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Replacing 95 3.8... what year to use?

2K views 18 replies 11 participants last post by  plstktnkr2 
#1 ·
I am thinking about replacing the overheating 95 3.8.

What year engine should I look for 96,97,98, or?

What else will I need to get to do the swap?

tas
 
#2 ·
Since you're doing an engine swap anyway, I'd recommend getting a 99-04 (split port) 3.8 . It's almost a direct swap, but a few other minor things have to be changed (ex: Fuel rail). Well worth the minor oddities for an extra 40-45hp.
 
#3 ·
Cougarstang said:
Since you're doing an engine swap anyway, I'd recommend getting a 99-04 (split port) 3.8 . It's almost a direct swap, but a few other minor things have to be changed (ex: Fuel rail). Well worth the minor oddities for an extra 40-45hp.

Sounds like the right direction.... Can anyone else add to this?

What else will be needed to make a 99-04 fit and run properly?

tas
 
#4 ·
Visit www.v6power.net and search for split port swap. Youll find dozens of articles. I would reccommend an 01 and up v6 if you can find one. They are zero balalnced and have a nice main girdle stock.

Stan
 
#5 ·
split port is definitly the way to go. you will need the coomputer engine wiring harness and also I modified fuel rail which you can get pretty easy or do yourself as the 99-04 is returnless style and the 94-98 has a return line not too bad to do from what I hav read. one of the moderators sells the modded fuel rails over at 3.8mustang.com
 
#6 ·
mustangraven said:
split port is definitly the way to go. you will need the coomputer engine wiring harness and also I modified fuel rail which you can get pretty easy or do yourself as the 99-04 is returnless style and the 94-98 has a return line not too bad to do from what I hav read. one of the moderators sells the modded fuel rails over at 3.8mustang.com
You will not need the 99-04 engine harness. All you will have to do really is extend some wires for the 99+ swap. Its worth it if your looking to mod the car.
Are you going to try to swap the head gaskets first on the 95 to see if thats the problem which very well could be, but if she's going to street race this car every now and then I'd go with at least a 96-04. 96-98 will require different water pump hoses though, and a 98 might need the 98 EGR tube, or you can just delete it.
 
#7 ·
WHOOHOOO!!!! i finally got a 2001 3.8L for my girls 95 v6 lol.......ok, i'm an idiot for bragging; can't blame me though, i got an awesome deal on it.
 
#8 ·
that is what's great about these motors, they arent really in demand so their cheap. I got my 01 3.8 short block for $200.

People ask me how i can run 17lbs of boost on a stock bottom end. I don't brag about the stout girdle and strenght of the 3.8 I just tell them they are so cheap they are disposable.

Stan
 
#9 ·
splitport swap woud be nice, you could get a motor from mpsautosalvage.com, another nice option which would be just as easy would be a motor out of a tbird supercoupe
 
#10 ·
i thought of the supercoupe transplant but theres too much fabrication involved in using the supercharger; not only that but if you were to use the SC cylinder heads you'd have a difficult time matching a lower intake to them-------only the SC lower intake will match the SC heads intake openings. oh yeah, and i paid $300 for my 21,000 mile longblock; complete intake to oil pan. so yeah i'm lovin' how cheap and readily available these things are.
 
#11 ·
just swap the whole supercoupe motor in

how cheap what is parts for the 3.8? its a great motor and it is cheap, to bad it hasnt been accepted by the hardcore mustang guys yet

BTW: get the heads milled .005 and checked for warpage, use new studs and bolts from ARP, and get 99+ mls headgaskets and you wont have the gasket problem
 
#12 ·
use a F150 4.2 shortblock have your heads re built and use the head gaskets mentioned above. enjoy the extra torgue
 
#15 ·
Tas, what have you decided to do? The 4.2 short block is the easiest but with split port heads it would even be more powerful in it's stock form.
 
#19 ·
how about split ports and a 4.2 ? at least all you computer cars can use them, none of the 4-eyed cars can without going fuelie I believe. But I might be corrected
 
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