georgiaguy246

has anyone done the swap? how hard is it and what would be the stuff needed? i have found a car thats a 2.3 4 banger for only $300. the body needs some work, it has 115k on it and its a manual. if theres any site that you could give me or anything to help would be great. thanks guys!

88BlueGT

google 4cyl to v8 swap and you will come up with tons of information, including a few good tech articles.

5IVE.OH

SUSPENSION

Front strut mounts are different you'll need 5.0 upper strut mounts or caster camber plates
5.0 rear shocks or remove the bottom shock mount and use your 2.3 rear shocks. You may want to add quad shocks at this time or change control arms
Springs. Depending on what you're going to use the car for, the 4 cyl. springs are great for drag racing
Spindles, rotors, bearings, seals, calipers, brake lines, distribution block, master cylinder. DO NOT TRY TO SLOW YOUR PONY WITH THE STOCK 2.3L BRAKES!!! You will be replacing front end parts!!

DRIVELINE ITEMS:

8.8" rearend, you can get by with a 7.5" but be prepared to replace it
Driveshaft
Double hump crossmember
Transmission mount
Rework your right side brakeline on rearend or the tailpipe will rub it

ELECTRICAL

ECM - depends on engine acquired, speed density or mass air
ECM harness from computer to engine bay
The engine harness
The harness going to headlights and alternator
The harness that goes from the kick panel to the transmission, manual or automatic, the respective harness is needed
5.0 guage cluster or at least the tach, but you might as well swap out the 85 MPH speedo for a 140 MPH while your at it
02 harness
The alternators are the same on 87-up 2.3 and 5.0
If you're converting a mass air 2.3 to mass air 5.0 you shouldn't need the dash harness but you will need to swap some pins out in the ECM connector to get the fuel pump to run unless you swap the harness going to the fuel pump and taillights
If you're converting a mass air 2.3 to 5.0 speed density, the complete wiring harness is different. You will need the complete harness to complete the swap

ENGINE ACCESSORIES:

Complete 5.0 fuel line assembly from fuel rails to fuel tank. 2.3 uses 88lph pump same as 5.0
Headers
H-Pipe
Mufflers & tailpipes
Stock 5.0 air box or cold air kit
Power steering lines are the same as 2.3 and 5.0
Radiators from 87-up are the same whether it's a 2.3 or a 5.0
Pre-molded radiator hoses and heater hoses
Ignition coil and wires
It helps if you can find the 5.0 vacum tree also

88BlueGT

I say you just buy a 5.0! You can get a 5.0 for the same price. Might be in bad condition but I rather have an already 5.0 in junk condition than have a 2.3L in decent condition that I have to swap motors in.