[militus1]

I have a 2000 3.8/w auto that recently went from a daily driver to a project car due to an accident. Theres a lot Ive wanted to do to this car from the begining, but now that it is garaged until fixed, I can really put some time and money into it. One thing I wanna do is take the stock 3.8/w auto out and drop in a rebuilt 5.0/w manual. I recently got my hands on a carborated 5.0/w a 3sp C4 auto. Looking to drop the C4 trans and add the 5 speed that came stock with the 302's of earlier years. Which brings me to lots of questions. First and foremost, WILL IT FIT? Second big one, what trans was originally attached? (In case I go new instead of a junker). Whats the process for making it a manny, and what all do I need for the engine swap? Details would be GREAT. I'm not so much worried about opinions whether its worth it or not, just facts whether its possibly, and how to do it! Thanks

[StalkerStang]

Possible? Of course. The engine bays from 79-04 are very similar if not nearly the same. It would probably be easier to use a K member from a 79-95 car though.

T5's are what originally came behind a 5.0

Although this swap is possible, it is certainly not smog legit, carbuerated or not. That being said, I wouldn't waste time with a 5.0 if you don't care about it passing smog, I would go 351W. Same firring order as a 5.0 and bellhousing as well.

[wmburns]

What are your goals with this project? Are you expecting this to be street legal?

Does the speedometer have to work?

[militus1]

351W was my ORGINAL choice.. however I stumbled across this 302 for literally, nothing. So that was my main reason for waiting to drop that into her. As far as emissions? I've never had an emissions test before? And I find myself pretty lucky in the fact I'm pretty close with those who hand out the state inspections around here! What they dont know wont hurt me right?

But is there any sorta clearance or link up problem I might find getting the motor in the bay, or attaching the T5?

[militus1]

I would definitely want this project to be street legal. A working speedo would be.... nice... if not necessary haha

[militus1]

And would motor mounts from a 99-04 4.6L or the motor mounts from a 95 5.0L work to mounting this 78 302 in my 2000???
If I were to measure out the motor mount placement on a 95 5.0, would the measurements match up for the placement on my 2000?

[Shine1Stang]

too much of a pain for such lil gains, if any at all.

[militus1]

Coming from the guy with a 600RWHP V6?
TOO MUCH WORK? No way! That would have to have been some serious work on your end. I just want a 302 for shock value, sound, and power. Looking for help here people! Not knocks!
haha

[wmburns]

The problem I'm having with this thread is you are asking for advice but not really be forth coming with the answers. Answers that would let's us know that you are serious about the project.

I'm not sure that you understand the issues to over come with basic things such as engine management and Instrumentation. Nor have you shared your thoughts regarding what are the plans.

Get the K-member and motor mounts from a 94-95 Mustang with a 5.0. It will bolt right up. There are other parts from the 94-95 that will help with the swap (exhaust/manifolds come to mind).

But the 2000 Mustang is heavily PCM controled. Things such as the speedometer and tach depend upon signals that exist in the PCM. Where are those signals going to come from? Do you plan on the 2000's PCM performing engine management duties?

If not, what are you going to use for engine management?

These decisions affect how other issues are solved.

Take for example the ignition switch. The power is switch via the CCRM which in turn is PCM controlled.

Then there are things like cooling fan operation. Again, PCM controlled.

Now if you stated that a race car style set up was ok. IE a simple on/off switch with a momentary contact switch, then at least that's some information to go on.

Please don't think for a moment that we don't think this swap can't be done. A read of the forums will pull up many examples of others that have done it. But for every sucess, there are 100's of failures. I suspect that one thing common to the sucess stories is the level of planing done before the 1st nut was turned.

[/end rant]

[militus1]

I guess my lack of knowlege on the who thing is whats causing a major barrier. I, like most, can perform simple mechanical projects, however this is such a large one I dont completely understand what ALL goes into the big picture? I'm okay with some "strange" amenaties, however, I am looking for this swap to make my 4th gen mustang a hoss with a big 302, and be a street legal, head turning, weekend car... perhaps this is too much to get into for me, even with pretty much professional assitance?
Like I'm trying to do most of this myself, from rebuilding the motor, to rebulding the trans, to marrying and installing both: None of which would be done alone, but I was looking for second opinions on the best way to do it RIGHT!

[shinerstang]

Originally Posted by militus1

Coming from the guy with a 600RWHP V6?
TOO MUCH WORK? No way! That would have to have been some serious work on your end. I just want a 302 for shock value, sound, and power. Looking for help here people! Not knocks!
haha

Having a high hp V6 is easier than doing a 302 swap. There are no logistics involved because we are using the same electronics. It is all drivetrain work, not cutting and splicing wires and harnesses.......

And a 302 is not considered big motor......

[Kevinr92]

Originally Posted by shinerstang

Having a high hp V6 is easier than doing a 302 swap. There are no logistics involved because we are using the same electronics. It is all drivetrain work, not cutting and splicing wires and harnesses.......

And a 302 is not considered big motor......

^ true.

Putting the mods into a v6 is easier, because most things are bolt ons, turbos, superchargers, gears, etc... whatever the hell else you'd put on it to make it have 600 hp.

302 is a crappy little motor IMO. Roush 327 is awesome imo. 410 hp @ 6,000 RPM

Chances of that happening tho... uhh.. probably slim. i might be wrong, but damn that'd be a hell of a project.

327 AL F5 Performance Engine

Anyways... take a look into the whole bolt on mods, etc for more horses. If that's not your thing, go for the 302 if you want.. but if you want wow factor the 327 would be your best wow factor.. but that would just be like a complete teardown n im not sure that itd be possible.

[davidcseifert]

A 302 V8 for the wow factor?

I'm a hell of a lot more shocked by a 600 rwhp V6 than a V8 with that power, think of it like 100rwhp per cylinder compared to 75, which is more shocking to you?

If you want to do a 302 swap look into something more than just a stock motor like a good Head/Cam/Intake setup to utilize that displacement, BTW if you ever plan on doing more than 500hp you need a different block as they will split wide open!! (compared to the already existing block on the 3.8 holding 600+rwhp and no record of breaking one)

[StalkerStang]

Like I said, do a 351 stroker, or leave the V6 in it. I think this swap is a waste of time unless you go BIG.....No wow factor in having a 302/5.0 in a Mustang, some people still think the 99-04 cars came with 5.0's.

But I do have to stick up for the 302, its a damn good little motor. Some decent heads and a cam are all thats needed to make 300+ HP in a pretty small V8 with lots of torque and for cheap. As far as the blocks, yeah 5.0 blocks are thin, but running an early 302 block is stronger, as well as running a mexican block 302.

As far as the Roush 327 is concerned, its 302 based.

Oh and making a 600+ HP V6 is not just bolt-ons and turbo..... lots of tuning, bottom end, cam and cylinder head work went into that.

[metalman302]

The fact you even had to ask about the motor mounts shows you did zero googling and want all your info spoon fed...