the time required to get the brakes to work.

 

[nbsracing]

Yeah but the part I hate the most is wiring. I think i should rip out the dash again and replace the whole harness underdash and underhood. I have easy acess to the dash since I replaced the heater core and said to hell with all of these extra screws and just put enough in it so it doesnt shake.

 

[jrichker]

Rip out the wiring? And you say you hate wiring? Do you love pain? Is there something that I am missing?...

 

[nbsracing]

I love Pain. I was joking about the underdash wiring. My buddy had some wierd combo of wiring harness he did, but he could never get the fuel pump to work coreectly so he straight wired it and that is what I am trying not to do. Im going to call and find out how much I can get a full harness from the junk yard with ECU.

 

[Silver Talon]

It dosent take that long to swap out a rearend. I Changed my rear end with my dad in like 3.5 hours. Brakes are the easyiest part of the job. My new rear end came with brake asmeblies, but i had to use the origonal innards off from the 82. So 4-4.5 hours and u could have it done. Itll be easier than all of the wireing **** i garenty u. But with the rear end out, i would suggest inspecting all of the bushings, and or switch to poly ones for a better peformance. It will be easier now than later. Do it once and dont worry about it afterwards.