Fox Mustang Tranny Sawp Question
 

I am looking at a Fox-body Mustang (1987), but it's an automatic. How easy is it to sawp it over to a 5-speed?

Will I need to do anything to the ECM?

Is the crank already prepped for a pilot bearing?

Anyone make some sort of kit for this?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

The swap it pretty easy. You will need pedals and cable adjuster, flywheel, clutch and bell housing. Yes the crank is preped for pilot, you will need to install one. The AT computer will work fine, be aware it does not have a rev limiter like the manuals do.

Over at corral.net there should be about a metric ton of info on this swap. I did it on mine and it wasn't so bad. What is seldom mentioned is the trans tunnel problem. You can get the shifter to fit by cutting the floor, but it looks like hell when your done. Try to find a manual donor car and remove the 'hump' that is spot welded to the tunnel. It will raise the shifter location a tad and allow the metal seal/plate that sits over the shifter to fit correctly. Also get an aftermarket clutch quadrant to replace the fragile factory one. You will need a firewall adjuster to go with the quardrant. Try to find a factory Ford clutch cable. The aftermarket adjustable ones break often and dont have the same 'feel'. I just installed a kit from Maximum Motorsports and the action is a lot easier and smoother than it was.

there's at least two mustang-specialty houses (salvage yards in this case) selling complete changeover kits, shipped on a palette.
ones in georgia, cant recall the other.
buy any issue of any late model mustang magazine and you'll see their ads.
you also gotta move the spedo cable from it's current hole in the firewall as the clutch cable will go there.
the insane improvement in performance and mileage make this a very worthwhile swap.

Turns out I won't be needing to do a tranny swap, my new 1989 ASC/McLaren has a 5-speed!!! :cheers: :clap: :clap:

I'll probably go get it this week, so I should have more pics later. You know I won't be able to leave it alone, so there will be some more questions. Probably brakes, SN95 stuff.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

hey bill,
congrats on the mclaren; i havent seen one around in a while.
let me know if you need help with anything for it; you know where to find me!
i also have a source for some oem mclaren bits, which are super hard to find of late.
my fox car actually has mclaren springs in it; same set i've had since my first fox in 1988.
say hi to sherry and tom for me.
later,
mike