Welcome to Mustang Evolution.
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10-12-2004, 07:25 AM
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#1
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How to: 4.2L mustang swap
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
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I have seen many questions...but few facts. This is what you need. I converted my 99 4 years ago.
Early 97-98 4.2s had a 2-pc main girdle that connected the 1st to the 2nd main cap and the 3rd to the 4th main cap and had larger main bolts. Mid-1998 and up 4.2s used a 1-pc girdle that only connected the rear 3 main caps and had smaller main bolts.
To use the early 4.2 in any Mustang will require replacing the girdle with a newer 3 main style from a 4.2, a 99-up 3.8 girdle or just delete it. You will also have to cut the girdle studs sticking out of the head of the main bolts on the 1st main bearing. The 99-00 3.8s used a factory windage tray/girdle that is better than nothing but certainly not ideal. The 01-up 3.8s use the same windage tray/girdle as the 4.2.
Late 00 3.8s are actually early 01 spec engines that are internally balanced. If you have one of these.....just use the notes for an 01-up.
Edit by 97Stallion: here's some extra info. 97-98 4.2L engine are directly compatible with 94-98 3.8 crank pulleys. So if you have a 97-98 4.2 crank and balancer, you can use your 3.8 crank pulley/underdrive pulley.
94-98 Single port heads
- 4.2 shortblock
- Single port heads/fuel rail/intake
- Mustang 3.8 water pump
- Auto trans = 4.2 or 01-up flexplate
- 5spd = 01-up or rebalanced 3.8 (0 or neutral) flywheel and a pilot bearing
- V6 Mustang bellhousing
- Re-use your stock cam position sensor
- 01-up 3.8 oil pan
- 01-up 3.8 oil pick-up tube and screen
- 4.2 damper or 01-up 3.8 damper (use the 01 pulley for blower cars)
- Re-use the stock 3.8 oil pressure sender and tube
- Re-use the Mustang headers
- You can use the 4.2 or 3.8 dipstick. Just keep track of where 5 qts puts the mark when refilling with oil.
94-98 Split port heads
*** You will need to perform all the mods required for a split port conversion plus these steps for the 4.2 (see pbmilan or V6sprout for the video) ***
- 4.2 shortblock or longblock
- You can use the 4.2 heads
- Mustang upper and lower intake
- Custom return style fuel rail (VMP has them)
- Mustang 3.8 water pump
- Auto trans = 4.2 or 01-up flexplate
- 5spd = 01-up or rebalanced 3.8 (0 or neutral) flywheel and a pilot bearing
- V6 Mustang bellhousing
- Re-use your stock cam position sensor
- 01-up 3.8 oil pan
- 01-up 3.8 oil pick-up tube and screen
- 4.2 damper or 01-up 3.8 damper (use the 01 pulley for blower cars)
- Re-use the stock 3.8 oil pressure sender and tube
- Re-use the Mustang headers
- You can use the 4.2 or 3.8 dipstick. Just keep track of where 5 qts puts the mark when refilling with oil.
99-00 split port heads
- 4.2 shortblock or longblock
- You can use the 4.2 heads
- Mustang upper and lower intake and fuel rail
- Mustang 3.8 water pump
- Auto trans = 4.2 or 01-up flexplate
- 5spd = 01-up or rebalanced 3.8 (0 or neutral) flywheel and a pilot bearing
- V6 Mustang bellhousing
- Re-use your stock cam position sensor
- 01-up 3.8 oil pan
- 01-up 3.8 oil pick-up tube and screen
- 4.2 damper or 01-up 3.8 damper (use the 01 pulley for blower cars)
- Re-use the stock 3.8 oil pressure sender and tube
- Re-use the Mustang headers
- You can use the 4.2 or 3.8 dipstick. Just keep track of where 5 qts puts the mark when refilling with oil.
01-up split port heads
- 4.2 shortblock or longblock
- You can use the 4.2 heads
- Mustang upper and lower intake and fuel rail
- Mustang 3.8 water pump
- Auto trans = your stock flexplate
- 5spd = your stock flywheel and a pilot bearing
- V6 Mustang bellhousing
- Re-use your stock cam position sensor
- Your 01-up 3.8 oil pan
- Your 01-up 3.8 oil pick-up tube and screen
- Your stock 01-up 3.8 damper
- Re-use the stock 3.8 oil pressure sender and tube
- Re-use the Mustang headers
- You can use the 4.2 or 3.8 dipstick. Just keep track of where 5 qts puts the mark when refilling with oil.
__________________
http://www.fordchip.com
Featuring Superchips Custom Tuning products
'99 4.2L 5-spd, Powerdyne, CNC'd heads, 211/.523 cam, 70mm TB, 1.8 RRs, JBA headers, custom X off-road, 90mm SCT, 60#s, Mach I duals, Ripper, PHP 8.8, Steeda UCAs, LCAs, 3.73s, Alum driveshaft, 245/45R17s on Silver Bullitts
11.3 @ 122 (ET Streets)
465 rwhp/460 ft/lbs (25hp dry shot)
12/00 MM & FFs, 7/01 5.0 & Super Ford, 2/02 Hot Rod
Last edited by pete; 10-13-2004 at 09:01 AM.
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10-12-2004, 07:57 AM
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#2
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Taking life one day at a time
Join Date: May 2003
City: Simpsonville
State: South Carolina
Posts: 10,879
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Nice article there Pete. I am in the hunt for a 4.2 short block or 4.2 Crank, rods and pistons right now.
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10-12-2004, 04:37 PM
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#3
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Fuck off
Join Date: Apr 2004
State: Europe
Posts: 9,189
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this should be stickied, thats great information pete
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10-12-2004, 05:35 PM
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#4
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I can has Mustang?
Join Date: May 2003
City: Huntsville
State: Alabama
Posts: 26,494
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wow! This is exactly what I needed to see
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Quote:
[23:27] BamaStangGuy: what it is
[23:28] Tiffeny: not much yo
[23:28] BamaStangGuy: Sitting here. Drinking Sam Adams Summer Ale and listening to ghetto rap
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10-12-2004, 07:16 PM
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#5
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taking a break
Join Date: May 2004
City: Iowa City, IA
State: Iowa
Posts: 4,485
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agreed... may be asking you questions on exactly how to do it when I get closer to blowing up my engine
__________________
2002 Sonic Blue GT, 5 Speed
Mods: MGW Short Throw Shifter, Mach 1 Brakes
17"x9" Cobra's, Borla Exhaust, Cold Air Intake,
Polished Stainless Steel Inserts, more interior aluminum than I know what to do with
2001 Silver v-6, totalled, then sold
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10-12-2004, 09:45 PM
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#6
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4.2 facts
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Father Four-Eye
Join Date: Jun 2003
City: Sharpsburg-Antietam
State: Maryland
Posts: 156
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Your info is correct, but for the older mustang owners (83-86) some things need to be changed for the older(ie flat tappets or earlier roller) blocks (heads ,intakes ,flexplates ,dampers and such. ) not limited to crank and piston /rod combos
__________________

