S197 CaptKaos' 2011 S197 LS Swap Build Thread Profile - S197 Mustangs

[Trent TMM]

The radiator is upper passenger side lower driver. The lower hose is oem 08 4.6.the upper is something I found that just so happens to fit.
I did make the heater core lines.

 

[blacksheep-1]

It would never cross my mind to LS swap a Mustang, I did put a SBC into a 70 Cuda though. I helped a guy put a 510 big block Chevy into a Mustang, he used a Summers front drive for the distributor
( no longer made) And it sort of looked like a Cleveland Ford, if you didn't look too closely. Painted it Ford blue, with aluminum heads. Enough Fords are running HEI dizzys so it all worked out pretty well.

 

[Bill Pemberton]

This is an amazing read for so many on this site, regardless if they have the technical skills to do something like this ( that would be me and many others, ha ). Keep it up and let everyone know the day of the " Christening " as that is not when it starts but when it runs on track --- who knows how many TMO folks will show up for the event!?

 

[Captkaos]

It would never cross my mind to LS swap a Mustang

Wasn't my first choice, I could have bought a 2010-2015 already LS powered, but even being a GM fan those are HEAVY cars and this is something she wanted so if it keeps her interested I am all for it.

The radiator is upper passenger side lower driver. The lower hose is oem 08 4.6.the upper is something I found that just so happens to fit.

If you by chance remember what upper I would love to know.

This is an amazing read for so many on this site, Keep it up and let everyone know the day of the " Christening " as that is not when it starts but when it runs on track

Not sure how amazing it is, but no one ever completely puts all the information in the forum builds for Mustang LS swaps, so this is helping me in addition to others attempting the same. Trying to document everything I run across.
When it actually run's you will see it here. I am worried I won't hit my Valentines deadline now. This whole past week it was in the teens in Alabama.

 

[Captkaos]

Tuesday Dec 27th: I pounded and hacked on the driver side mount to get it some clearance so it would conform to to the floor better.

 

[Captkaos]

Thursday Dec 29th: I removed the passenger seat and rolled back the carpet (AFTER I had to cut it in 2 spots) in prep to get the trans mount spot welded back into the car.
Curiosity got the best of me and I pulled down a 4L80E core that I picked up that was full of water and needed disassembly anyway. I pulled it down on the floor which I cannot recommend at midnight. But I now have an empty case for mocking into the car... (trying to potentially plan ahead.)

 

[Captkaos]

Friday Dec 30th: Shouldn't really be doing this with only 6 weeks left but I never found any actual pictures on what it takes to get an 80E in a S197 so here we are..
Good news is the passenger side will clear both 60E and 80E
Bad news is the Main wiring harness stub will absolutely NOT clear on the drivers side. In these pictures the plug is actually wedged into the sheetmetal. I actually cracked it
Drivers side shown first (first 4 pics) then passenger (next 4) plus where I shoved the 60E back.

 

[Captkaos]

Saturday Dec 31st: It got late last night so I remove the trans so you can see where the plug was wedged (and broke). I put the main harness plug on to give you an idea how much room this actually needs to allow it to snap. More than 1.5"
3 pic shows how far up the trans needs to go and where it is hitting the floorpan.
4th pic shows how I did this side differently, as I am trying to just get it ready just in case., so I cut a section out of it, and then it got late.

 

[Captkaos]

Sunday Jan 1st 2023: Happy New Year everyone! Round 2 on the drivers side mount clearancing. I cut more out and then pounded on the floorpan somemore but pretty much stopped at this point once I determined it would just be easier to pull the carpet, cut the floorpan and then weld in a panel that would give the required clearance. There is still some hammering needed on the passenger side for the pan clearance. BUT hopefully I can get this spot welded back into the car this week.
I got the engine close to 2 degrees by myself
DRIVER Side
Pic 1 you can see that there is no way to get the harness on the plug.
Pic 2 shows the pan interference
Pic 3 shows where I cut the mount and pounded the floorpan.
Pic 4 shows same side diff perspective.
Pic 5 shows view of the plug from below
Pic 6 shows view of the plug from above the trans
Pic 7 show the selector shaft minumum required clearance.

 

[Captkaos]

Sunday Jan 1st 2023: Continued
PASSENGER side
Pic 1shows the Pan clearance WITHOUT the mount
Pic 2 and 3 show 2 perspectives of the mount wedged in place.
Pic 4 shows the Pan clearance with the mount wedged in
Pic 5 shows just a general view from below the trans
Pic 6 I am just trying to show a length perspecitve of the 80E.
Pic 7 shows pan clearnace from the back of the trans with the mount wedged in.

Last 2 pictures are just the relative angles of the rear axle and the engine tilt where all of these pictures took place.
Hope this helps someone.

 

[Captkaos]

Week of Jan 2nd 2023: Finalized the as much of the trans tunnel mods I could do for the 4L80E and a buddy came over and volunteered to weld everything up.
Also received the Hurst Quarter Stick shifter my daughter picked out along with the JPCRacing mount (not shown). Searched for a local part store for spreadable seam sealer and some cover paint to paint over when I get the seam sealer applied over the weld through primer, only had to go to 6 stores to find something that would work.

