SN95 LS swap available options

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Apr 9, 2021 | 04:05 PM

69-chvl

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From: THORNTON, PA (NEAR PHILLY)

SN95 LS swap available options

Looking to do a 6.2 swap with my son in a 2002 Mustang. Was ready to pull the trigger on the Holley swap system but nothing is available for the foreseeable future. What are the options as far as mounts/headers that actually work with minimal hassle. Be nice to retain the stock K but it doesnt appear to be an option with headers. Another option is to run the Hooker manifolds but hate to give up HP gains over the header. Will be stock 6.2 w/cam and 4l80e street bruiser.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apr 14, 2021 | 09:31 AM

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From: Sonoma Co. Ca.

UPR products, AJE products and several others are available for SN95 swap.

Apr 14, 2021 | 12:00 PM

M33P

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In my experience, buying an aftermarket K is worth it just for the space it frees up alone....

Apr 14, 2021 | 01:37 PM

69-chvl

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From: THORNTON, PA (NEAR PHILLY)

Yeah I know about the k-member swap, I had a AJE one. But just for basic ease I'd like to stay with the factory. I did find some Holley 1.75" headers available at different sources but I'm thinking the 1.875" would be better for a mild 6.2 so I have to think this out.

Apr 14, 2021 | 04:30 PM

user 4737373

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 69-chvl

You would definitely be better served by using the 1-7/8” headers with that engine. Aftermarket K-members to offer benefits, but you have to be willing to buy-in completely to the specific geometry recipe provided by each maker, since none of them are the same. Evaluating the geometries of various K-members during the development of the Hooker Blackheart swap system components was an eye opening experience as I had no idea that they varied to such a degree. I would personally be more interested in specific geometry than any particular brand and that brings up the problem of the specific geometries of most of the available K-member is not being disclosed to the end user. In the case of the Hooker Blackheart recipe, it t is based on keeping the crankshaft height and offset, and the engine/trans mating plane in their stock Ford mod motor locations. The headers are then designed to fit in the envelope provided by that engine location on the stock K-member, or any aftermarket K-member that permits the engine to be installed in the same reference location and that doesn’t alter the lateral stock steering rack mounting position. I can tell you from first-hand experience with all the commonly used K-members that the last part of the previous sentence is the cause of many header fitment issues in this application.

Apr 15, 2021 | 07:11 AM

69-chvl

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From: THORNTON, PA (NEAR PHILLY)

Thanks Todd again for posting. And even when using the K-member packages there's no guarantee that everything will fit as advertised in a particular application. But, I may end up going that route ultimately who knows. But at this point I'm thinking to run the Hooker mounts as I was able to secure them at least, and run the Hooker manifolds until the headers are available. This is not a full-blown race deal. One thing about the aftermarket K's is that they are A LOT lighter than the factory that's for sure. But in a lot of cases if you want to run the recommended headers you have to buy a steering shaft and possibly lower control arms (now were getting into an alignment)...it just all keeps adding up. The Hooker system just makes it sooooo much easier.

Apr 15, 2021 | 09:02 AM

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Everything you are describing is exactly why the Hooker Blackheart system was designed with the factory vehicle and K-member geometry as its foundation, which allows making future upgrades on an incremental basis without have to reconfigure previous modifications made to the car. I think your plan is sensible.