I've seen a few posts about people starting the build however nothing completed.. The biggest challenge is getting by that crossmember. The oilpan has to remain in the rear considering the pan bolts to the transmission.
I also thought it was too wide for the shock towers. I used to own a '92 T-Bird SC. It was a blast to drive.
naah the 3.8 is the same as 5.0. Its just a regular 3.8 with an eaton on it. Course the 3.8 has better heads, crank and pistons over the na version. Only way I see one going into a maverick is to move the crossmember and steering. Just curious to see if someone has ever done it yet.
I said that because I thought that Jamie had tried it a few years back and found a width problem. But, maybe I'm thinking of the SHO motor he tried recently. Anyway, search on posts by "Jamie Miles".
The driver side shock tower is a deal-killer, I second that sentiment. I'm putting a n/a 3.8 in one and threw a s/c upper manifold on there just for grins. If you want s/c, you're better off using an n/a intake and going aftermarket on the charger. Personally, i'm going twin turbos for the efficiency. If you can get your hands on that block, take it though. Forged pistons, etc. Keep in mind it's still a cast crank though, so watch your RPMs. If you're going boost, i'd really recommend a forged crank also. Tom Morano racing makes some killer upgrades for the 3.8. I bought his 4.2 stroker kit and block girdle for the main caps. Not cheap, but good stuff. This guy was making 10-second V6s before "tuning" was cool. Good luck!!
3.8 I believe the 3.8 motors had steel cranks and the 3.8 and 4.2 na had cast. They make kits out there to invert the blower or you can do it your self with some welding.
Main clearance problems on with the '96 Mustang 3.8 I tried to drop in was with the rear sump pan and exhaust manifolds. I've dropped an SHO engine in as well, again, rear sump pan in the way. Other then that, the SHO would fit if you shaved the shock towers and built custom headers. The nicest fitting V6 I tried in a Maverick is the 3.0 "Vulcan" V6, which I took out of a 2001 Ranger. It fit excellent with the factory Ranger exhaust manifolds, and 200 I6 mounts could be adapted to work, but once again, that damn rear sump oil pan. I had a camera with me that time around, and took pics. If someone could find a way around the center link interfering with the rear sump pans, it would open up a whole realm of engine possibilities. I think the Duratec 2.3L 4 cylinder from the 2001.5+ Rangers would make a great little engine in one of these cars for a daily driver.
solution Perhaps the only way to make it work is either A. mustang II end or something along those lines B. Dry sump system.
For mine, I fab'ed the oil pan into a front sump and bent the pickup tube. Not The prettiest thing in the world, but it works. My manifolds are home-made. Also not pretty. Long story short...those two hurdles can be overcome without shock tower mods. However, I plan to eventually notch the towers so I can have the factory shorty headers forward facing. It sure would be cleaner and better flowing than the monstrosity I call my exhaust manifolds now.
I'll have to read up on that. I read somewhere that only the pistons/rods are forged and the crank is cast, but I could have been mis-informed. Heck, it came from the internet so it's got to be true, right?.....Right?
sump Forgot to bring this up earlier but will the front sump still work? From my understanding ford never placed a front sump v6 into the 70s was due to the fact the sump still would not clear. Only engines that had enough length to get past the crossmember were I4 I6 and v8 engines. The V6 is of course one cylinder shorter in length causing the front oil sump to sit further back. When ford switch to the newer suspension this allowed them to run rear sumps and now v6 engines... right?
Well, i got one in there right now and it seems to work ok. The belly bar just barely fits behind the sump without making contact. Mind you, on the photo I've unbolted the belly bar but normally it snugs up there right behind the sump. This vehicle has already been successfully running an EFI 3.8 in it for a few years, it just blew a head gasket and I am using the opportunity to go turbo while I am rebuilding it anyway.
