slo89notch

so i've been considering an engine swap using an fc20 or fc22 engine
for 3 simple reasons
1-amazing engine and gearbox with plenty of power for the weight and wheelbase of the car i intend to put it in
2- to **** everyone off (the muscle car haters and the import haters at the same time)
3rd and most important it's different than i've ever seen before!

so here's the idea
s2000
curb weight 2800lbs give or take a few
wheelbase 94.5 inches

the car im talking about swapping the engine in to is a 1989 ford mustang notch
it's the lightest mustang combination i know of (2600lbs as it sits right now, with the stock 88hp 2.3 and 5speed trans and 1/4 tank of gas)
and the wheelbase is 100.5 inches

taking things to basics the car's arent to different size and weight speaking
i've been thinking of a 2.3 turbo engine in to the mustang because it'll bolt right in and be done, but thats to easy and if i do that i get **** from the muscle car guys that even tho im faster with a 4cyc that it's got a turbo and that it's not a v8, and i'd get **** from the import guys because my turbo 2.3 making 190hp stock is about the same as a b18c na

so i figure fc20/fc22 and 6speed in the mustang would be a great combo
to show everyone up
and even beyond what everyone thinks it's undeniable that it's something completely different
and i honestly think it would be a fun *** car to drive after doing the swap
and i think it would shock alot of people to see whats under the hood
or hear the exhaust when i start it up or drive down the street
don't want to make it a race car (yet) just something fun to drive on the weekends

so what do you think, i know it "can" be done but lets be serious howmuch do we think will be involved? i mean the engine bay was made for a v8 so even with the stock 2.3 theres enough room for someone to stand on either side of the engine and in front of it so i don't think room will be a problem
and getting a rear gear to match the engine/trans combo won't be hard because there is a huge aftermarket for the ford 8.8 rearend and it can take alot of abuse without a problem
the only thing i think will be difficult will be engine management
and if the engine is to tall either a cowl hood could cure the clearence problem or leaning the engine slightly to lower it just like in some straight 6 bmws


ok i guess let the flaming begin!

RED_90TEG

good luck have fun be safe !

HondaKyle

ls1 swap it.

Boots

i hope you know how to fabricate and have the means to do so

slo89notch

wow thanks for the semi-positive response (maybe it's just sarcasm and im dumb but hey i'll take it)

and
;hondakyle- it would probably be cheaper and faster but, pushrod v8 in a mustang...
just not feelin it

;boots- yes i do

and long story short i'll do a build thread on the project if yall would like
but i ain't going to lie it's not going to be a quick month long build or anything
i have a dd this will be my toy, if i have it up and running in 6months cool
if it takes 2-3 years to get it done right then so be it, know what i mean?


but first things first
drivetrain
should i just buy an engine and trans
or should i find a totaled s2000 to use all i can from it and ebay the rest?

DCRB

first off i'll say that i don't own an s, so i don't know what is hot and what is not when it comes to parting one out.

however from the various swaps i've seen done from s2k's into corollas and what not its alot easier on the swap part to pick up the full car, so you can look at factory fitment in both vehicles. also having a parts car to part out would be benifical for fundage

as far as engine management goes, you can probly use the stock s2k ecu? i saw a thread where some one took apart the whole body/engine harness for swapping the motor into their corolla, and it had like 5 wires that went from ecu to the chasis everything else was strait to the motor.

i think the biggest things you'll have to tackle are motor/shifter placement, don't know how the honda trans is different from the ford one, and cluster set up. will you use the stock ford, the s2k, or go full aftermarket?

drive shaft should be easy, measure distance from the pumpkin to the output shaft on the trans (or whatever they're called) once motor is fully installed and running, and then have a custom one made with ford rear u joint and honda front i would assume.

slo89notch

i'll have to do some digging, if i can keep the factory ecu that would save alot of $$ especially with the reliability of factory tuning ect. ect.
as for shifter placement and such im searching right now to see exactly how far it is from motor mount to shifter but i figured if it was a little long or short of stock placement (+/- 4inches i could make a shifter to compensate)
as for the cluster i'd like to use the s2000's cluster (just because i think it looks cool) but otherwise i might have to go aftermarket (mustang guages only go up to 6000rpm and 85mph even the cobra guages only go to 7000rpm but to 140mph) haven't looked to far in to guages yet figured the big stuff would come first and the guages and such would come around as things come in to place to button things up

when it's all done i want it to have a stance similar to this one

http://classic-ford.org/forum/upload...301540_fox.jpg
just not that low maybe 1.5-2inches higher and level, that one the front looks a hair lower than the rear

dagle

iTrader: (1)

