2.8 auto to standard swap

golfbuddah · Jan 24, 2015

I have a low mileage 1978 2.8 v6 with c4 tranny from a mustang ll.
i would like to put a 4 or 5 speed in it. i need your help to steer me in the right direction. rear wheel drive application. thanks

RonD · Jan 24, 2015

Read here for which transmissions will bolt up to the 2.8l: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InterchangingTransmissions.shtml

Not sure about shifter location from car to truck manuals?

You may want to source trans, flywheel and clutch pedal(master and reservoir) from a similar car for the swap.

Starter motor may be different as well

kimcrwbr1 · Jan 24, 2015

The 2.8 is not a power house so you would be best served with the five speed. Maybe a tranny out of a mid to late 80s 2.9 would work. The rear tranny crossmember/mount could be a challenge but the tranny should bolt right up?

kimcrwbr1 · Jan 24, 2015

Have you tried the mustang forums?

golfbuddah · Jan 27, 2015

I have tried them but they tell me to convert to a t5. the bell housing to put onto my 2.8 seems to be the issue. does anyone know the engine weight difference between my 2.8 and a small block v8?

RonD · Jan 27, 2015

Read here for engine weights: http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engineweights.html

golfbuddah · Jan 27, 2015

thanks Ron

rangerin · Jan 27, 2015

I recently did this to my 2.8 over last summer. I put a M50D in replace of the slow C3. It bolted right up with just a little trans tunnel trimming in the front (keep the M50D trans bell housing bolts though). Save your old trans mount and everything will bolt up perfectly to the original cross member after drilling some new holes for it to mount to the chassis. I used a '84 clutch master with a pad from a '92 4.0 engine. All of the rest of the clutch parts were for a '92 ranger (very important!). If you get stuff from a later model, your master and pad won't work. If I can remember correctly, I got a driveshaft from and extended cab longbed ranger. If need be, I can measure it for you. I skipped all of the clutch switch things when putting in the new pedal assembly. Saved time and it will be more reliable in the future.

Feel free to ask away if you have any other Q's!

EDIT: Pay attention to the quick release fittings on the throwout bearing and clutch line. They need to be the same color to hook up (mine are both black).

2.8 auto to standard swap

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