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Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Drivetrain Tech => Topic started by: mcb82gt on February 23, 2011, 06:27:01 PM

Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: mcb82gt on February 23, 2011, 06:27:01 PM
Has anyone ever swapped a 3.8 SN95 T5 into a 3.8 cougar.  I assume it would bolt right up with the bellhousing and all.

Found a 3.8 cougar with a bad AOD and wondered if the 3.8 T5 would bolt right up?
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: RunninWild on February 23, 2011, 06:38:40 PM
You should talk to Steve (sarjxxx)....I believe that was his initial plan.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: mcb82gt on February 23, 2011, 06:47:40 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;353737
You should talk to Steve (sarjxxx)....I believe that was his initial plan.

 
I bet he will see this and fess up.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: gumby on February 23, 2011, 06:56:10 PM
You should also talk to CougarSE as he has actually done it, but he is not super active on the forum right now.....maybe a search using his s/n might turn up something helpful
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: Haystack on February 23, 2011, 07:48:35 PM
same as a v-8 mustang, but because the 88-up 3.8 uses the neutrual balance flywheel, it is only known what flex plate to use for those years. Noone could find information for the 83-87 years on the flywheel imbalance.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: Ductape91 on February 23, 2011, 08:03:22 PM
there is a thread over at FEP with the info about the imbalance issue.
the only real issue is getting bolts to mate the proper flywheel to the crank.
the swap thread on this site has some differences as to how they went about it.
i forget what to type for that "search"  with the big magnifying glass emoticon...
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: sarjxxx on February 23, 2011, 09:57:46 PM
Here I am:D No I couldn't miss this:giggle:

[thread=6042]You should read this[/thread]

If the cougar you found happens to be an 88 your looking at the easiest thing ever. If its a 83-87, its unclear. 88 was an oddball year for many reasons, but in this case it makes things easier. If you have an 88 its just like doing it to a 5.0. You just gotta get the right trans.

I was gonna do it to mine but I decided not to for a number of reasons. Just a decision based on what I want out of this car. If I happen to pick up another 88 3.8 I'll probably do it for sure.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: CougarSE on February 24, 2011, 09:45:03 PM
<---  In the house!

Quote from: Haystack;353751
same as a v-8 mustang, but because the 88-up 3.8 uses the neutrual balance flywheel, it is only known what flex plate to use for those years. Noone could find information for the 83-87 years on the flywheel imbalance.

Wrong, only the supercoupe used the zero balance flywheel, the 83-87 used 28oz and the 88+ used a 38oz.  But I could be wrong it was over 5 years ago now...

And to the O/P, I'm surprised you never heard of it as you have been around for some time as well.  It was easy and as far as I researched into it I only found out how to convert an 88 model.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: Haystack on February 25, 2011, 03:31:43 AM
Well, according to your thread, you remembered right. Last I remember hearing about it, I thought it was decided to be 0 oz. That is my bad. I have been hanging out on mustang forums too much I guess.

Nice to see you here again claude. What's new with you? You didn't pull a shawn and get a firebird, did you?
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: jpc647 on February 25, 2011, 08:36:16 AM
Um, isn't putting a T-5 behind a 3.8 just going to accelerate the already imminent death on the 3.8?
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: sarjxxx on February 25, 2011, 05:02:30 PM
Quote from: jpc647;353901
Um, isn't putting a T-5 behind a 3.8 just going to accelerate the already imminent death on the 3.8?

Well of course but that's totally beside the point:flame:
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: CougarSE on February 25, 2011, 05:11:51 PM
The 280k mile 3.8 in my 88 ran fine when I parked the car, everything else just fell apart around it.  That was after using valve float as a shift indicator, still ran fine and might still if it hasn't locked up from sitting for a few years.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: CougarSE on February 25, 2011, 05:13:30 PM
Quote from: Haystack;353895
Nice to see you here again claude. What's new with you? You didn't pull a shawn and get a firebird, did you?

Yuck!  No firetirds for me.  I've been busy and with the lack of Cat Jam I've kind of lost interest.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: jcassity on February 26, 2011, 01:54:10 AM
Quote from: jpc647;353901
Um, isn't putting a T-5 behind a 3.8 just going to accelerate the already imminent death on the 3.8?

The 88 are a little more powerful and the motor was continued in further years as well so its not actually a loner by itself in one year. 
it just so happened to be the last year of the two year bird style and for all intensive purposes, its a CFI base eec , thats why it says "fuel injected" on the intake.
For an 87 or down, i could almost agree.  I am partial to the CFI in a way though so i shouldnt talk.

ever seen a 4 barrel CFI on a v8?

and the inverse,, Ever seen a 1 barrel CFI? (gas mizer 2.5L gm)
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: jpc647 on February 26, 2011, 10:41:43 AM
Quote from: CougarSE;353933
The 280k mile 3.8 in my 88 ran fine when I parked the car, everything else just fell apart around it.  That was after using valve float as a shift indicator, still ran fine and might still if it hasn't locked up from sitting for a few years.

You are one of the lucky few.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: sarjxxx on February 26, 2011, 04:58:15 PM
My original motor was running fine till it blew a freeze plug out of the side of it.... with well over 250,000 mi
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: mcb82gt on May 11, 2011, 11:53:04 AM
Quote from: jcassity;353994
, its a CFI base eec , thats why it says "fuel injected" on the intake.
For an 87 or down, i could almost agree.  I am partial to the CFI in a way though so i shouldnt talk.

)

 
Coolcats site says it was a MPFI, not CFI like its predecessor in 87'
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: sarjxxx on May 11, 2011, 03:44:22 PM
True it was MPFI but it was not SEFI. The three injectors on each side are wired on the same circuit as they were for each barrel of the CFI injectors.
Quote from: http://www.hyperlogos.org/The-Aero-Bird-FAQ
In '88 multipoint injection similar to the V8's SEFI became standard. The V6's injection however, was not timed with the individual cylinder, but the injectors fired once every other crankshaft revolution in two groups of three. Injectors 1, 2, and 4 fire simultaneously, and 3, 5, and 6 fire simultaneously on the next revolution - in time with the intake valves.  This in known as "bank-fire" multi point injection instead of sequential multi point injection.
SEFI was not used until 89.
Title: 3.8 with a T5
Post by: Thunder Chicken on May 11, 2011, 05:37:21 PM
Quote from: jcassity
ever seen a 4 barrel CFI on a v8?

and the inverse,, Ever seen a 1 barrel CFI? (gas mizer 2.5L gm)             
I believe the late 80's 460 was a 4-bbl CFI. 1-bbl CFI's are actually fairly common in shiznitbox cars (single cam Saturns had 1-bbl TBI setups until 1995)
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