El-Ess-Won

So I just picked up a 02 mustang gt with almost 200k on it. Runs and drives great with no issues on the original 4.6 / t45 but still not my cup of tea. Have been wanting to do this kind of project for awhile just never had a place to really do it but bought my house in october and my garage is pretty well equipped now for a project. Planning to use the Team Z 99-04 ls swap kmember & front suspension kit that includes the mounts/a-arms and some hardware. Fuel wise wanting to use motion raceworks fuel system kit that includes the pump, line, and corvette filter/regulator. Still undecided what I'm going to do for wiring/ecm. I plan for this to be a fair weather daily driver and want to keep all standard gauges. I read that a somewhat simple setup is to use LS1 fbody gauges so I might go that route if I can figure out the wiring for it.

Have seen a lot of TH350 & TH400 LS swapped new edge cars but not a t56.
Most reading I've done so far has also only included info regarding TH350/TH400/4l60/4l80.

I know there have been a few ls t56 new edge cars done though from what I've read and seen on youtube but no threads or anything that described the specifics when it came to the trans.

What options are there for a T56 crossmember? How do people usually set up the t56 hydraulics as well? I read that one modified a crossmember made for a TH350. I'm not as mechanical as a lot of guys (even doing my heads/cam on my 99 TA was big task for me that took probably twice as long for me as it does most) so I'm open to spending a bit more on buying bolt in/plug & play stuff to make my life easier where I can. Just wondering if there is any kind of bolt in crossmember like there is for the TH350/400


Very interested as well as mentioned on how people have set up the t56 hydraulics. Also what is needed to make the shifter come up in an acceptable spot in the console?

Thanks for anyone with any advice/insight.


doesnt really matter to the thread currently but here is the car. Super clean for almost 200k miles. Even the black leather interior is somehow in amazing shape. Nicer than any other 100-120k mile new edge i've ever seen. It has a bunch of bolt ons and extra parts that came with it. Hoping to sell the 4.6 & T45 that are both in great shape for close to $1000 combined to help fund the swap. Then sell some of the bolt ons and extra parts for a bit more. I paid $3500 for the car. Has brand new stuff like rack and pinion, all bushings, tie rods, calipers, rotors, etc. Everything works like AC/Cruise/etc. Literally feels like a 50k mile car. Just needs a better powerplant if I want it to be much fun to beat on.

Andy Avgerinos

Nice to see another 99-04 mustang on here. To answer some of your questions I have experience with:
It is possible to use your stock gauges but it will be a bit of a pain to wire it. Most people use f body or custom gauges. I am planning on using a tablet connected with obd2 for a cleaner look.
I know for a fact there is at least 1 other thread of someone putting a t56 in a gt somewhere on here but I'm on my phone and can't link it. Try searching for it.

El-Ess-Won

I'm not super worried about a clean look so long as its functional. I do plan to keep from having wiring and crap everywhere. Like I said I'm pretty okay with the idea of sticking a set of 98-02 Camaro gauges in it if that will be the easiest route. Can't say I'm a big fan of the stock ford gauges anyway. I'm wondering how far off a T56 4.6 crossmember would be and if it'd be easier to modify to fit the LS t56 than the Th400 crossmember.

booboo37

iTrader: (43)

I would stay away from the txxxz Ls k-member.......

I would use the AJE Ls k-member with the AJE trans cross member and your motor and trans will sit at the right angle...and fit.......I have used 3 and no problems.....use 98-02 Ls1 f-body oil pan and theres nice long tube headers on eBay for $300....

El-Ess-Won

Gotcha, makes sense.
Glad to hear the AJE trans crossmember will work pretty well. I don't mind having to make some adjustments.

I will pull the trigger on the AJE soon as I get confirmation that I have a motor/trans or not.

thyreaper

the aje trans kmember is for a 93 mustang which is a fbody, are the trans mounts in the same place as the 96-04?

Toddoky

No, the factory transmission mounting points/geometry are different between the 82-93 cars, 94-98 cars and 1999-2004 cars. If you are fabricating your own crossmember the difference doesn't mean much, but it is critical if you are looking for a bolt-in option.

thyreaper

i am looking for a bolt in option, is there one? if so who makes it and which k member or adapter plates are good to use, if there is a kit id get it to make my life easier

Toddoky

Stifflers offers a transmission crossmember for the New Edge cars that is listed to fit T56 transmissions, but I don't know how well suited it would be in an LS swap application. Ultimately, that would depend on the specific K-member and engine mount set-up you use.
Hooker will be releasing LS engine adapter plates next week for the 1996-04 Mustangs, but the crossmembers that will be released a couple of weeks after that will only fit the 1994-98 cars, so they won't be of any use to you.

thyreaper

My car is a 96 gt 5spd with a pi motor so it may be helpful

Toddoky

Well there you go...what K-member are you planning on using?

thyreaper

Was going to use factory 4.6k with adapter plates, what's advised for the trans kmember? I have my clutch hydraulic problem resolved going to use a McLeod kit for that, once I get my kmember figured ima start the project as I have a wrecked ls3 swapped trans an with t56 to use as a donor car