Been seeing a few of these go for really cheap lately on CL. I've seen the thread for the LS swap, so now it's got me wondering how difficult would it be to just swap a mod motor or Coyote in one? Are the chassis that much different from the SN95/S197 Mustang platforms? In the last few weeks i've seen two or three on CL for under 1K with blown engines like this one 2000 S-Type 4.0, what say GRM?
Yes, they are very different from the SN95 platform. They bear only a vague resemblance to the S197 platform. You will have to fabricate almost everything. They are heavy. Their drivetrains are made of glass. They have lousy suspension geometry. They don't even have a particularly useful back seat. There's no real reason to use one as the basis for a project other than to be a contrarian.
I always thought that the trans was the weak link in these not the motor.
I would rock one. I drove one a while back and it would not be a bad place to be for my commute.
I really like the LS-V8. Does the LS-V8/LSx swap include a better transmission?
The Modular/Coyote is WAY bigger than anything with pushrods.
The mod motors fit without an issue. You have to install them from top and use a front sump oil pan.
For the DOHC motors, it will be tight, but they fit.
Interesting tidbit, there is company that can use SCT to flash the ECU to run the later Windsors and Mod motors.
Strike_Zero wrote: The mod motors fit without an issue. You have to install them from top and use a front sump oil pan. For the DOHC motors, it will be tight, but they fit. Interesting tidbit, there is company that can use SCT to flash the ECU to run the later Windsors and Mod motors.
That's what I was thinking. There's an Lincoln LS around here for sale under 500 bucks, CL ad says it has rod knock. I figure with a junkyard mod motor and tranny swapped in from a P71 you get a cheap cruiser for under a grand in parts all in. Could be a competitor in the "Aristocrats" class at the challenge next year At least that's what the voices in my head tell me
Strike_Zero wrote: The mod motors fit without an issue. You have to install them from top and use a front sump oil pan. For the DOHC motors, it will be tight, but they fit. Interesting tidbit, there is company that can use SCT to flash the ECU to run the later Windsors and Mod motors.
Quite a while ago, a One Lap car was made from an LS, with one of the modular V8s- it fit, but not well enough to allow the engine to cool.
I'm curious about the comment that the car has poor suspension geometry. When we talked with the people working on the big LS- they said that with proper parts- it handled really well. It was quite quick while it wasn't over heating.
Anyway- considering the following of the GM LS- that seems like the easiest swap. Find the right trans, and you are pretty set.
Agreed about the handling, I always thought it was pretty darn good. I always liked those cars, drove 3-4 of them back when they were new. If you look at the reviews, it was a pretty credible 5-series knockoff for 3-series money. And the platform was developed in the 90s when Ford was flush with Explorer money, so no expense was spared. IMO, the biggest problem was that they let it stagnate and raised the price. If there had been a sporty version to compete with the CTS-V, the car would have had a lot bigger following, IMO.
In reply to Tom_Spangler:
Just looking locally- it would be really easy to get an aristocrat car here in SE MI.
Right now, there are a few LS's for less than $2k, some of those less than $500. One with a manual. Considering the source of the V6... well.
?
I'm not saying they're the worst cars ever - but just why? Because they're cheap and RWD?
Look at all the work that was into the two cars in the build threads posted earlier. And after all that work, what do they have? A mediocre sedan.
I'm all for creative builds, but all the effort involved in putting a swap into a Lincoln LS solves a question that doesn't need answering.
drdisque wrote: I'm all for creative builds, but all the effort involved in putting a swap into a Lincoln LS solves a question that doesn't need answering.
Most of our builds are that way, though. I happen to like the looks of the LS, so why not make it faster/more reliable for cheap? Same with the S Type.
I did the product launch for the LS and it was better at braking and turn in than the 5 series. The v6 with the 5-speed was ok but the 5-speed was just barely able to hold the torque of the v6 and would have died behind the v8.
The v8 was decently quick but you couldn't power brake the car for launch because it would over heat and fail some small cheap plastic part inside.
The front suspension had some anti-dive but the rear had a lot of anti-lift so it seemed to squat when braking and was quite stable in fast lane changes.
I just picked up a low mileage V6 for a work car, it has a bad intake we are dealing with but after that I expect a decent life from it.
87K auto black nice looking for $1300, I shall report on it.
admc58 wrote: I did the product launch for the LS and it was better at braking and turn in than the 5 series. The v6 with the 5-speed was ok but the 5-speed was just barely able to hold the torque of the v6 and would have died behind the v8. The v8 was decently quick but you couldn't power brake the car for launch because it would over heat and fail some small cheap plastic part inside. The front suspension had some anti-dive but the rear had a lot of anti-lift so it seemed to squat when braking and was quite stable in fast lane changes.
The one I drove was really nice, and was very tempting. Until we got into the 5 series. Which was when I realized that we tuned it wrong. Or, more realistically, it was tuned quite typically. Coulda been a contenda....
There was a Ford engineer who autocrossed one for a year- seemed to like it a lot.
I love the styling and the fact that it isn't an E39 . . . This is coming from a guy with 4 BMWs . . .
Every part of my heart tells me I want a V8 Lincoln LS.
Every part of my brain tells me my heart is a dumbass.
Brains can't win 'em all.
Wasn't someone on here doing an LS 4.8 & NV3500 swap into an LS for the Challenge? That seemed like a cool project but I don't remember who was doing that.
In reply to pres589:
I think Strike_Zero knows the guy. 
In reply to pres589:
Building the car on a challenge budget was the original plan. But that would've required stripping it out and selling parts to get it under said budget.
I decided to build it as quick and comfy DD on a budget. I've spent ~$2400 thus far and have ~$650 left in the budget.
I can see it being built as challenge car if you get it extremely cheap, sell off all of the nonessentials, and use a 4.6 + T-45 or 4.8 + 4spd(manual or auto) (4.8 is not going as cheap as it used too).
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