I’m dropping a 5.3 in my mustang gt 5 speed, I already have the aje k member and swap mounts, looking for any help y’all could give me, such as how to get factory gauges to work, a good cheap set of coil overs and control arms, a good harness to use or can I use the factory truck harness and computer, should I use a t56 or 4l60e, how do I go about the driveshaft, just any info and help will be really appreciated, thank you

 

First of all, welcome to the forums!

Good call on going AJE, they have some incredible stuff. You wont get the factory gauges to work unless you back feed the stock gauges with converter boxes into the ford ecu. I reworked my own harness as i didnt like how the other harness's from other companies laid on the motor. I ran my TPS, IAC, Alt, ECT and all that under the intake for a simpler look. Unloom the harness, lay it on the motor, extend the wires as needed from a junkyard harness. I went with a T56, its more expensive to build for high power but the man pedal is fun. I wouldnt go 4l60e due to it being just a weak transmission all together. Find you a 4l80e, good converter, and a trans go shift kit if you plan on going that way.

Plenty of new edge's here that have documented their builds, look at them, they have alot of information already covered. No need to reinvent the wheel here.

 

 

I used a full set of Autometer Cobalt Gauges in a Florida5.0 cluster. I have heard of people using a Sn-95 display, racepak is also another good option.

 

I eventually wound up going with an Intellitronix direct-fit digital cluster. It basically works. Speedometer refreshes a bit slow but it's fine other than that.
https://www.intellitronix.com/produc...al-gauge-panel

The Florida5.0 cluster adapter also works.
http://www.florida50.com/1994-2004-i...t-clusters.htm

Autometer sells a variety of gauge bezel/console trim pieces, including:
https://www.autometer.com/2-1-16-mus...nel-94-04.html
https://www.autometer.com/2-1-16-mus...el-94-410.html
https://www.autometer.com/2-5-8-must...nel-94-04.html

 

 

You're basically going to have to do the same work with any aftermarket gauge cluster setup, regardless of which you choose. You don't necessarily need to get any signals from the ECU, other than perhaps the tach signal. You can use aftermarket senders for temperature and oil pressure and just wire those in directly. If you are using a transmission with a VSS, both the ECU and the gauges need that signal. However, you can either split/tap the signal wire from the VSS, or use the speedometer output signal from the ECU. Turn signal, high/low beam indicator, and fuel level sensor are all in the same wiring harness that goes to the factory gauge cluster, and are easy enough to find if you know what you are looking for.

If you leave the factory Ford ECU plugged in, using the factory gauge cluster is also an option. Assuming you feed a VSS signal to the Ford ECU, everything but the tach should just work (and somebody has probably figured out how to fix that by now; I just don't know what the answer is). However, there is a bunch of factory wiring you'd be keeping around just for the sake of having gauges.

 

2000 mustang 6.0 twins s366 turbo th400 aje member built 8.8 stock fuel tank use your factory fuel line as a return line and run a new -8 line for a feed up the passenger side to the rails. I made a template for the gauges u can use if u want to copy mine I also have two gauges under the radio. I kept factory fuse box for lights and interior etc. Ripped abs and all that out and u can make the hydroboost work with lmr pressure reducer fittings and re worked lines from power steering pump with truck accessories and a astro van power steering pump since its hydroboost from the factory