Who has tried Taurus engine swap without changing head gaskets??

[jaro51]

Just curious who has done the Taurus engine swap without changing the head gaskets to the ranger spec gaskets? I found a $300 Taurus motor but have a hard time justifying taking the time to tear the motor apart to change gaskets for a truck that will get driven only 30-50 miles /week tops. It's going into a '93 2wd reg cab auto ranger and will be used to haul my dirt bike to the track once or twice a week only, I have civic for a daily driver. Can I expect problems or will I be OK to just drop in the Taurus motor and drive? After I factor in time, hassle and parts to change the gaskets, I suspect I'll be better off finding a new $500 - $1,000 special truck in the classifieds and donating the old ranger to the kidney foundation. Opinions welcome!!

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233480&highlight=taurus+3.0

Read post #8.

If Fredness (Boss 3.0) says it'll be fine, believe him. I wouldn't touch the heads.

 

[Jason]

Didn't the Taurus blow gaskets alot? I am not sure I would believe anyone that says to leave that alone. Maybe I am thinking of the 3.8. It's been a while since I had the displeasure of dealing with them.

 

[jaro51]

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233480&highlight=taurus+3.0

Read post #8.

If Fredness (Boss 3.0) says it'll be fine, believe him. I wouldn't touch the heads.

I like this answer the best!!

Thanks!

 

[AllanD]

Taking in technical information based on which answers you like?

What is wrong with this attitude?

Nebraska not someplace you need to worry about overheating?

that's another one I have a problem with... after driving across
Nebraska in 105degree heat... in SEPTEMBER!
I gotta wonder what nebraska you live in...

also which END of Nebraska because last time I checked
Nebraska isn't "flat"... it's 4500ft higher at the western end
than it is at the Omaha end.... and elevation isn't only a killer
of performance but of cooling system efficiency as the air gets thinner.

It might not sound like much but the air is 5% thinner in Sidney than it is in Omaha or Lincoln.

You don't build for the average conditions but the worst conditions.

would you only protect your engine with antifreeze to 0degF
because there aren't that many days where the temp gets to -20F? I've only driven across Nebraska twice in winter but I've seen -33F on the trip...

Yeah, most days you get away with it, it's the one day you don't that will make you relly regret previous decisions.

If the price of a gasket set bothers you get it off ebay...
but don't forget a set of headbolts, these are "single use"

As for the "difficulty" of replacingthe head gaskets?

You already have to do 90% of the job as you MUST replace
the lower intake and the exhaust manifolds anyway...

It's literally 16 additional bolts (8 bolts per side) that you are
whining about changing... frankly a head gasket set includes
an intake gasket set that you'd need to change the intake
that you have NO choice about changing.

Getting the valve covers and intake off is 90% of the battle
in doing head gaskets.

Doing it right is ALWAYS cheaper than doing it over.

AD

 

[jaro51]

Taking in technical information based on which answers you like?

What is wrong with this attitude?

Nebraska not someplace you need to worry about overheating?

that's another one I have a problem with... after driving across
Nebraska in 105degree heat... in SEPTEMBER!
I gotta wonder what nebraska you live in...

also which END of Nebraska because last time I checked
Nebraska isn't "flat"... it's 4500ft higher at the western end
than it is at the Omaha end.... and elevation isn't only a killer
of performance but of cooling system efficiency as the air gets thinner.

It might not sound like much but the air is 5% thinner in Sidney than it is in Omaha or Lincoln.

You don't build for the average conditions but the worst conditions.

would you only protect your engine with antifreeze to 0degF
because there aren't that many days where the temp gets to -20F? I've only driven across Nebraska twice in winter but I've seen -33F on the trip...

Yeah, most days you get away with it, it's the one day you don't that will make you relly regret previous decisions.

If the price of a gasket set bothers you get it off ebay...
but don't forget a set of headbolts, these are "single use"

As for the "difficulty" of replacingthe head gaskets?

You already have to do 90% of the job as you MUST replace
the lower intake and the exhaust manifolds anyway...

It's literally 16 additional bolts (8 bolts per side) that you are
whining about changing... frankly a head gasket set includes
an intake gasket set that you'd need to change the intake
that you have NO choice about changing.

Getting the valve covers and intake off is 90% of the battle
in doing head gaskets.

Doing it right is ALWAYS cheaper than doing it over.

AD

Hmm... OK. Not sure where the Nebraska stuff came from but good points regardless. Wasn't trying to offend anyone, was just trying to figure out if I was able to do the swap in a day or 2 on a weekend and get a usable truck out of the deal. Sounds like if I find a "d' spec engine that came out of a Ranger I'll be able to drop it in with maybe 10-12 hrs of shop time. The Taurus engine sounds like it will be an extra 5-6 hrs of work.

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2/f5/f32/50242-ford-taurus-motor-swap-2.html

I searched some more and the same guy chimes in again. Read it for yourself, sounds iffy. May not be best for longevity or sustained periods of driving.

Excerpt: "I know at least two people from another forum that have swapped the entire long block using the oil pan, lower intake, timing cover, exhaust manifolds and accessories from their Ranger. No problems or issues, but I don't know whether or not they have had issues with the head gaskets later down the road. I know the head gasket shapes are IDENTICAL with the exception of the main coolant passages: Ranger is in the rear, Taurus is in the front and rear."

 

[evanesce69]

would you really want to walk if for some reason the system did overheat. While i am not against walking, i am against it if i could have prevented it. $100 for the head set (head gaskets and intake gaskets) and $35 for the bolts is cheap insurance. And there is alot of crap to take off if you wait till it blows and it is in the truck.

head bolts through 98, two step torque - 33-41 ftlbs then 63-73 ftlbs


Front of head rear of head

exhaust side
( 7 ) ( 3 ) ( 1 ) ( 5 )

( 8 ) ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 )
intake side


hope this helps



Rob