95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

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95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

September 17, 2007, 05:32:15 PM

Hey guys, I came across a 95 T-Bird. It lost a freeze plug and overheated. I would like to get this thing running and give it to my dad. What other engines are the same as what is on the Bird now? If i remember correctly its a 3.8.

I went to a couple of junk yards but couldn't find and Birds. I saw plenty of 3.8's but they were in Tauruses and I think Mustangs but didn't know what kind of issues I would run into trying to transplant it into the Bird. Thanks for the help. BTW this car is complete with all componets.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #1 – September 17, 2007, 05:42:35 PM

Quote from: Uncleford;176856

Hey guys, I came across a 95 T-Bird. It lost a freeze plug and overheated. I would like to get this thing running and give it to my dad. What other engines are the same as what is on the Bird now? If i remember correctly its a 3.8.

I went to a couple of junk yards but couldn't find and Birds. I saw plenty of 3.8's but they were in Tauruses and I think Mustangs but didn't know what kind of issues I would run into trying to transplant it into the Bird. Thanks for the help. BTW this car is complete with all componets.

Shortest, cheapest route? A Mustang long block '94 to '98, with the 97 or 98 preferred since it took Ford that long to get the head gaskets right on these motors. Check car-part.com for availability. '99 or better can be used but you'll need to swap the heads off the existing motor and they're probably no longer flat if it was heated up good. No swap issues at all if you use the T'Bird intakes and such. If you use a 94 or 95 motor for sure put new head gaskets on it before you drop it in or you'll be redoing it before you want to. I'm pretty sure the Taurus 3.8s have a different bell housing pattern that won't match to your trans.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #2 – September 17, 2007, 07:14:42 PM

Thanks, atleast that will give me more options.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #3 – September 18, 2007, 11:38:54 AM

Quote from: Uncleford;176877

Thanks, atleast that will give me more options.

Well, if you can't find anything around there plan a vacation to FL... yards are full of 3.8 'Birds around here.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #4 – September 18, 2007, 10:25:04 PM

ahh, I really miss Florida. I grew up on the Gulf Coast and a spent a little over 10 years in the Pan Handle (Ft Walton) Yeah, the junk yards a much better down there.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #5 – September 19, 2007, 09:41:43 AM

Quote from: Uncleford;177177

ahh, I really miss Florida. I grew up on the Gulf Coast and a spent a little over 10 years in the Pan Handle (Ft Walton) Yeah, the junk yards a much better down there.

I smell an Air Force brat. :D

I live a few miles east of Eglin....

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #6 – September 19, 2007, 06:04:12 PM

Well, that's it, officially I now hate you. Ha, j/k

Yeah I lived in Crestucky. I'm active duty. I was stationed at Hurlburt Fld but somehow got moved to Nebraska. I've been trying to get South but no luck yet. Do you ever race at Holt Dragway?

Hey on another note a friend of mine found a 95 Mustang V6 for $500 OBO. He said the left head and gasket was replaced and the right head gasket had been replaced. (he works at a dealership) He said the guy has 1800 into it and then it was rear ended by a Dodge truck.

Supposedly the engine is complete. What all am I needing to swap onto this one? Is it mostly just plug and play?

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #7 – September 19, 2007, 06:21:00 PM

Quote from: Uncleford;177268

Well, that's it, officially I now hate you. Ha, j/k

:flame:

:D

Quote from: Uncleford;177268

Yeah I lived in Crestucky. I'm active duty. I was stationed at Hurlburt Fld but somehow got moved to Nebraska. I've been trying to get South but no luck yet. Do you ever race at Holt Dragway?

Been to Holt as a spectator only so far.... I drive a Mark VIII and they aren't a lot of fun on the 1/8th since you reach the end of the track just before you really get them rolling. :) A friend of mine that's stationed at Eglin has run his over there but he's got a Cobra swap and is working on a Procharger install so he can at least talk to the Mustang guys, if not talk trash yet.

Quote from: Uncleford;177268

Hey on another note a friend of mine found a 95 Mustang V6 for $500 OBO. He said the left head and gasket was replaced and the right head gasket had been replaced. (he works at a dealership) He said the guy has 1800 into it and then it was rear ended by a Dodge truck.

Supposedly the engine is complete. What all am I needing to swap onto this one? Is it mostly just plug and play?

I'd be jumping on that with both feet, especially if you trust the dealer telling you the head gaskets have been done by a reliable source and the cars got a few miles on it since the head gaskets were replaced. A yard will hit you for $500 for a decent engine anyway... Only thing to beware of is to check to see if it was run with coolant in the oil too long right before those head gaskets were replaced. Maybe you'd want to pull the pan and check out the look of the main bearings before dropping it into the 'Bird. Buy the whole thing, pull the motor, swap the long block and what accessories you need/will work and sell the rest to recoup some of your "investment". If that rear ender wasn't too severe then you could probably call it a repairable roller and get your money back from someone wanting to build a drag car.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #8 – September 19, 2007, 07:56:58 PM

Quote from: Uncleford;177268

Well, that's it, officially I now hate you. Ha, j/k

Yeah I lived in Crestucky. I'm active duty. I was stationed at Hurlburt Fld but somehow got moved to Nebraska. I've been trying to get South but no luck yet. Do you ever race at Holt Dragway?

Hey on another note a friend of mine found a 95 Mustang V6 for $500 OBO. He said the left head and gasket was replaced and the right head gasket had been replaced. (he works at a dealership) He said the guy has 1800 into it and then it was rear ended by a Dodge truck.

Supposedly the engine is complete. What all am I needing to swap onto this one? Is it mostly just plug and play?

How many AF bases are in Nebraska? I have a cousin stationed in Nebraska.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #9 – September 19, 2007, 10:41:00 PM

Omaha Nebraska is the only active duty base, I think there may be another guard base or two.

95 T-Bird v6 engine questions

Reply #10 – September 19, 2007, 10:41:39 PM

doodaa, i am still reading, get back to you later....