3 four-eyed droptops (2-83 glx's and 1 84 lx)
1 four-eyed GT T-Top
1 aero nose (93 calypso notch
66 lincoln 'vert
Local "10-hole Mafia" Don
member "Anti-Cowl" club
Last edited by plstktnkr2; 10-12-2004 at 09:57 PM.
Reason: added point
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10-20-2004, 11:39 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
State: Texas
Posts: 853
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check the classifieds at www.v6f150.com
i don't know if they have what you need, but it doesn't hurt to look.
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10-26-2004, 04:14 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1
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I have a 01 v6 mustang. About how much money is involved to swap it to 4.2?
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10-26-2004, 07:55 PM
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#9
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The 4.2L Guy/Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2003
City: Scumter; Home: Chicago, IL
State: South Carolina
Posts: 2,029
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Expect to pay close to $1500.
__________________

60' ~ 2.1, 1/8 ~ 9.61 @ 73.4mph
Living one day at a time!
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12-15-2004, 10:37 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 139
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Where can I buy a 4.2 liter motor. I want to replace my 3.8 eventually.
Matt
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12-16-2004, 08:05 AM
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#11
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Ero-Sennin
Join Date: Jul 2003
City: Murfreesboro
State: Tennessee
Posts: 4,518
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i'm gonna do this eventually. pete, stallion, my stang is a 1997. which version of the 4.2 would be the best to put in that year mustang? i want to make as much HP as i can off the engine before i put in the twin turbos. i'd like to go split port,and.. well, basically anything i can do to boost horsepower
can one of you 4.2 experts give me advice on this?
thanks
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I don't own a mustang at the moment
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12-16-2004, 01:09 PM
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#12
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The 4.2L Guy/Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2003
City: Scumter; Home: Chicago, IL
State: South Carolina
Posts: 2,029
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Well I think if you could choose a year, I would go with a 97 or a 98 for you. All the years are the same, but 97's and 98 have the same crankshaft pulleys as the mustangs, so if you have 97 4.2 crank and balancer, you can use your crank pulley from your mustang. It would just save you a few bucks.
__________________

