89 f150 with 302 engine swap compatability
 

My better half inherited her father's '89 F150 (302/auto trans w/ OD, 175K on the clock). The engine is tired and I would like to replace it, the goal being to improve mpg, currently 10-14 mpg average. I'm wondering about a close-to-easy swap for a newer engine, specifically from a '94 Mustang GT. I have the entire car available. Is this a complicated swap and, if so, what would be a preferred swap?
I have many projects to attend and am trying to not spend huge amounts of time doing adapting things, short of the wiring harness mods which I expect.
TIA! :noob:

The big issue is, a truck engine develops torque at a much lower rpm than the engines in the mustang does. The truck being much heaver, just taking of becomes a chore. The 89 should be The 5.0 EFI engine. I would just rebuild it.

Oldbombtech, welcome to the forum. I moved your thread into the pre-97 section, because I think you'll get better answers here than where you started it.

- Jack

re: 89 f150 with 302 engine swap compatability
 

Perhaps I am doing an incorrect search but my search shows peak torque on either engine as identical = 270 lbft@2400. Truthfully, it is a non-issue because the truck is used for little more than picking up a few 2x4s, dump and Costco runs; IOW, no heavy towing, no heavy work, no heavy loads. I am only looking to improve mpg and to do as much expediently. A rebuild can be expensive and time consuming; I can get a strong, 70K mile 5.0 HO for a couple hundred bucks out of a wreck, starts and runs. Again, I know the engine will fit mechanically, pretty much a bolt-in. It is the wiring harness/computer interface that is my concern. Is there a site where I can compare wiring schematics?

Electronics may be an issue, the HO has a different firing order.

My 89 GT with a 5.0 HO motor didn't wake up till 3500 rpm. And the mustang is about 1/2 the weight of the truck. If you do a google search a few people have done the swap and had major drivability issues.