What year motor is in my SVT (before FI)

[green SVT]

Ok well I'm planning on turboing (sp) my SVT next winter but the motor in my 98 is not original. Ford replaced the motor about 40k ago
(3 years or so). The only reason I question the year of the motor is because first, I have heard that pre-99 motors have problems with with some facet of the internals which can cause problems with higher boost levels (more than 8-9psi). So I want to make sure of the year of the motor in my car. Secondly, when I was changing my o2 sensors, the 02 sensor that autozone and NAPA called for my 98 were totally different on my motor (wiring was different). This caused me about 2 hours of arguing with autozone, who thought I didnt know what a 02 sensor before the cat was. So eventually I had to get an 02 sensor from a different year. So does that mean that the motor in my car is probably not a 98 configuration, and so I can assume that I will be safe from these internal problems with the 98's. I hope this isnt too confusing. But I want a way to find out what year my motor is, or since it has been replaced by Ford, does that automatically mean that the motor is post 98 configuration?

[Y2KSVT]

Well, did you own the SVT when the motor was replaced? Do you have any receipts, or know where the work was done? You might contact whoever installed the motor(Ford??), and ask them. Or you can probably find the casting numbers on the block, and talk to a reputable Ford dealership, or have Bill Jenkins match the numbers up for you. When the motor was replaced, they actually installed new exhaust manifolds as well? You'd think they'd just replace the block, or the block and heads, and reuse everything else.... I'd start with the casting numbers though.

Mark

[todras]

The 02 connections did change. But they wouldn't have replaced the wiring in the car. Just the engine.

[svtavino]

The 99 mystique and the 2000 svt I have, have different O2 sensors and different connectors on the upper O2s. The newer style has a wider body and round connector. Older style narrow body and square connector. If your 98 has round connectors they may have swaped the connectors on you. Making that engine at least a newer 99 or 2000.

[fordsvt98]

Ive got a big fat sticker on my timing chain cover it says something like 1999 xm8 or somethin, my svt is a 98 so I know the engine was changed of coarse. Damn these 1998 engines sucked balls. Alot of piston poppers. We should have a case, along with harness recalls....yikes. I hate ford. I hope they go out of business to tell ya the truth.

[warmonger]

Ive got a big fat sticker on my timing chain cover it says something like 1999 xm8 or somethin, my svt is a 98 so I know the engine was changed of coarse. Damn these 1998 engines sucked balls. Alot of piston poppers. We should have a case, along with harness recalls....yikes. I hate ford. I hope they go out of business to tell ya the truth.

Hey, just so you all know:

The engine we did all our dyno's on was a tired 1998 SVT motor. Compression was a bit low but even.
It handles 10psi fine and daily driven for the month or so.

What we have found is that the tuning is equally important in this equation. It seems the pre-98s are Less Forgiving if there is any pre-detonation and will pop a ring land easier than the 2000 pistons, but that if the tune is fine they handle the boost fine.

[green SVT]

Hey, just so you all know:

The engine we did all our dyno's on was a tired 1998 SVT motor. Compression was a bit low but even.
It handles 10psi fine and daily driven for the month or so.

What we have found is that the tuning is equally important in this equation. It seems the pre-98s are Less Forgiving if there is any pre-detonation and will pop a ring land easier than the 2000 pistons, but that if the tune is fine they handle the boost fine.

Sorry I hope I didnt come off sounding as if 98's shouldnt get the kit. I'm def not trying to saying anything against your kit, I cant wait to get my own. I just want to be prepared and educated on what I'm doing before I do it. Really I'm not going to push the boost past 8-9 psi, but I just wanted to make sure of the year just incase I have future plans that involve higher boost or whatever.
When I replaced the o2 sensor, it was the one closest to the oil filter (really easy one). When I went to auto zone they gave me an sensor in which the connector was different. I think it was circular instead of square (it could have been the other way around). So I had to get a 02 sensor from a 99-00 to fit my car. I'm VERY sure they just replaced the motor, clutch, flywheel and then transfered other parts over, so wouldnt the exhaust manifolds just transfer over also? Could I have a 99 engine from factory despite the car being a 98? I didnt have the car when the engine was replaced, however I do have all of the reciepts for the new engine.

[warmonger]

Sorry I hope I didnt come off sounding as if 98's shouldnt get the kit. I'm def not trying to saying anything against your kit, I cant wait to get my own. I just want to be prepared and educated on what I'm doing before I do it. Really I'm not going to push the boost past 8-9 psi, but I just wanted to make sure of the year just incase I have future plans that involve higher boost or whatever.
When I replaced the o2 sensor, it was the one closest to the oil filter (really easy one). When I went to auto zone they gave me an sensor in which the connector was different. I think it was circular instead of square (it could have been the other way around). So I had to get a 02 sensor from a 99-00 to fit my car. I'm VERY sure they just replaced the motor, clutch, flywheel and then transfered other parts over, so wouldnt the exhaust manifolds just transfer over also? Could I have a 99 engine from factory despite the car being a 98? I didnt have the car when the engine was replaced, however I do have all of the reciepts for the new engine.

I didn't think that at all! You can say anything you want about the kit...everyone else does! lol

You could very well have a 99motor but I guess you'd have to look at the stickers on the valve cover adn try to run the numbers to see the production date. I'm sure they just installed a long block so it will be hard to tell from bolt-on components.

[i will end you]

my 98 se had a very similar problem, i replaced all my o2 sensors. my fire wall lower had the wrong plug and so did my radiator side upper. the only reason i knew i had the sensors in the right places was due to the wire length. i took the two wrong ones back to the store and just as you had to do i had to argue with them for 20 minutes before they checked a few other years and i had the right sensors in hand. i called ford and got this answer, check your production date in the door. if it was made after the 6th month of the year some parts may come from the following production year. he said most common parts would be fuel pumps, wireing, and some suspension componenets. is he right i dunno. i did however have to buy the sensors for a 99 to get it right. hope this helps.