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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

94 V6 Swap into my 90....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chrome_Rust
  • Start date Start date May 18, 2011
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Chrome_Rust

Member
Dec 5, 2008
530
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Findlay, Ohio
May 18, 2011
#1
  • May 18, 2011
  • #1
OK, I am kinda kicking this idea around because I will have the parts to do it.

I am getting a 94 V6 5-speed car for doing a 5-speed swap in a 90GT (Using the 5-speed from the 94, changing the nessessary parts of course).

My other Mustang is a 90 LX Notch 4-cyl 5-speed, stone stock, minus rear swap bar, pony's, hurst shifter, and 2.5" exhaust. It runs decent, as I did a total rebuild on the 2.3 2 years ago. But lets face it, 88hp is slow. I can keep up on the free way, but it is VERY taxing on the little guy.

My thought is more geared towards mileage and to increase the fun factor a little, plus I am always in the "Dare to be different" crowd. I want to swap the engine, brakes, and wiring from the 94 into my 90. I am going to keep the 4-cyl T5, my stock 3.45 geared 7.5, install a trac-loc I have had for years, swap over the 5-lug brakes front and rear, along with the booster, MC and Prop Valve, and the ABS if it has it ( I havent seen the 94 yet, it hit a deer, and messed up the front pretty good, but it is still driveable, and he drives it if he has too). I am going to move all the wiring, fuel lines, tank, and what ever else I have to to make it work. I am going to make the A/C, cruise, and all the other ammenities work, because I feel a good, legit swap has all these. My 93 has ICE cold air and cruise with the 2001 dash swap, so I know I can make it all work.

I know I can do a 5.0 just as easy, but this car is going to be my everyday driver as I am WAY to tempted to beat the hell out of the 93 everytime I drive it. And with the way I have been killing T5'd lately, any mileage I can move to another car, I think would be a great idea.

What are you thoughts, concerns, ideas or what have you on this. I just want to hear what you all have to say!!

Charlie
 

Mintsick

10 Year Member
Jan 6, 2007
589
39
68
West Lafayette, IN
May 18, 2011
#2
  • May 18, 2011
  • #2
It is an interesting swap however I am not sure I could invest the time doing it for a V6 fox? I'd probably throw a turbo on the 2.3 instead and call it a day.
 

Chrome_Rust

Member
Dec 5, 2008
530
1
17
Findlay, Ohio
May 18, 2011
#3
  • May 18, 2011
  • #3
Throwing a turbo on a non-turbo 2.3 is cause for disaster. The cast pistons cant handle more then about 5lbs of boost.... I've been down that road when I was into Rangers....
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
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May 18, 2011
#4
  • May 18, 2011
  • #4
Why not use the v6 t-5 over the 2.3L t-5????
 

S&B

I hate my CT. :(
10 Year Member
Dec 18, 2005
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Cheesehead
May 18, 2011
#5
  • May 18, 2011
  • #5


do what you will after all that effort for the engine swap and 99-04 PI 2v would be much cooler and probably wouldn't kill the bank.
My 2002 gt got 27mpg on the hwy, put that in your pipe and smoke it
 

Beasty306GT

Active Member
Dec 19, 2002
671
4
28
Oxford,Mass
May 18, 2011
#6
  • May 18, 2011
  • #6
personally your just gonna waste your time
 
9

90stang5speed

Member
Jan 19, 2009
582
2
19
Columbus Ga
May 18, 2011
#7
  • May 18, 2011
  • #7
I think its a cool idea for a DD. You are going to have the engine from the donor car anyway, why not put it to use. You'll have all the electronics since you are getting a complete car. Seems to me that it would just be a matter of taking the time to do it. You want all the creature comfort stuff too so that will be extra work to deal with but, I say go for it man.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
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May 18, 2011
#8
  • May 18, 2011
  • #8
S&B said:
My 2002 gt got 27mpg on the hwy, put that in your pipe and smoke it
Click to expand...

+1

The 3.8L is a gas hog, and not that more efficient than a 99-04 V8. It's only marginally better on the highway...and not by much. In the city, the numbers are about the same.

I got 26-27MPG in my '03 GT on the highway, and it took 87 octane. I miss that car.
 

Chrome_Rust

Member
Dec 5, 2008
530
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17
Findlay, Ohio
May 18, 2011
#9
  • May 18, 2011
  • #9
@Mustang5L5
Not using the 5-Speed from the V6 because its going in the guys 90GT, after I swap the inputshaft and bearing retainer.
I didn't want to go to a 302 or a 4.6 because the desire to whip the crap out of it, plus I'll have almost no cash in this swap, save for lines, fluids, and misc crap. And another reason I'd like to do it is because a friend of mine just finished his split port turbo build on his 98 Mustang, so if the speed bug bited he mentioned I could have his old stuff when he does twins. Like I said, just wanted something unique, and I know I might be wasting my time with the swap, but eh, ll I have is time right??

