Swapping engine between GT and Cobra

[jamesd]

Hello all!
I've just joined the forum and would love some help if possible! I did a lot of searches but this might be a unique question..
The idea is to swap engines between a 1994 GT and 1994 Cobra. I have a little experience, but not enough, so I've been doing a lot of research and trying to find someone to help with this.
The GT is stock and was told that we would have to swap out the ecu/pcm and wiring harness from both cars. I had thought that we could just get each car tuned and avoid this.
Can anyone weigh in here? Offer any advice?
I'm in San Diego by the way.
Thanks!!

 

[duh09]

What's your goals here?

Swapping the motor is very doable, it's the same motor besides the top end. Wiring harness is the same between the two. The ECU is different, but it's basically just the tune. Getting the car tuned on either requires some hard-to-find/outdated tech (Tweecer, Moates Quarterhorse, etc) if using the factory ECU. Micro/megasquirt setups or Holley is the way to go for a more modern ECU and easier tuning. I'm running a Microsquirt on my car, ~$550 for a plug-n-play ECU, it does require a wideband O2 sensor that's not included but you'd want that if you're going to be serious about getting a tune dialed in either way.

I've got no advice for doing it legally in California, but more power can be had going aftermarket - I don't know what the budget is or what you're snagging a Cobra motor for cost wise - but there's not a huge HP difference between a stock GT and a stock Cobra motor, I think they were factory rated like 25-30hp difference.

 

[Musturd]

It’s pretty much the same engine makes a couple more horse torques

 

[jamesd]

Thanks Legend!!!
His motor is built, mine is stock so it would make the car much more drivable!! Wanted to get a sense of what I was getting myself into!
Didn't think I had to do the harness but glad I don't have to!

 

[jamesd]

Now just have to figure out how to improve the suspension- my gf got dizzy from our last trip from all the bouncing haha!! I appreciate the help

 

[RAU03MACH]

351

 

[Daryl]

Jamesd,
I’m in Cali also. Had my motor stroked out to a 347. Know this: you have to have all 4 cats (I went with high-flow of course); and all VISIBLE aftermarket upgrades (ie, CAI) have to have a C.A.R.B. number displayed. I even got denied a smog check by one place because I have a red, anodized Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator. Any derivation or change to the stock fuel system is not permitted. So, before the next time I have to get smog checked, I’m going to either just paint the FPR black and cross my fingers ;-)… or if a stock replacement has the capacity to flow the same I’ll just replace it and avoid any hassle.

 

[jamesd]

Thanks Daryl- that's good to know. Im not from California and I've heard it can be bad but didn't realize it was that bad!
If I plan on getting heads in the future and the ones I want are not Carb friendly- think I could just paint them and then they wouldn't know? Or are these guys really gonna snoop? Not planning to go crazy on the engine, just wake it up a little as stock it's kinda slow!

 

[Daryl]

Painting the heads won’t matter because the CARB identifier is stamped into the metal. That’s the downside. The upside is that the CARB stamp is often difficult to see and/or locate so unless the heads are so visually screaming “aftermarket” (for example: Trick Flow & AFR heads’ name is pretty easily seen on the ends of the heads). But even then, with all the parts and pulleys and whatnot packed into our engine compartments, it’s still not a dead giveaway.
A good way to proceed would be to get a look the heads you’re considering, see where they’re stamped and visualize them in place with all the other crap around them and see if it’s doable.

 

[Daryl]

See? Impossible to locate/see/identify my AFR heads (which are CARB approved anyhow), especially with the stock covers in place. But the BBK CAI CARB sticker is easily visible

 

[jamesd]

This is definitely good to know!