engine swap please help!
- Thread starter saleensteven
- Start date
Will the mustang harness swap? or will the explorer harness go in the kick panel like the mustang harness?
5ive.oh
Founding Member
I am not a pro mechanic but I believe you will need to swap over the flywheel/harmonic dampner off a mustang 5.0l if you plan on using the T5 trans. Do not use the trans. out of the 2.3l as the input shaft is smaller in diameter then the one from a 302 and will destroy the pilot bearing, plus the internals won't hold up as well. If you can't find a old 302 donor car why not go carbed? It will eliminate the need to mess around with ecu's and such.
5ive.oh
Founding Member
You'll need the Mustang sensors if you're going to run the Mustang wiring. If you want to run the EEC-V (Explorer) harness and transmission, you'll need the EEC-V computer, as well.
To run the Mustang wiring, you'll need idle air control, throttle position, exhaust gas recirculation, O2, manifold absolute pressure or mass air flow, inlet temp, and coolant temp sensors (did I miss anything, guys?) to properly operate.
The 1997.5 and prior will list as GT-40 motors while the 1997.5 and newer will list as GT-40P. One way to tell is on the lower right corner (when looking at the exhaust ports) of the head, the standard GT-40 will have "GT", while the GT-40P will have "GTP" stamped into the heads. Ford Racing makes a header to fit the P motors specifically, but coming from someone who went the route of the P motor to get that extra power, it's not worth it. Go with the standard GT-40. The headers are another $250 invested, not to mention that it's a bitch to find long tubes.
Get the GT-40, swap cams (Explorer cams suck) and the other equipment, and call it a day. If you're running a T5 behind it, be sure to get a flywheel (as cheap as new ones are, don't waste time hunting down and resurfacing a used one) and pilot bearing. I almost forgot the pilot entirely.
Stock Explorer timing is single chain, so go ahead and get double roller equipment for a Mustang or Crown Victoria and you can swap that while you do the cam. Even a stock Mustang cam ('87-'88) is a decent upgrade. I got mine for free, only had to pay shipping.
To run the Mustang wiring, you'll need idle air control, throttle position, exhaust gas recirculation, O2, manifold absolute pressure or mass air flow, inlet temp, and coolant temp sensors (did I miss anything, guys?) to properly operate.
The 1997.5 and prior will list as GT-40 motors while the 1997.5 and newer will list as GT-40P. One way to tell is on the lower right corner (when looking at the exhaust ports) of the head, the standard GT-40 will have "GT", while the GT-40P will have "GTP" stamped into the heads. Ford Racing makes a header to fit the P motors specifically, but coming from someone who went the route of the P motor to get that extra power, it's not worth it. Go with the standard GT-40. The headers are another $250 invested, not to mention that it's a bitch to find long tubes.
Get the GT-40, swap cams (Explorer cams suck) and the other equipment, and call it a day. If you're running a T5 behind it, be sure to get a flywheel (as cheap as new ones are, don't waste time hunting down and resurfacing a used one) and pilot bearing. I almost forgot the pilot entirely.
Stock Explorer timing is single chain, so go ahead and get double roller equipment for a Mustang or Crown Victoria and you can swap that while you do the cam. Even a stock Mustang cam ('87-'88) is a decent upgrade. I got mine for free, only had to pay shipping.
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