Thanks for the replies so far!
 

LarsD

Founding Member
Jul 2, 2002
2,680
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123
Texas
May 18, 2011
#10
  • May 18, 2011
  • #10
Could be a cool swap, be sure and post pics when you do it.
 

90fox306

New Member
Mar 20, 2011
126
0
0
East TN
May 18, 2011
#11
  • May 18, 2011
  • #11
Mintsick said:
It is an interesting swap however I am not sure I could invest the time doing it for a V6 fox? I'd probably throw a turbo on the 2.3 instead and call it a day.
Click to expand...

What he ^ said!!
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
224
Massachusetts
May 18, 2011
#12
  • May 18, 2011
  • #12
If you have the donor car...go for it.

At least later down the road, you can do a supercoupe 3.8L swap or something
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
6,945
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Northern KY
May 18, 2011
#13
  • May 18, 2011
  • #13
I've been waiting for someone to swap the new 3.7 into a Fox. If it'll get 31mpg in a S197, think of what it can do in a 2900lb Fox, and think of the mpg it could get with 3.08 gears, and it would probably still run faster than most bolt on 302's considering it has 305hp.
 

wythors

Get off my lawn!!!
Founding Member
May 17, 2000
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C Addle
May 18, 2011
#14
  • May 18, 2011
  • #14
One thing to be aware of is that those older 3.8's were well known for blowing head gaskets regularly and with not many miles. My folks had a T-bird that popped one at 32,000.
 

Chrome_Rust

Member
Dec 5, 2008
530
1
17
Findlay, Ohio
May 18, 2011
#15
  • May 18, 2011
  • #15
head gaskets will be a no brainer. might have the heads milled a little while they are off....
 

smokin joe

Founding Member
Sep 30, 2000
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May 18, 2011
#16
  • May 18, 2011
  • #16
Wait, I'm confused. Are you doing the swap to the 90 GT or the 90 notch?
 

Mintsick

10 Year Member
Jan 6, 2007
589
39
68
West Lafayette, IN
May 19, 2011
#17
  • May 19, 2011
  • #17
85_SS_302_Coupe said:
I've been waiting for someone to swap the new 3.7 into a Fox. If it'll get 31mpg in a S197, think of what it can do in a 2900lb Fox, and think of the mpg it could get with 3.08 gears, and it would probably still run faster than most bolt on 302's considering it has 305hp.
Click to expand...

Now this would be a worthwhile swap for sure, obviously not for the OP when compared to a free car/drivetrain he is getting but the 3.7 would be really neat in a fox.
 

Chrome_Rust

Member
Dec 5, 2008
530
1
17
Findlay, Ohio
May 19, 2011
#18
  • May 19, 2011
  • #18
smokin joe said:
Wait, I'm confused. Are you doing the swap to the 90 GT or the 90 notch?
Click to expand...

90 GT is getting trans from 94 V6 (with bell, input shaft swap)

90 Notch is getting V6 and other stuff from 94 V6 car
 

GameCock5.0

Active Member
Jan 14, 2012
130
4
28
North Carolina
Feb 5, 2012
#19
  • Feb 5, 2012
  • #19
85_SS_302_Coupe said:
I've been waiting for someone to swap the new 3.7 into a Fox. If it'll get 31mpg in a S197, think of what it can do in a 2900lb Fox, and think of the mpg it could get with 3.08 gears, and it would probably still run faster than most bolt on 302's considering it has 305hp.
Click to expand...

I've actually thought about this. but for the time/money, you could probably drop one on the 5.0 Coyote motors in. And i havent personally had time to test it myself, but from what ive read, the new 3.7 motors really don't come alive until higher in the RPM's.
That it seems more like a 4 cylinder turbo that screams up top but has trouble off the line.

BUT, this is just what ive read. I have absolutely NO experience with the newer v6's. Would be a cool swap either way to have a all-aluminum v-6 that is pushing 305 hp in an already light fox. would be really interesting in the 1/4.

Ohh, and to the OP, interesting swap. If you have the parts, and extra time to spare, go for it. Why not? It would be one-of-a-kind and cheap to do.
 

tannerc91gt

This last 25% is foreign territory at this point
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
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#20
  • Feb 5, 2012
  • #20
Personally I'd say Hell No. I've gone the v6 mustang route and IMO they just suck. Mileage is almost the same and I just can't see it being worth the time and effort. It'd be worth nothing resale wise and not worth it.

That's my .02, but if you go that route post pictures. Itd be interesting nonetheless
 
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