Engine swap into a Taurus - Need Advise???

EagleFish

Registered User
Hi!

I'm new here and thought maybe I could get some advise. This is the reverse of what this site is about as I want to swap an engine from an SC into my Taurus. I was looking for some advise on this swap, if anyone has any experience, knowledge or suggestions about it.

I own a 1991 Taurus LX currently equipped with the 3.8 liter engine and AXOD transaxle. The engine has a blown head gasket and the transaxle is cooked. So I decided to upgrade the car with some SHO sway bars, lowered suspension, true dual exhaust, SHO aero panels and bumpers, SHO slicer wheels and some SHO/SC interior pieces. But, I do not want to install the SHO Yamaha engine.

What I want is to either swap in a complete 3.8 SC engine or install the pieces to convert my current 3.8 engine. I am willing to stay with the sidewinder coinfiguration for the time being.

However, my ultimate goal is to convert the car to RWD using either the SC IRS or the Mustang IRS. But, that is stage II and probably not until next year. At that time, I am serioously considering a conversion of the body into a 2 door. I want something unique, different.

Currently I have all of the SHO aero panels, bumpers, spoiler, bucket seats and console installed and am working on painting these parts to match the Twilight Blue metallic paint.

I will install the sway bars, suspension pieces and true duals when I drop the engine/trans package to rebuild the transaxle. This will be around the end of February. (I have a big IRS refund coming at mid-month!!!)

I am a former school trained mechanic and body repairman. I worked for a VW/Porsche dealership and a few small shops over the years. I left the business a long, long time ago, but stay with it on the hobby side. I built quite a few rides over the years, also. So, I am capable of all of the design work and physical myself.

So any advise?

Thanks..................JD
 
the only problem i see is that the SC was RWD and if you try and use a transaxle form a stock 3.8 it will probly blow to pieces under the torque of the SC


Chris
 
Chris,

I thought about that and my trans builder claims he can beef up my AXOD transaxle to handle the added hp/torque.

I believe the SC is rated at 210 hp,315 lbs/ft torque and my Taurus 3.8 is rated at 160 hp. Do not know torque rating. Not a monsterous difference in hp, but the torques could blow it out. I hope my trans builder is right.

Thanks..............JD
 
i don't think a ford transaxle can be substantially "beefed up'" to handle that kinda torque, stock the N/A 3.8 is anywhere between 140-160hp "depending on year" and torque was something like 215ftlbs so your looking at 100ftlb gain u'd be breaking stuff left and right....personally i would fix the hg's on the N/A and wait until i had all the hardware to do the rwd thing now that would be badazz

jus my $.02
 
I cant offer any help, but i've seen some one who either did the same thing, or simply put an m90 on their taurus. do a search and hopefully you'll find something. If not, then im sure i saved that webpage or something of it on my pc, so i'll look.
 
If you want a strong AXOD then go see Doug Lewis at FordPerformanceSpecialists in Douglasville, GA. He is the ONLY guy I would recommend for a high power transaxle that you need.
 
go to www.tauruscarclub.com and search for users DMX and Malvin25, they have both succesfully done it.

For the non-believers, here's a video of the supercharged Taurus.. You can hear the supercharger screaming as he takes off in first.. DMX has an AX4S (same as AXOD-E) with no problems to date (other than the fact his is wore out because of high mileage). Seems the tires spin before anything gets the chance to break.

SC taurus takeoff

DMX used the taurus block with an SC crankshaft, rods, and pistons, along with ported and polished SC heads, custom comp cams camshaft, and is running about 11 psi boost.

also check out www.supercharged-taurus.net for more info

Jeramie
 
First off-looks like the guy didn't stuff a complete SC motor in-just did some part swapping.

I wouldn't consider them succesful yet-looks like DMX is still trying to resolve some issues, and his transaxle may be going south-gotta love the response of the gy who claims 4 successful AOD rebuilds, and that he can do the mods to the AXOD-he even wants to set it up with an electronic controller, using another VB-guess he hasn't looked at a AXOD before.

