85 Stang LX 2.3 to v8 swap
07-01-2013, 01:00 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 20
85 Stang LX 2.3 to v8 swap
So..I have been searching and searching for info on what I wanna do, but cant find too much. I am probably not using the right search terms, but maybe I will get some answers here.
I am picking up a 85 Mustang lx 2.3 4cyl auto car. I want to swap in a v8 of course. I have a Complete 88 Cougar 5.0 sitting in my yard. I want to swap everything over from the cougar to the mustang. Motor, trans and read end. I have been reading that there are multiple little differences in the cars with brake lines, fuel lines, etc....
So will the brake lines, front suspension, etc work on the mustang?
Also, i want to keep the car fuel injected. How hard is it going to be, to use my 88 wire harness and ecu in the 85 car?
Any help or points in the right direction would be great. I want to be able to have everything ready so I can grab what I need off the cougar and scrap it.
Thanks for any help,
I am picking up a 85 Mustang lx 2.3 4cyl auto car. I want to swap in a v8 of course. I have a Complete 88 Cougar 5.0 sitting in my yard. I want to swap everything over from the cougar to the mustang. Motor, trans and read end. I have been reading that there are multiple little differences in the cars with brake lines, fuel lines, etc....
So will the brake lines, front suspension, etc work on the mustang?
Also, i want to keep the car fuel injected. How hard is it going to be, to use my 88 wire harness and ecu in the 85 car?
Any help or points in the right direction would be great. I want to be able to have everything ready so I can grab what I need off the cougar and scrap it.
Thanks for any help,
07-01-2013, 06:01 PM
#2
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
YES!
As for the rear axle, it won't bolt on...
They're two different cars and all the bracketery is different between them.
It will be cheaper and less headache for you to find a fox body 8.8 rear assembly.
The front suspension will be tricky as well because again, different cars.
Part out the Cougar and use that dough to buy the Mustang GT stuff.
What's wrong with your Mustang suspension and brake system?
As for the rear axle, it won't bolt on...
They're two different cars and all the bracketery is different between them.
It will be cheaper and less headache for you to find a fox body 8.8 rear assembly.
The front suspension will be tricky as well because again, different cars.
Part out the Cougar and use that dough to buy the Mustang GT stuff.
What's wrong with your Mustang suspension and brake system?
07-01-2013, 07:01 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 20
Correct me if I am wrong but the Cougar is listed as a fox body platform car for the 1980-1988 years. I found that listed on multiple sites online. But I am still looking for solid info on that.
And I have found online that the axle will fit just fine but its 3/4 of an inch wider on each side. In fact a couple have done it. But I am not really interested in the rear end right now.
I am wanting to know mainly about the front end stuff. I would love to be able to put the bigger v8 brakes on the mustang.
And I have found online that the axle will fit just fine but its 3/4 of an inch wider on each side. In fact a couple have done it. But I am not really interested in the rear end right now.
I am wanting to know mainly about the front end stuff. I would love to be able to put the bigger v8 brakes on the mustang.
07-01-2013, 07:04 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 20
Also according to my parts lookup at work. The brakes off the Cougar are the same as an 85 mustang with the V8.
I just want to be able to use whatever I can to make sure the Mustang will stop and go like it should with a v8. I am gonna beat on this thing pretty hard. So if I have a solid base I can upgrade form there.
I just want to be able to use whatever I can to make sure the Mustang will stop and go like it should with a v8. I am gonna beat on this thing pretty hard. So if I have a solid base I can upgrade form there.
07-01-2013, 07:38 PM
#5
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
The Cougar shares the T-bird platform not the Stang, that stopped in 73 even though they call it a Fox platform.
The car is wider and the wheel base is also longer: 104.2 to the 100.5 of the Stang.
Different body skeleton between these cars.
Basically up front you can use the Cougar spindles so you'll have the upgrade brake system then. Cool.
The car is wider and the wheel base is also longer: 104.2 to the 100.5 of the Stang.
Different body skeleton between these cars.
