Cobra Engine is IN! (the conversion continues)

[Chythar]

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me (read: swift kick in the @$$) to drop in the engine myself. It took me a total of an hour: a half-hour to drop the engine in, and another half-hour to shift things around and get the tranny & crossmember in. The Energy Suspension driver motor mount has that stupid alignment peg on it that has to line up in the stock k-member. It took a while to shift the engine around until it finally dropped in. Prothane motor mounts do NOT have this alignment peg.

In case anyone is curious, all 94-95 crossmembers (V6/GT/Cobra, AODE/T5) are identical. I used my V6's AODE crossmember and it lined up perfectly to the Cobra T5. The same with the k-member, the V6 one fits the 5.0 just fine.

Now, for photos. Here's the empty (and clean) engine bay:

Next, the engine is hooked up to the cherry picker and ready to be hauled over:

Got the engine all lined up, ready to haul it up high:

Engine's mostly in now, gotta line up the motor mounts:

Finally, bolted down and IN!

Here's something interesting I found when I was working on the engine. I had to take the 'Stang off of the jack stands and shift it forward to get enough clearance. When I pulled out the jack stands, this is what I saw:

It got so hot this summer, the blacktop softened and the jack stands sunk in a bit. Just the back ones, guess the front was light enough without the engine installed.

Gonna install an aluminum driveshaft and the exhaust tomorrow. Should be able to start 'er up next weekend (Labor Day holiday weekend); I'll be taking video of the first startup - we'll see if I got it right.

For any new readers, the previous thread is over here.

 

[Venom351R]

Thats awesome, glad your getting close to being able to drive it.

 

[blksn955.o]

Congrats .

Something I found, sometimes a buddy actually slowes you down with all the BS'ing that goes down. It sure helps make things more fun but when you just want to knock something out sometimes alone is the best way.

I have the same issue with jack stands and my driveway. I do most of any work in the garage if I can for that reason. I had the DD up on jackstands to do a brake job, went to put the tire back on and the tire was almost not able to fit back on...it sunk about 1/2in. I think I am going to buy some little concrete paver caps like for retaining walls and put them under the stands from now on.

 

[94GTCoupe]

good job.that engine looks awesome.all the work you put in to it really payed off.

 

[final5-0]

Good for you

Glad it all went well for you

You gotta be so glad that is done
and
You can move on to other stuff

Grady

 

[str8stang036]

Great to see man! I like when people go against the grain sometimes, it allows us to grow.

 

[94CobraPace]

Always feels good doing something like this yourself. Congrats.

 

[Chythar]

Had a good yet frustrating day, put in the new aluminum driveshaft and got the stock h-pipe bolted up. I despise that smog tube that hooks up to the h-pipe, I had to unbolt the crossmember to get it in.

To get this new beast registered in California, I have to get it inspected by the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to make sure that I installed all the smog equipment, so I'm keeping the emissions stuff stock for now. Probably rip off the stock H not long after I pass the inspection.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Great to see man! I like when people go against the grain sometimes, it allows us to grow.

Yep...luck for me I had Jose to go against the grain FOR ME!!
RC

 

[Trbofox]

Congrats. Seriously, think of what you saved! Now you can justify buying some more stuff. If I couldn't do all the labor myself I wouldn't be able to have modded out cars, you can really save a ton.

 

[str8stang036]

I agree

 

[Chythar]

ALMOST had it!

If not for three wires, the Cobra would be running tonight! Everything needed to start 'er up was hooked up, all fluids filled, etc. I went to crank 'er up, and found the disaster. I have an anti-theft system installed, it prevents the ignition from turning the engine over unless you insert a special key into a small box under the dash. This box was hanging loose and three of the four wires leading into it had torn loose.

It was too late to pull out the solder gun, but we did test out the lights and such. Everything seems to be ready. *sigh* At least I'm nearly there. I'll have to leave you with a few photos of the engine bay.

 

[It's a 5_0 HO]

If not for three wires, the Cobra would be running tonight! Everything needed to start 'er up was hooked up, all fluids filled, etc. I went to crank 'er up, and found the disaster. I have an anti-theft system installed, it prevents the ignition from turning the engine over unless you insert a special key into a small box under the dash. This box was hanging loose and three of the four wires leading into it had torn loose.

It was too late to pull out the solder gun, but we did test out the lights and such. Everything seems to be ready. *sigh* At least I'm nearly there. I'll have to leave you with a few photos of the engine bay.

It is looking great. Don't you hate when things like that happen. That type of stuff happens to me all the time and it pisses me off. Specially when i have waited long enough and just ready to get it going lol!!!!!

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Sweet dude! Same thing happened to me with the jackstands in my oncampus dorm room parking spot!

 

[hollywoodstang]

COOL!

 

[k00ksta]

Sweet work

Looking Great man cant wait to hear that puppy running :]

 

[Chythar]

IT IS....ALIVE!!!!

Video on YouTube!

 

[94GTLaserRC]

CONGRATS!!!

I love You Tube!
RC

 

[Chythar]

Of COURSE that wiring harness will fit under the splash guard....right.

Gcomfx was right way back in February, the driver's splash guard would not fit right at all. So I tried to re-route the wiring as best I could. It was still a really tight fit, and I hope the wheel doesn't rub, but it's only off by a bit. We'll see.

Wiring before:

After:

Before:

After:

Gcomfx was right, run the wires as HIGH as you can! I simply did not have enough reach to do this at this stage. If I ever hide wires on another Mustang, this is a lesson learned. Of course, that's an big "IF". The sad thing is, I have to look and see where I hid the wires, the engine bay is pretty full now.

I used my not-so-l33t PhotoChop skillz to show about where the splash guard touches the frame directly. The wiring has just one path up above to avoid the guard:

As of now, the exterior is complete (minus the Cobra bumper, which comes later) and I've taken the Stang off the jackstands. I need to finish assembling the interior and mod a few things. I can't believe it, I'm nearly done!

 

[94GTCoupe]

great job,Chythar.with all the work you put into that thing,you have much to be proud of