I hope I am posting this in the correct area. I searched for a while on the different engine swap forums and I couldn't find the exact thing I was looking for so I apologize in advance if I missed the correct thread and I am making a duplicate thread. Anyways, I have a manual 1998 Mustang GT with around 192k miles. The engine is giving me all kinds of problems, I feel like I am doing a different repair to it every single day. I'm not exactly sure what is wrong with it this time but I don't care because I want to just swap out the whole motor. I'm pretty sure this is possible but this next part is where I need some help. I have 2 huge salvage yards not too far from me that have 1/2 off motors on Mondays so I want to go up there and get one. I have extremely limited money so I need to do this the cheapest way possible. With the motor discount it will be right around $125 for the entire motor. I am thinking about pulling a 4.6 from a 2001 or newer town car that has the PI 4.6. What I would like to do is just pull the entire engine and auto transmission and swap it directly into my car. My Mustang is having some problems with the tranny so I figured I would swap that too. If that is not possible or if it is way to much work, what would be the easiest way to swap in an engine? I will never be able to find a Mustang 4.6 at one of the yards because they really show up there and are gone almost immediately. If you were in my shoes and had limited money but needed a new motor from the salvage yard, what would you do? Ideally I want to put in another transmission because mine is starting to have problems, and I would love it to be automatic because I have a really bad back and constantly pushing in the clutch is flaring up my back really bad. So if the town car PI swap will work I listed a few questions below so you can kind of get an idea as to what I am thinking. Thank you guys so much in advance!
1. Is getting a PI motor from a Town Car the best choice?
2. If so are there any things to look for in the motor, for example, I want to find a car that had a bad rear impact so that the engine and tranny has been untouched. Is there anything else I should look for when inspecting the engine.
3. What all needs to be changed when putting that engine in my car? I think I heard that I will need to put my old intake manifold on the new engine. I also think I need to put my old timing cover on the new engine so that my distributors can mount on. I think I read that I need to change the valve covers (I don't remember why). I remember hearing something about putting my old heads on the new motor but I am not sure, I would like to keep the new motor not tampered with except for the things that I HAVE to change. Lastly, there was something about maybe having to tap a hole on the aluminum cross member thing up front on the intake manifold where it connects to the thermostat (I know that none of that was technically correct haha)
4. After I swap all of that stuff will the new motor just drop right in and bolt up perfectly?
5. Will the auto tranny bolt right up to the chassis of my car or will it need to be modified? I really hope it will just swaps right in.
6. The last time my clutch was replaced the mechanic said that my exhaust was welded and that they couldn't get to the tranny because they needed a welder and their shop didn't have one so I had to go to another shop that had a welder. Does that mean that it is welded where the headers meet the actual exhaust at the little cross section a little bit behind the engine (Sorry, I know none of that was technically correct)? If so, would I have to get a saw and cut off the exhaust to fit the tranny in there or would it just slide under the car without me having to alter the exhaust?
7. Would I need any special tools? If I have to switch timing covers would I need the crank pulley puller? I know that I will need a quick disconnect tool for some of the hoses.
Thanks a ton in advance guys. I just really need a working car right now and this is the best option I could come up with.
1. Is getting a PI motor from a Town Car the best choice?
2. If so are there any things to look for in the motor, for example, I want to find a car that had a bad rear impact so that the engine and tranny has been untouched. Is there anything else I should look for when inspecting the engine.
3. What all needs to be changed when putting that engine in my car? I think I heard that I will need to put my old intake manifold on the new engine. I also think I need to put my old timing cover on the new engine so that my distributors can mount on. I think I read that I need to change the valve covers (I don't remember why). I remember hearing something about putting my old heads on the new motor but I am not sure, I would like to keep the new motor not tampered with except for the things that I HAVE to change. Lastly, there was something about maybe having to tap a hole on the aluminum cross member thing up front on the intake manifold where it connects to the thermostat (I know that none of that was technically correct haha)
4. After I swap all of that stuff will the new motor just drop right in and bolt up perfectly?
5. Will the auto tranny bolt right up to the chassis of my car or will it need to be modified? I really hope it will just swaps right in.
6. The last time my clutch was replaced the mechanic said that my exhaust was welded and that they couldn't get to the tranny because they needed a welder and their shop didn't have one so I had to go to another shop that had a welder. Does that mean that it is welded where the headers meet the actual exhaust at the little cross section a little bit behind the engine (Sorry, I know none of that was technically correct)? If so, would I have to get a saw and cut off the exhaust to fit the tranny in there or would it just slide under the car without me having to alter the exhaust?
7. Would I need any special tools? If I have to switch timing covers would I need the crank pulley puller? I know that I will need a quick disconnect tool for some of the hoses.
Thanks a ton in advance guys. I just really need a working car right now and this is the best option I could come up with.