88 Cougar VS 86 Mustang Interchangeability

kilgorq · Aug 21, 2006

I am thinking about scrapping out the 88 Cougar I have and using the 3.8L V6 in my stang. But I am not sure if it is an easy swap or a royal PITA. Or possibly just using the AOD in place of my C3 that I have in the Mustang. The Mustang currently has a 2.3 L4 with the C3. I know I would have the electronics to deal with but I am more worried about mounting issue... Is this a bolt in or will I have to find the right oil pan crossmember and mounts. From what I can tell I would get about 70 more HP with a cost of about 3 Miles Per Gallon. Any Suggestions???

RustBucket · Aug 22, 2006

It'll have to be an all or nothing deal. There's never been an AOD for the 2.3, and the 3.8L does not share the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 2.3 so mixing and matching won't work. The current OD trans behind the 2.3 is a direct descendant of the C3 you have now. SO it's either stick with the 2.3/C3 or drop in the 3.8/AOD no mix and match.

It seems I recall seeing a 3.8L supercoupe motor in a Fox mustang so I know it has been done, but I don't know what all was involved in stuffing it in there.

If it fit in your Fox Cougar, it should fit in your Fox Mustang. I'd determine what's different between the Cougar K-member and the Stang K-member (If anything is different at all) and swap the pieces over.

Good luck.

Shopteach · Aug 22, 2006

We swapped the engine/tranny from an '87 Cougar into my sons '86 LX. The Mustang started life as a 2.3 with a locked-up engine. Shouldn't be any issues except the 3.8 became multi-port injected in '88. The '87 we swapped was CFI. Just make sure you get the wiring harness all the way inside the car on the passenger side and the computer and you should be okay.
Shopteach

kilgorq · Aug 22, 2006

Here is the list of issues I am thinking I may run in to.

1) Motor Mounts ( Look way different. The cougar mount in a different spot on the K frame. They are Flat and the Mustangs are angled)
2) Oil Pan ( Looks OK)
3) Transmission Crossmember ( Looks like a double hump similar to the 5.0 Mustang one)
4) Shifter Linkage (Should not be a major issue)
5) Driveline (Are the Yokes interchangable)
6) Radiator and Radiator Fan ( May Fit Have to look into it. Capacities??? Can I get away with using the original Stang one? )
7) Exhaust (Will have to have a system built)
8) Air intake on Opposite side.
9) Battery On Opposite side On the mustang battery sits where air intake should be. (Could fix with 00 Welding cable and trunk mount battery.)
10) Fuel Delivery. New one is in tank old one on block. ( Are tanks interchangable? Wiring?)
11) Wiring for Gauges ( Will the mustang gauges work) Probably as long as computer does not need input from the water temp and oil pressure) (Aftermarket may be an option Preferably not. Want the OEM Interior Look)
12) Spedo Cable (Cougar is digital (Cool but not what I need)) I Have some ideas with this one. Custom funkieness maybe)
13) Elminating Air Pump and AC ( How to get a belt to work. Cougar is serpentine Mustang is not. )
14) The Shifter for the Mustang is non AOD C3 3Speed type... Stops will not line up... Can I find an OEM AOD Floor Mount shifter

These are the OK Ones

1) Powers steering ( Correct Side)
2) Alternator (Correct side.)
3) Rear Axle Same size and mounting to it is same...
4) The V6 looks like it will clear steering
5) The V6 has 150+ compression 150
6) The AOD Shifts good. and appears to be in good shape Could use a Shift kit though.

Anything I missed?

Red_LX · Aug 22, 2006

I can tell you right off the top of my head-

The motor mounts are different, Thunderbirds & cougars had a slightly different k-member. Tranny crossmember will work. Radiator is the same.

Dunno about everything else. Honestly for the amount of work you might as well swap in a carbed 5.0.

kilgorq · Aug 23, 2006

That is what I am starting to think... The only thing is I have the V6. I dont have a 5.0 or 5.7. I Would rather do the 5.7 but dont know if I can fit it under the Stock hood. I do not want to modify the exterior looks much.

