[Stangster88]

Hey guys i have a problem right now i had a 89 gt that i was going to build up but now i need a car and that project is on the sidelines. Well anyways to the point i have found a 1983 Mustang GT Hatchback it has a 302 and a 4 or 5 speed srod whatever the hell that thing is. Its currently carbed and is in perfect condition except the previous owner ran the engine into the ground and i need to swap it out. My plan was to take my 302 ford racing engine and my tremec tko600 5 speed in it. I already have a fidanza flywheel and centerforce clutch in it. I have an MGW shifter on the tranny and the custom u-joint for the tranny. I have the proper motor mounts and all the stuff i needed in order to put it in my 89 but i was thinking i could swap it into the 83 and just connect the current fuel system up to it. And then have a running car. My question is can i put that engine and tranny combo into that vehicle and if i can what parts must i purchase to complete the project in one fell swoop. The car is only 800 bucks and if i can swap the engine and smog it for less then 1500 i want to go ahead and do it.

[Kyle F]

A carbureated cars fuel pump will not run enough fuel pressure for a EFI system. As far as fitment, its the smae chassis as your 89, so you should have an issue there if you already have the parts to get it to hold in.

[Stangster88]

i understand that efi requires higher pressures then carbs and as far as that goes would you suggest spending the time and money to upgrade it to efi or am i better off just bolting the current intake and carb with all the parts that are already there onto my engine. I mean efi makes sense for mileage and driveablity but that only matters to me if i was going to put an automatic in it which im not. I think that it would be much easier to just tune the induction system once everything is bolted in then go from there. EFI is really nice with aftermarket tuners but all the piggyback and stand alones cost atleast a grand and i just replace some gaskets and rejet the carb if nessasary.

So far i already have the engine, tranny and the according mounts for both, i have the driveshaft, the special u joint. Is there anything im missing and if so what. Only tell me things like major parts. Things like spark plugs and general ignition stuff doesnt concern me. But any thing im going to need to do this swap with the greatest ease is what i would like to know.

[rj8806]

KyleF is right about the chassis. The typical shift position for a Fox-body is 19.596" from the back of the bell to the center of the shifter stub. I would double check my measurements before I started. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Before you pull the old tranny, take a measurement from the center of the output shaft up to the top of the tunnel and keep that measurement for reference. When you install the TKO, duplicate the measurement you got from the original tranny and you won't mess up your driveline angles.

Richard