my 91 lx coupe to 97 cobra 4 valve drivetrain swap

[mustangcrazybj]

I plan on doing a full build on my factory V8 91 lx coupe. I removed the stock 5.0 engine, wiring, transmission etc from the coupe to make room for the 4.6 liter DOHC out of the donor 97 cobra. The donor car is a 100% bone stock 84k mile car that runs and drives ok. I ditched the stock T45 5 speed transmission and plan on replacing it with a tremec 3550, a Lakewood scattershield and an aluminun driveshaft. Today is my first day of work on the donor car, I got the engine, transmission, and the K member removed as well as the hydro-boost brake setup and the complete engine harness and all underhood wiring harnesses pulled out and labeled for what I hope to be an easy install. Here are a couple of pics of the progress so far, and if the interest is here I will try to keep this thread updated. I am looking for some longtubes, imrc deletes, or a Cai for a 4 valve car if anyone has any for sale. I expect to be riding the 4 valve coupe in less than 1 month. We shall see haha.

Here is my coupe in for paint

After paint (navy blue metallic)

As it sits now awaiting the transplant

The 84k mile 97 cobra donor car 100% stock down to the exhaust and plug wires

^Notice the labeled masking tape on all the plugs, hopefully this will help as I swap it all into my coupe.

^After the first day of work stripping the cobra of its drivetrain^
And here is one of the tremec 3550 cleaned up and ready for the lakewood mod motor scattershield to be installed.

 

[ponyboy89lx]

Take everything and i do mean EVERYTHING!!!! it will make it easier in the long run, dont forget to get the crossmember braces out, you will need those. And if you think your gonna swap the interior later on down the road cut the steering bearing out of the firewall you will use it when you swap the dash, Put the hydroboost setup in BEFORE the motor goes in, Good luck.

 

[mustangcrazybj]

Don't worry brother the donor car will be here until I'm driving the coupe, and your number will be on speed dial during the build lol

 

[Speedtospare]

Keep us posted!

 

[ponyboy89lx]

I guess you will get to see my POS saturday lol. I will try to get Dustin up here and get the car to where we can load his up for ya. You shouldn't have any of the problems that I did but I'm sure there is enough of us here that we can try to figure out any problems you might encounter.

 

[Bill]

Looks like fun. My donor is in about the same condition as yours, so I can relate.

 

[ModFoxMustangs]

very nice keep them pics coming...

 

[mustangcrazybj]

I guess you will get to see my POS saturday lol. I will try to get Dustin up here and get the car to where we can load his up for ya. You shouldn't have any of the problems that I did but I'm sure there is enough of us here that we can try to figure out any problems you might encounter.

Yes sir I'm looking forward to checking it out. Hopefully we can find someone wanting some parts off Dustin's car soon too.

The only update I have so far is the stock t45 sold and I have a new set of pacesetter long tubes and Xpipe that should be here by Friday.

 

[ponyboy89lx]

I tried to buy the caster cambers but he wouldnt sell them to me when i had the money now my other car is busted so i have to fix it before i can fire back back in on the mustang.

 

[n8doggb20b]

That's awesome my donor is a white 98 cobra hit in the front as well.

 

[mustangcrazybj]

That's awesome my donor is a white 98 cobra hit in the front as well.

The white ones are the fast ones...I hope lol

 

[mustangcrazybj]

The total investment so far is
$3500 for the coupe.
$2000 for paint
$500 5.0 resto steel cowl hood.
$160 smoked headlights
$160 mustangs unlimited lowering springs
$120 flow master mufflers
$250 3 inch tailpipes
$1150 for black mesh wheels and tires new


- $850 for selling street lite wheels

$2775 for cobra donor car
- $250 for seats sold
- $500 selling stock cobra transmission
- $80 selling stock converters
- $400 selling cobra rear bumper

$440 for new long tubes and Xpipe
$1000 rebuilt tremec 3550 transmission and bell housing
$250 for fms aluminum driveshaft
$150 for 3 core aluminum radiator


I'm gonna try to keep this as a running tab to see exactly how much I end up with in it

 

[Bill]

That's awesome my donor is a white 98 cobra hit in the front as well.

mine is similar. I got a 99 crashed in front. I got it for $2700 and drove it on the trailer

 

[Svt Fox]

Might want to add another 100-150 to have the drive shaft shortened depending on where your kmember positions the engine.

 

[mustangcrazybj]

Dang bill $2700 for a 99 cobra was an awesome deal brother, and svt fox I have the hookup on machine work so shortening the driveshaft shouldnt cost me much at all. Thanks for the heads up though, that was something I wasn't expecting too

 

[n8doggb20b]

Got my 98 cobra with 90k miles for $2000

 

[4.6coupe]

2K is a great price!!!

 

[mustangcrazybj]

I got the pacesetter long tubes installed, I got new synchronizers in the 3550, I picked up a Lakewood scattershield to mate the 3550 to the mod motor, and I got a center force dual friction clutch kit. Hopefully I will have some pics up soon.

 

[Svt Fox]

How bad was the install? How did you address the crossmember bracket issue?

 

[mustangcrazybj]

I haven't gotten my drivetrain swapped in yet, the header install sucks, even on the ground. As far as the crossmember goes, I have the cobra crossmember relocation brackets that I'm going to just bolt to my frame rails wherever I need them hopefully.