Hi Steve. I did the switch to the 5.0L engine with a T-5 trans out of a
90 Mustang. My initiator was John Logan who has an excellent article on
the switch. To give you an overview, here's what is involved.
1. I purchases the complete engine and trans for $1400. You may be able
to sell the alternator, EFI, water pump, and other parts to recover some money.
2. The clutch operates on a cable in the Mustang, and it pull forward,
instead of pushing to the rear like the Tiger top loader. I used a
hydraulic through out bearing from McCloud at around $300 for all parts.
You can use the existing clutch MC., but need to bend a new hydraulic line.
3. I used a water pump from a 79 Fairlane, in alum, cost about $65.
Took the hub off the pump, ground down part of the hub on a bench
grinder, reversed the hub and pressed it back on, almost to the water
pump housing. Fit was perfect. Pump will not leak, because the shaft
can be supported while pressing the hub, and not effect the seals.
4. Used a crank pulley from a Ford 460 engine with zero offset, in
billet alum for $65. Misses everything, looks nice.
5. I used a 1 wire alternator, and this with bracket cost $95.
6. Motor mounts are the same.
7. Drive shaft is the same.
8. The cross member support behind the trans, veiwable from inside the
car must be cut, and put into an offset to allow the extra room for the
end of the T-5 trans. Some cutting of the trans tunnel is also required
to close old hole for top loader, and new hole for T-5 shifter. A new
trans mount must be fabricated, and I did mine out of 2" angle iron,
using the trans mount from the Mustang.
Cost? If you do it your self using a sawzall, bend your own metal for
the trans tunnel, and fabricate the metal for the bends, and do the
cross member, parts would cost less than $50. Welding $50-$75 should do it.
So far you have spent $1,955 with out the alternator, and you have a
newer engine. T-5 trans are around $400-$600 used in our area, and you
can usually get the bell housing and other clutch stuff for less than
$100 in a package deal. Cost without the engine would be less $700, or
around $1300.
This route of course is with you doing the work. The stock Mustang of
this era, with the EFI is rated at 225 hp at the flywheel. My car with
an Edlebrock F4B, Holley double pumper, and 1:7 roller rockers pulled
295 hp at the flywheel on the dyno. A big jump from the 164 hp of the
original Tiger. These figures are on regular gas.
I understand that several people are going to do a swap kit, which would
make this a lot simpler, and if they included a new tail shaft for the
T-5, you could get away without doing the trans tunnel, and cross member
cutting.
This part of the job is the most daunting, but not really that hard,
once you know what to do. The tran support must be cut and fit, cut and
fit, to get the rear of the trans at the proper level to set the engine
at the proper level, but again just your own time and labor.
If you want more detailed info, let me know.
This is a job that someone with medium mechanical skills, time, and
patience can do if they want to. There is some fabrication necessary
but not all that bad. A kit should make this a drop in project, and I
have seen at least one kit, and it was professionally done. Don't know
the price.
Good luck.
Larry
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