Swapping Solutions

Fitting a 5.0 Coyote in a 1979-2004 Mustang is easier with the Holley Ford Coyote-swap oil pan.

- MICHAEL GALIMI

It is hard to dispute the popularity of swapping an LS smallblock into a Fox Mustang, no matter how much it hurts the faithful Blue Oval enthusiast. There are, however, plenty of all-blue engine-swap options available that can power your beloved Foxbody ponycar. One of the most popular is adding a Coyote 5.0 to the beloved third-generation performance vehicle, as evidenced by the turnout at cruise nights and dragstrips across the country and the burgeoning aftermarket support for this swap.

WHY THE COYOTE5.0?

The Coyote 5.0 engine is a popular choice for a variety of reasons, from junkyard availability to the fact that it's an easy and affordable way to add big power to your street car. If you've been living off the grid for the last decade, here is a quick rundown on Ford's latest OHC powerplant.

The base Coyote 5.0 spans three generations, with each iteration building on the previous platform. Through the three generations, the 5.0 powerplant has maintained its core values of four valves per cylinder and variable camshaft timing, providing ample low-end torque and impressive top-end power. The venerable DOHC combination also responds very well to boost, making it the perfect powerplant to stay ahead of the Hellcats and Demons lurking on your block.

The Coyote powerplant has been the standard V8 option for Mustang and F-series trucks since it launched in 2011 to much fanfare. The Gen 1 platform produces 420 hp in the Mustang platform and the Gen 2 checks into the party at 435 hp. The latest Coyote, the Gen 3, is the boldest base V8 of all, with 460 hp, thanks (mostly) to the better cylinder heads and intake manifold, higher compression, and direct injection. The large build volumes mean there are plenty of cores in the junkyards, and it is the darling of several late-model Ford engine shops in the form of crate engines or custom builds.