• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

motor swap questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter paintballpyro1
  • Start date Start date Mar 28, 2012

paintballpyro1

Active Member
Jan 6, 2004
118
1
29
Michigan
Mar 28, 2012
#1
  • Mar 28, 2012
  • #1
I have a 96 gt and have just had to main problems with the motor so im looking at a used motor to toss in. Where can i find what kind of block i have (windsor or romeo)? I was looking at some newer motors out of crown vics as they arent beat on like mustang and there is a $700-800 difference between the 2.

When looking at them would i want the 4.6l with oil cooler or without the cooler? Just not sure it i would have to add any lines on not.

Would a 4.6l from an 2005(60k for $600) still be a drop in or would i run into issues with sensors? Cause i was reading that someone did a swap and had problems with the cam sensors?

Also ive read about people swapping the timing cover because since the newer ones use COP and they dont have to spots to bolt the coil packs to. Is that the only difference cause i will make my own or is gonna be better to just use my timing cover since im gonna be using all my accessories?

Thanks for any help.
 

AZmustang98

Member
Oct 19, 2011
373
17
19
Flagstaff, Arizona
Mar 29, 2012
#2
  • Mar 29, 2012
  • #2
Romeo motor has 11 valve cover bolts, Windsor had 13 I believe.
 

1987stangman

Member
Jul 12, 2006
684
24
19
Mar 29, 2012
#3
  • Mar 29, 2012
  • #3
Well you def. want a PI motor. A crown vic motor of say the 04' model year will be PI and romeo and is the same engine as the Mustangs. You will have to swap the timing cover from your old engine to the new for the coil packs and if you go with a vic engine you will have to swap the oil pans also.

All the old acc will all bolt up.

There will be a knock sensor under the intake you can remove and discard. There is also another temp sensor on the drivers side head that can be removed and plugged.

If your car came with an oil cooler (like mine) you will have to swap it to the new engine, however, if it were me I would source a 99' up oil filter adapter and forget the cooler as it will likely give you problems down the road like mine.

As far as sensors are concerned you will have to find a way to tap the coolant x-over pipe on the intake to thread for the second temp sensor that the NPI engines have. There are 2 ways to do this. Find a NPI intake that has the metal x-over pipe and remove it from the intake and swap it over to the PI intake (this is the route I took). Second option is to drill and tap the new intake for the sensor.

That's really it. You will spend more time pulling and reinstalling the engines. You may also want to get a SCT tuner and have a custom tune made for the new setup.
 

wmburns

SN Certified Technician
Aug 14, 2009
5,892
514
204
Houston Texas
Mar 29, 2012
#4
  • Mar 29, 2012
  • #4
It's a great idea. The motor in my 2000 GT came from a 2004 Crown Vic. The motors from Panther class cars are cheaper. Slightly more "stuff" to swap but overall, not difficult.

Tons of threads about this swap.
 

paintballpyro1

Active Member
Jan 6, 2004
118
1
29
Michigan
Mar 29, 2012
#5
  • Mar 29, 2012
  • #5
so the timing cover is just for the coil pack brackets? alot of the cheaper motors around me with the least mileage are from 05 crown vics, is there any difference from the 04 to the 05?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

1
Engine Motor swap from a 2003 Explorer
  • 1996mustang new
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
554
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2025
squeak93
E
4.6l auto to 5.4l 6 speed
  • EastanF5
  • Jan 22, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
171
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jan 22, 2026
EastanF5
E
B
97 GT with 03 explorer Eddie Bauer edition 4.6l
  • basbill73
  • May 10, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
47
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- May 11, 2026
squeak93
Q
Resolved 96 crown Vic ECU in a mustang gt
  • QuickDibbles
  • Aug 30, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
686
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Sep 27, 2025
Noobz347
6
Motor ID
  • 65er
  • Mar 14, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
138
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Mar 14, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?