Basically up front you can use the Cougar spindles so you'll have the upgrade brake system then. Cool.
07-01-2013, 09:01 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 20
The Cougar shares the T-bird platform not the Stang, that stopped in 73 even though they call it a Fox platform.
The car is wider and the wheel base is also longer: 104.2 to the 100.5 of the Stang.
Different body skeleton between these cars.
Basically up front you can use the Cougar spindles so you'll have the upgrade brake system then. Cool.
The car is wider and the wheel base is also longer: 104.2 to the 100.5 of the Stang.
Different body skeleton between these cars.
Basically up front you can use the Cougar spindles so you'll have the upgrade brake system then. Cool.
As long as I can use he Cougar spindles I will be happy with the brakes. I read that that is one big thing to do when swapping to a v8. I appreciate the input man.
Thanks.
Edit: just got done looking at the mustang. Its a carb'd 2.3. So looks like I will be ditching the Fuel injection and be switching, seems like it will make things a ton easier.
Last edited by Perkul8r; 07-01-2013 at 10:08 PM.
07-01-2013, 10:11 PM
#7
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 184
Cougar is a Mustang is a T-Bird is a Fairmont. `80-`88 Cougar/Thunderchicken and `78-`83 Fairmont/Zephyr.
They are the same car. The parts are the same. The bodies (and unibody) are different, but all the parts bolt on the same across similar years.
There is a disconnect somewhere with the suspension I think it is `84 or so, but if you swap the entire assemblies over you will be fine.
As a point of reference I have owned and swapped parts on multiples of these version of Fox Chassis for many, many years.
It has been more than twenty years ago, but I had a Cougar that was mostly Mustang.
They are the same car. The parts are the same. The bodies (and unibody) are different, but all the parts bolt on the same across similar years.
There is a disconnect somewhere with the suspension I think it is `84 or so, but if you swap the entire assemblies over you will be fine.
As a point of reference I have owned and swapped parts on multiples of these version of Fox Chassis for many, many years.
It has been more than twenty years ago, but I had a Cougar that was mostly Mustang.
Last edited by Murgatroy; 07-01-2013 at 10:20 PM.
07-02-2013, 01:48 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 20
Cougar is a Mustang is a T-Bird is a Fairmont. `80-`88 Cougar/Thunderchicken and `78-`83 Fairmont/Zephyr.
They are the same car. The parts are the same. The bodies (and unibody) are different, but all the parts bolt on the same across similar years.
There is a disconnect somewhere with the suspension I think it is `84 or so, but if you swap the entire assemblies over you will be fine.
As a point of reference I have owned and swapped parts on multiples of these version of Fox Chassis for many, many years.
It has been more than twenty years ago, but I had a Cougar that was mostly Mustang.
They are the same car. The parts are the same. The bodies (and unibody) are different, but all the parts bolt on the same across similar years.
There is a disconnect somewhere with the suspension I think it is `84 or so, but if you swap the entire assemblies over you will be fine.
As a point of reference I have owned and swapped parts on multiples of these version of Fox Chassis for many, many years.
It has been more than twenty years ago, but I had a Cougar that was mostly Mustang.
07-02-2013, 05:12 PM
#9
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
Dam. so not as easy as I thought. But still do able. I was totally confused on the Fox platform stuff. Thanks for clearing that up though. I appreciate it.
As long as I can use he Cougar spindles I will be happy with the brakes. I read that that is one big thing to do when swapping to a v8. I appreciate the input man.
Thanks.
Edit: just got done looking at the mustang. Its a carb'd 2.3. So looks like I will be ditching the Fuel injection and be switching, seems like it will make things a ton easier.
As long as I can use he Cougar spindles I will be happy with the brakes. I read that that is one big thing to do when swapping to a v8. I appreciate the input man.
Thanks.
Edit: just got done looking at the mustang. Its a carb'd 2.3. So looks like I will be ditching the Fuel injection and be switching, seems like it will make things a ton easier.
So no need to mess with harness and computer...