Cobra Engine Swap Into 2002 Gt

Thomassin

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Jul 8, 2014
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Hey guys, I was just wondering if you guys have ever done or heard about anyone who has done a 2003-2004 cobra engine swap into a 2002 GT, would the engine fit the tranny? Are the splines the same? I found a 03 engine for 1500$ and was wondering what else I would need to buy to make it fit. Thanks.
 
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This swap would be pretty straight forward! All modular engines except for the Lincoln transverse mounted 4.6 will bolt right up to your transmission and the k member using the mustang motor mounts. This includes all 2 and 4 valve 4.6/5.4L engines and the 6.8l V10. Where you run into a challenge is with the wiring harness. The 5.4 SOHC can retain the ecm and harness you currently have. The 4.6 and 5.4 DOHC models require modification of the harness and tuning to the ECM. With the terminator swap, it may be worth while to also source the ECM and harness from a cobra. 5.4 and 6.8 swaps also require a few other modifications such as the oil pan, specialized intake and clearancing consideration! You are on the right forum for extensive questions regarding swaps. Use the search function on the forum, Google and YouTube. You are sure to find many other articles and video regarding engine swaps...Don't you dare swap and bowtie....Frankie from Louisville is quite the slugger!

Best of Luck!
 
$1500 for a fully dressed Termi engine? I think something is wrong with that engine. Find out first. Make sure. I've never seen them go that low. Even a GT engine is really good condition can fetch that much full dressed. A Cobra engine at that price tells me something is wrong.
 
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It might be sans blower and all that other good stuff. Even if that is the case, $1500 for a longblock termi motor in good shape is hella suspect.

I'd also be doing a Coyote swap way before I ever considered a Termi swap. Coyote swapped SN95 will pull the paint off a 425whp Termi or Termi swapped SN95. You'd have to port the blower to get it competitive and still be dealing with heat soak.
 
It might be sans blower and all that other good stuff. Even if that is the case, $1500 for a longblock termi motor in good shape is hella suspect.

I'd also be doing a Coyote swap way before I ever considered a Termi swap. Coyote swapped SN95 will pull the paint off a 425whp Termi or Termi swapped SN95. You'd have to port the blower to get it competitive and still be dealing with heat soak.
Coyote swap would be cooler and have more potential if you don't mod the Termi. The Termi would be cheaper, easier to do, and remember, you can pulley down, tune, throw headers etc for a lot lower price than modding the Coyote and still get better gains! But I'd like to see a Coyote swapped New Edge vs a Termi on the track. I think that would be a cool race!!
 
Coyote with the swap with a good tune and basic mods will already be at the power level of a pullied termi. Higher redline, lighter weight, insane potential etc... Either swap is cool as hell, you can't go wrong either way. I just don't think its cost effective or results effective to build a modular or a pushrod anymore. That's just me.
 
Coyote with the swap with a good tune and basic mods will already be at the power level of a pullied termi. Higher redline, lighter weight, insane potential etc... Either swap is cool as hell, you can't go wrong either way. I just don't think its cost effective or results effective to build a modular or a pushrod anymore. That's just me.
The reason I would favor a Termi is because they have a built bottom end. You can safely run 700, 800 RWHP. The Coyote engines are pretty strong too. I've been seeing guys push 600, 650 to the wheels without any issues. So like you said, either would be fine. And yea, modding a mod engine is very expensive as compared to modding a pushrod engine. But you gotta pay to play.
 
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You can get a pullout for under $3k with low miles. The swap harness is not near $2k, its $1500.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/frpp-coyote-engine-control.html

Add in a 6% forum discount code on top of that and its damn near $1400 shipped. Yes pricey but the Coyote is just better, period.

In all honesty the easiest thing is to sell whatever one has and just buy a low mileage 2011GT. $20-$22k if you are patient and just want a base model. I've tallied the cost of the Coyote swap ($7-$8k for a pullout, harness, swap headers and misc parts), plus a built trans that can shift at 8k, plus the cost of what I could sell my 98GT for, plus what my time is worth to me and it isn't any cheaper to do the swap really. Unless you are factoring in not having to worry about a car payment or higher insurance from financing if you don't buy outright.

Coyote is lighter than the Termi motor, revs higher, makes the same power all motor as the Termi and the Termi pistons are not exactly the best things in the world either although the Manley rods are nice. I saw a Coyote motor go for $1800 on SVTP awhile back because it had a #8 issue but the seller had the block checked and it came back fine. IIRC the buyer was going to buy the Boss rotating assembly for $1k off of Tousley and drop it in and go.
 
With all respect due, I doubt you're gonna find a Coyote engine for $3K. At least not one fully intact and in good condition with low miles and no issues. And if that guy was trying to sell a Coyote engine for $1500, then my guess is he either was FOS or there was a lot more wrong than a #8 cylinder issue. Those prices you're listing are not representative of what you're gonna really pay to do a Coyote swap. You can do it, but trust me, a Coyote swap will be more expensive than a Termi swap. And regardless of what you think of the Termi pistons, that rotating assembly can handle a lot more than a Coyote's assembly. And I'll also tell you that the HP to the wheels on both engines stock to stock are pretty similar. The Termi will respond much more to any mods because it is forced induction. If you're gonna do the Coyote, then I say go ahead and do it. But just know that it will cost more to do and it won't have the potential of a Termi swap.
 
I've seen them go for that price on multiple forums. I know someone who got one in good working order for $2800 shipped. The one that went for $1800 had a bad leakdown in #8 and the bore checked good. The guy was going to put a Boss rotating assembly in it which is a $1k set that does not need to be balanced. Like I said, to me, building the 2V or 4V is completely not cost effective. Not when the Coyote drops right in and there are more and more swap threads that detail the wiring to make that part easy.