need help going from 2.3 to 5.0

cincykid71403 · 01-13-2005, 03:16 PM

I need some help, I have an 89 2.3 Mustang. I am working on changing the engine to 5.0. I currently have a 5.0 engine from an 89 truck that was given to me, also have the upper and lower intake and wiring harness for 5.0 mustang. What else do I need to complete the transfer to 5.0(besides transmission). Any help would be great

andy669 · 01-13-2005, 04:58 PM

What year wiring harness do you have? Do you have a computer to match it? Its possible that truck motor might have a 28oz imbalance crank. Most stock type replacement Mustang flywheels that you will find are 50oz imbalance.

Andy

cincykid71403 · 01-13-2005, 08:23 PM

Have the harnes for an 89 Stang, plus computer. How can I tell if crank is 28oz imbalance are there any markings?

andy669 · 01-13-2005, 09:09 PM

Actually now that I think about it, all 81 and up 302's are 50oz regardless of what they came in.

Andy

cenok is family · 01-14-2005, 07:36 PM

man, you have no idea what you about to get yourself into doing the conversion. Let alone you dont have a true mustang donor car. the conversion consists of A LOT more than just the motor and transmission. you have to switch over the rearend, front suspension and brakes(calipers and rotors), fuel and brake lines, rack and pinion, radiator, master cyl and brake booster(not a must but HIGHLY recommended) and the list goes on. i myself am almost done with the conversion, which has taken me over 2 years thus far. click on the link in my sig to my cardomain to check out the progress of my car if you'd like.

Dark_5.0 · 01-15-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cenok is family

man, you have no idea what you about to get yourself into doing the conversion. Let alone you dont have a true mustang donor car. the conversion consists of A LOT more than just the motor and transmission. you have to switch over the rearend, front suspension and brakes(calipers and rotors), fuel and brake lines, rack and pinion, radiator, master cyl and brake booster(not a must but HIGHLY recommended) and the list goes on. i myself am almost done with the conversion, which has taken me over 2 years thus far. click on the link in my sig to my cardomain to check out the progress of my car if you'd like.

I have participated in converting 2 cars from 4 banger to V8. The last one I did took 2 days.

Nothing "has" to be changed but the motor/tranny and rearend. And of coarse the obvious fuel lines/ motor mounts. double hump cross memeber etc...

The 4 banger suspension is actually better than the 5.0 for drag racing. Weaker springs for better weight transfer not to mention smaller bushings in the control arms. The brake system is just fine and really doesnt need to be touched.

surfsup · 01-15-2005, 09:59 PM

i'll second that just finished my swap alot of fun some snags but nothing majoir and the help i got here was great a real good web site the only thing i did different was i put a carb motor in my 92

tireburner163 · 01-19-2005, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cenok is family

man, you have no idea what you about to get yourself into doing the conversion. Let alone you dont have a true mustang donor car. the conversion consists of A LOT more than just the motor and transmission. you have to switch over the rearend, front suspension and brakes(calipers and rotors), fuel and brake lines, rack and pinion, radiator, master cyl and brake booster(not a must but HIGHLY recommended) and the list goes on. i myself am almost done with the conversion, which has taken me over 2 years thus far. click on the link in my sig to my cardomain to check out the progress of my car if you'd like.

The brakes don't HAVE to me changed. My old LX was a V-8 conversion and it still had the 10" front brakes and it stoped fine. The 4 banger stock suspension works better for drag racing too. The rack and pinion, master cyl and brake booster do NOT have to be changed.

It's taken you two YEARS!!!!!! I did my conversion in 2 weeks, working on it after work each night.

highwaykid · 03-05-2006, 12:22 AM

I have an 89 2.3 iam doing a 5.0 conversion i have the engine, tranny, 5 liter harness, computer, motor mounts and pipes is there any thing else I need please help

Coupe50h · 03-06-2006, 12:13 AM

The 8.8 rearend would help, but not necessary.

84LX89GT · 03-06-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tireburner163

The brakes don't HAVE to me changed. My old LX was a V-8 conversion and it still had the 10" front brakes and it stoped fine. The 4 banger stock suspension works better for drag racing too. The rack and pinion, master cyl and brake booster do NOT have to be changed.

