When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So I was hunting craigslist the other week and stumbled across a 1996 mustang gt 5 speed with black leather interior and a clean title. A little negotiating and some cash in hand and later that night I'm driving the car home for $900.
The car needed mainly interior and body work (which I've about finished) and some nickel and dime stuff like corner markers, door lock tumblers from where someone tried to break in, etc.
To date I've yanked the busted fender and should have the new one by next week. Sanded and repainted the roof, hood, and front bumper in my garage (Not Barrett Jackson quality, but I honestly don't care how the car looks as long as it's all the same color. It's going to be a no frills street car and at this point I have $950 total invested in it) The interior mainly needed cleaning, tweaking, some duct tape, and a lot of love, but it's back up to par now.
Now for the fun stuff
I've got a 5.3 / 4l60e that I'm going to pick up tomorrow and this weekend I will begin pulling the old 4.6 / t45 out to prep for the swap. I have a standalone harness and reflashed ECU, all the accessories, etc. I do however have a few questions that I haven't seen answers for from my searches through the forums.
1) Has anyone used the LS1 swap motor plates that bolt to the factory crossmember, and if so, how was it? I can't find any instructions on them, but it looks like they bolt directly to the k member, which I would assume rattles your teeth loose once you put a cam in
2) I've heard of people modifying the stock transmission crossmember to accept the 4l60e. Does anyone have a picture of this, or know of anyone (other than AJE. I've heard mixed reviews and would rather stay away) that sells the swap crossmember?
3) Is it possible to have a modified standalone harness car pass emissions? I would really prefer to drive the car legally if possible..
Thanks in advance guys, I'll keep ya updated on how things go
Pic taken 10/15/15
Last edited by boercker; 10-16-2015 at 05:24 PM.
Reason: added picture
You got the first year of obd2 for the sn95, so unless they have visual inspection, and know the difference between what an lsx motor looks like and the piece of **** 4.6 that's "supposed" to be there, you should pass emissions... Assuming you don't have any negative codes show up on the scanner.
As for the transmission crossmember, get a junkyard 4l60 brace, and cut out the mounting plate, then cut out the center of the t45 brace and combine them. Easy-peasy.
No idea on the engine mounts, though. Most sn95 owners don't even keep the factory k-member, even if they keep the factory engine, so unless it's just impossible for you to afford a tubular k-member, I don't know why you would ever reuse the stock one.
I know you don't want a racecar, but a new k-member just makes more sense. TeamZ makes a LSx swap k-member, if you want to avoid aje.
I know that if the computer says I'm good then I should pass, my only concern is that a standalone harness that has been cut/modified might throw some sort of code due to lack of external sensors, or having them off in the tune. I think I read that all you have to do is extend the mustang motor mount slightly in order to have it fit the LSX, but that is something I will have to determine with both in front of me I guess. The reason I'm trying to hold off on the k member is because I'm already biting the bullit on the engine, trans, harness, computer, bodywork/paint supplies, and everything all at once. If the k frame doesn't want to work then I will go with team Z (had theirs in my 03 cobra) but I would rather not spend the extra $800 and half a day swapping all that out, setting ride height, getting an alignment, etc. If I don't have to. I would rather get the running car on the road, then start slowly acquiring the suspension/turbo parts.
Motor is ready to be yanked, exhaust is off, stock harness mostly tucked away. Just waiting for my buyer to come get the motor and then we can start the install. More progress to come this weekend.
Anything flashed out of the ECU is gone for good in the eyes of the states computer. As long as any sensors, wires, etc. that were removed from the harness are also flashed out you should have no problem. I'm going to be running a non-emmissions stand alone as well and it should be OBD compliant.
I'm looking forward to the progress of this build.
Thanks my man, I'm excited to get it on the road. I'll pay pal you the cash for those mounts Friday, just text me your account info. All these yuppies in north Atlanta driving their Ferraris would really get their feelings hurt when my 03 cobra would spank them up and down the highway. I can't wait to see their reactions when their doors get blown off by a rattle canned 20 year old box ;D it's going to be a fun spring.
A few more questions I came across today (hoping someone who has done this swap can chime in)
-Can I use my existing mustang throttle cable on an LS motor, assuming I don't want the drive by wire (which I don't)
-Does anyone know of a write up on making the mustang gauges function off the ls1 harness, or would I be better off just swapping in an F body or custom gauges?
Thanks my man, I'm excited to get it on the road. I'll pay pal you the cash for those mounts Friday, just text me your account info. All these yuppies in north Atlanta driving their Ferraris would really get their feelings hurt when my 03 cobra would spank them up and down the highway. I can't wait to see their reactions when their doors get blown off by a rattle canned 20 year old box ;D it's going to be a fun spring.
I'm excited for mine too. It will be soon.
I'm going to pick them up tomorrow (car and parts are at a buddies garage).
I can't wait to do that to people either. The look on some peoples faces are going to be priceless.
A few more questions I came across today (hoping someone who has done this swap can chime in)
-Can I use my existing mustang throttle cable on an LS motor, assuming I don't want the drive by wire (which I don't)
-Does anyone know of a write up on making the mustang gauges function off the ls1 harness, or would I be better off just swapping in an F body or custom gauges?
I bought a Lokar throttle cable and bracket from summit to use on mine.
We're in the process of swapping a F Body gauge cluster.
I bought a Lokar throttle cable and bracket from summit to use on mine.
We're in the process of swapping a F Body gauge cluster.
Send pictures of the throttle cable setup and take lots of pictures as you do the Guage swap. I have a feeling I'm going to wind up needing to go that route too.
Send pictures of the throttle cable setup and take lots of pictures as you do the Guage swap. I have a feeling I'm going to wind up needing to go that route too.
take lots of pictures as you do the Guage swap. I have a feeling I'm going to wind up needing to go that route too.
I'll try to get as many photos as possible of that since I myself haven't found any online. I wanted to be able to help anyone in the future. Just keep an eye on my build thread. We should be there soon.
I'll try to get as many photos as possible of that since I myself haven't found any online. I wanted to be able to help anyone in the future. Just keep an eye on my build thread. We should be there soon.
I want this thread to help people who are thinking about doing the swap, so I'll update what I've spent on the swap to date:
My list
$900 donor car
$50 driver fender
$25 lock tumblers
$200 body filler, sand paper, spray paint (yes, I rattle canned the car)
$25 corner markers
$100 one tire mounted and balanced
Total: $1300
Swap list:
$2000 5.3 truck motor, 4l60e, standalone harness, computer
$120 ls swap plates and motor mounts (thanks Steve aka steven32)
-$800 sold 4.6/t45
Total: $1320
I want this thread to help people who are thinking about doing the swap, so I'll update what I've spent on the swap to date:
My list
$900 donor car
$50 driver fender
$25 lock tumblers
$200 body filler, sand paper, spray paint (yes, I rattle canned the car)
$25 corner markers
$100 one tire mounted and balanced
Total: $1300
Swap list:
$2000 5.3 truck motor, 4l60e, standalone harness, computer $120 ls swap plates and motor mounts (thanks Steve aka steven32)
-$800 sold 4.6/t45
Total: $1320
Net invested in project:
$2620
No problem! I hope they work out well for you. I got them with a different goal/vision for the car and then everything changed haha! That and they wouldn't work with my k member anyways. oops.
I wish my build cost looked like yours lmao. At first it did...but then I decided to go all out. I don't think a single thing on the car hasn't been modified or upgraded. Minus the seats.
10-16-2015, 03:21 PM
Murder Stang - 96 5.3 turbo build 
