Hi There,

I'll be moving to the US early next year and one of the first things I'll be buying is a Mustang :-)

While I want a late 60s eventually I'm looking at a 4th Gen to start of with. My question is, is it possible to convert a 3.8 6cylinder to the 4.8 or 5.0? Are the wiring looms the same or are they quite different? What about mounts for the engine and gearbox?
From what I've seen the 6's are cheaper to buy (which is why I'm asking all this) and it'll be a good wee project to do the conversion but if it's going to be more of an expensive BIG project I'll just get an 8 cylinder to start off with and spend my $$$ on making it go quicker :-)

Or maybe I could look at getting a 6 to go quicker? What are your thoughts?

Thanks
Paul

 

don't waste your time with a 6cyl, go for the 8cyl

 

At the end of the day, it will be a LOT cheaper to just buy a GT/V8, than it will be to buy a 6 and do a conversion

 

To convert a V6 to a V8 (5.0), you will need to take out the dash, remove the V6 wiring harness and replace it with the V8 wiring harness and of course the computer. You will also need to swap engine harnesses and most of the other smaller harnesses. You will need V8 engine mounts but i am not sure about the K-member, they may be the same? its also a good idea to swap suspension pieces and the rear end as the V6 uses the weaker 7.5 vs. the 8.8 used with the 5.0. The brakes are a bit larger on the 5.0. Its a big job for a newbie if you are not mechanically inclined.

The 4.6 is a bit more involved as nothing really interchanges, but it can and has been done. There was no 4.8 in a Mustang however, or any other Ford that i am aware of. The 289 came close at 4.7 liters.

For a first timer id just get an 87-93 5.0 Fox or 94-95 5.0 SN95 and be done with it if time and money are an issue. The 4.6 arent bad motors but personally id get a 5.0 as i feel the older pushrod motors are pretty reliable and easy/cheap to build up. Plus popping the hood to see all them wires and such is a bit of an eyesore. A 5.0 is so much simpler.

 

yeah. just get a GT/cobra if you want a V8.

by the time you swap in a stock 4.6, you could have made the sixxer a decent amount faster then the V8

 

You'll need to change the rear end the k member the front coil overs engine tranny drive shaft wiring harness radiator.Unless you can get a wrecked v8 car for parts cheap just buy a v8 one its cheaper and a lot less work.

 

In Texas, V8 Mustangs are CHEAP. Just get one if that is what you want.

 

Thanks for all the replies team, an 8 it is by the sound of it :-)

 

i agree

find an 03.04 cobra or get the GT you want, cause you can build a 3.8 to ~300 rwhp by the time you swap a 2V in it to get ~215-225 rwhp