Sweeper

I've been saving up some $$$ lately for a 5.0 era Mustang. I have been looking around at all the usual places and finding mustangs above $3000 and figured if I got ahold of a good condition 4cyl(for around 1500 in decent shape) I could probably drop a few thousand and swap for a 5.0 + have a decent light weight stang with loads of power. I also thought about just getting a LX with the 5.0 to save some exhausting hours of work and simply build it up but I would figure that the 4cyl conversion would be more powerful and about 200 lbs lighter? I was wondering what would car be a better idea? Also what would it take to make a 4cyl conversion to a 5.0? I know a few things here and there about it all but I wouldn't mind a bit of in depth talk about it. Is the frame a lot weaker on a 4cyl than the 5.0 LX? I am going to aim around 500hp in the long run, and maybe nitro ontop of that, but that is in the long run after many tweaks.

89LXcoupe

Why would an LX 5.0 be heavier than an LX with a 5.0L swap?

Do you have the skill to do a motor swap?

You wont spend above $3,000 for a 5.0 Mustang but you would spend $1,500 for a 4 cylinder and put a few more thousand into it? Just doesn't make sense to me.

Just get an LX 5.0 and be done with it.

What do you plan on doing in order to get 500HP?

95_302_StangMan

yes i agree just buy a 5.0 to begin with save you alot of time and headaches.

stanglx2002

its a lot cheaper to just get a 5.0 in the beginning bc the main harness is different you need a new tranny and engine its just cheaper to buy a 5.0 and begin modding it

Bloodline

5.0 to start with is cheaper to start with, but if your going to go for 500 big ones your going to need to replace your drivetrain as soon as you dip into the big horses. I have a good friend who has a 4cyl converted to 306 (he didnt do it himself) and it weighs in at about 2800 lbs without the interior. So if your going to dip a lot of money into a car, do some research on prices. You will spend over 5k building 500 hp and beefing up the chassis/drivetrain.

5pointO

Don't forget about your emissions.

paulstang

i would have to say get an 5.0 to begin with save you alote of time and money let us know what i decide

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Aliate X

The only reason people do 4cyl to 5.0 swaps is for insurance purposes.

2slow4u

4cyl conv is not that hard. IMO I'd get a 4(which I did). Buy a good shortblock already assembled from a reputable place. The swap will be much easier if you go with a carb. But because of emissions you may not be able to do that. I wouldn't use an original 5.0 out of the matching mustang. Why? 1. high miles 2. do you think those 140,000 miles were all sedate gentle driving (chassis stress) 3. You can't build 500 hp on a stock bottom end. If you are gonna do it right do it right to begin with. If I was gonna go with an FI 5.0 I'd try to find an original 5.0 car with a blown motor or tranny. But that is a what if....

Sweeper

I want to do a 4cyl conversion not because of insurance, but because I will be building it for power as soon as I get it.

I was considering putting a rear end from a 5.0 in a scrapyard(rebuilding it) into the 4cyl and getting a HD T-5 for the tranny with an aluminum driveshaft. I was thinking of maybe a DSS Super Pro Bullet short block 306 built to my specs with a comp cam and afc 185 58cc, with maybe a carb if I have the money I will try a EFI setup from FAST, and I will put long tube 1-3/4" headers with an 3" offroad H-pipe and flowmasters round back. Im thinking of a black on black setup with a LX Coupe and 18X10 wheels on a 5 lug conversion. I will put rear disc brakes on it later on, but want to keep the price under 12k total. I will probably put a 190lph on it, but don't know if it will be enough for maybe a 125-150 shot of nitro for the simple times of going extremely fast, not a lot of times but a few most def. Let me know what you think would be a better idea or maybe a add on idea?