My '85 gt has the factory 10" brakes, so does my '85 2.3L LX, they both don't stop for Shizzle, but they have brake problems. If you just plan on drag racing/cruising on the street they are fine, but after driving my Cobra every day a quality brake system is what i'll have on every daily driver from now on.
An example.....oh Sh!t, a deer!......my '85's would have hit it, my cobra easily stopped short.
If you don't plan on stopping quickly 10" brakes work fine

vristang · 03-06-2006, 11:45 PM

Is the oil pan on the 302 truck motors the same dual sump pan as on the car/mustang 302? I thought this might be an issue that had not been addressed.

Good luck with the swap!

01-13-2005, 03:16 PM	#1
cincykid71403 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5	need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 I need some help, I have an 89 2.3 Mustang. I am working on changing the engine to 5.0. I currently have a 5.0 engine from an 89 truck that was given to me, also have the upper and lower intake and wiring harness for 5.0 mustang. What else do I need to complete the transfer to 5.0(besides transmission). Any help would be great

01-13-2005, 04:58 PM	#2
andy669 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Moline Il Posts: 901	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 What year wiring harness do you have? Do you have a computer to match it? Its possible that truck motor might have a 28oz imbalance crank. Most stock type replacement Mustang flywheels that you will find are 50oz imbalance. Andy __________________ 88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120

01-13-2005, 08:23 PM	#3
cincykid71403 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 Have the harnes for an 89 Stang, plus computer. How can I tell if crank is 28oz imbalance are there any markings?

01-13-2005, 09:09 PM	#4
andy669 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Moline Il Posts: 901	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 Actually now that I think about it, all 81 and up 302's are 50oz regardless of what they came in. Andy __________________ 88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120

01-14-2005, 07:36 PM	#5
cenok is family Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: 4 oh ******* five, Oklahoma Posts: 32	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 man, you have no idea what you about to get yourself into doing the conversion. Let alone you dont have a true mustang donor car. the conversion consists of A LOT more than just the motor and transmission. you have to switch over the rearend, front suspension and brakes(calipers and rotors), fuel and brake lines, rack and pinion, radiator, master cyl and brake booster(not a must but HIGHLY recommended) and the list goes on. i myself am almost done with the conversion, which has taken me over 2 years thus far. click on the link in my sig to my cardomain to check out the progress of my car if you'd like. __________________ 87 GT 308 rebuilt by me, Ross forged pistons, cobra intake, thumpers with 1.94/1.6s, afm n-412 cam, 65mm tb, proflow 75mm maf, 3.5" power pipe, 24# inj, 255lph fp, 1.6 rr's, kirban afpr, u/d pullies, KC clutch, pro 5.0 shifter, 4.10's, hedman L/Ts, 2.5" H pipe, spintech prostreets, frpp alum d/s, MAC c/c plates, MSD 6al, 3G alt, f/l sfc, UPR uca's/lca's, tokico shocks/struts, maxspeed springs, HID 5000k My CarDomain

01-15-2005, 09:59 PM	#7
surfsup Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: jersey Posts: 147	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 i'll second that just finished my swap alot of fun some snags but nothing majoir and the help i got here was great a real good web site the only thing i did different was i put a carb motor in my 92

03-05-2006, 12:22 AM	#9
highwaykid Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 I have an 89 2.3 iam doing a 5.0 conversion i have the engine, tranny, 5 liter harness, computer, motor mounts and pipes is there any thing else I need please help

03-06-2006, 12:13 AM	#10
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 The 8.8 rearend would help, but not necessary. __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

03-06-2006, 11:45 PM	#12
vristang Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 50	Re: need help going from 2.3 to 5.0 Is the oil pan on the 302 truck motors the same dual sump pan as on the car/mustang 302? I thought this might be an issue that had not been addressed. Good luck with the swap! __________________ Check out my new Mustang website! - Including: TwEECer, EEC-IV, C&L, 351w Fox Swaps, PCV Oil Control, and more. 1990 GT - 408w - 17mpg TwEECer RT 1.30A10 - X3Z - A9L strat. / EA Forged Bottom End / Gapless Rings / CR 8.85:1 / Custom Cam / Ported Trick Flow Heads / Box Upr / Lightning Lwr 17x9 Cobras / Front 255s / Rear 275s / 5 Lug Cobra Disc Conversion / Auburn Ltd. Slip / 3.27 / 31 spline axles / Panhard Rod / Upr&Lwr Control Arms 1987 Red LX - 2.3L - Planning 2.3t Converison