Kazz90

Hey guys Im new to the forum, just had a simple question about my 98 GT. Well, first off its getting up there in miles, about 141,000. The thing is though is it used to be my county cop car so I know many of those miles were ideling. Anyways, after I get the car payed off I would like to maybe do away with the 281 4.6L that is in it right now and possibly rebuild a 289ci carb motor and drop into it. Will it fit?? If so what other parts would be needed to make the swap? Thanks for any comments!

Seth

turbo232

i think the 281 is off the same block as the the 302 so it should fit. why would you dump the 4.6 for a weaker engine though? rebuild the 4.6 and make more power.

cliffyk

The 289 is a physically tiny engine as compared the the 4.6L. That's why the 4.6L Mustangs have hydro-boost brakes, a vacuum booster wouldn't fit.

That said and as Turbo232 said, why not build up a modular motor (4V if you like) and have a better engine with a much wider powerband...

Jay-rod427

You could make a Chevy 502 fit, just a matter of how much work you want to put into it. But as stated above refresh the 4.6 and have a lot better engine than a windsor based motor.

P.S. what part of Kansas you from?

turbo232

you can drop a 302 in with almost no mods so a 289 will do the same...not sure why you would do it unless you are doing hardcore road racing and want almost no weight on the front end.

cliffyk

^+1, with sufficient resources you could fit an 1100 in³ engine from a tank:

Kazz90

Well at first I actually wanted to just stick with rebuilding the 4.6L and getting it bored over.. But then the thought of getting head work and all trouble of pulling a computer-ran/fuel injected motor out and THEN puting it back in was kinda overwhelming... I guess I just grew up around the good ol carb motors and am more familiar with them. But I do def want to do something motor-wise. I mean 141,000 seams like too many miles on a motor to start putting a bunch of mods on it. Thats why the thought of rebuild came to mind. Thanks for comments and help!

And Its a small town called Ulysses in the very southwest corner. About hour and half west of dodge city!

Kazz90

Really the only reason I said a 289 is because its what I have access to. I mean is it really hard to pull a 4.6L motor from a stang or does it just look overwhelming because of all the hoses and wires and what not?

Jay-rod427

Nah just take everything off, label it when you pull it off, rebuild the engine, put everything back. It would actually be more work to go to a carb setup and keep everything else on the car working right without some major rewiring.

The mod 4.6L is much more efficient and reliable.

Cliffy that tank engine is AWESOME!!!

Jay-rod427

On a side note the 4.6 is much easier to pull out of the bottom of the car than through the hood opening. Leave it on the Motor mounts, rest it on blocks or something under the engine/trans and K member, then just raise the car off of the engine. It can be done through the hood opening but is a MAJOR PITA.