Six Things You Will Need For 5.0L V8 Coyote Swap Into Vintage Ford Mustang Chassis
Open Your Wallet — No way around this one. Running a Coyote 5.0L is going to cost you more than 430-460 horses of almost anything else. It's not the cost of the engine per se, with a brand-new crate engine ringing in at $8,500. The bill only starts to balloon with the necessary modifications to fit and run the contemporary 5.0L, whether you do the work yourself or pay for some professional help. Install mods include removal of the shock towers and installation of an aftermarket suspension, the necessary computer controls, fuel system, and exhaust. Whether you do it yourself or not, these mods will cost thousands.
Exhaust Headers — The specific vintage chassis you're installing a Coyote into will dictate your options. What is clear is that stock 5.0L Mustang factory tubular manifolds aren't friendly to a vintage Ford Mustang chassis. Ford Performance sells cast-iron manifolds (M-9430-SR50A) from the F-150 truck application, which they say will work on certain street rods, but most builders will opt for aftermarket headers. With many different suspension choices to choose from, no header will be guaranteed to fit every one; however, Doug's Headers sells a vintage Mustang Coyote swap header advertised to fit some of the popular Mustang II architecture swap suspensions. Detroit Speed also sells Coyote swap headers specifically designed to clear their own Aluma-Frame front suspension.
Computer/ECU — You do have a few choices here including products from Ford Performance, ACCEL/DFI, FAST, and others. However, in a stock-ish Coyote swap, Ford Performance's Control Pack makes a lot of sense. The virtually turnkey system works very well and incorporates the factory's variable valve timing, though it doesn't have the tuning capacity of some of the other aftermarket systems — likely a concern on heavily modified 5.0Ls.
Power Steering Pump Bracket — Factory applications of the 5.0L Coyote use electric power steering, but a number of companies offer a bracket that allows the use of a conventional hydraulic pump. For example, Vintage Air's Front Runner drive system works nicely with a Detroit Speed alternator relocation bracket for a 1967 Mustang.
Oil Pan — The oil pan arrangement will be dictated by the chassis and suspension used for the swap, but expect to have to use something other than the factory Coyote rear sump pan. Canton and Moroso both offer pans for various Coyote swaps.
Cooling System — For vintage Coyote swaps, there are options, such as the slick radiator and fan combo from C&R Racing, which also includes a built-in engine oil cooler that goes one better than a factory Boss 302 heat exchanger.
