simple noob questions, just need a bit o help

[89projectstang]

Ok, a lil while ago i got my mustang. its an '89 2.3 LX Automatic. nothing special at all about it.

ive been reading around here off and on for a while and i have a few questions that i figured mustang experts could help me out with.

the automatic transmission in my mustang isnt the greatest and when its cold outside it doesnt like shifting outta first gear till the car has been driven for at least id say 5-6 min....its annoying. so i thought that it would be best that i just convert it to a 5-speed since they are much more fun to drive anyways and it should solve that small problem. so with my first question...

are the 5-speeds out of the 2.3 mustangs the same as the 5-speed outta a 5.0 mustang? ive seen the page http://www.westcoastfords.com/articles/tech/t5swap/t5swap.html but im not sure if that applies to V8 mustangs or not...please steer me in the right direction! also, if they are different...which is better?

now for my next lil section, ive been calling around to different auto parts dealers trying to locate a 2.3turbo motor, and i found one. i know that the 2.3turbo came out of the early 80s mustangs and well as the late 80s thunerbirds, is there anyway i can tell them apart? as far as ive read the 2.3t outta the 88 turbocoupe is much better than the 2.3t out of the early 80 mustang..am i right? or...not?

on to my last questions (sorry for so many), is there a way to convert the rear drum brakes of a mustang to disc?

and is the 5-lug conversion really worth it? ive seen pictures of an LX with billit wheels and i think it looks awesome. and how hard is it to convert from 4 to 5 lugs?

thanks for all the help, i really appreciate it!
matt

 

[Asha'man]

http://www.projecthp.ford23.com/howto.html

http://www.projecthp.ford23.com/turboswap2.html

http://svo73mm.cjb.net/

Those will answer all your questions. Read them all many times. Yes, the brake upgrade is worth it.

Brian

 

[89projectstang]

thanks for all of that!

one more question though, i read that you can exchange the exhaust manifold from a 2.3 mustang with that of a Ford Ranger with very little modification. is this relevant to the 2.3na or will it work for the 2.3 turbo as well? and well, is it worth it as well?

thanks again
matt

 

[Asha'man]

N/a only. Should be info here if you search.

Brian

 

[Bogus SVO]

the turbo mounts to the exhaust mainfold on the SVO and TC

the major diff 'tween a svo engine and a TC is....
the 87/88TC have a smaller tubo (IHI) and a top mount IC
83-86TC have a garett T3 and no IC
the SVO has a Garett T3

but the internals are the same -pistons,rods,crank,valve size

the SVO PE ecu is "THE" ECU to have if ya want to pay the price for one

but the TC LA2,LA3,LB2,LB3 are all good ECU to have