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SHO Powered Ranger.


Which means the hard part is wiring, which the wiring is not impossible. The reason you don't see this topic come up often or see people swapping them is SHO's are not too common, parts are harder to find, and it is more difficult than a 5.0, and doesn't offer much in the way of room to grow. Personally, I'd never even consider such a swap. I'd stick with a 4.0 OHV for a 4x4, and a 2.3t or 5.0 for a 2wd.

I really don't see what you are getting at, the swap is obviously entirely possible, it's just that there are much better options, unless you just want to be REALLY different - which is not always a good thing... $$$
 
Which means the hard part is wiring, which the wiring is not impossible. The reason you don't see this topic come up often or see people swapping them is SHO's are not too common, parts are harder to find, and it is more difficult than a 5.0, and doesn't offer much in the way of room to grow. Personally, I'd never even consider such a swap. I'd stick with a 4.0 OHV for a 4x4, and a 2.3t or 5.0 for a 2wd.

I really don't see what you are getting at, the swap is obviously entirely possible, it's just that there are much better options, unless you just want to be REALLY different - which is not always a good thing... $$$

What I am getting at it people talk a good game about doing it but it ends at talk. And yes we all know it is possible Ford did it.. I want to see one done by someone other than ford... Personally I think the wiring would be the easy part but that's me. The wiring can't be any harder than wiring a 2.3 T (Ihave seen pics of 2.3T wiring layed out) so thats is kinda out there to say.. Someone claimed to have several SHO engines laying around and one was going in a ranger... Last I seen He installed a steering wheel and leather seats...engine bay sits SHOless... After a year of Talking about it.... It remains Talk... I think I'd rather start with an engine than interior but again that's me...
 
But Merkurs aren't Rangers... I am looking for a successful Ranger swap...
I was just pointing out that it is possible to put an SHO motor in a rear drive chassis since I had seen it.
The other negative, about 10 years ago I was looking for a nice used Taurus SHO and everything I found then was a beaten pile of scrap with a bazillion miles on it. Finding the parts you need in decent condition might be tough.
 
I was just pointing out that it is possible to put an SHO motor in a rear drive chassis since I had seen it.
The other negative, about 10 years ago I was looking for a nice used Taurus SHO and everything I found then was a beaten pile of scrap with a bazillion miles on it. Finding the parts you need in decent condition might be tough.

That Sir is a very good point... I have a lead on a decent one that I may be able to get for cheap.. That is why I want to find someone that has successfully done it before... Plus it makes for something to goof off and talk about.. It surprises me with all the kick ass talent the folks have on TRS someone hasn't done it already... Not sure who said it but someone said we fix where the Ford engineers failed....
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the later Duratec 3.0 approximately match the earlier Yamaha 3.0 engine on output? If so, that's a far more recent and wide spread alternative to the SHO if there's a decent trans option available.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the later Duratec 3.0 approximately match the earlier Yamaha 3.0 engine on output? If so, that's a far more recent and wide spread alternative to the SHO if there's a decent trans option available.

Yes. But I imagine getting one along with the harness and computer and such would be very pricey.

The 2006 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr feature a version of the Duratec 30 using variable valve timing. The engine has an output of 221 hp at 6250 rpm, and 205 lb·ft of torque at 4800 rpm.

The 2009 Ford Escape and the new 2010 Ford Fusion feature a version of the Duratec with engine output now at 240 hp at 6550 rpm, and 223 lb·ft of torque at 4300 rpm.


You can get an SHO 3.0 for 500$, then you can turbo it. You could easily put down 400HP/400FtLbs with a trubo'd 3.0 SHO motor. Even more if you were to get some lower compression pistons and run 25psi of boost. Dont forget the 110 octane either. :icon_thumby:
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the later Duratec 3.0 approximately match the earlier Yamaha 3.0 engine on output? If so, that's a far more recent and wide spread alternative to the SHO if there's a decent trans option available.

