Hi, i have an 89lx 4 banger, and i want to get a v8 put in. i live in the detroit area, and i have seen a few comercials for shops that do that kind of work. i was wondering if anyone else has had a shop do the conversion for them. i would like to know how much money i should start saving up for.
V8 conversion
- Thread starter bvav22
- Start date
darthcual
Member
I have a conversion and have no problems however i would keep in mind these to things. 1. The transmissions are not the same I dont care what anybody tells you (I know this from personal exp.) and 2. Your rear end is a 7.5 not an 8.8 like other five-ohs. So keep that in mind. Good luck.
DC
DC
89Stang
Founding Member
thinking of doing this. Will a thunderbird 5.0 car serve as a good starting point?
yes the trannies are different. I know that A4LD for the 2.3s and AOD for the 5.0 cars. What else would I need? I know the thunderbird is a low output 5.0 thats easily changed.
yes the trannies are different. I know that A4LD for the 2.3s and AOD for the 5.0 cars. What else would I need? I know the thunderbird is a low output 5.0 thats easily changed.
Paul Perreca
New Member
- Mar 30, 2005
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get a crate motor - and a donor gt w/ no motor from the Junk Yard - arent the springs different w/ 4 cyl? car will sit differently - i would assume it would sit lower in the front because a 4 cyl isnt as heavy as a 5.0 sot he spring constant isn't as much to keep the same stance, so when u drop in the 5.0 the springs compress further - CRATE MOTOR!!
Paul Perreca
Paul Perreca
Dean85GT
New Member
Yeah the 4 banger springs will allow more weight-transfer to the rear also a carb'd 5.0L weighs about the same as an EFI 2.3L (60lbs more, MAX).
Other details such as:
- Steering rack
- Torsion bars
- 8.8 rear-end (quads, brake line)
- Front rotors, calipers, spindles
- Fuel lines
- Double hump cross-member
- Dual exhaust
- Fuel pump (not an emergency)
- Computer
- Complete passenger side harness
- V8 instrument cluster
- whatever else I'm missing, lol
I did mine in steps but went with carb at first. I kept the 7.5 on the rear for a summer (still good today, they have better gearing than a stock 8.8). I will keep the 4 banger springs for the better weight-transfer. I also kept the same brake system since it was new when I got the car. But when I upgrade brakes I want to do it right (SN95 spindles + Cobra brake upgrade, and 5 lug swap).
Other details such as:
- Steering rack
- Torsion bars
- 8.8 rear-end (quads, brake line)
- Front rotors, calipers, spindles
- Fuel lines
- Double hump cross-member
- Dual exhaust
- Fuel pump (not an emergency)
- Computer
- Complete passenger side harness
- V8 instrument cluster
- whatever else I'm missing, lol
I did mine in steps but went with carb at first. I kept the 7.5 on the rear for a summer (still good today, they have better gearing than a stock 8.8). I will keep the 4 banger springs for the better weight-transfer. I also kept the same brake system since it was new when I got the car. But when I upgrade brakes I want to do it right (SN95 spindles + Cobra brake upgrade, and 5 lug swap).
Boss 351 basically touched on most of the stuff. I believe you can use the 4cyl steering rack but it will be alittle more 'loose' then the 5.0 style which is basically all preference. I also believe they had different driveshafts. I am not positive but when i had the 7.5 rear w/ driveshaft sitting next to my 8.8 rear w/ driveshaft it seemed to be skinnier- unsure of the performance difference but it might break easier? You will also need the 5.0 air conditioning hose too. I forgot about this until it was time to tie up some loose projects and had to search one up 
. Depending on your driving style I would say you might want to change the springs. If your into drag you might want them for the launch but regular driving I would go with either aftermarket or 5.0 springs. They will reduce the nose dive while stopping. I believe the 4cyl and 5.0 brake booster/mc's are different too but I have heard of people running the 4cyl brake booster on 5.0's. I believe their only complaint was the hard brake pedal feeling. Also as for engine harnesses I'd say if you go with maf stick with a 87-89 engine harness so you don't have all the extra connectors which are supposed to be for the airbags. You can run either but it looks cleaner imo.
I did this same swap (wrecked gt91 parts into 89lx) you are thinking about along with the 5 lug swap and rear gears at the same time. I'm not sure if I would do this all again as it is alot of work especially with a maf but it was a good learning experience. Mine has taken me like 3 months or so from stripping my 4cyl to rebuilding and now its just hunting down my parts that haven't arrived yet
.
. Depending on your driving style I would say you might want to change the springs. If your into drag you might want them for the launch but regular driving I would go with either aftermarket or 5.0 springs. They will reduce the nose dive while stopping. I believe the 4cyl and 5.0 brake booster/mc's are different too but I have heard of people running the 4cyl brake booster on 5.0's. I believe their only complaint was the hard brake pedal feeling. Also as for engine harnesses I'd say if you go with maf stick with a 87-89 engine harness so you don't have all the extra connectors which are supposed to be for the airbags. You can run either but it looks cleaner imo.I did this same swap (wrecked gt91 parts into 89lx) you are thinking about along with the 5 lug swap and rear gears at the same time. I'm not sure if I would do this all again as it is alot of work especially with a maf but it was a good learning experience. Mine has taken me like 3 months or so from stripping my 4cyl to rebuilding and now its just hunting down my parts that haven't arrived yet
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