RustBucket · Aug 23, 2006

kilgorq said:
Here is the list of issues I am thinking I may run in to.
4) Shifter Linkage (Should not be a major issue)
5) Driveline (Are the Yokes interchangable)

Yokes yes, Length no.

8) Air intake on Opposite side.
9) Battery On Opposite side On the mustang battery sits where air intake should be. (Could fix with 00 Welding cable and trunk mount battery.)

Look at the 87-93 cars. The Air intake and battery traded places. It shouldn't be too big a deal to swap them.

12) Spedo Cable (Cougar is digital (Cool but not what I need)) I Have some ideas with this one. Custom funkieness maybe)

Use the Mustang speedo cable.

13) Elminating Air Pump and AC ( How to get a belt to work. Cougar is serpentine Mustang is not. )

Eliminate the air pump, swap all other pullies so you keep the serpentine.

14) The Shifter for the Mustang is non AOD C3 3Speed type... Stops will not line up... Can I find an OEM AOD Floor Mount shifter

Late model automatic shifters are all over ebay for 10.00.

After looking through that, I can't help but agree with Red LX.

rd · Aug 23, 2006

The 3.8 came in Mustangs, and the crossmembers and mounts are reported to be workable, ie, the crossmember should not have to be changed.

The donor stuff should fit nearly as well.

I am leery of that engine, as nearly every single one that I know of, including mine, blew the head gaskets.

93PONY · Aug 23, 2006

it will work just get the mounts and other parts from a 83-86 v6 stang, shouldnt be any problems.

RustBucket · Aug 23, 2006

The 83-86 Mustangs were I-6 cars, not V6. Don't ask me why when the Cougars and T-Birds had 3.8 V6's

Red_LX · Aug 23, 2006

RustBucket said:
The 83-86 Mustangs were I-6 cars, not V6. Don't ask me why when the Cougars and T-Birds had 3.8 V6's

Actually the 3.8 was also available in the '83-86 cars, but probably only after a certain year, I'm not sure. I've seen several cars that had 3.8's in them though. A lot of them seem to be convertibles for some reason.

white1989 · Aug 24, 2006

Capris had the V6.

rd · Aug 24, 2006

The 79 to 81 cars had both the German based V6 and the straight six available at different times. This engine came from the Germany sourced Capri, and was also a Mustang 11 motor.

The 3.8 came along after that, and stopped in 90 or so.

kilgorq · Aug 24, 2006

That was the 2.8 that they also used in bronco 2's for several years. It came with the variable venturi carb, and a C4 Auto trans. I believe it was introduced in 1975.

The 3.8 was notorious for a design flaw with the head gasket. The metal ring around the combution chamber was to small. As a result the gasket would get burnt up after a few thousand miles. They fixed it by making the metal ring larger.

Funny thing is GM came out with the 2.8L 60 Degree v6 about the same time and had issues with the intake gasket that were not ever completely resolved I think they finally dropped the 2.8, 3.1, 3100, 3.4, 3400, 3.8, and 3800 that they made based on this block.... So if you see a GM Product with one of those 60 degree 6's in it that has water in the oil you can just about bet that it is just a blown intake manifold gasket. Unless the person that had the car kept running it and washed out all of the bearings... Good way to pick up a cheap car ) Gasket cost is about $60.00 and labor is about 6 Hours.

bhuff30 · Aug 26, 2006

motor mounts

I'd bet that a motor mount from an 83-88 t-bird 3.8 would work. Those are a dime a dozen, and still based on the fox chassis, as opposed to the cougars which switched chassis earlier.

Red_LX · Aug 26, 2006

'87-88 Thunderbird & Cougar engine mounts (all of them) were different from Mustang mounts for the same engine. I do know that for a fact.

kilgorq · Aug 29, 2006

Well after mowing this over and looking at the cost. I think I would rather spend the extra money to upgrade to a turbo set-up.

Stupid question.

How do you do a turbo with carb. I have never seen on but I hear it can be done using a blow through method.

88 Cougar VS 86 Mustang Interchangeability

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