Motor and trans swap questions

Goindeafonmtx · Feb 12, 2009

I have a 98 GT with some problems. It has a blown head gasket and a failing auto trans, all stock. I found a PI motor and 3650 trans that I'm going to pick up Sunday. What do I need to make it work the trans work? The guy I'm buying it from said that all I need is the PI ecu. But what about the difference in fuel systems? And what about making the cluster work? Anyone here familar with this kind of swap?

96sohc · Feb 12, 2009

For certain you're going to need to fab a cross-member for the transmission, a new wiring harness, and a Dallas Mustang Speedcal to be able to read MPH.

I'm not 100% positive as I've never done it, but I don't see why you can't re-use your current fuel setup. Your auto computer will run what you have now, the only problem you *might* encounter is with PATS.

BigTang · Feb 13, 2009

why can't he reuse his current fuel set up? or his harness or why would he even need to swap ecu's to get into that whole issue w/ pats, etc.?

all you need to do is run down the parts to make the clutch work, pedal, etc. pick up a new edge crossmember, since thats what the trans came out of..if...if it doesn't bolt up to your stock one. don't need all that other stuff. i went from a 3650 to a 4r70w
really and truly all you are doing is a trans conversion, just search for that, its been done 1000x's. you just need a tuner to set up your existing ecu for a pi swap and to burn it as a 5spd.

some times people make mountains out of molehills on this site.

Goindeafonmtx · Feb 13, 2009

BigTang said:
why can't he reuse his current fuel set up? or his harness or why would he even need to swap ecu's to get into that whole issue w/ pats, etc.?

all you need to do is run down the parts to make the clutch work, pedal, etc. pick up a new edge crossmember, since thats what the trans came out of..if...if it doesn't bolt up to your stock one. don't need all that other stuff. i went from a 3650 to a 4r70w
really and truly all you are doing is a trans conversion, just search for that, its been done 1000x's. you just need a tuner to set up your existing ecu for a pi swap and to burn it as a 5spd.

some times people make mountains out of molehills on this site.

I appreciate the help. The option you point out is what was the original plan, but the seller of these parts confused me with the whole ecm issue. As for the molehill into mountain comment, I don't know who that was directed at, so I'll just act like a didn't see it.

As for reprogramming my current ECU, its been a while since I've researched tuning options. Does SCT/Diablo still do chip burning and you just plug it into your ECU? I'm looking for cheap, as this isn't my real project. Its just a daily driven car.

Also, what about timing covers? Do I use my stock timing cover on the new motor to run the 98 accesories and coil pack mounts?

BigTang · Feb 13, 2009

the mountain comment wasn't directed at a particular person. Just from reading threads lately there are a lot of people that get sucked into taking the hard road when much better options are available.