Motor swap

[Frankencrites]

So I have a 1996 mustang gt manual that has a bad motor and I’m trying to put a 2000? Mustang gt automatic motor into it some people are saying it will bolt right up others are saying I have to change fuel rails and I have to swap it back over to the plugs and wires instead of having the straight off the plug coil pack/cop system

 

[wmburns]

Do you already own the 2000 GT? The reason I ask is a 2000 GT uses a Windsor block. Where as the 1996 is Romeo. IMO this is a better swap if done with another Romeo block. But the swap can be done using a Windsor block but there are more parts to swap or details to work through.

This swap will also have to deal with converting the 8 bolt flex plate to an 8 bolt flywheel.

For a DIY'er the only way this swap works is to make the donor motor "look" like the original motor electrically. Which means the new motor needs to re-use the original:

• Motor wiring harness
• coil pack ignition system
• original return based fuel system. Which means yes. You do need to swap the fuel rails.

 

[Frankencrites]

Do you already own the 2000 GT? The reason I ask is a 2000 GT uses a Windsor block. Where as the 1996 is Romeo. IMO this is a better swap if done with another Romeo block. But the swap can be done using a Windsor block but there are more parts to swap or details to work through.

This swap will also have to deal with converting the 8 bolt flex plate to an 8 bolt flywheel.

For a DIY'er the only way this swap works is to make the donor motor "look" like the original motor electrically. Which means the new motor needs to re-use the original:

• Motor wiring harness
• coil pack ignition system
• original return based fuel system. Which means yes. You do need to swap the fuel rails.

I own the 1996 gt and I own the motor and transmission of the 2000 gt but the 2000 gt is a parts car it was rolled but it still runs and drives I can get any other part I want from the 2000 gt if I want/need tho

 

[tsemmett]

If your goal is just to get this thing running again, you would be better off using the fuel and electronics parts from the 96 engine. The long blocks themselves are compatible, but the fuel and ignition systems are not (not without additional work). The intake manifold does need a little attention though; the 96 uses 2 temp senders, while the 00 only has 1. The space where the second one is on the 96 is blank on the 00, so it would need to be drilled/tapped for the second sensor.

As for the differences between Windsor and Romeo, it was my understanding that the flywheel is the only thing that should impact a full engine swap. You'll definitely need an 8 bolt 10.5" flywheel (96-98 Cobra would have this). If there are more concerns, I'd be interested to know.

 

[Frankencrites]

If your goal is just to get this thing running again, you would be better off using the fuel and electronics parts from the 96 engine. The long blocks themselves are compatible, but the fuel and ignition systems are not (not without additional work). The intake manifold does need a little attention though; the 96 uses 2 temp senders, while the 00 only has 1. The space where the second one is on the 96 is blank on the 00, so it would need to be drilled/tapped for the second sensor.

As for the differences between Windsor and Romeo, it was my understanding that the flywheel is the only thing that should impact a full engine swap. You'll definitely need an 8 bolt 10.5" flywheel (96-98 Cobra would have this). If there are more concerns, I'd be interested to know.

Why won’t the 96 gt flywheel work??

 

[Frankencrites]

If your goal is just to get this thing running again, you would be better off using the fuel and electronics parts from the 96 engine. The long blocks themselves are compatible, but the fuel and ignition systems are not (not without additional work). The intake manifold does need a little attention though; the 96 uses 2 temp senders, while the 00 only has 1. The space where the second one is on the 96 is blank on the 00, so it would need to be drilled/tapped for the second sensor.

As for the differences between Windsor and Romeo, it was my understanding that the flywheel is the only thing that should impact a full engine swap. You'll definitely need an 8 bolt 10.5" flywheel (96-98 Cobra would have this). If there are more concerns, I'd be interested to know.

