have a 90 lx 2.3n/z and looking to swap to 5.0

[dawsonsdaddy49]

can anyone offer me any advice on info on how to swap ? my car is an auto 2.3 1990 lx.... i was thinkin going w turbo swap... or finding a carb..5.0 or 5.8. anysites on here for the v-8 swaps ?


thanks
mark

 

[DougNuts]

I'm also interested in this question. I need to know if a V-8 crossmember will bolt into an A4ld equiped mustang.

 

[chaka]

www.bigblockfox.com (links to the left)

do a search

or ask in the 5.0 tech section

TONS of info out there.

 

[Mustang5L5]

The 5.0 K-member and the 2.3L K-member are the same. No need to swap them out.

As for the tranny crossmember? You will need to swap to a 5.0L double hump crossmember. Some t-5 2.3l's already come with this, but the a4ld has a single humper

 

[Stinger]

Can I ask why you would ask the 2.3 section? Seems to me if anyone in here did the swap they would now be in the 5.0 section?

Stinger

 

[mr_woodster]

i agree

 

[ka0tyk]

if you are swapping to a 5.0 you will need to change:

rear end
brakes
suspension
radiator
inside you will have to swap out the gauge cluster (2.3 is 6k tach, 5.0 is 7k), computer, etc etc... all the hoses, wiring, vacuum lines, fuel pump and a full exhaust setup as well.

are you SURE you want to swap? I've pretty much completed everything and I'm waiting to build up a 331...

 

[tiny4lx]

I did 3 of theses swaps and never changed the suspension or the brakes and the car stops and rides the same. I guess its all in how you want to drive the car. But going down the road it rides the same as my factory v-8 car did. Taking off real hard is different because the front will rise faster with the 4 banger springs verses the v-8 springs. Well to each their own

 

[ka0tyk]

front brakes are 1" smaller in a 4 cyl to accomodate for the extra mass...

suspension in back is different... has quad shocks to help eliminate wheel hop.

struts and shocks are jetted differently to accomodate different weight. springs have different rates

master cylinder is larger for larger caliper pistons...

etc etc...

you are driving a sub par 5.0....

 

[PUZMAN]

Ok I am in the process of doing this to my 93 hatch back. These are the differences you can solve the problems in a number of different ways but that part is up to you. Number one the front brakes are smaller, the spindles are the same though so you can upgrade to the v8 brakes or change the spindles and put on sn95 and go up to a 13” stock break set up or even to a 14.5 I think if you are that serious. The suspension of the 4cyl uses softer springs and less aggressive struts, those will have to go. The stock k member appears to be the same. Everyone says you can’t use it but I had the v8 one sitting side by side and I don’t see why you can’t. But while you have it all apart I really recommend using a tubular unit, it is by far the best way to go. The rear suspension is the same but lacks the rite springs or the quad shock set up. It also uses a weaker 7.5 rear end instead of the 8.8 used in v8 cars, you need to change the 7.5 it won’t last long if you drive hard. There are no brackets on the body for the quad shocks so if you swap in an 8.8 with the provisions you will still have to figure out the body side mounts. Other then that the rear brake line is in a different location. The fuel lines are also completely different. The fuel tank and mounts however are the same. This means you need v8 fuel lines or to run your own or to go with like an areomotive kit. Other then that you need to watch out for the transmission crosmember, you can cut and weld your stock one to work in most cases or you can buy a fully adjustable one. As stated by someone else the radiator is different but the mounts are all the same so you can just pick up a v8 stock model, or a 3 core heavy duty model or a full custom unit. Most people swap in electric fans with this conversion but if you’re a daily driver I would recommend the clutch fan. Other then that I’m not sure about the gauges yet. I haven’t gotten to that so I don’t have any experience to give you definite details. I know you will need a v8 wiring harness for the computer if you are doing a fuel injected car, if your running a carb I think you can just eliminate lots of things. Humm I think that is about it. So all and all you basically need v8 suspension, (v8 brakes are optional, you may need a master if you go with really big brakes or disk break rear), v8 fuel system, v8 cross members/k members and v8 cooling. The obvious things I should have mentioned above are you are going to need the little things like v8 injector and computer harness, v8 sensors (if applicable) v8 exhaust, a v8 motor, v8 motor mounts and v8 style transmission, I think the 4cyl transmissions will fit but they are much much much weaker t5’s at least, a correct aluminum drive shaft would be worth the money too. And that’s about it, give or take. Simple rite.