COYOTE SWAP SHOP

 MasterTech is the premier Coyote Swap Shop in the USA. Owner John has more than 20+ years experience.

A Coyote swap can cost anywhere between $10,000 - $40,000 for parts (+ labor cost for a coyote specialist that knows what they’re doing) and higher, depending on the components you use. Since the introduction of the 5.0L Coyote motor in the 2011 Mustang GT, people have dreamed of engine swapping the powerful Coyote into the engine bay of their older pushrod Fox body mustangs, especially non- EFI Mustangs, as well as replacing less powerful modular engines in the SN95 and S197 Mustangs. One of the most common questions that we get now is, “How much does it cost to swap a Coyote into my Ford Mustang?”.  You often hear of engine swaps that have stalled because the cost far surpasses the budget or expectation of the enthusiast. The price can vary in both directions, but the cost of a Coyote swap is not something that is for the faint of heart or light pocket enthusiast. We will provide a rundown of the main components needed to Coyote swap, the associated cost of these parts, and some money-saving tips. 

Note: The cost of the parts and the total overall cost may vary on many different variables. This guide is to give a general ballpark PARTS cost overview. (+ Labor for your Specialist easily involves 100+ hours)

 COYOTE ENGINE COST

Cost: $3,000-$21,000

The most expensive and largest varying item in cost in swapping a Coyote into a project will be the engine itself. As of 2022, there are three generations of Coyotes and a couple of unique variants of the Coyote, including the 5.2L flat-plane crank GT350 Voodoo engine and 5.2L supercharged GT500 Cobra Predator engine. This article will focus on the more common 5.0L Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 Coyote engines. 

Purchasing new Coyote crate engines will be the most expensive option when purchasing your engine. Crate engines are usually limited to the latest generation of the Coyote unless you find a new take out of an older generation engine. 

Money-Saving Tip: 

Older generations of the Coyote engines are usually available from automotive recyclers for cheaper than purchasing a new crate engine. When purchasing a used motor, make sure to buy from a reputable business with documentation of the mileage, engine, and model Mustang from which the engine was removed. NOTE: F-150 engines in the Gen 2 Coyote and Gen 3 Coyote have a different firing order than the Mustang Coyote and will not work with most coyote control packs. 

COYOTE SWAP TRANSMISSION COST

Cost: $2,000-$6,000 + Cost of accessories

The next most expensive item on a Coyote swap will be the transmission you want to run with your engine, automatic or manual transmission. The transmission is the second thing you will need to find out before choosing your control pack but more on this subject later. There are many different options that you can go with when choosing a transmission.

Additional Cost:

Depending on the transmission that you are planning to run on your Coyote swap, keep in mind that there are always additional parts required to install your transmission. These parts include flywheel/flexplates, clutch, transmission cross members, fluids, mounts, driveshaft, etc. 

 COYOTE SWAP ENGINE CONTROL PACK COST

Cost: $1,800-$3,800

Once you have your engine and transmission picked out, your next big purchase will be the engine control pack, better known as ECU. Many engine control packs are on the market, and most are going to be specific to the generation Coyote that you are planning to install as well as the transmission that you are planning to run behind the engine. 

COYOTE SWAP K MEMBER AND ENGINE MOUNTING COST

Cost: $400-$2,000

To install your engine to your Ford Mustang, you will need to purchase the correct k-member to your Mustang, depending on what year Mustangs you are swapping. This is the perfect time if you are looking to upgrade your k-member to a lightweight k-member for better overall performance. 

COYOTE SWAP BRAKE COST

Cost: $400-$1,500

Depending on the year model Mustang that you Coyote swap, it will determine if you are required to do additional modifications to the braking system. These modifications will include changing to a hydro-boost or manual brake system. Use the guide below to determine if you will need to swap brake systems when swapping a Coyote in your Mustang.

COYOTE SWAP POWERSTEERING COST

Cost: $700-$1,000

When Coyote swapping your Mustang, a decision that you will run into is if you want to run power steering or manual steering. Ford did not design coyote engines with a power steering pump setup, but the aftermarket has designed conversion kits to allow enthusiasts to retain their power steering on their Mustang.

COYOTE SWAP FUEL SYSTEM COST

Cost: $1,400-$3,000

Most control packs on the market will require your Mustang to run a return-style fuel system. Depending on the year of the Mustangs that you are coyote swapping, some years were equipped with the return-style fuel system. Even though these Mustangs are return-style fuel systems, to ease the installation of your Coyote, experts recommend changing to an aftermarket return-style fuel system.  

COYOTE SWAP EXHAUST COST

Cost: $500-$2,500

Swapping the Coyote in place of your original engine will require some modifications to your exhaust systems. This is particularly true with the exhaust manifolds or headers on the engine. Depending on which engine and which model Mustang you are swapping the Coyote into will determine what modifications need to be done. 

COYOTE SWAP COOLING SYSTEM COST

Cost: $200-$1,500

With the design of the Coyote engine, electric fan conversion is required on Mustangs that originally had a manual fan setup (1979-1993). This is also a great time for you to upgrade your stock radiator to a larger radiator for improved cooling with your new Coyote engine. 

COYOTE SWAP AIR CONDITIONING COST

Cost: $800-$2,000

If you want to keep your air conditioner when swapping your Coyote, many options are available to help you to retain your air conditioner for your swap. 

The above list will provide a general overview of the Coyote swap cost. As you can see, the cost can vary significantly depending on what parts your purchase. This list is all the main parts, but it is not a complete list. You should always factor in the cost of the small parts like fluids, gaskets, hardware, gauges, adapters, or other performance parts. If you are looking to make serious horsepower with your Coyote Mustang, this will be the time to upgrade your rotating assembly with forged pistons, rods, and crankshaft.