I'm in the process of swapping an '89 5.0L V8 into my 1983 T'Bird. It formally had a 3.8L V6 engine and a AOD tranmission. The V8 bolts to the AOD just fine, block plate from V6 worked O.K., and my 2400 RPM convertor bolts up. I have tried two sets of motor mounts, convertible V8 and for a '83 T'Bird V8 mounts, bolted to the '89 engine plates. Both come up 1 inch to the rear of the engine block pads. Where did I screw up, or what have you, that did this swap use? Right now the engine is swinging from a hoist. Help, Please.
Fred Holdorf
I beleive that you have to change the k member to do the 5.0 conversion. You need to get a k member from a v8 bird, cougar, or mustang.
Nope....the K-members are the same.
Is the 89 engine from Mustang or a Tbird?
Chuck 89 birds didn't come with 5.0's
Ok then. Never said I was an MN-12 expert ;)
you need 86-88 k-member and motor mounts, or the 83-85 k-member and motor mounts. The 83-85 were the same as mustangs, the 86-88 were completely diffrent, and have there own special mounts and brackets.
The motor is out of a Mustang, I have Mustang convertible mounts and a set of 83 T'Bird mounts, both need the engine 1 inch to the rear. By the way T,Bird and Mustang use same mounts according to Kragen/NAPA. O.K. so I go to move trans to the rear on tranny crossmember and its already at the rear! Can I use a double hump crossmamber and adjust it that way? Thanks, Fred
P.S. I was under led to believe that 83 to 85 T'Bird and Mustang "k"members were the same!
You may have to cut the spot welds on the crossmember and slide it back and reweld. I've seen them in all kinds of configurations from the factory. Welded in the front, or the middle or the rear.
HA I knew you were human!
There you go... That is the answer, but then you may need a different driveshaft(shortened). Sorry about that, but it's the only fix.
why not use an AOD for a 5.0? he said he used a spacer to make the 3.8 tranny work? theres your inch difference. change the trannies and be done shouldnt have to hack up your car to do something that was done in the factory anyways.
I read, and reread looking for him saying he used a spacer to mate the two. ????
The transmission is the same externally for a 3.8 and a 5.0, the driveshaft is the same. Now I could see the crossmember being different. I'm starting to belive that the crossmembers in these cars had been roughed in then welded after fitment.
Thanks everybody for the responses. I've decided to go with a "double hump" crossmember and bolt it together for tach welding. The driveshaft has enough length to work, I've checked that. No spacer was used, as it all bolted up except for the mounts. It will actualy help throttle and T/V rod hookup. Battery can remain on the passenger side, ect. I guess I just didn't not expect things like SAE threads on one side of the motor mounts with metric on the other side. If anybody is going to do this swap, find a hardware store with a full complement of fasteners, you will need them. Thanks again, Fred
I was figuring it might be neccessary to "relocate" the trans crossmember a bit.
I guess I missed something :brick:
I assume you meant the upper mount bracket?
Make sure you have the engine mounts on the right side.:D
I believe he means the thin aluminum plate betweeen the engine and tranny... Would be the same on 5.0 and 3.8..
:D The little things.....
Those little things have a easy weekend swap and turned it into a horror tale. Every little thing that could go wrong, did. But I see the light at the end of the tunnel finally. Thanks again, Fred
My last post, as I finally found the right combination of parts. '83 V8 T'Bird mounts and the "double hump" crossmember, worked for me. The trick Mustang convertible mounts looked good, but the engine wanted to sit lower than the "K" member would allow. Again, thanks for the guidance, Fred;)