New discoveries for LS1 into Mustangs Swaps
03-18-2005, 12:22 PM
#23
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ooooohhhhhhh boy... When the mustang purists see what you've done to a Mystic Cobra you're gonna get burned at the stake! 
Seriously, that's a sweet looking swap, though.
Seriously, that's a sweet looking swap, though.
03-25-2005, 01:42 AM
#24
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Mustang LS1 Hi, I have a '96 stang 3.8 v6. Anyway the mechanical part seems fairly simple, but what about the wiring? I am extremely interested in this swap as I have a line on a 2002 SS camaro totaled for cheap! 
03-25-2005, 08:31 AM
#25
Originally Posted by jbk240z
Hi, I have a '96 stang 3.8 v6. Anyway the mechanical part seems fairly simple, but what about the wiring? I am extremely interested in this swap as I have a line on a 2002 SS camaro totaled for cheap!
03-25-2005, 09:26 AM
#26
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Originally Posted by Mystic96
Turns out an LS1 will bolt into a Mustang like it came from the factory...
Using a 4.6L factory Ford K-Member and factory 4.6L Cobra motor mounts, slightly modified, the LS1 slides in and fits great while using the factory GM F-body oilpan and exhaust manifolds.
The factory Ford motor mounts only need to have the 2 front holes rounded out just a little with a drill bit, and the 1 back hole needs to be cut and moved about 1/2" and rewelded.
The factory GM F-body manifolds will clear the steering shaft, but the flange rubs the steering shaft. The flange will need to be cut and have about 1" of pipe installed then have the flange rewelded for enough clearance. That is of course unless you have custom headers made.
The first pic is the driver's side mount, second pic is the passenger side mount, third pic is of the modification needed on the motor mounts, and the fourth pic is of manifold to steering shaft clearance.
Using a 4.6L factory Ford K-Member and factory 4.6L Cobra motor mounts, slightly modified, the LS1 slides in and fits great while using the factory GM F-body oilpan and exhaust manifolds.
The factory Ford motor mounts only need to have the 2 front holes rounded out just a little with a drill bit, and the 1 back hole needs to be cut and moved about 1/2" and rewelded.
The factory GM F-body manifolds will clear the steering shaft, but the flange rubs the steering shaft. The flange will need to be cut and have about 1" of pipe installed then have the flange rewelded for enough clearance. That is of course unless you have custom headers made.
The first pic is the driver's side mount, second pic is the passenger side mount, third pic is of the modification needed on the motor mounts, and the fourth pic is of manifold to steering shaft clearance.
03-25-2005, 09:30 AM
#27
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I suspect that you could use the new Mcleod bellhousing to mate the LS1 to the Ford T45. Not sure why you'd want to though, since it sucks ***. I believe the T56 would be a better choice, although a TH350/400 would be the ultimate in simplicity.
03-25-2005, 10:09 AM
#28
I thought some others had posted in other topics and the trans cross member can be moved and notched to work. The Cobras do come with a T56 wander if the trans mount would swap over like the motor mounts? A LS1/T56 sliding in on mildly modified Ford mounts would be awesome.
Has anyone used a GM hydraulic clutch or do the Cobras come with a hydraulic clutch?
Has anyone used a GM hydraulic clutch or do the Cobras come with a hydraulic clutch?
03-26-2005, 03:29 PM
#29
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The only thing I would see different from the V6 and Fox bodies would be the K-member.
I would just get a stock 4.6 K member or a Tubular one from any place that sells them. Then use the stock 4.6 mounts.
The wiring harness will be modified by Speartech. John there really seems to know his stuff and I trust he'll do excellent work. A Painless kit could work or if you're good with electronics i'm sure you could modify the factory harness to work. I'm leaving it to the professionals.
The V6's and Fox bodies don't have a Hydroboost system for the power steering and braking so that would be one thing easier on those cars. I have to find some way to run the Hydroboost system off of the LS1 power steering pump.
Since you're going to be using a GM motor, it's going to need a GM tranny. The Ford T45 won't bolt to the motor, and the bellhousing on a T45 is different than say a T5 or Tremec because it's bellhousing to tranny bolts are inside the bellhousing, so an aftermarket bellhousing wouldn't work either.
