Replace engine or full V8 swap it

Question Forum
1

Hey everyone, bought a 2007 V6 Mustang project car a few months ago with nearly 200k miles. It’s been a fun learning experience for DIY repairs, but now it’s showing signs of serious issues. I found a main seal leak, the transmission is whining loudly, and it just stopped starting recently (probably the battery since I found corrosion on the terminal). Here are the options I’m considering:

A. Scrap it (I only paid $2k and already have a Corolla as a daily driver).

B. Find a low-mileage V6 to swap in and learn a new skill.

C. Go all out with a V8 swap.

Looking for advice on what makes the most sense!

2

Dave said:
A

This IS the answer.

3

A is the practical, correct answer. B could be worth it if you want to keep the car and learn engine-swapping skills. C only makes sense if you’re building a race car and don’t mind the costs and effort. Good luck, and enjoy your two Corollas once you buy the second one! :slight_smile:

4

@Beckett
Funny enough, the rest of the car is in decent shape—just engine and transmission issues. A junker company offered $900 for it, and someone else is selling a 4.0 engine with 80k miles for $700 (or $400 more if I want their transmission). Just weighing options since I’m new to bigger projects.

5

@Zaren
That sounds reasonable! Might be better to save up for a car with the V8 already in it. V8 swaps on a V6 platform can get pricey and involve a lot of work.

6

@Zaren
I would take the $900 and run.

7

LS swap

8

Don’t go the Coyote swap route—it’s expensive and requires serious modifications. I paid about $10k just to replace my Coyote, and that was on a Coyote car!

9

If you’re confident, have the means, and want the experience, go for the full V8 swap!

10

Don’t listen to them—find a Coyote and swap it in!

11

Cade said:
Don’t listen to them—find a Coyote and swap it in!

Not worth it unless you’re building a serious project car. I’d go 2.3 EcoBoost before a Coyote; it’d be much cheaper.

12

Lin said:

Cade said:
Don’t listen to them—find a Coyote and swap it in!

Not worth it unless you’re building a serious project car. I’d go 2.3 EcoBoost before a Coyote; it’d be much cheaper.

Exactly. Coyote swaps are costly and complex, especially for those who haven’t done one before.

13

@Carl
True, plus the Coyote is a huge engine that needs a lot of adjustments to fit and function properly.

14

Lin said:
@Carl
True, plus the Coyote is a huge engine that needs a lot of adjustments to fit and function properly.

Putting a Coyote in a Coyote car was challenging enough; I can’t imagine doing it from scratch in a non-Coyote chassis.

15

@Carl
Haven’t done one myself, but it’s a dream to try—maybe on an SN95 someday.

16

Cade said:
@Carl
Haven’t done one myself, but it’s a dream to try—maybe on an SN95 someday.

Be prepared for the costs. SN95 Coyote swaps can easily run around $20k with a new engine.

17

Cade said:
Don’t listen to them—find a Coyote and swap it in!

Probably the worst advice in this thread.

18

Darin said:

Cade said:
Don’t listen to them—find a Coyote and swap it in!

Probably the worst advice in this thread.

Hey, it’s a project car! Might as well go big and build something unique.

19

Replace the motor through a shop and get paperwork if you want to sell it later. Then trade it in for a V8 if you’re thinking about upgrading.

20

Get as much as you can for it, drive the Corolla for now, and save up for a V8 or a car you really want.