I am currently transplanting a super coupes v6 into my 74 mav. Originally was a i6. Swapped in a 302 about 12 years ago and now a 3.8 sc v6 with an AOD.
really cool. welcome to the board. im really looking forward following this build. hope you post lots of pics of this!
Motor is all stock. I added a mild cam. Otherwise just all new gaskets. When i actually get it moving then ill start messing around with boost, etc. motor is built fairly strong from the factory. Roller rockers, forged crank.
I bought a new Super coupe in '90...Ford had a problem with their head gaskets in their v6's back then which were notorious for blowing....Cool build.....The independent rear from the SC would be cool too....
Interesting combo! .... subscribing to this thread. My wife has an 07 Mustang with a 4.0 V6 and driving it makes me think about that drivetrain with a centrifugal supercharger added, tossed into a Mav. The car would be about 800 lbs lighter than the Stang. I bet it would be a blast.... Best of luck sorting out the details. BTW, there are aftermarket heads available for the 3.8. World Products (IIRC) .... more of a stock replacement head, but cast better.
I think most of those gasket failures were due to the owners failing to keep the coolant levels where they should have been.Iron block/aluminum head = must keep coolant full and properly mixed. I bought one with a blown gasket, took it home, replaced both head gaskets and my son drove it foranother two years before selling the car. The independent rear ? Bad idea. It was a constant source of trouble for him. The V6 had great heads, far better than a SBF had. I Wish Ford had come out with that head in a SBF version.
The engine did have bad head gaskets-- constant stream of bubbles through the coolant, upon disasembly both front cylinders the tin combustion ring was popped out of the gaskets. The supercouped hauled a** completely stock. they weigh almost 1000 lbs more with 3.27 gears i think. I'm running 3.50 now in the maverick. so it should scoot pretty good and get 20+ mpg! It looks as though I may need to bump the hood though, I'll need to find a crappy one I guess if need be.
This is a cool project, I will be looking forward to updates. The IRS in the thunderbirds was very similar in design to the Cobra IRS but weaker.
Got it running today! I had to drop and pull the motor at least 6times to get the headers just right and it looks like it may still rub the steering gear a touch. Now I have the task of running electrical, heat, adding a/c, plumbing fuel. Can't wait to drive it. But it's gonna be -13 the next few days. I'll wait a few months I guess.