One of my fellow XR4Ti owners that goes to Carisle regularly has seen a newer 3.8 and 3.0 both in an XR4Ti. Your guess is as good as mine as to what tranny they had.
 
One of my fellow XR4Ti owners that goes to Carisle regularly has seen a newer 3.8 and 3.0 both in an XR4Ti. Your guess is as good as mine as to what tranny they had.

Either a T5 or a Tranny out of a Ranger with a 3.0 Vulcan... From my findings that is all that will fit....
 
Yeah, thats actually not THAT hard of a swap, I've ridden in one. Fast little thing, sounded really cool with the intake right behind you. It'd out-stoplight just about any car that ended up next to it with the light weight, rwd, and motor sitting on the rear tires.

For a small, quick car, nothing beats a Escort GTX though. Take a '91 to '96 Escort GT, buy a JDM 1.8 GTX turbo motor, sell the tranny to a 323 GTX enthusiast, and the GTX motor bolts to the GT tranny, and the ECU is LITERALLY plug and play. I'm not talking plug and play where you still have to mess with wires, mess with radiator hoses, coolant reservoir, relocate the washer tank, there is NONE of that bullshit. The motor bolts in, plumbs in, and wires in exactly the same way as the n/a 1.8 does, and it has a tiny side-mount intercooler stock that doesn't interfere with anything. That motor is good for 250whp with just a tune and front mount, which is all you would want in a friggin' Escort, and is at the limits of the only transmission that will fit - the stock one.

This was when Corksport.com was still selling the 1.8GTX with an awd tranny for $1300 all day long. They had a constant supply of them, bunch of guys at FEOA.net used to run this swap and loved it. I missed the boat, and don't know where to get one of these motors now.
 
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Ya'll know Jay Leno has a Festiva with a SHO and NOS.... That thing is bad ass...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_zEPRMYK4A

that was one of the uses for the sho i was going to bring up.in the late 80's the shogun was sold through ford dealers,a pretty cool car with the whole front drive clip from a taurus sho grafted into the back of a festiva.
swapping an sho into a ranger wouldn't be too difficult,but i don't see that it will give much advantage unless the ranger went on a pretty serious diet-which would give the same advantage to the stock motor.
twin turbo would be pretty cool,though.i always liked that motor,ever since they first came out.
 
Yeah, thats actually not THAT hard of a swap, I've ridden in one. Fast little thing, sounded really cool with the intake right behind you. It'd out-stoplight just about any car that ended up next to it with the light weight, rwd, and motor sitting on the rear tires.

For a small, quick car, nothing beats a Escort GTX though. Take a '91 to '96 Escort GT, buy a JDM 1.8 GTX turbo motor, sell the tranny to a 323 GTX enthusiast, and the GTX motor bolts to the GT tranny, and the ECU is LITERALLY plug and play. I'm not talking plug and play where you still have to mess with wires, mess with radiator hoses, coolant reservoir, relocate the washer tank, there is NONE of that bullshit. The motor bolts in, plumbs in, and wires in exactly the same way as the n/a 1.8 does, and it has a tiny side-mount intercooler stock that doesn't interfere with anything. That motor is good for 250whp with just a tune and front mount, which is all you would want in a friggin' Escort, and is at the limits of the only transmission that will fit - the stock one.

This was when Corksport.com was still selling the 1.8GTX with an awd tranny for $1300 all day long. They had a constant supply of them, bunch of guys at FEOA.net used to run this swap and loved it. I missed the boat, and don't know where to get one of these motors now.

Sounds like a bad ass little ride!!
 
that was one of the uses for the sho i was going to bring up.in the late 80's the shogun was sold through ford dealers,a pretty cool car with the whole front drive clip from a taurus sho grafted into the back of a festiva.
swapping an sho into a ranger wouldn't be too difficult,but i don't see that it will give much advantage unless the ranger went on a pretty serious diet-which would give the same advantage to the stock motor.
twin turbo would be pretty cool,though.i always liked that motor,ever since they first came out.

I would have thought a Ranger is lighter than the Taurus...
 

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