Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

i am transplanting a 5.0 in what used to be a 2.3 turbo and just for everyones info you have to change the k member if you use the v8 t-bird stuff it sets motor uo to high

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351 Windsor performer intake stock 87 turbo coupe K member and the hood closes no adjustment Why would you change the k member

Funny, there's a buncha guys with swapped in 5.0/5.8, 429/460 engines who will call bullshiznit on that.

The ke member are all the same, '86 through '88, regardless of engine, in Tbirds/Cougars. Anybody that told you different has an advanced case of rectal-cranio inversion.

The only gain you MAY get with swapping in a Stang K member is the availability of aftermarket mounts, but even that's pretty well wasted time since Chuck sells V8 conversion mounts for '86-'88 k-member cars.

I'm not exactly sure, but I seem to recall CWE mounts enabling the engine to be a tiny bit lower than the stock stuff. Might contact him for sure though.


Again, to reiterate: ALL '86-'88 2.3, 3.8, and 5.0 engine cars share one common k member.
Remember that also certain year k member swaps will also require different control arms to keep front end geometry intact...there's a detailed thread in the suspension subforum about that.

Now, what is the problem with the engine being too high? Carb motor, or fuel injection? If carb, what intake, carb, and what size air cleaner are you running?

There's a fella here with a 460 under a stock, uncut hood without clearance issues...as well as a guy with a Caddy 500" engine, but I can't recall if he modded his hood or not...

Search is a handy tool... good luck.

Thats funny I currently have a 5.0 in my bird stock K with stock V8 Bird Mounts. I did remove all of the air dam stuff underneath the hood. I think the air dam would hit the motor if not removed but not sure I removed all of that before I put the hood back on.

AFAIK the only FOX K-member that has to be swapped for a 302 or 351W to fit is the I6 K-member. A 302 or 351W bolts right into and FOX that originally came with a 2.3, 3.8, or 302 with the correct mounts.

Y'all keep changing them motors in T/C's to 5.0 and there won't be many 2.3L Turbos left. Yes it will make my car more rare but I prefer to see them with the 4 cyl turbo as they were made. Oh well, to each his own. I know, put twin turbos on it and it still will be a turbo coupe!!!

Well I for one will be putting serious thought into a v6 swap for my turbo coupe once ford decides to offer the ecoboost crate with a standalone

Then you did it wrong.  Your 88TC K-member is the same one as used in the 88 5.0.  Actually the only part of the motor mounts that's even different are the pieces that bolt to the engine.  The isolator, and the lower U-bracket are the same across all engines.

Hum wonder why he hasn't replied to his thread yet

I did the 5.8L swap in my Sport. Same K member as the TC. No issues here. I guess I should have wasted my time installing the Fox mustang K member in my Bird to do the engine swap.

 
I agree, I have an 87 T/C that I am waiting for the Ecoboost V6 out of a Truck. I want to transplant the entire drivetrain into it. I think it would make an economical and extremely quick and fast car!

I bet that ecoboost truck engine wont fit the engine bay of the Thunderbird. I replaced an ecoboost engine in a truck a few months ago. It is a very wide engine with the twin dryers on it. Plus it is a very tall engine too. It would need a lot of fab work from the exhaust to intake. Then trying to get the electronics to work with the engine and car. Nothing is simple with these engines.

Any newer Dual over head cam...is a packaging nightmare...the heads are so freakin big..

Travis

Agreed...

If I'd known more about the LS Chevy there'd probably be one under the hood of my TC now... About a year ago a friend sold a wrecked 6.0 van(even still sort of drivable but frame was bent) with less than 30K on it for $1000, oh well hind sight is 20-20...

Oh yeah to the OP, here's another TC that's had a 5.0 since '99 using the original K member(see link under pict)... All that's necessary is the 5.0 mounts for a '86-'88 Bird/Coug, no earlier or Stang mount is going to work...

Hey Tom

I have in my spare time....well atleast my internet spare time doing a lot of research on the LSx swaps in fox mustangs...its getting better.  More swaps have been completed, more 3rd party companies are making motor mounts, tranny, the length of the driveshaft... like I said after I get my ducks in a row.  I will create a big post.  Hey I just want to see the 83-88 tbird/cougar on the road, 50% came with a py 3.8 v6.  So im good with the LSx swaps. 

Travis

One of the reasons why GM does not build an in head cam engine is to keep the low hood design on the VETTE. The Vette has the lowest hood of any other car. There is also a benefit to this as the LS engines is easily transplanted. And with an engine  that can produce the power of an LS with very little investment in money it is without question the best choice for transplants.

Yeah....LSX engines are great...even the piest head is better than most SBF aftermarket heads...
Its just a newer design.  I often that ford made a mistake back in the 1990's with the mod motors.
Ford could have designed something newer and OHV...

Oh well.

Travis

Travis the new 5.0 is no slouch!!! They make tuns of PONIES. No question about that!

+1 on that. The coyote is one sweet engine and makes gobs of power with a turbo. I would love to swap one into a 2005 Bird with a 6 speed.