The only way I would see to go would be to use a T56/4L60E/TH350 or 400. Bolts to the motor no problem. Fabing up mounts would be way easier than trying to machine a bellhousing to work.
Also, most people that put T56's in there Mustangs just have to relocate the stock mount and drill a hole to bolt the mount to the tranny. I'm hoping that will work in this case.
And the Cobras, like all Mustangs use a clutch cable and clutch fork to engage the clutch. No hydraulics. I believe the cable setup is much easier to deal with and less hassles to make work, but I don't know any way to make a T56 work with a clutch cable so you'd have to fab up the slave cylinder and reservior to work. Once I get the tranny in I'll know better where everything is going to have to be so I know where to mount the slave cylinder and reservior and stuff like that.
I would just get a stock 4.6 K member or a Tubular one from any place that sells them. Then use the stock 4.6 mounts.
The wiring harness will be modified by Speartech. John there really seems to know his stuff and I trust he'll do excellent work. A Painless kit could work or if you're good with electronics i'm sure you could modify the factory harness to work. I'm leaving it to the professionals.
The V6's and Fox bodies don't have a Hydroboost system for the power steering and braking so that would be one thing easier on those cars. I have to find some way to run the Hydroboost system off of the LS1 power steering pump.
Since you're going to be using a GM motor, it's going to need a GM tranny. The Ford T45 won't bolt to the motor, and the bellhousing on a T45 is different than say a T5 or Tremec because it's bellhousing to tranny bolts are inside the bellhousing, so an aftermarket bellhousing wouldn't work either.
The only way I would see to go would be to use a T56/4L60E/TH350 or 400. Bolts to the motor no problem. Fabing up mounts would be way easier than trying to machine a bellhousing to work.
Also, most people that put T56's in there Mustangs just have to relocate the stock mount and drill a hole to bolt the mount to the tranny. I'm hoping that will work in this case.
And the Cobras, like all Mustangs use a clutch cable and clutch fork to engage the clutch. No hydraulics. I believe the cable setup is much easier to deal with and less hassles to make work, but I don't know any way to make a T56 work with a clutch cable so you'd have to fab up the slave cylinder and reservior to work. Once I get the tranny in I'll know better where everything is going to have to be so I know where to mount the slave cylinder and reservior and stuff like that.
03-26-2005, 09:16 PM
#30
Originally Posted by CMcCarthy
ooooohhhhhhh boy... When the mustang purists see what you've done to a Mystic Cobra you're gonna get burned at the stake!
Seriously, that's a sweet looking swap, though.
Seriously, that's a sweet looking swap, though.
03-27-2005, 07:16 AM
#31
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Originally Posted by AronZ28
I know what a Cobra is, but is Mystic a special color? Dumb name for a color because it doesn't tell you the color in the name.
~Brian
03-27-2005, 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by AronZ28
I know what a Cobra is, but is Mystic a special color? Dumb name for a color because it doesn't tell you the color in the name.
03-27-2005, 04:43 PM
#33
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A similar color was also offered in 2004, called Mystichrome. It's mostly blue, green, and purple though. They got rid of the golds, browns, and yellows of the 96 color.
03-27-2005, 04:47 PM
#34
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mystic, the only reason the 32V cars have hydroboost is because the vacuum booster won't clear the big valve covers. On you car it would be much easier to swap in a 94-95 Cobra booster and master cylinder. You could then just use the LS1 power steering pump to run the steering rack only.
03-27-2005, 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by CMcCarthy
mystic, the only reason the 32V cars have hydroboost is because the vacuum booster won't clear the big valve covers. On you car it would be much easier to swap in a 94-95 Cobra booster and master cylinder. You could then just use the LS1 power steering pump to run the steering rack only.
It's only a couple of lines to run the LS1 PS pump to the hydroboost system. Should be easier than swapping the entire braking system.
Originally Posted by Gen3Benz
Is the 96-98 4.6 front subframe the same as the 99+?
03-28-2005, 12:06 PM
#38
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Originally Posted by Mystic96
The hydroboost system is also used because the 4V motor won't make enough vaccum to operate the power brakes.
Good luck on the swap, but I can't believe that you are doing it on a Mystic car.
I'm not sure why you are doing this swap since you already had an S-trim unless it was just for the hell of it. I love the LS-1 engine, but still.... 
