OK to complete my question. I have two Mustangs. One is a 1996 Cobra (that has been rolled and totalled the body). The other stang is a 1988 LX with a 4 cyl, 5 speed trans and has a fairly nice body to work with. Now, would the '96 engine, manual trans, and running gear (rear-end, front spindles, etc.) slip into the '88 Mustang? Would this swap require lots of fabrication? The '96 motor is a V-8, with the factory installed supercharger on it and 5-lug wheels. The '88 has 4-lug wheels. I wonder if the cooling system and the braking system in the '96 fit the '88 also? I would appreciate this forums advice and comments. Thanks.
Question - will a 1996 Cobra engine, trans, and running gear
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Thanks for the comments Dakine. Because the '88 has a 4 cyl. engine, it's quite easy to see all around the engine and how and where the motor mounts sit. On the '96, the engine is so much larger and fills the engine bay completely, it's difficult to see anything beneath the cylinder heads (which have twin cams in each head). In fact I can't see the motor mounts on the '96. I haven't raised the '96 and crawled under it. I think once I get underneath the '96, I might gather a better "feel" of what I'm getting myself into (LOL). Could be more work than I capable of handling. If you think of anything else, I hope you, or anyone else passes along their knowledge of what to expect in a project of this nature.
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Jack up the front end of your 96 and spend some time just looking around. It'll be easy to see where and exactly how the motor is mounted on the frame. Take a notepad down with you and jot down anything you're unsure of, such as how to take something off etc and post the questions here. Extensive preparation and a mental visual picture of where things should line up is key in a motor swap and will make your install A LOT easier. The only bad questions are un-asked questions.
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