60' ~ 2.1, 1/8 ~ 9.61 @ 73.4mph
Living one day at a time!
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12-16-2004, 03:47 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
City: Gulf Breeze
State: Florida
Posts: 4,689
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your not the only one 
__________________
-Tony
'99 cobra 'vert
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12-16-2004, 05:42 PM
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#14
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Father Four-Eye
Join Date: Jun 2003
City: Sharpsburg-Antietam
State: Maryland
Posts: 156
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If you guys are hunting parts just go to advance auto parts and get a crank kit because 99/02 4.2's use same pistonsI believe. Rods are different I believe
__________________

3 four-eyed droptops (2-83 glx's and 1 84 lx)
1 four-eyed GT T-Top
1 aero nose (93 calypso notch
66 lincoln 'vert
Local "10-hole Mafia" Don
member "Anti-Cowl" club
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12-22-2004, 08:39 AM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
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Yes, but if you are going to use a blower at some point go with the 01-up Mustang pulley/damper. Its the largest diameter.
__________________
http://www.fordchip.com
Featuring Superchips Custom Tuning products
'99 4.2L 5-spd, Powerdyne, CNC'd heads, 211/.523 cam, 70mm TB, 1.8 RRs, JBA headers, custom X off-road, 90mm SCT, 60#s, Mach I duals, Ripper, PHP 8.8, Steeda UCAs, LCAs, 3.73s, Alum driveshaft, 245/45R17s on Silver Bullitts
11.3 @ 122 (ET Streets)
465 rwhp/460 ft/lbs (25hp dry shot)
12/00 MM & FFs, 7/01 5.0 & Super Ford, 2/02 Hot Rod
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12-22-2004, 08:40 AM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
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Other way around... Crank and pistons are different. The 4.2/3.8 use the same rods.
__________________
http://www.fordchip.com
Featuring Superchips Custom Tuning products
'99 4.2L 5-spd, Powerdyne, CNC'd heads, 211/.523 cam, 70mm TB, 1.8 RRs, JBA headers, custom X off-road, 90mm SCT, 60#s, Mach I duals, Ripper, PHP 8.8, Steeda UCAs, LCAs, 3.73s, Alum driveshaft, 245/45R17s on Silver Bullitts
11.3 @ 122 (ET Streets)
465 rwhp/460 ft/lbs (25hp dry shot)
12/00 MM & FFs, 7/01 5.0 & Super Ford, 2/02 Hot Rod
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12-22-2004, 09:32 AM
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#17
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im blue
Join Date: Aug 2003
City: around lubbock
State: Texas
Posts: 231
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Im prolly just going to buy one of RPM's built street 4.2L shortblocks ($2290) when I have the money. then I will just swap my BV heads and intakes and get a new cam in prep for a S/C. By then ill have a new tranny and 8.8 rear as well.
This way I dont have to worry about the oil pan or flywheel or oil pick-up tube or anything, just simply swap engines!
__________________
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i.../402003_35.jpg
Mods: BV heads, cut and weld upper, fully ported lower, 216/225 cam, 1.73 RR's, 60mm TB, 19# injectors, new timing set, 25% UDP, CAI, SCT chip, PCV delete, EGR delete, MAC LT headers, O/R H-pipe, durablack cat-back...
www.rpm-mustangs.com
RDmotorsport
New dyno
193.8rwhp/238.9 rwtq
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01-18-2005, 07:13 PM
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#18
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Father Four-Eye
Join Date: Jun 2003
City: Sharpsburg-Antietam
State: Maryland
Posts: 156
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This info is awesome for the guys with the later 3.8's . How about some luv for all of us guys with the 3.8 carb'd & CFI motors?
There were other 3.8's besides the SN94's
__________________

3 four-eyed droptops (2-83 glx's and 1 84 lx)
1 four-eyed GT T-Top
1 aero nose (93 calypso notch
66 lincoln 'vert
Local "10-hole Mafia" Don
member "Anti-Cowl" club
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01-26-2005, 12:50 PM
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#19
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The Mustang's Human Twin
Join Date: May 2003
City: Terre Haute, SC for a bit
State: Indiana
Posts: 1,638
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looking for 4.2 crank, rods and pistons
Looking for 4.2 crank rods and pistons?
I have a set but the pistons are std. bore, however you could hone
the block and use them. It is not listed yet but the stuff will go in my
big Garage Sale cuz I gotta sell some stuff!
I'm telling you and not danger dog 'cuz I do not have the balancer and
you do not need it anyway... Sorry Corey Bro 
__________________
Originally Posted by Flex:
You are the true cam master dude...
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