3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Topic: 3.8 to 2.3 swap questions (Read 1970 times) previous topic - next topic

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

April 22, 2006, 04:15:22 AM

Well i have my 84 mercury cougar and i will be swapping an 86 mustang 2.3 n/a for it just to get it runnin as i need a vehicle. I will be running stock 2.3 converted to DSII spec. Yeah i know its a

to put an 88 hp 122 ft lb tq 4 banger without a turbo in a cougar... but i gotta do it lol i have a 4 cyl fetish :-|
My questions are
1. Do the 86 mustang engine to isolator brakets work for the cougar with the v6 isolators?
2. What years were their factory headers on 2.3's for mustangs, rangers, etc. and would the Ranger header have clearance issues with firewall or such? cause i can move exaust to fit.
3. According to the coolcats.net interchange list my 89 mustang 7.5 inch rear will work in my 84 cougar same width and everything correct?
4. the transmission i will be using is 90% chance of using 87-93 mustang 5 speed for 4 cyl. Will i be able to use stock drive shaft? or what changes would i need?
5. Will i need to do the measurements to cut the hole in the tranny tunnel for shifter for 5 speed? or is there a punch out or preformed section?

So far thats all i can come up with. Will post more questions as they come.
Sincerely Eric

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Reply #1 – April 22, 2006, 08:24:18 AM

1. The 86 Mustang mounts should work fine in the 84 Cougar
2. Not sure of the exact years, but they will bolt up with no issues. YOu will obviously need to fab up something for the front part of the exhaust to mate the NA 2.3 exhaust to the rest of it. The Mustang stuff should work if you have it..
3. The housing itslef will be the same. To get the same overal width, you will want to swap the axles and brakes from your existing Cougar axle into the Mustang one.
4. You will need to get a 5spd Tbird driveshaft (ie from a TurboCoupe/XR-7 83-88)
5. I've just punched hole in the appropriate spots and enlarged as needed. being sure not to go too big so you will have room to bolt down the rubber shift under-boot, etc.

If you swap to 5spd, the Mustang pedals will fit juts fine as well.

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Reply #2 – April 22, 2006, 09:24:53 AM

i think on coolcats.net it says the mustang 7.5 will fit in place of the 7.5 in 83-mid 85 cats. And do u know the length difference of driveshaft? and i figured id count on u being the early bird :-) thank you

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Reply #3 – April 22, 2006, 10:26:22 AM

Again, the rear HOUSING is the same between the early Tbirds and the Mustangs...the axles are longer in the Tbird/Cougars. To keep the same track width in your particular situation you will need to swap the axles and drum brake baking plates from the Cougar rear end into the Mustang one.....

No, I don't know the D/S length difference....The Mustang one will be too short though...by almost 2"

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Reply #4 – April 22, 2006, 12:16:58 PM

i knew the DS in the mustang would be too short i was talkin about the one in the cougar already if it would work for MT i have a c5 in it right now well at least doing the axles wont be a problem :-) thanks again

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Reply #5 – April 22, 2006, 02:45:58 PM

I honestly don't remember if the auto d/s worked or not...been too long.

3.8 to 2.3 swap questions

Reply #6 – April 22, 2006, 04:00:04 PM

I'm fairly sure the C4 or AOD(definatly AOD) D/S could be used for the T-5, I'm also fairly sure the C3 is a bit longer or shorter. I don't remember which, but a C4 D/S from a '80 Stang would not fit in a '79 Mustang I had with the C3. I want to say it was too long, which would make the C3 longer than a C4...

BTW here is the length of a couple shafts I measured...

'88 5.0 Bird AOD ... 49" x 3" diameter

'88 TC 5 spd......... 47 7/8" x 3 1/2(necked to 3'' on each end)