Whether your Ford Mustang has been driven regularly or has been kept in storage for some time, its engine may eventually need to be rebuilt. Some rebuilds require that only the bearings and gaskets be replaced, while others require that many other new components be installed. No matter the extent of the rebuild, no such job can properly be performed until the engine is first removed from the car. Removing an early-era Mustang's engine is a simpler procedure than removing the engine on many other types of cars, but that is not to say that it is an easy task.
Place a large container underneath the radiator, then remove the plug at the base of the radiator with a wrench; allow the contents of the radiator to drain into the container.
Place an oil catch pan underneath the oil pan, then remove the drain bolt at the bottom of the pan; allow the oil within the engine to drain into the pan.
Trace an outline (onto the hood) of the two hood hinges with a pencil so that the hood can be properly aligned when reinstalled, then remove the hood. Each hood hinge features two securing bolts, which must be removed with a wrench.
Disconnect both battery cables from the battery using a wrench, then lift the battery out of the engine compartment.
Slacken the clips at the ends of both the upper and lower radiator hoses with a screwdriver, then pull the hoses off the radiator and off the engine.
Disconnect the two oil cooler lines from the bottom of the radiator using a flare nut wrench.
Remove the single bolt from each corner of the radiator with a wrench, then lift the radiator out of the engine compartment.
Pull apart the wiring harness connections that lead to the back of the alternator.
Remove the heater hose from the top of the intake manifold. The hose exits on the passenger's side of the firewall and attaches to a fitting, on top of the manifold, with a single clip. Slacken the clip with a screwdriver, then pull the hose off the fitting.
Remove the inlet fuel line from the fuel pump. The inlet fuel line is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment, and exits the engine compartment through the wheel well. A single clip attaches the line to the fuel pump. Slacken the clip with a screwdriver, then pull the hose off the pump.
Disconnect the accelerator linkage from the driver's side of the carburetor. Pry the clip at the tip of the linkage off the linkage with a screwdriver, then pull the linkage away from the carburetor.
Remove the two bolts that secure the bottom of both exhaust manifolds to the exhaust pipes, then pull the exhaust pipes away from the manifolds.
Apply the parking brake and lift the vehicle with a jack. Support the vehicle with a pair of safety stands, then lower the Mustang onto the stands.
Remove the starter motor at the bottom of the passenger's side of the engine block. Two bolts hold the starter motor in place, and must be removed with a wrench.
Disconnect the torque converter from the engine's flywheel. The torque converter is located inside the transmission's bell housing, between the engine and the transmission. Four nuts attach the torque converter to the flywheel. One nut at a time can be accessed from underneath the vehicle. To access the remaining bolts, turn the large bolt in the center of the harmonic balancer with a socket wrench to turn the flywheel.
Remove the bolts that secure the transmission's bell housing to the back of the engine block, using a wrench.
Disconnect the engine from the two motor mounts: each motor mount is located on either side of the engine. A long bolt slides through each motor mount and is secured with a nut. Remove the bolt and nut combinations using a wrench.
Remove one cylinder head bolt from the exterior of each cylinder head with a wrench, then use both bolts to attach the chains of an engine hoist to the heads. Raise the engine with the hoist until the chains are tight. Pull the hoist towards the front of the car until the engine disconnects from the transmission, then raise the engine out of the engine compartment using the hoist.