Also what additional work is needed for the car to get running I figured it should almost be plug n play

 

[tsemmett]

By additional work, I was referring to the use of the coil on plug and returnless fuel systems from the 00 engine. Coil on plug is possible with some rewiring, but the returnless fuel system is different at almost every part, and I'm not sure the 96 ECU will even run it (the fuel pump is ECU controlled on the 00).

 

[Frankencrites]

By additional work, I was referring to the use of the coil on plug and returnless fuel systems from the 00 engine. Coil on plug is possible with some rewiring, but the returnless fuel system is different at almost every part, and I'm not sure the 96 ECU will even run it (the fuel pump is ECU controlled on the 00).

I have the computer and key I just wanna get this thing enought to where I can run it and race it without messing it up

 

[wmburns]

Why won’t the 96 gt flywheel work??

As I mentioned in my post, the Romeo motor uses a 6 bolt crank. Where as the Windsor uses an 8 bolt crank. The Romeo flywheel will not physically "bolt up" to the Windsor's crank due to the different number of bolts holes.

Research Windsor to Romeo swap. Except in your case the differences between the Romeo and Windsor blocks apply in reverse.

I do have a 8 bolt flywheel (10.5" clutch) left over from my Windsor to Romeo swap.

 

[Frankencrites]

Do it turns out it’s a 98 gt the guy didn’t even know the year of his own car I hope this helps my case

 

[wmburns]

1996-1998 Mustang GT uses a non-PI Romeo SOHC iron block with a 6 bolt crank.
1999-2000 Mustang GT uses a PI Windsor SOHC iron block with a 8 bolt crank.
2001-2004 Mustang GT uses a PI Romeo SOHC iron block with a 6 bolt crank.

So in your case it does not make any real difference.

 

[Frankencrites]

Ok so I was Miss informed on both cars the bad motor is a 98 gt and the good motor is a 2001 gt so this might be helpful

 

[wmburns]

Should you be interested in keeping the COP ignition instead of swapping to a coil-pack ignition then a conversion harness such as this will be needed:

Coil On Plug Conversion Harness. Plug And Play 96-98 Ford Mustang GT 4.6 SOHC V8

Coil On Plug Conversion Harness. Plug And Play 96-98 Ford Mustang GT 4.6 SOHC V8 | eBay

You are looking at a coil on plug (COP) conversion harness for 96-98 Mustang GT's, and Crown Vic's with the SOHC 4.6 V8. You will still need COP's!

rover.ebay.com

This harness makes an easy adaptation from the original coil-pack motor harness to COP style ignition. The harness works by wiring the COP cylinder pairs back to back in a waste spark arrangement.

 

[Frankencrites]

Waste spark arrangement?

 

[tsemmett]

Waste spark means two plugs fire at the same time; the coil packs each have 2 coils that are shared between 2 cylinders each.

 

[Frankencrites]

So I am trying to keep this as cheap as possible atm so could I keep the original coil packs and run them like that and just so we are clear I can use the 6 bolt crank from the 98 on the 2001 motor?

 

[tsemmett]

98 and 01 should both be 6 bolt, so you should be able to reuse the 98 flywheel (if it's in good enough shape).

You can technically use either the coil packs from the 98 or the single coils (coil on plug) from the 01. The 98's coil packs are the easier/cheaper solution; the coil on plug setup requires some rewiring (or an adapter like Wmburns posted).

 

[Frankencrites]

So I took a new route and just wanted to replace the head gaskets but the driver side head is **** and has a hole between the cylinders heads the block looks fine but everyone is telling me new block but I’m not sure the block looks perfect but I’m looking for a better answer it’s hard to tell but the front two piston heads have a hole in them I just want to put new heads on and call it good but I’m not sure please tell me what you think

 

[tsemmett]

That's not a hole, that's a damn archway...
Why are people suggesting you replace the block? Coolant in the bottom end, if allowed to sit, could be bad news, but that does't look like a break over a coolant port.

 

[Frankencrites]

So I just need new heads like I said right?