Hey guys I’m new to the forum and I’m sure this has been asked before, but all of my google searches have not yielded enough information as to what I should do in my situation. I am 19 and my girlfriend and I live on our own so we’re on a budget. She has an 01 3.8l 5 speed. It’s getting up there in the mileage and it has an oil leak from the rear main seal and the valve cover gaskets. I recently got her a ton of aftermarket parts to repair and improve some things and she likes the car and we got it for cheap so we don’t want to sell it in exchange for a v8. I would like to know what my best swap options are. I’ve seen some cheap 3.8 and t5 combos on the net. I just think that if I’m doing all the work of pulling the engine I might as well swap in something better. How hard would it to drop in a built 4.6 with a built t3650? Is it easier to build up a 5.4 from an e350? I’ve heard of lsx and 2jz swaps in these stangs, is that a good option? Thanks for any and all input and following my strange rant of a question!

All said and done I’d like to be done under 5k? I live near a few junkyards was thinking of maybe going that route. Every time I go tho mustang engines are already taken 🤯

probably the safer route! She’s the one complaining that it’s not fast enough though 😂. Next car will be a v8! Thanks for the input