New Project, Feedback Wanted On Engine Swap

Boosted92LX · May 20, 2015

Ok, NOT a Mustang. A very close friend of mine (brother from another mother) was in a bind for money the other day and called one in on this truck. He agreed to give me first refusal should it ever go up for sale as he acquired it from my mom.. and I wanted it to stay in the family, so I bought it. It is 302/5 spd and has 14 million miles on it, trans is fairly fresh, motor is tired, tired... And the truck is, well, pink. Hey, it was mom's. Why else would I buy a pink truck?

So, anyway.. I'm still funneling money into the fox, and this thing will happen next winter probably. I plan on losing the steps, the stock wheels, lowering it 3-4 inches and putting some horsepower in it. Maybe paint, not sure yet.. But the big question? Power. My absolute first inclination was Ford 460, check that, stroked 460. But, my bud who is dyed in the ford blue wool threw the dreaded idea at me. Yeah, you guessed it. LS swap. At first I resisted, but he started telling me how I can buy a 6 liter with 400 hp, trans, wiring, computer and all for 2500 bucks and I realized the 200 hp 302 would cost that to rebuild..

So, yeah. I hated the thought of it, but he has a valid point, I'm actually considering it. I swore I'd never do it, but HP per dollar can not be beat. So let 'er rip.. flame, cuss, cheer, whatever.. I want thoughts, opinions, suggestions, what have you.

Give me something to mull over while I finish up the fox fellas.

hoopty5.0 · May 20, 2015

I can't help but toss out the idea of a coyote swap from a newer F-150. They can be had relatively cheaply. . .

Either way, this truck needs some 6" sidepipes running down and turning out before the back wheels.

Boosted92LX · May 20, 2015

hoopty5.0 said:
I can't help but toss out the idea of a coyote swap from a newer F-150. They can be had relatively cheaply. . .

Either way, this truck needs some 6" sidepipes running down and turning out before the back wheels.

I absolutely thought about coyote, but I think your statement may need more consideration. Cheapest I've seen is 5k. For just a motor. No trans or engine management..

and the exhaust will most likely be 4" dumped right behind the cap, a la Roadkill muscletruck.

but I like the way yer thinkin!

hoopty5.0 · May 20, 2015

Boosted92LX said:
I absolutely thought about coyote, but I think your statement may need more consideration. Cheapest I've seen is 5k. For just a motor. No trans or engine management..

and the exhaust will most likely be 4" dumped right behind the cap, a la Roadkill muscletruck.

but I like the way yer thinkin!

Oh no man. I found a GT motor/harness/ECM in Pasadena for $3k. The truck ones are even cheaper.

hoopty5.0 · May 20, 2015

...especially now that they've been out a few years, people wreck 'em and they build up an inventory

Boosted92LX · May 20, 2015

hoopty5.0 said:
Oh no man. I found a GT motor/harness/ECM in Pasadena for $3k. The truck ones are even cheaper.

WOW. Haven't seen any that cheap yet, was that with trans?

hoopty5.0 · May 20, 2015

No, but everything else. You can find the trans though.

Boosted92LX · May 20, 2015

hoopty5.0 said:
No, but everything else. You can find the trans though.

Yeah, see that's the dilemma. Trans adds a thousand bucks meanwhile the 400 hp ls needs 12v run to the ecu and you're in business for 2500.

hoopty5.0 · May 20, 2015

Yeah. I'm just thinking out loud.

Boosted92LX · May 20, 2015

hoopty5.0 said:
Yeah. I'm just thinking out loud.

Hey, no worries. I asked for opinions. keep 'em comin'. Maybe I'll decide money isn't everything.. wait..

rdharper02 · May 20, 2015

I'm standing by for the flaming, but I've always wanted to drop an LS into a daily driver. Even bought a book on it at one point. After reading the link below, I might just do it after the Mustang is back up.

My Budget LS Engine Swap Guide <$1500 - LS1TECH

Chuckman · May 20, 2015

408w

/thread

84Ttop · May 20, 2015

Last coyote we bought out of the junk yard was 1,500$ (F150) We've used the ford racing swap harness on more than a few cars and it works like a champ... This would be a pretty cool way to go.

Ideally... 438" Windsor in a Dart block and some boost Yes... I am partial

mikestang63 · May 20, 2015

you know it's pink

Bullitt347 · May 20, 2015

These cross breeding swaps ALWAYS cost more than what you are led to believe. So if you are dead set on doing it, make sure you can comfortably go over budget. Cause the whole "I read this tread on the interwebs, or I know a guy who knew a guy who did it and it was cheap" never quite live up to reality. Ever.

A5literMan · May 20, 2015

2500$ for the entire swap?! Wow that seems cheap. If that's the case I'd do that...if not I vote Coyote. Either would be cool IMO.

Boosted92LX · May 20, 2015

@A5literMan

Yeah, that price point is hard to overlook. It's the only reason I'm considering it. I've also got a call in just to cover bases to a local salvage yard.. @84Ttop to check on a truck 5.0 cost. Was that with trans and accessories for $1500 or just a long block?

@Bullitt347 yeah, I'm aware of the add up on incidentals. It's crazy on any swap, not just cross oem stuff. Thanks for that reminder.

@Chuckman A 408W did cross my brain, but rotating assy and heads that make any power make a SBF lower on the list because of $$$.. I don't want to talk about how much it's cost me to get 500ish hp out of my fox. I'd like this truck to be A: powerful B: reliable.. which is what's making me lean toward a modern powerplant...

@rdharper02 Thank you for that link! good stuff!

@mikestang63 Yeah. It's pink. I'm not sure what to do about that man.. I just don't know if I can drive a pink truck. I may corral all of my son's buddies one weekend and get them to help me sand it down and shoot it with some cheap paint. Or, I do have three daughters.. hmm..

2000xp8 · May 21, 2015

I'm a little skeptical about that price point for a 400hp LS especially with trans.
I like gm ls2's and ls6's. One day i'll probably own a car with one, but they aren't cheap.
Cheapest one on ebay is at $3600 and it's still has 5 days to go and penty of bids. Probably goto around $5000.

I don't even think you could find the 325hp ls4 with a trans for $2500.

Even if you do actually find one at the price it's an anomaly and you still have to deal with what else it takes to make it work.

hoopty5.0 · May 21, 2015

They're common down here. And cheap.

84Ttop · May 21, 2015

The last truck coyote that we got was a complete motor from throttle body to pan with all the accessories, no trans mission or ecu for 1,500$

New Project, Feedback Wanted On Engine Swap

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

rdharper02

like kicking myself in the junk

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?

mikestang63

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

2000xp8

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?

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GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

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