waid786

I am finishing up my 64 Falcon project with a 5.0 and need to pic out another project.

I have a 4.8 and a 5.3 and a 4L60E and all them has 50,000 miles on it. After pulling the valve covers off, I could not resist! The yard was closing and got all three for $1200 and are complete pull out. The 4.8 & 4L60E came out of a 2002 Yukon and the 5.3 came out of a 2001 Silverado. I am looking to keep factory fuel injected and about the only mod I am planning to do is a bigger cams for both.

I want to put both 4.8 & 5.3 in SN95 Mustang to keep the cost down!!! One with 4L60E Auto for the track and 2nd with T5 5-Speed as a daily driver. I know a guy that has a 5.3 with a T5 and runs it hard (no burn outs) and seem to hold up. I have several spares so not worried about the T5.

I was looking at foxbody but looking at SN95 V6 Mustang since it already has better brakes, 5 lugs wheels and GT rear end can be had for little as $100 at pic-a-part. 1994-2004 SN95 Mustangs are cheap and can pick up one for little as $1000 in good shape. The 94-98 Mustangs are generally cheaper than the 99-2004. I also considered an S10 but Mustangs are so cheap and has much better rear ends.

I now the power difference between the 4.8 and 5.3 is small but the 4.8 can rev. higher.

For track use with bigger cam and higher stall converter, should I use 4.8 or the 5.3 with 4L60E and why?

Does anyone know the difference between the 94-98 vs. 99-2004 Mustang beside the body?

I want to build one for the track use first and some suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Waid

LSFOX

iTrader: (1)

94-95 mustang have a standard vacuum brake booster
96-Up have the Hydroboost setup that connects to the Power steering pump

If you plan on running power steering the 96 and up can be adapted to your pump to make it work. If you going manual steering you want a 94-95 or have to convert to manual brakes.

94-98 have the slightly smaller rear end, 99 -04 are about 1.5" wider

waid786

Great Info LXFOX. Thank you. Yes I want to keep power steering on both projects.

After my trip to the LSFEST couple of weeks ago, I realized that Mustang is the way to go!

I like the 1999-2004 body style which is what I want for the daily driver. Additionally, they are more likely to have low miles and in better condition so I might end up paying little more for it. I have seen early style like 1994 Mustang go for as little as $1000 in decent condition.

In my hunt for the Falcon project, I ended up with no less than 7 T5 !!!

1 from 1986 V8
2 from 1998-2004 V6 - Electronic speedo only
3 from 1994-1998 V6
1 from 1994 V8 SN95 5.0

I did find few things different. The 1999-2004 supposed to have the best gear sets and torque rating of 300 lf-lbs. and it only has the electronic speedo. The T5 cross member on 1999-2004 is a lot smaller and compact compared to the 1994-1997. I am not sure which one will make it easy to install 4L60E.

Here is the link with a guy with RX7 with 5.3 & early Camaros T5 which has less torque rating than the Mustang's T5 but holds up just fine.

http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=595.0

Thanks

Waid

waid786

LXFOX, your recomendation on 4.8 vs. 5.3 with 4L60E ?

Thanks

Waid

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

Depending on the type of track would determine the choices. Are you running a particular class that has engine limitations? most people, unless its drag racing, would prefer the stick to the auto on the track for gear selection and holding a gear longer than the ECU thinks is safe for the driveline.

I would say to get a 94 or 95 model, grab some 5.0 headers and swap the flanges over to the LS. go with the 5.3 for the track because there is no replacement for displacement, and plop a T5 behind it, and make sure to thoroughly clean the rear diff and put in fresh gear oil with the limited slip additive. If it needs to be rebuilt with new clutches, then do it first. If you can grab a 94/5 that was a GT it will already have the 8.8 which can be dang near bulletproof..

waid786

You are right about that! In that case the 4.8 with little less hp power and torque might be a better choice with a T5 for a daily driver.

BigEd, I don't think the T5 will last long with slicks with 5.3 & a bigger cam!

Waid

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

I would have to differ a little bit on that point....

An old friend who is now gone raced a 95 5.0 GT with GT40 heads, xcam, crane roller rockers, long tube headers, and the factory 5 speed and left the line on bone stock suspension at 6000 RPM every time and never broke a rear end, never broke a drive shaft, and never had to replace the transmission or repair it. And he was spraying nitrous at full throttle on every pass... I believe the nitrous was at 150HP...