Honestly probably much better off with a V8, the S2000 motors are impressive in their own rights, but displacement is a huge advantage. If you like the powerband of the S2000, by all means, but if you're mainly looking for fun and drivability with no sway towards any build in particular, the LSx or another viable V8 swap would probably be the way to go. At the end of the day you're thinking about putting a 200whp motor into what will be a 2800-3000 pound car. Far from impressive in my opinion, but it might be a lot of fun ringing it out so it's up to you. Good luck

slo89notch

i agree with you 100%
but i do really like the powerband of the s2k's f20 engine
and balance and weight is a large factor
i plan to do an occasional track day
i know a fc20 will last a long time spending 30minute sessions at 6-9k rpm
i'd be worred with an ls1 even thats built to rev to 7k rpm wringing it out from 4-7k all day reliability is a large factor
but honestly the biggest factor is just being different
i mean how many ls1,bbc,bbf,sbc,sbf,ext. ext. mustangs are out there?
even the 2.3turbo even seen a couple with the 3.0l sho v6 in it
but never seen a honda engine in a mustang
and i really think it will **** off alot of the dumb "it's gotta b a v8 or it can't be fast" rednecks
i know the wheel has been perfected no need to reinvent but maybe theres room for adjusting u know?
plus i figured stock (well boltons) for a while but eventually a good supercharger setup and 350-400whp on pump gas nothing crazy (prefer turbo but for trackdays the smooth power delivery of the supercharger would me much more user friendly than a turbo deciding it's time to spool mid corner....)

HondaKyle

A ls1 weighs 50 pounds more then a F20/22.

Dc4LsTeG

iTrader: (7)

If your gonna put that motor in it you better turbo it

MikeB18c

Sounds like that will be quite the project. I don't think you'll get anywhere near the torque you will want for a muscle car.

JUSTINTHECOASTI

Boost it or swap in a v8

slo89notch

your comment proves the exact point of the build

take the name off of it and based on weight an dimensions
my mustang is extremely close to the s2000
i think the mustang is actually about 200lbs lighter as it sits
and the wheelbase is about 5inches longer

as for the torque... right now it's got 88hp and 100ft-lbs on a good day
so
im sure it's not going to be that much slower with 153ft-lbs
oh and about 180 more hp....

but the car is not going to be a straight line queen it's a weekend cruiser that'll see track days here n there

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

What is the Mustang's f/r balance? I've got a feeling it's not 50/50. So just because it weights like an S2000 does not mean it will handle or drive like one...

Boots

no, no its not

Arsenal

Does not compute...

slo89notch

never said or implied that
i have alot of suspension work ahead of me but, this is a discussion about the engine swap
not making it handle like the car the engine is coming out of

as for the question of balance as it sits right now it's right at 56/44
but just like the comment you made about handling
i've got it covered
im simply hear to gauge how people would react to see such an engine transplant

you can rest assured when it's all said and done it may have the same engine as your car but it will be faster and handle better

eastcoastbumps

Sounds like a cool swap. You should go for it.

You either know nothing about S2000's or nothing about Mustangs.

Boots

i hope that was sarcasm...

fknfast

the craze over here where im at is a 4g63 in notchbacks..............i personally wouldnt put a Fseries in a ford

B serious

iTrader: (1)

OP: It sounds like you just want a project in order to do something different. I can't seem to quantify the cost vs. benefit of this swap as being any good, however.

That's a good amount of welding and fabricating. As well as a custom driveshaft...as well as wiring, tuning, etc. etc. etc. All for 240hp and 153lbs of torque? Meh.

Honda engines aren't exactly cheap either compared to their domestic counterparts. An AP2 full swap sets you back between $3500-4000+.

But if it's just the thrill of the project that you're after, then it might work out for you.

Sarnacus

Don't do it!