[Holly-Roller]

ok i need some opinions. i have a 1988 mustang lx fast back. this car needs some pep(duh) its only making 80-88 horse power at the fly wheel. i need to know whether i should drop a Chevy 350 in it or take an srt-4 engine, convert it to rear wheel drive and drop that in. now i have arguments for both sides. first, the 350. obviously, if i could just run out and grab a complete 350 Chevy for free over the srt-4 engine for free i would.however, thats not the case. im a 15 year old with about 3 grand to spend and i have to do allot more thing to the car than just power-train.now the srt-4 engine isn't the most powerful thing in the wrld, however, it is a factory turbo engine with all forged internals and for about 1800-2000$ i have seen guys make 550-600 horse out of the srt-4 engine. if i drop the srt-4 engine into the mustang, the car will way about 2700-2800lb's.with the 350 it will be allot more.i really want the 350 and could make allot more horses out of it, but i don't have that much cash.

so i would really appreciate some opinions.

[NXS]

The 350 and exhaust will be a nightmare.

You would be better off looking for a Thunderbird Turbo coupe at the salvage and grabing that engine and wire harness.

Or a 302/5.0 easy choice.

[Brick]

Why dont you go with an 80's 302ci. You should ba able to find the engine and tranny at a junk yard or in your local paper for pretty cheap and it would be an easier swap.

Sorry for the similar reply, it wasn't there when I started

[Ghetto Jet]

well here's what I would do. Take that 88lx you have and sell it. Take the 1000 you get for it, now you have 4000. Which is plenty to buy a nice 5.0 Mustang.

[tm454]

sell the dog and buy a 5.0 stang to play with...makes better sense than messing with the dog to start with!!


Tazz


Rat Rods Rule!

[Holly-Roller]

well i apreciate your responses, however, i already have the srt-4 engine. and incase you guys havent drove them before, there wicked fast.i have spoken to my dad and i am probably going with the srt-4 engine.the reason i dont want to get a 302 is because there more expensive to get parts for, and the 350 is way cooler.plus i am a chevy guy hehe, prolly wouldnt know cause i have a mustang. i dont want to sell it because i have already done alot of work to it and spent alot of money on it.

[segge]

Actually the 302 is a pretty cheap engine to get parts for, there are so many companies making stuff for them. I agree with most of the people above. Either go with a 302 or get a turbo engine out a an svo or a turbo coupe. Keep the srt-4 engine for something else or sell it for more cash. It would probably be easier to drop a ford turbo or 302 in then the srt-4 engine and 302s can be gotten cheap.

Just thought of something else, arent the srt-4s fwd, thatd be another thing you would have to deal with anlong with getting the different tranny to fit.

[willowbilly3]

If you want a chevy go buy one. I think I agree with Ghetto. Sell the thing ang get something already done. You are 15, who is doing the work? Realistically, if it isn't someone else then expect to have a pile of junk in the garage that your dad will pay someone to haul off when you go to college.

[Holly-Roller]

i know im young, but actually i have alot of experience with cars. my dad started teaching me when i was like 9 or 10.i went out yesterday and we hung the engine on a cherry picker and sterted cutting engine mounts.if you look at the engine, it hase alot of threaded holes on both sides, great for mounting it. the tranny wont be a problem, because my dads freind is in the custom auto buisness (bellhousings ext.) and will make the bell housing and driveshafts that are needed for the project.

[oldschoolrods]

I agree with willowbilly and ghetto jet And I think you should listen to their advice, however if you are dead set on it, go for it and be sure to post pics but for me personally, when someone who has been working on cars their whole life tells me i should or shouldn't do something...i tend to listen

[Holly-Roller]

i will defenatly post pic. it should be interesting

[killerformula]

why not sell the SRT motor too? I guess I'm of the mind that its easier to buy parts for a car than it is to buy a car to wrap around the parts you have-

K

[willowbilly3]

So you really didn't actually want advice, more of a nod of approval for what you had already decided to do.
I say go for it, that's how you learn. I tore a bunch of stuff apart when I was a kid just to see what made it tick, and learned a lot doing it. Sounds like you have good help. Keep us posted.
BTW 5 years might seem like a lot to you because it is a third of your life. 5 years ago seems like yesterday to me, but I still need help sometimes too.

[oldschoolrods]

Yeah I seem to always be better at taking stuff apart than putting it back together lol

[Lonestar]

I am not a Ford guy...in fact I haven't really messed with them at all. Doesn't a Mustang require a front sump oil pan and if so is there an easy way to convert a sbc to fit?