Now luck, voodoo, God smiling on him, whatever you want to call it, that car was TOGETHER when he sold it. And was exactly the way he raced it, minus the drag lites and slicks, when it rolled out the driveway for the last time.

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

He let me drive it one time for a time trial and bitched me out for missing third and running an 8.30 in the 1/8th mile, no nitrous, with slicks..

waid786

hmmm. Will my 64 Falcon is getting a 5.0 that I am rebuilding right now with GT40 heads, TFS1 cam, T5 & 3.73 rear end from Explorer!

Waid

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

With all of that, you will almost have as much power as that 4.8 with a cam and ported stock heads and shorty headers.... And spend quite a bit less than rebuilding that 5.0..

Plus if you go carb'd, the setup will mess with people's heads sitting in that old falcon.

waid786

Yes is was painful to rebuild the 5.0 out of a 1996 Explorer which had the GT40 heads and not the -p so the plugs angles are like that of the E7 heads. The rebuild is mild with rehoning of the piston bores, new bearings & piston rings. I like Ford cars but too bad Ford does not make pushrod motors anymore. The modular motors don't fit old cars without a lots mods and cost arm and a leg - if you can find one. On the other hand the 4.8 & 5.3 are everywhere! At end the of day, I will have more money tied up in the 5.0 and will make less power than the 4.8 LS

I wanted to keep the Falcon all Ford. For now!

Waid

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

Cool beans. Keep it all ford til its found on road dead, then put an LS in it. LOL

just kidding. Until I had my 2000 Silverado I swore I would never drive chevy stuff, unless mine broke down. hehe

But I had to have the transmission rear planetary replaced in my trans and the guy here in town had it done in an hour and was doing it by himself. Except me helping him put it on the bench. It wasn't too bad for a rush job, $300 and that included parts. He checked out my clutches when it was apart and found only tiny specks of trash but the clutches and steels looked good. I never had a single problem out of it after that.

If you decide to make the falcon your project and you don't drive very far, go with a powerglide. They are just cool with only a single shift and tons of mods available for them.

I am using a turbo 400 on my project because I want it to hold up under the drag racing I plan to be doing with it.

I read some articles on the 4.8 vs the 5.3 and I tell you what, the 4.8's are dang near neck and neck with the 5.3. The 4.8 responds to modifications better than the 5.3, also. I read where they did identical mods to both engines, I mean perfectly identical..

They actually used the exact same parts for both short blocks. And through the midrange, the 4.8 picked up more power sooner than the 5.3. But the rules apply, no replacement for displacement. The 5.3 held out for the win, but the 4.8 picked up more from the same mods. They even put the LSXRT Fast intake on that 4.8L!!! That monstrosity of an intake would scare people being under the hood of a falcon..

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

I just read through that ENTIRE posting on norotors.com...


That dude is hilarious.... He should be a writer or something..

waid786

My Falcon will get the 5.0 with T5 5-Speed. I am doing a complete restoration. While its tempting to put one of my LS motors, it's tight - have to cut shock towers. Besides, it's small and light weight so it should be a blast to drive. While its not a hard top, it is a 2 door door sedan and got it for $2500 from California and paid $1200 to have it shipped to Indiana. Its rust free. Infact, it still has original paint on bottom of the floor pans.

Waid

waid786

For a rear wheel drive project, a 1994-2004 Mustang is hard to beat with good brakes. Here is a clean 1994 Mustang V6 for $1500 on Criagslist and all it really need is a $100 bigger rear end from a GT from pic-a-part!

Waid

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

Providing you can find that rear end in a pull a part... The hot rod guys scavenge them things like a crack ***** on a bender.... Just like hunting up an LS motor... Most of the pull-a-part places have been picked clean as soon as they hit the lot.

I would like to go to the two in Memphis on a nice cool day with an air compressor, generator, and a sawzall with a couple dozen brand new metal blades, and about $1500... I could score at least 3 4.8/5.3L engines, and maybe a 6.0 if I happen to get lucky.. Not to mention getting the harnesses and computers. Pay a guy to help me out or get a friend or two to tag along, and I have heartbeats for the next few projects, or money makers..

Most important thing is to NOT cut anything in the harness, and make dang sure to get the computers... The guy who has lt1swap.com being a short trip away could make a couple hundred bucks in an hour flashing 3 ecu's for stand alone. And I only have to pay for the trip up and back.

mayham711

i love them old falcons!!