Swapping T5 from 92LX in to an AOD 88GT

[EDGE Motorsport]

Hi guys,

I have an 88GT, bone stock apart from a flowmaster delta force system and off road H pipe. I have just bought a 92 LX for parting out as it had a fairly bad front end smash.

The AOD in my 88GT has a bad TC (wont lock up) or the trans isn't sending the required pressure to the TC to make it lock, either way, its not 100%. THe 92LX has a 5 speed which Im thinking of swapping in to the 88GT.

As I have all of the 92 Im thinking the swap should be fairly straight forward... are there any things I should watch out for? I'll be using the ECU and maf from the 92 so I'll need to pick up a harness that allows me to plug the new ecu in to the current loom (i dont fancy changing the whole harness).

As far as i can figure i need to swap in the pedal box, clutch cable and quadrant etc, trans, drive shaft, probably the transmission cross member (if it differs). I've heard rumors that the H pipes differ between autos and manuals... any ideas on that one?

Will the shifter pop up in the centre console in the same place too? can i just swap the whole panel out that has the auto shifter mounted on it?

lots of questions i know, sorry, just over here in the uk there are hardly any foxes, let alone people swapping transmissions!!!

thanks

EDGE

 

[jrichker]

MASS air conversion instructions from MAF - Mustang Mass Air Conversion - StangNet - The Mustang Network FREE
A9L (5 Speed) computer from junkyard $100-$150
A9P (Auto or in a pinch, 5 Speed) computer from junkyard $100-$150
70MM MAF from 94-95 Mustang GT - $40-$70
MASS Air wiring harness kit $30-$85

The whole thing is probably less than $300 using junkyard parts.

A9L computers are 5 speed only
A9P computers are automatic, but will work with a 5 speed.

The conversion harness seems to work well for most folks. It avoids the compatibility problems in using a harness from the junkyard. Simple and cheap, actually less work that swapping the wiring harness.
Conversion Harness kits & parts
Interactive Systems & Technologies Mass Air Home Page
Ford Fuel Injection EFI Harness Pigtails

If the idea of moving & soldering wires scares you, here's a list of compatible Mass Air wiring harnesses.

Copied from bbunt302
Just for reference, here's a list of all the compatible years:

89 harness should work for 86-89 as long as you're using mass air.
90 harness will only work in a 90. (B/c of air bags and dual dash connectors)
91 through early 92 harnesses should be compatible (single dash connector, fuel pump relay under driver's seat)
Late 92 through 93 harnesses should be compatible (single dash connector, fuel pump relay under the hood)

Larger MAF to go with Mass Air conversion:
94-95 Mustang GT MAF - $40-$100. It is 70 MM instead of the stock 55 MM on regular stangs built prior to 94. It uses a slip on duct on the side that goes to the throttle body and a 4 bolt flange on the other. You need a flange adapter to fit the stock slip on air ducting that goes to the air box. Wiring plugs right in with no changes. *1 *2

*1.) Metal flange adapter Kurtz Kustomz Motorsports, Inc. KKM Buy the TR70 for $44.95. Or spend some time on eBay looking for one that may fit.
Try AutoZone and ask for 81413 - Spectre / 3 in. Aluminum Intake Mass Air Flow Sensor Adapter at $12.00. You may have to order it online.

*2.) MAF & sensor interchange
The 94-95 Mustang 5.0 MAF & sensor is also found on:
1995-94 Mustang 3.8L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Crown Victoria 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1995-94 Mustang, Mustang Cobra 5.0L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Town Car 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Grand Marquis 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
Evidently the –A1A, -A2A, AA, etc. on the end of the part number is a minor variant that did not change the operating specs. You should be able to ignore it and have everything work good.

 

[EDGE Motorsport]

thanks for the reply dude, Ive already got an A9L ecu in the lx, so i was hoping that'd work...

are the swaps really worth it overall.... by how much is the AOD likely to be loosing out to the 5 speed ?

 

[skunk21]

depend on what you are looking for, if you track the car alot the auto will be consistent but this would have to be a built auto. The T5 cars will walk a an auto car for the most part and most people like having a manual it's more fun.

To answer some other ?'s the H-pipes are the same, you absolutely need to cut the openening in the floor for the T5 swap, the hole is different between the 2 cars and the shifter tower on the T5 will hit the very front part of the opening and it sticks up higher through the floor. The center console is the same you just need to replace the plastic bezel trim peice 50 resto sells them and they just snap into place. The drive shaft is the same also, everything else is much straight forward. I would recommend a ford oem non adjustable clutch cable and a maximum motorsports clutch quadrant with some type of fire wall adjuster be it mms or upr, etc. most member recommend thsi set up but at the very least the oem cables seem to last the best in our cars vs afternarket. best of luck .

 

[HISSIN50]

I would hold off on the MAF swap till you need to do it (keep the conversion-parts on your shelf).

Trimming the tunnel is no biggie. If you had an SN95, I have pics of how much to trim but none for a fox III.........

My new favorite clutch cable and hardware package is the MM kit. It has a hydraulic feel IMHO.

If you do an internet search for AOD to T5 swap, you should find some decent articles.

Good luck.

 

[CU racing]

I just got done swapping my 90 to a 5 speed, big difference, well worth the time. I had to trim about an inch off the floor pan around the front of the shifter hole. Plan on taking out the console to remove the auto shifter. The H-pipe is the same but the H-pipe hanger braket is different. But yours should be easy with a parts car sitting next to you.

 

[FoxChasis]

You will have to change the speedometer driven gear for the speedometer to be accurate, as you are going from a 7T speedometer drive gear in the '88 transmission to an 8T drive gear in the '92 transmission.

drive gear = on transmission output shaft
driven gear = on end of speedometer cable

Make sure you get the correct gear too. There are gears for autos and then there are gears for manuals.

 

[suruat98]

Also don't forget about moving the speedo cable over the the hole next to it (towards the center of the car). Its easy to do, I did mine with very little trouble, the hardest parts was removing the exhuast bolts on the headers (they broke).

Drop your coulum down to put the pedals in, much easier.

 

[Jaswir]

pedals was a bitch! took me 5 hours to do.. Couple breaks etc...! Something i hope i never do again! Rest of the swap was cake!!