This is topic 1988 5.0 Fox Mustang Engine Build in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by schoonerman (Member # 14761) on :
 
I've done a ton of research on the interweb and I'm coming up short on building a motor for my 1988 Fox bodied McLaren Mustang 5.0. There's a ton of pretty old info on the web, lots of it from 2009 or so, just not a lot in the past 3-4 years.

My goal is to find someone to build a 5.0 motor for me. I'm too damn lazy to do it myself. I build boats for a living and just want to go for a drive to get away from it. I don't have the room in my shop nor at my house to do this car. Yeah, I live in Cali (Bay Area) and am here for the foreseeable future as I own a company here.

Wants:

mid/high 300 hp.
Prefer NA but seems likely I'll need to go FA
Not going to show the car but would like to dress the engine.
Has to pass smog with as little hassle as possible. If I could build a smogable motor with alloy heads, legal cam, legal leaders/cat back exhaust, updated lower end to handle the HP and a good tuner to get it all happy that'd be perfect! I'd dress the engine somewhat.
Not really a daily driver, this is a weekend car.
Converting from a AOD to a Tremec TKO
Also planning on updated suspension, brakes, rear end. Will be installing a new driveshaft as part of the transmission swap. Looking for an interior shop as well. Perfect world I would find someone like myself to run this resto (I do boat restos).

I've checked in with all the usual Mustang suspects in Norcal...none of them work on smog required cars. I'm chasing down a few other shops that might like this project. I've budgeted 15K but that'll likely slide to $18-20.

I've owned this car from new, it has 60K, always garaged and the car is in very good shape. It will be a fun car to drive with a decent motor, trans, brakes (disc), suspension, wheels/tires and it will ease my urges to go buy a motorcycle...lol

Any suggestions are much appreciated.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
300hp is easy with just a heads/cam/intake swap onto a stock bottom end. Honestly, you'd probably be better off just buying a complete engine from Blueprint. You can get a 370hp engine for $4500 and it comes with a warranty.
 
Posted by schoonerman (Member # 14761) on :
 
I reached out to Blueprint. They don't make smogable engines. That was my go to but sadly, not an option.


quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
300hp is easy with just a heads/cam/intake swap onto a stock bottom end. Honestly, you'd probably be better off just buying a complete engine from Blueprint. You can get a 370hp engine for $4500 and it comes with a warranty.


[ 2020-08-11, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: schoonerman ]
 
Posted by Boss 327 (Member # 9143) on :
 
What about Coast High Performance?

http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/engine/138-0308-coast-high-performance-emissions-legal-347-short-block
 
Posted by KevinK (Member # 9234) on :
 
Nice to hear about another McLaren in the Bay Area. We have 2. Have you tried Mustang Magic in Fremont?
 
Posted by KevinK (Member # 9234) on :
 
You might try Newtec Performance in Hayward.
 




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