 

[Captkaos]

Week of Jan 8th 2023: Cut and pulled the passenger carpet back, cleaned up the surfaces and to apply the seam sealer. I was way to cool to use (had to be above 60, so I moved to the inside. Installed the JPCRacing shifter mount and Quarter Stick. Had to drilled a couple holes and notch one area to get the plate installed. Instructions stated the console would need to be notched, which is definitely the case unless you turn the shifter and I really like how it is sitting, so...

 

[Captkaos]

Monday Jan 16th 2023: Temperature was in the 70's so I got after the seam sealer. Got the top size sealed up and moved on to the bottom. After letting it set I scuffed and hit is with some paint to make is look more acceptable. We also mounted the Factory LS AC compressor and it sits in there just fine. Hope to make new hoses and integrate in when the time comes.

 

[Captkaos]

Thursday Jan 19th 2023: During all the install/removal I had issues with one of the transmission mount bolts so thread chased it and reinstalled the trans to check to make sure everything still had clearance. I got the Engine/trans set to 2 degrees and will need to make a stand for the transmission to get it to the right angle. Made a list of required parts like fittings, bumper parts and fuel line. My daughter wanted to put in her new headlights so we pulled the bumper cover and put them in (no pics) and let the cover off to repaint.
Friday Jan 20th 2023: Went and picked up some paint supplies to repaint the bumper and make is look more acceptable.

 

[Captkaos]

Wednesday Jan 26th 2023: Tonight I started the assessment of what it was going to take to get the shifter cable hole routed completed. Pictured a few posts above the JPCRacing Shifter mount had the shifter clocked towards the driver, which I liked, but the opening was pointed right towards a mount for the dash, console and radio/AC panel. I decided to test this out with the shifter in place. Needless to say I removed it and will be setting it up on a wedge in order to get full engagement to 1st and not hit the AC controls.

First pic is back to the bottom of the car and it appears that my transmission tunnel massaging is not done. I need to make some clearance for the bracket. I also need to call and get the mounting bolts for the bracket as I was sent studs but they are the wrong size and the factory pan bolts wont work with the required spacer.

Second pic shows the shifter in first and it hits the console and won't go all the way into gear.
Third pic show the shifter sitting flat on the plate. In Park it is all in the way of the AC controls.
Forth pic shows shifter in part and on a 1.5" block in the back where is allow AC control access.
Fifth pic is a Side shot sitting on the 1.5" block where it is no longer a issue hitting the factory console while in first

 

[Captkaos]

Sunday Jan 29th 2023: Spend some time on the shifter mounting. I made a carboard template to test out the the angle for the cable to route along with the clearance from the AC controls and for the Husrt shifter in first for the 4L60E (or GM 4 speed). I originally was going to make it so it bolted to the existing since I already seam sealed it in.

Monday Jan 30th 2023: Dropped my design and templates off at my buddies shop Sinister Fab Worx we chatted about it and he said he could make it out of aluminum and all one piece, replacing the JPRacing one.

Tuesday Jan 31st 2023: Picked up the bracket brought it home and we immediately mounted it in the car to check clearnce. Turned out awesome. Anyone need a JPCRacing Hurst shifter plate?

 

[Captkaos]

Wednesday Feb 1st 2023: Broke out the Sledge hammers again and went to town on the drivers side tunnel to make the necessary clearance for the Shifter bracket. It is possible that the 4L80E will clear if future endeavors required it.
Drilled the tunnel for the shifter cable and connected everything all up to figure out the routing and verify everything is going to work as planned.

 

[Captkaos]

Monday Feb 6th 2023: Anyone else think that Ford knew we were going to be swapping these? If not why are they putting a dimple right exactly where the hole would go in the transmission mount LOL.

Dimple drilled out for clearance to mock all of this in place.




Bolted in the 60E Trans mount and started adding washers till I got the Engine angle at 2 degrees down. While I was there I went ahead and measured for the new driveshaft.



Now that I know how much height I need time to come up with a solution that will allow me to use the factory mount.



As before I just started measuring and making a template that would give me the height and structure needed. This is what I came up with.



Now that I have a solution time to drop if off at Sinister Fab Worx


Tuesay Feb 7th 2023: Dropped the driveshaft ends off at the Driveshaft Shop with the required dimensions and then headed to Sinister Fab Worx to drop off the template. Hopefully I can pick it up Thursday night as my work will have me tied up tomorrow evening.

 

[Captkaos]

Friday Feb 10th 2023: Picked up the new driveshaft and picked up the trans mount. It needed some tweaking so I dropped by a friends house since it was on that side of town and we got it fit perfect to the factory cross member.







Saturday Feb 11th 2023: picked up some bolts washers and nuts to bolt the trans mount up.
Sunday Feb 12th 2023: Since it was nice outside I painted the mount and let it dry.

 

[Captkaos]

Saturday Feb 18th 2023: Prior week was pretty much a wash with Valentines, and 2 birthdays but got back on the car. Mocked up the new mount in the car and checked the angle. Pretty satisfied since it is just sitting there not bolted up it had 1.9 degrees.





While mocked in the car I found that the passenger side needed a little more hammering to get everything to my satisfaction. Since it was warm (above 60 degrees) I went ahead and seam sealed the both sides of the trans tunnel.





I used a hose splice for the shifter cable passing through the trans tunnel. Seam sealed that up also.