what"s need to convert a 1965 289 to a 1989 5.0

I did a similar swap but with a 95 GT motor. 1965 Mustang Restomod

You can pretty much bolt in the motor without the A/C issues I had. You'll need a new trans crossmember for the T5, along with the clutch pedal and under dash support. You'll need to decide on hydraulic or cable clutch. I personally like the hydraulic, with its short pedal travel, but the cable is cheaper and easier to install. Modern Driveline sells a popular model.

Vintage Air sells a nice setup that you can use with the stock compressor so you can retain the serpentine setup.

You'll need a new radiator (or modify your existing one) that puts the input and output in the correct spots for the reverse flow water pump you have. A few places sell radiators just for this swap.

The main thing to be concerned about is the wiring harness/computer for the donor motor. If that is not included, plan on spending some bucks for a Painless harness with computer. If you use the donor harness, don't go cutting it up before CAREFULLY planning what you are doing. Many of the sensors share circuit paths and if you cut out one that you think is not needed, that will kill others and you'll wonder why it runs so rough. I speak from experience here since I cut out the EGR without realizing it shared a ground path with the TPS. So my car ran awful until I found my mistake.

Lastly, buy a shop manual for the 1989 Mustang. This will help you troubleshoot during your testing phase. I got one for the 1995 and it came in handy many times.

pawpawpatch said:

Thats the exact thing im wanting to do ski . Someone told me i would have to buy the painless wiring harness for about 3 thousand dollars! Thats more than i would have in BOTH cars! Gotta be a cheaper way.

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I believe that 3 grand figure includes the fuel injection system too (intake, injectors.....).

price is pretty steep IMO.....good 5.0 engines usually go for $350-400, and a good t5 300-400. A package deal usually knocks a little off that...I wouldn't pay more than $750 for both..maybe $850 tops with all wiring and computer

I plan on using the ford fuel injection harness for around $500..but you can modify that stock 89 harness too. My time and effort is worth the $500 it'll cost me for a harness vs the hours I'll spend unraveling untaping, splicing, soldering, re pinning, retaping that it'll take to modify the 89 harness.