96 GT - Swap engines or mod it up?

i say upgrade to a 99-03 2v. If you can upgrade to a 4v and slap on a power adder!

I like that mach1 motor but it has no forged internals. I was talking to Jadesville and i think i'm going to build up a 03 cobra motor. If anyone wants that motor it would be cheaper to do that than buy a complete on. Its about $3500 for the long block on Karkraft.com and get the blower off of ebay. Your looking at about 5000 dollars on the motor. It is better then $10,000-12,000 in my opinion.

I'm going to post some questions about the swap to see if it is as easy as i think. I won't bother posting on stangnet though because to many people are D...s and won't believe me so whatever or just won't know.

I like the 373 more just because its good for the juice and when i get the blower. But hey if your all about N/A go with 410s +.

I want to stay NA. I have heard a cylinder head swap is about 12 hours of work. How much work is an engine swap?

Black96VertGT said:

I want to stay NA. I have heard a cylinder head swap is about 12 hours of work. How much work is an engine swap?

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Well I took it to the wrong place. If you take it to a place that knows how to do it 3-7 days if they have all the parts. It honestly depends on where you take it and what kind of motor your swapping with. If your trying to drop a 5.4 motor in good luck that may take some time and some money. Whatever you do don't take it to Ford for any after market work.

Do a engine swap, which ever you decide 2V or 4V, both are worth the effort. If you know anything about a car at all, you can do the swap yourself. I did mine in my driveway with no problems. Let me know if you have questions.

I have a 96 car as well, and it threw a rod bearing, so I swapped the whole motor out and bout an 03 crate motor...definatly worth the time and money, runs a lot better than I thought.

For the sake of discussion...a 96GT with 2v engine to a mach motor...what WOULD need to be changed. I wouold assume the fuel system would stay the same(maybe a better pump), trans the same, hoses etc..same So the question really is does the harness plug right in and you change the computer?

Darrin said:

For the sake of discussion...a 96GT with 2v engine to a mach motor...what WOULD need to be changed. I wouold assume the fuel system would stay the same(maybe a better pump), trans the same, hoses etc..same So the question really is does the harness plug right in and you change the computer?

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If your going to get the mach get the stick mach motor. I didn't know that the mach stick motor came stronger. I honestly thought they were the same motors but guess not. If im' wrong some one please correct me.

If you drop a mach1 in, you can use your same computer but you'll have to get a chip burned. As for the wiring harness you'll have to change it alittle but its not a head ache. Your fuel system you have now is a return style system and the mach is returnless <assuming its like the 99+ 4v Cobras> that isn't a problem you can call SHM they have rails for it or you can call aero motive and get a fuel pressure regulator.

If you get the motor in you'll have to hook up coil pacs to it to get it running because your computer can't fire coil on plug. Well it will fire but just one side. You'll have to get a adaptor for your fuel injector wiring harness because your 96 wiring harness will not plug into the new injectors.


I was thinking of droppin a mach 1 but it doesn't have an forge internals like the 03 bottum. I think i'm going to try to build up a 03 cobra motor, i'm assuming but it might be cheaper then buying the motor complete.

If you want to put that motor in and some bolt ons its a great motor. It will be a lot faster than the 96 2v.

dam I have over 90 big one [ mile] on my car and I did a SVO Head swap on my car. For what i paid for the swap I could have got a new motor or low mile one. In 3 weeks I'am geting a blower for my car for 2k it's a saleen root blower. I hop it hold's up for the summer. Or should i just stop and get a new motor??? The head swap was 3k so I'am IN REAL DEEP???????????

Black-stang said:

dam I have over 90 big one [ mile] on my car and I did a SVO Head swap on my car. For what i paid for the swap I could have got a new motor or low mile one. In 3 weeks I'am geting a blower for my car for 2k it's a saleen root blower. I hop it hold's up for the summer. Or should i just stop and get a new motor??? The head swap was 3k so I'am IN REAL DEEP???????????

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It might hold up but i'm not sure. With low boost it can last you some time but you'll want to get the most HP out of it and you'll blow it. Hell for 3gs you could have got the mach motor for you car.