Hopefully DMX gets the problems worked out without destroying the car-the project does look promising.

BTW-to insert a SC mill into a Taurus you would have to change the oilpan to keep the FWD-the pans are slightly different. As far as installing the IRS into a Taurus-you'd have to do some HD mods to the unibody.
 
ARRRRG... I've been a member of SCCoA for 6 years now and its things like this that make me rarely come to this message board or the one over at TCCoA anymore...

That guy with the 4 succesful AOD rebuilds is ME.. and I'm in the midst of finishing up a 4R70W trans as well...

And YES I have opened up the AXOD-E (AX4S) in my '95 taurus. ALL 91+ taurus use the electronically controlled AXOD-E, or some varient of it like the AX4S which is simply the '93+ name for the AXOD-E.. You can swap in the SHO valvebody with some work, and use the 1-2-D/OD (OD via switch) pattern from the SHO's AX4S transmission, as opposed to the non-SHO's 1-D-OD shifter.

Also, Baumman Engineering is releasing an aftermarket controller for the AXOD-E, which will allow custom programming of all shift points and firmness, just like the Baummmanator TCS for the 4R70W.

Visit THIS LINK for info on Baumman's TCS stuff.

Maybe you should do some research before making comments like that...

Jeramie
 
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Guys,

Thanks for all of the input and so quickly. I'll keep checking back incase anyone else chimes in.

Jeramie,

I really appreciate your information. My problem is that I have a pre 91+ AXOD transaxle (F1DP-CA). A very hard transaxle to find used. I am not very familiar with what, if any, parts swap between the AXOD and the AXOD-E (AX4S) or if it would be advantageous to swap to an AXOD-E and if the ECU will swap over or if the wiring harness needs to be rewired or swapped out? Any ideas on this?

As far as the IRS swap next year, the Taurus rear frame section isn't all that bad. It will need some bracing to accomodate mounting points for the center section, control arms and shocks or struts and the sway bar.

Rotating the engine 90 degrees is easy. Lots of replumbing and rewiring. I may have to reshape the floor tunnel a little. This is all easy stuff, but time consuming, fit and re-fit.

I have been looking around and am now considering swapping in a supercharged 3.9 DOHC V8 when I do hte conversion to RWD. I think this would make a very unique and great runniing car.

Thanks..............JD
 
The 2 super charged SHOs in TX use the MTX. If you don't mind shifting. Believe they get a number of things hardened. Breaking half shafts are the biggest problems.

You may want to post some questions in the Fordbastards club in Yahoo groups if you don't find answers in the other clubs listed above.
 
I also am in the midst of supercharging my 95 taurus lx and was worried about the tranny. 92 Bird how much do you charge for a rebuild and what do recommend I do about a torque converter? :confused:
 
i dont think ford made a 3.9 did they? u could probably bore out a 3.8 and get 3.9L's.


Anyways, for all these taurus guys...i dont think a complete engine swap has been done...i think they take taurus 3.8's and slap in a supercharger. Im recently frequenting the taurus clubs/sho websites b/c dad's taurus wagon was hit and i want to attempt a sho conversion...b.ut since i have two spare SC engines....that is starting to sound so interesting too.
 
I thought in the newer Thunderbirds they used a 3.9L V-8. The only car that the motor isused in.... maybe i am wrong.
 
schwalbe said:
I thought in the newer Thunderbirds they used a 3.9L V-8. The only car that the motor isused in.... maybe i am wrong.

Who dug this thread up? The 3.9 is used in the new T-birds, and the Lincoln LS. I think it is also closely related to the 4.0L used by Jaguar.
 
True, IF you are talking v8?

The 2004 mustang base engine was a 3.9L v6 (3.8L based block)..

Then in '05 went to the OHC block as a 4.0L v6

how did this topic get from taurus to 3.9L talk?
 
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