3.8 swap questions

[kociuruba]

Ok first off hows its going? Wanted to say GREAT site finally signed up to post... But ive pulled a TON of usefull info off here already along tge last two months while ive been building my B3000...

BUT....

Ive done alot of searching and cant seem to find too much in ways of waht exactly is required for a 3.8 swap... I know i can get one from a fwd such as the mini vans... But is there a specific year? And since they are both ohv engines and if i get one from the same year van are the 3.0 and 3.8 close enough that the harness and computer for the 3.0 to run the 3.8? Ive seen that the 2.9 will run off the 3.0 stuff... Buuut... Idk... Lol

I have found that i will need to make mounts... No prob.. And that as long as its FWD it will bolt right up to my trans... So it will fit... Guess i basically need to know how hard it would be to make it run?...

Thanks in advance guys... Chris

 

[EMB1230]

Ok first off hows its going? Wanted to say GREAT site finally signed up to post... But ive pulled a TON of usefull info off here already along tge last two months while ive been building my B3000...

BUT....

Ive done alot of searching and cant seem to find too much in ways of waht exactly is required for a 3.8 swap... I know i can get one from a fwd such as the mini vans... But is there a specific year? And since they are both ohv engines and if i get one from the same year van are the 3.0 and 3.8 close enough that the harness and computer for the 3.0 to run the 3.8? Ive seen that the 2.9 will run off the 3.0 stuff... Buuut... Idk... Lol

I have found that i will need to make mounts... No prob.. And that as long as its FWD it will bolt right up to my trans... So it will fit... Guess i basically need to know how hard it would be to make it run?...

Thanks in advance guys... Chris

3.8's were first used in RWD vehicles- Mustang, Granada, Thunderbird, Cougar, etc. the FWD ones came later.

 

[AllanD]

If you really want to swap in a 3.8 engine there isn't really ONE 3.8 engine
that will do it for you.

there are intake, exhaust, oil pan and finally coolant flow issues
with the FWD version of the engine, though this engine will bolt
up to your transmission (the FWD 3.8 uses the same bellhousing pattern as the 3.0)

The RWD has it's own issues, different bellhousing pattern and
engine accessory positioning make the engine a tight squeeze.

But there are "Top end" advantages to the RWD 3.8

Frankly if I were given a challenge to build a 3.8 powered 1995-up (EEC-5)
Ranger 4x4 I'd buy TWO 3.8 engines.

One would be a Windstar 3.8 "Split port" engine, the other would be the version of
the split port engine they used in the Mustang in the late 90's before they gave up and put a 4.0 SOHC engine in there...


Frankly, it's a nightmare swap that I honestly wouldn't really want to get involved in.