Ok so I currently have a 08 mustang v6 base model but the transmission is missing second gear and has some oil leaks but is still drivable

my though plan is to buy a donor mustang gt and swap parts I need over and sell parts from both mustangs to help pay for the build I work at a automotive shop and have the keys to the shop so I can work after hours on the car at the shop but not sure what years of mustang are gonna be the best fit wouldn’t mind some of the updated interior prices in my car as well

 

I guess I would drop a 350 in there out of a vette. JK any 05 - 09 4.6 would be the easiest most straight forward. Other years may may work but motor mounts may be in different spots. Is your V6 dead?
I should add that it will most likely cost you more than the car is worth and or might be worth when you are done. If you plan on swaping and keeping it forever you may end up saving on ins costs.... that is if they don't know about the swap. Will you be upgrading brakes, springs and struts along with the swap?

 

So the v6 isn’t dead but it is leaking oil from the pan and valve cover and I have a couple grand stored away plus a truck I’m selling to pay for the donor car my plan in order to keep cost down is once I swap all the parts I want from my donor vehicle I can restore and sell the unused parts if I reseal my v6 motor and rebuild my transmission I got a buddy in the transmission shop next door to my job to help with the rebuild and sell everything from fenders and doors to the radio and trim prices I’m talking completely strip the car cost shouldn’t be as bad as people are saying I can get a donor car for 1200 that still has all the necessary parts for the swap and I plan on refurbishing all parts on my own that get swapped into my car I don’t need to rush this I just need to get it right

 

If your really set on doing a V8 swap from a donor car as opposed to replacing the valve cover and oil pan gaskets on your 3.7 V6 engine? I would find a donor car that is a mid 2008 GT model that was built from November 2007 and up. The reason, the early 2005-2008 GT 3 valve models all had 16mm high-threaded spark plugs that were a 2 piece design which were well known for separating inside the heads during the extraction process when replacing with new plugs. The plug separation was due mostly from carbon build-up that would form between the spark plug ground shields and the heads. Ford eventually issued a TSB addressing the issue by providing instructions for extracting the spark plugs which recommend backing out the plugs between 1/8-1/4 turn and then filling the spark plug wells with Motorcraft carburetor cleaner for loosening the carbon build-up around the ground shields prior to extracting the spark plugs. However this always wasn't a guarantee for preventing the plugs from separating. Therefore, If in the event they would still separate? Ford would also recommend in the TSB to use a special extraction tool known as the Lisle spark plug extraction tool for extracting the plugs which can be purchased from you're neighborhood auto parts store. Needless to say, Ford had such a widespread problem with the dreaded 2-piece design spark plugs, they revised the 3 valve heads and brought back the standard 12mm one-piece design spark plugs in late 2007 for all mid 2008 3 valve models built from Nov. 2007 and up. The best way to know the difference between the old and revised 3 valve head design, is you'll notice the old design will have black coil pack boots over the spark plugs. The new/revised design has brown coil pack boots over the spark plugs. In the meantime, best of luck to you and welcome to TMS.

 

So I should explain this swap is largely for my enjoyment but I plan on doing all the work at my shop on weekends with the supervision of some of the experienced techs to serve as a test so I can start doing larger repairs and can start making the big bucks pulling engines and transmissions.

with that being said I was hoping to find a donor car in the 11-14 year off of Copart or something similar to use but I want to be sure that things like the 11-14 guage cluster and all other electronics can be swapped over my coworkers do have a vast majority of spare wiring harnesses from other ford vehicles and I get discounted prices on parts through my company’s employee plan so maybe I can make it work but if everything is gonna have to be customized to the extreme in order for it to work then I might go with a 05-09 mustang gt donor car?

 

Well you didn't specify in your original post that you were hoping to find a donor car in the 11-14 years which has the 5.0 Coyote 4 valve. All I had to go by was what you stated in your opening post that your thought plan is to buy a donor Mustang GT and swap parts. Therefore I assumed you were referring to a 05-09 donor car knowing that your car is an 08 model. With that being said, I stand by what was posted in my previous response in regards to the early 05-08 4.6L 3 valve head and spark plug design and would recommend locating a 2008-10 donor car built between November 2007-2010 which has the revised 4.6L 3 valve head and spark plug design or do the 11-14 Coyote swap if it's not going to cost you more than what the car is worth?