1996 Mustang 3.8 to swap to 1999- 2004 3.8

[NewkidonDblock]

I just bought 1996 Mustang Convertible with 3.8 & AT setup from the factory...the car came striped without engine or tranny. I am new to the Mustang project...... i would like to put the 1999-2004 V6 3.8 engine with 190hp or 193hp with 2000 ECU put in since it produce more horse power than 1996 150hp. I need help as much as possible. How much work do i have to do to put a newer engine to the 1996. Since a newer engine does not require the return gas line...do i have to get a newer fuel rail? my biggest concern is that do i have to swap the new wiring harness in the car, fuel rail, etc....? The newer engine comes with the engine wiring harness.

[SpectorV]

you could spend a bit and get heads/cam/intakes for the pre 99 3.8L and boost its performance past the 99+ 193hp/225tq~ this would eliminate many of your problems. The upgrade may cost a bit but you could rebuild the motor at the same time and make a long lasting motor out of it.

Please dont put an auto back in your car go manual.. you will thank me down the road.

[NewkidonDblock]

Hey Thanks SpectorV for reponse.....But i do not have the original engine or tranny.. it was stripped by the previous owner. At the same time.. i can buy either 1998 or 2000 engine for the same price to put in.

[SpectorV]

true you could get a boost in performance for about the same price. I was just putting that out there as an option. You may need a new wiring hardness as well at least the engine part, as for the tranny the 99 up have digital readouts on the speedo, you may can put on a speecal to fix it, not sure, google dallas mustang's website and see if it can do that.

If it can not you may need the tailshaft from a pre 99 tranny~ its basically pre 99 used a gear and 99 up use a magnet and a sensor to findout how fast the tranny is going to tell the car how fast you are going~

You will need the rear wiring hardness as well to go to a manual tranny probably (cheaper faster better than an auto stock vs stock)

[NewkidonDblock]

So the tranmission for '99 and newer has a different set up? so its better to buy a pre '99 then that way its less modify........also should i go with the 5 speed instead of the AT? since my car comes with AT set up... i will need the new wiring for the 5 Speed tranny?

for the engine... 2000 come with engine harness.

again, thanks for your info. Your car looks great!

[SpectorV]

I can not remember 100% but I believe you will need a 98 transmission to work with a 99+ car unless you plan to swap the tail shafts on the 99+ tranny to work with a pre 99 vehicle computer/harness.

They may have used the same tranny in 97 not sure.... (I know my 97 did not have the correct one as the 99+ have)