engine swap

explicit

New Member
Jul 6, 2004
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for a 92 lx hatchback 2.3l im going to be doing a 2.3 l to a 5.0 engine swap (automatic transmission) im just cuious about the wiring, is the engine harness have the same plugs, and would somone be able to give me a underhood shot of a stock 5.0 motor please?

thank you

P.S. and is it difficult to do this engine swap? and what about other parts do i have to get new cables for like the gas pedal or anything? or is it mostly plug in play?

P.S.S. i have all the neccassary tools
 
well the wiring is going to at least be a little different since your going from 4 to 8 cyls. At the very least you have the injector harness that will be different. I don't know if the kmember is the same in a 4 and 8. I know 6 and 8 are different. Most people just go carbed since it's usualy easier.
 
With the amount of work involed, I would either find a Stang around the same year with a 5.0 in it, then swap any things from yours to it that you want, then sell the 4 cyl car. The end results would be the same, with much less work and money. If you must do a swap, do a 351 swap and have a unique car.
 
yea forget it, too much damn work lol, ill just look around for a 5.0 between 87-93, all im really doing to my 4 banger is a kick ass stereo system, but thats something i can always remove and put in a dif car,

thanks for the advice
 
the swap it self is simple done it a few times. the 4 cly and v8 share the same k member no problem thier the engine drops right in.

now for the part that need replaced depending on year most 4cly cars have a single hump trany x member so you will have to get a double hump x member to run your exahust. two most 4clys have a 7.5 rear end you will need to change it out to a 8.8 the 7.5 will work but if you beat on it it will not hold. some lat 4clys early 90s have 8.8 and double hump x members. the throtal cable is diferent to i think the 4 cyl cable will work on a efi set up but if you go carb you will need a cable out of a v8 car. drive shaft sometimes is diferent never used one always used alum shaft. but i think you can change the yoaks and it will work.

as far as wiring goes you will have to lengthen the wire harness for the alt. on the efi you will need a computer and wiring harness out of a v8 car to do this its the harness on the pass side of the car.

good luck
 
my 4 cyl is a 92 lx so what your saying is i can basically just get the 5.0 engine and put it in without to many problems?

would it be cheaper to sell my 4cyl and buy a 5.0? or cheaper to swap the engine? (i have all the tools needed)


or would i just be better off taking it to a trust worthy garage with the 5.0 engine and have them do it for me?
 
Easy

The swap is easy as 82boy said. your car is newer, you will probably have the 8.8. Everything else is just drop in, except if like he said ur doing an EFI swap, u need a computer, computer harness, and an injection harness for engine. dont get rid of the car, build it, thats half the fun.
 
its kind of hard for me, i really dont know much about engines, gear ratios, and all that other stuff,

i would also need a new transmission too right? its a automatic, i wanna keep it automatic because i dont race but id like to enter into some shows,
 
Not bad

Its really not bad, u dont need to worry about ratio's yet, or building up the motor, just get a stock 5.0 in there with the stock rear, and then worry about working on the motor. It all comes with time.
 
explicit said:
my 4 cyl is a 92 lx so what your saying is i can basically just get the 5.0 engine and put it in without to many problems?

would it be cheaper to sell my 4cyl and buy a 5.0? or cheaper to swap the engine? (i have all the tools needed)


or would i just be better off taking it to a trust worthy garage with the 5.0 engine and have them do it for me?

it all depends on your mechinal ability. if you fell comfortable doing the work
i think its a better way to go. i dont know what you got invested in your 4cyl but people want an arm and a leg for a factory v8 car nowadays i only paid a couple hundred bucks for all the 4clys i ever had. the best was a 86 notch back i paid 100 bucks for and it was mint rust free with only 70k miles on it.
i had another 86 hatch i paid 300 bucks.

you got the car check and see if it has a double hump cross member look at the tag and see if it has a 8.8 rear end. its getting harder to find 5.0 engines computers and downer car in junk yards nowaday to. so what i say is if you fell you can do the work call around find the parts add 100.00 dollars more for nonsence stuff you will forget till its togeather.it all up and look and see what people what for v8 cars and let that deside.i would not pay someone to do the work that can get expensive and its not realy your project if someone else does it.
if you was to do that atleast do all the work you can before you let someone else take over.

i like starting out with a 4cyl car for one that make great drag cars they already have 4cyl springs in them. they are cheap and usualy in good condition. most v8 cars are beat to hell rusted and generly not well taken care of and the ones that have have a big price tag on the. the choice is yours do you homework and make an informed descision.
 
explicit said:
its kind of hard for me, i really dont know much about engines, gear ratios, and all that other stuff,

i would also need a new transmission too right? its a automatic, i wanna keep it automatic because i dont race but id like to enter into some shows,

yes you need a trany to the 4cly tranys are not strong enough but we mate the trany to the engine when we put them it makes it easier.

as far as autos go you can get a aod or a c4 to work.