[SHO-WGN]

Has anyone on this forum considered using a 4.2L V6 from the Freestar (there are many of these available even in our junkyards)? Or were the changes to the manifold height too large to fit? The engine itself specs out to be a stroked version of the 3.8 (3.74 up from the 3.39 inch). Has anyone (anyone, anyone) considered using the Roots style supercharger from the 1989-1995 Thunderbird SC (Super Coupe)? How about the split port cylinder heads introduced on the 1996 Windstar? Or the roller lifters on the Lincoln Continental? A lot of this stuff should be available in the junkyard by now and should theoretically benefit those of you with G1/2 Taurus and Sable. If memory serves me, the 4.2L engine in the Freestar put out 200 HP.

Where I live, the SHO is as scarce as the proverbial hen's tooth. Even Thunderbird SC's are rare (although I think I would want a new unit as opposed to thrashed.) Since some of the problems described in this forum involve the engine, maybe we should expand our thinking to stroking the 3.8L engine, using roller lifters, even supercharging.

If I missed it, has anyone documented such a modification? I mean, if you have to rebuild an engine anyway (good body), why not add a bit to it.

Now while I am at dreaming again, does anyone have the specs (specifically the bellhousing pattern) for the 3.5L/3.7L DOHC Cyclone/Duratec engines? That is, could one of us with a 3.0L Duratec engine swap a Cyclone engine into our older G3/4 Taurus/Sable? Yes I know while Taurus may have been one of the most popular vehicles on the road, the number of owners who might actually modify them is admittedly very small. But not zero! Later this spring I intend to purchase the lowering springs (group buy) for the black SEL project "winter beater". My reason for the delay is I want to be sure the car can handle being lowered.

Anyways here are some engine specifications:
3.0L V6 12V OHV (Vulcan):
1986-2008
Bore: 3.504
Stroke: 3.150
Bore Spacing: 4.330
Deck Height: 8.661

3.8L V6 12V OHV (Essex):
1982-2003
Bore: 3.810
Stroke: 3.390
Bore Spacing: 4.193
Deck Height: 9.232

3.0L V6 24V DOHC (SHO MTX):
1989-1995
Bore: 3.500
Stroke: 3.150
Bore Spacing: 4.330
Deck Height: 8.660

3.2L V6 24V DOHC (SHO ATX):
1993-1995
Bore: 3.620
Stroke: 3.150
Bore Spacing: 4.330
Deck Height: 8.660

4.2L V6 12V OHV (Essex):
1997-2007
Bore: 3.810
Stroke: 3.740
Bore Spacing: 4.193
Deck Height: 9.232

3.0L V6 24V DOHC (Duratec):
1996-2010
Bore: 3.504
Stroke: 3.130
Bore Spacing: 4.016
Deck Height: 8.189

3.5L V6 24V DOHC (Cyclone):
2006-2011
Bore: 3.642
Stroke: 3.413
Bore Spacing: 4.173
Deck Height: 8.970

3.7L V6 24V DOHC (Cylcone):
2007-2011
Bore: 3.760
Stroke: 3.413
Bore Spacing: 4.173
Deck Height: 8.970

This post has been edited by SHO-WGN: 08 January 2012 - 05:13 PM

[Vulcanator]

There was a member on tcca that did a 4.2l. I can't remember who offhand though.

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[LOUDSHO92]

With the 3.8 there are not many tuning options so it will be hard to integrate many upgrades. You will have to do more work there.

I believe the split port intake is too big.

I know of 1 person who has been putting a Super Coupe blower on but I have not seen it run yet. I see the engine packaging being hard with a lot of fabrication involved.

As for the Cyclone engines they are very different from the 3.0 so there would be a lot of wiring involved, may need custom mounts.

As for finding a SHO there are a few SHO guys in Canada that can help. You may just need to travel to get a SHO. Also there are few selling parts on the SHO Forum as well.

This post has been edited by LOUDSHO92: 09 January 2012 - 12:10 AM

[Vash]

There is a supercharged 3.8l Taurus that has run. I have videos of it on my old computer. Iirc he ended up going aftermarket on the engine management controls

[steveg1988]

There are kits for the RWD 3.8L to turn it into a 4.2L through a stroker kit.

[Millermagic]

I'm going to do a mega bump.

I think freestar bigger engine into a taurus may be physically easier than we're thinking it to be.

Remember, it's already mated up to an AX4N transmission ...

I'm assuming the weight would be near that of the vulcan since it has aluminum heads.

[steveg1988]

 Millermagic, on 27 January 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

I'm going to do a mega bump.

I think freestar bigger engine into a taurus may be physically easier than we're thinking it to be.

Remember, it's already mated up to an AX4N transmission ...

I'm assuming the weight would be near that of the vulcan since it has aluminum heads.

Problem is the 4.2L has split port heads, meaning that it is taller than the 3.8L currently in the taurus/early windstar/Continental. Pretty much it is a SHO type intake, but the height will probably prevent it from fitting.

[shohopefull]

But is it taller than the SHO intake? The SHO fits after all... And They put the 4.2 into mustangs for a while didn't they?

[Vulcanator]

Good excuse to get a carbon fiber cowl hood .

[steveg1988]

I do beleive it is taller than the SHO V6



Ford 4.2L




3.8 with intake runners

[shohopefull]

Yeah, I believe you're right...

[ilh]

Robert, consider the following...

The Ranger Station

Quote

Valve lengths are standard small block Ford, i.e., same as the old Ford flathead. Stem diameter is standard flathead 11/32".

This means that you can easily put a 1.84/1.56 set of valves in from Mustang GT40 heads.. Even 1.94/1.60s if you were feeling really racy

Get more from your 3.8L

However - let's assume your 4.2L will fit in the Taurus... What do you do for a transmission? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Gen1/2 3.8's only came with AX4S's and they already burned those up with the stock 3.8. And you'll have to fight with the old computer which might not like the hopped up motor (especially if you put a cam in, ask us Mustang guys how much speed density computers like camshaft changes ) Your only other option is to swap the whole Freestar harness to get the AX4N transmission & OBD-II computer... but that sounds like a pain in the ass!

And here's the other kicker... 263 lb-ft of torque from the 4.2 will also boil an AX4N... Just google "Freestar transmission problems" and you'll see what I mean... It's like the Windstar crisis all over again.

Keep in mind I'm a biased source, I don't really like 3.8's... I think you're much better off picking a different engine to hop up.
Ian

This post has been edited by ilh: 28 January 2012 - 11:21 PM

[Spridget]

Who cares about hood clearance when a bigger engine is crammed in the engine bay. Cut a hole in the hood. Least of the problems with an engine swap.

[steveg1988]

The thing to do, is to first, go to a Continental 3.8L since it comes with better heads and cylnders, 160HP instead of 140, it is pretty much the taurus cop engine. Then change the stroke to the 4.2L for more power.