S197 Mustang Gets a Lightning 5.4L V8 Swap for Quick and Easy Performance
The tall Lightning powerplant looks a bit comical in the S197 Mustang, but it fits and offers up a big upgrade.
Though engine swaps in Mustangs are relatively few and far between, every once in a while, we’re treated to a pretty cool project in that regard. The latest comes to us from the always-busy folks behind the Mustang Lifestyle YouTube channel, which is always a great source of content for pony car fans – an S197 Mustang that’s receiving a brand new engine from a wrecked, second-generation F-150 Lightning. It’s a cool project for sure, albeit one that requires a bit of work to complete.
The supercharged 5.4-liter V8 from the F-150 Lightning of this generation was pretty potent right out of the box, generating 360 – and later, 380 horsepower, along with 450 pound-feet of torque. Even in the heavier pickup, this resulted in an impressive 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds, and these engines respond incredibly well to modifications, meaning that there are tons of ultra-quick Lightnings still running around various tracks across the U.S. today.
Sticking one of these powerplants in an S197 Mustang is a quick and easy way to make it far more fun to drive, of course, which is the premise behind this particular job. The engine itself is in pretty good shape following the accident, but the balancer did take a hit, necessitating a replacement. Thus, after cleaning everything up, the crew starts mocking up engine mounts before test fitting the new powerplant.
As one might imagine, the 5.4 does indeed fit in the S197 Mustang – for the most part. The tall truck motor does stick out of the hood by a large margin, however, which means that there’s essentially no way that they’re going to sneak up on anyone at the track. However, sometimes, it isn’t about building a sleeper, but rather, something that’s just fun not only to drive, but also to look at. In this case, that’s precisely what has happened, and we look forward to watching this cool project reach the finish line in the near future.
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