have a chance to pickup early 90's thunderbird sc, will it fit in a maverick i think it's 3.8L with a supercharger on it.anybody ever used this motor for anything else and how was it.
yeah, it "should" fit.....but noone that I know of ever wanted to do such a swap. A turbo 4...I can see. SC 3.8, I don't think it'd be quite "budget" oriented. They're notorious for head gasket failure. Notorious for electrical gremlins. Also, they have an intercooler that has to be mounted somewhere, plus you'll have to get 100% of the wiring harness and figure out how to adapt it to the Mav. It'd work...and be cool. But, I think a M2 front end and 7.5L EFI motor would be about the same money...and it'd run like there's no tomorrow. Be just as cool too! For that matter, a 7.3L diesel in a Mav would be different. Found a site the other day that had an early 80's 'vette with a 6.5L non-turbo diesel engine in it. Vette with a diesel. Can't think of any better way to dispose of 2 piles of crap...looked like a match made in heaven
A whole new front suspension and a big block or diesel would be just as cost effective? I guess it depends what you can scrounge up. The 3.8L is basically a cut down 302. I've not heard what the actual differences are though. I'd guess the bellhousing is the same, possibly the motor mounts. It'll definitely fit between the shock towers. Interesting thought, good luck.
thunderbird is free so that a plus on the money side and i think it would be something that there not alot of if it will all fit under the hood and then theres the unknown on the wiring and stuff.
Well you know I wasn't even thinking about the whole EFI thing doh! Yea it will be the same thing as a 5.0L EFI swap basically. Check out the archives.
That would be a awesome swap if you pull it off.I have seen several Ford Rangers with that swap done.Expect to spend plenty of time with that wiring harness though thats the roughest part of the whole thing,if it has a water to air cooler it would be the perfect chance to switch to air to air.With a pulley change you can pick up a couple pounds of boost but it will reduce the life of the factory charger.I would try to get the whole car to do the swap and not just the engine too.
Don't forget about the fuel system. Return line and electric pump etc. Something to add to you swap parts list to pull from the T-bird and parts to adapt. I think it would be a cool swap.
Soooo, are you gonna do it?? You can't come in here and tease like this........Seriously though, Good Luck man!! Hope it turns out great!! Preston
just waiting for my sister inlaw to say come pick it up should here something tonight, i will let everyone know when i get it.
i got it, i pickthe thunderbird up today, maybe i will be pulling the motor and trans out this weekend if the weather lets me .
I owned a '92 TBIRD SC and still own a '95 TBIRD V-8. The SC has some neck snapping properties. It was a fun car. That would be sweet in a Maverick. Yes, they are notorious for head gaskets. But get a good set of gaskets along with good machine work - never let it get hot and NEVER put an overdrive pulley on the supercharger and it should be fine. Just remember that you'll have to find a place to mount the intercooler. If you have room, there's a guy in Texas that sells double intercoolers. They're basically two intercoolers mated together. Keep us informed on how it goes!
Just have the heads and block oO-RingedI would port the heads and try and get the biggest valves possible in it. There is a guy that makes customs cams for that motor as well. I found him on the net about 2 years ago but can't remember his name. Then have a chip burned for it. I bet you could get an easy 12 sec mav or faster.
