Packing loads of power without...
Packing loads of power without letting on that you're doing so is an important aspect of an engine swap. For pushrod projects, Holcomb Motorsports offers solid drop-engine mounts (PN HPM6000BZ; $69.95) that will lower your new Windsor 3/4 inch, providing an ample amount of clearance for keeping a stealth, stock hood on your 'Stang.
We're not trying to sound like a broken record, but it's important to remember that some facets of an engine swap are similar to the "square peg round hole" theory. In this case, the difference is that the seemingly impossible can be accomplished, but it requires a lot of thought and patience.
Keep in mind that we're focusing primarily on the changes and procedures that take place in a 'Stang's engine compartment. Swaps can also affect other areas of the driveline such as transmission position, driveshaft length, and in some cases, the rearend's horsepower and torque threshold.
Clearances will be critical for the modular exchanges in '79-'93 'Stangs. Navigator and Cobra engines are considerably wider than Windsor engines, especially with their Four-Valve cylinder heads. The large size makes for a tight fit in areas such as the master cylinder, so if retaining power brakes is desired, a hydraboost setup from a '96-'98 Cobra will be necessary. The hydraboost is a master-cylinder assist that operates by hydraulic-fluid pressure from the power steering system as opposed to vacuum pressure.
If you insist on using a stock K-member for a Cobra-to-Fox engine swap-and we can't fathom why you would, as there are plenty of great options available-any '96-'04 engine cradle assembly will work. The rear mounting holes in the K-member must be modified, and the stock lower control arms must be repositioned rearward to ensure that the wheels will sit in the middle of the wheelwell. Going from Two-Valve modular to Four-Valve modular is no problem, as the engines share the same mounts and don't require special K-members. On the painless tip, AJE Racing and Maximum Motorsports offer mild-steel K-members for installing pushrod or modular small-block Fords in '79-'04 'Stangs. AJE now offers swap K-members for either chassis that feature a standard barrel mount on which any type of engine mount (351W or modular) can be affixed.
We advocate return-style fuel systems that include a good pump, regulator, rails, and 1/2-inch lines for any type of engine swap. A return-style fuel setup is efficient, and it's the best way to eliminate fuel starvation and detonation-especially if a power adder is part of the program. Return-style fuel systems were standard equipment on EFI V-8 Mustangs from 1986 to 1999, so some of the OEM equipment may be useable, depending on how radical the project is.
Here's an example of a hydraboost master-cylinder setup from a '98 GT. This system is a "must-have" for 4.6 and 5.4 DOHC swaps in Fox Mustangs. It's a marked improvement over stock brakes and provides ample clearance for a big modular's wide DOHC cylinder heads. Installing this piece on a '79-'93 'Stang requires drilling only one new hole in the mounting plate just above the plate's lower-left hole. The hole lines up with the vacuum booster's mounting location, as well as fabricating high-pressure fluid lines. Editor Turner is employing a trick Fox-to-hydraboost conversion system from Hydratech Braking Systems (www.hydratechbraking.com) on his Fox 500.
The 5.4 engine's taller deck height poses a problem when it comes to installing one in an SN-95 or New Edge 'Stang. A cowl hood from Cervini's is the best bet for circumnavigating the closure problem. Ironically, a 5.4 mod motor can be situated to sit low enough in a Fox 'Stang for the stock, flat hood to be retained. Racecraft's swap K-member makes it possible-we've seen it.