[JoeB]

OK I have a 2000 Mustang engine on the engine stand and I'm getting all the parts together to put it in my 94. I have searched the forums but most of the swap info I see relates to the explorer motor but my 2000 PI is a windsor. Now I know a romeo is an easier swap but this was a good deal and came complete. $1200 and included flexplate, starter, alternator, pcm & harness (pcm, harness, and coil on plug are to be used on a separate project). I've figured out a lot of the stuff but I have a few questions I'd like to address before I pull the old motor. So far I have picked up a 96 lincoln fuel rail & regulator and I realize I will need a 96-97 throttle cable. Fuel lines I will work out when I get there. I can always fab something up.

My questions are:

1. Will the mustang throttle cable bracket work? And if not will a 96-97 mn12 bracket bolt to the mustang t/b elbow?
2. Will the mustang oil pan work in the MN12 chassis?
3. I will be reusing my 94 exhaust manifolds so will a 96-97 EGR tube connect with the mustang EGR valve? If not will it be close enough that I can cut and weld it to fit?
4. I see mention of swapping a 94-95 timing cover to the explorer motor so all the accessories will bolt up. Obviously not an option with a windsor so I was planning on using the mustang alternator, idler, & tensioner and finding a proper length belt. Will my a/c compressor and ps pump bolt to the block properly?

 

[Casper]

2. mustang oilpan will not work on mn12 chassis.

 

[timb]

My questions are:

1. Will the mustang throttle cable bracket work? And if not will a 96-97 mn12 bracket bolt to the mustang t/b elbow?
2. Will the mustang oil pan work in the MN12 chassis?
3. I will be reusing my 94 exhaust manifolds so will a 96-97 EGR tube connect with the mustang EGR valve? If not will it be close enough that I can cut and weld it to fit?
4. I see mention of swapping a 94-95 timing cover to the explorer motor so all the accessories will bolt up. Obviously not an option with a windsor so I was planning on using the mustang alternator, idler, & tensioner and finding a proper length belt. Will my a/c compressor and ps pump bolt to the block properly?

1. Don't know if they are direct replacements or not but it's easy to fab one or the other to work

2. No you will need to swap pans and oil pickup tubes.

3. Yes it should

4. Not possitive but I think they will bolt up no issues

 

[warmaster259]

You can use your 94 cover, i have 00 GT PI heads on mine, you may have to drill the holes in the timing cover where the cover bots to the heads a little bigger.

 

[timb]

I would use the mustang cover because it has a better belt tensioning setup. I am certain it will work now.....Cam94's motor has a windsor front cover on it

 

[Chris_Murder]

totally off topic but thats the supercharger I want.... to bad I have a pi top end and stock bottom end

 

[timb]

Don't let that stop you. There is a bird running around the heat of Texas with that combo..although Vegas may be a bit warmer

 

[JoeB]

Thanks guys. Been a while since I've posted regularly here but it's as helpful as I remember. Now that I know what needs to be done I just need to get the last few parts and get crackin!!!

Been waiting to do this for over 200,000 miles. But my wife finally got a new car and now I get to make the cougar into my daily driver hot rod.

 

[jamesD]

um... 00 windsor motor belt route will not clear a/c compressor lines, that was a BIG issue on my 97. if you swap front covers ( i used my 97 ) you may have to use your balancer instead of the mustang one.

your p/s pump will mount up fine, the a/c compressor should as well, mine did

you WILL have to grind the engine mounting brackets where they attach to the block ( you need to use the tbird ones ), and thus may have to grind spots on the block for the mount itself

mustang egr goes to driver side manifold, if you can get a 96-97 tbird egr tube, you should be straight

throttle cable is 96-97 style

you cannot use COP unless you wanna fuly convert over

you need 96-97 fuel lines for the newer intake

injectors MAY be different

any other questions, let me know here or via PM... i'm still working on this headache

 

[timb]

James I believe all we did on John's car was bend the AC line slightly but maybe his is different being a 94.

 

[Chris_Murder]

Don't let that stop you. There is a bird running around the heat of Texas with that combo..although Vegas may be a bit warmer

Its not the heat I'm concerned with, its the connecting rod threw the block issue I'm more concerned with, or something of that nature letting go and sending my unforged pistons into my fairly new pi heads and valves, stock bottom end is weak and can't handle too much compression, pi heads + stock bottom end + boost = painful sounds down the road, I've seen it happen to a friend of mine who will remain un-named

 

[jamesD]

James I believe all we did on John's car was bend the AC line slightly but maybe his is different being a 94.

the way the belt setup was going when i put it all together, i would need to rerun the lines entirely

the other issue would be where to mount the coil packs

 

[timb]

the way the belt setup was going when i put it all together, i would need to rerun the lines entirely

the other issue would be where to mount the coil packs

That's really strange because I don't recall having any of those issues when we installed John's motor.

 

[Tobey]

I put an '04 Mustang engine in my '97. I had the same problem with the AC lines. I just re-routed the belt, eliminating one of the idler pulleys. See post #8 in this thread: http://forums.tccoa.com/showthread.php?t=83698
I moved the "smooth" idler pulley to the upper location, and ditched the grooved pulley. I've got about 10,000 miles on it with no problems.

On edit: Your first question about the throttle cable bracket: Yes, the Mustang one will work, at least it did on mine.

 

[JoeB]

More good info. Thanks.

Maybe there is a slight difference in a/c lines between 94 & 97? I guess I'll find out. Unfortunately I can't mock that one up on the engine stand without draining the a/c.

 

[Greybird94]

so all these problems are based on using a windsor block, but the romeo motor goes in better. are all 99+ windsors?

 

[Tobey]

I can't keep track of all the Windsor/Romeo stuff; stupid Ford. On my '04 Mustang engine, the lower left idler pulley hit the AC lines, which come straight forward off the top of the compressor. Either the different years/style of 4.6L engines have different pulley setups, or the T-Bird AC lines are different. I don't have enough info to make the call on which is true. Of course, they might both be true.

 

[warmaster259]

so all these problems are based on using a windsor block, but the romeo motor goes in better. are all 99+ windsors?

No, its differences in the timing covers.

 

[JoeB]

OK, I spent some time figuring this stuff out today. Put the town car fuel rail on, and sat and compared the car to the engine on my stand. The AC lines do appear as if they will interfere, but it doesn't look liek they will have to be moved much to clear. Maybe bend them an inch or so, that is it. I won't be able to tell that 100% until the engine is in the car though. As far as the coils on the front cover, I happened to have a set of older 92 crown vic coils and brackets. And wouldn't you know, but the pass side CV bracket is designed to work without that extra leg on that goes to the idler pulley. It just bolts up with the 2 bolts at the top of the cover. Perfect!

So I'm pretty sure I have everything mostly sorted out. You guys have been a HUGE help. Just about all teh info was useful.

I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[jamesD]

No, its differences in the timing covers.

the windsor block is slightly different... the mounts don't quite bolt right up

as far as covers.. 99 windsor cover uses same belt route as 94-98

00 is same bolt pattern as 99, but uses 01+ belt route