Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec Pre 01 3.0 Swap

3.0 is out of a '99


Well this is a '95 Ford Contour SE, electrical everything, moon/sun roof, windows, locks, ect.
I got this car for free, had a 2.5 Duratech V6 in it and it was the 3rd motor in the car due to problems w/ oil circulation causing it to spin the bearings.
So I figured while I got the motor out mise well go bigger, so I'm dropping a 3.0L Duratech V6 out of a Sable into it..
So far I paid $500 for the sable, which was wrecked and had a good motor in it.
We got the motor pulled out of the sable (at the work garage), had to drop the motor out of the contour due to heighth at the home garage.
Both motors are out and parts are being swapped for the 3.0 drop.
Have to get a eletrical water pump since the waterpump on the 2.5 is ran off the cam, and theres not enough room for the 3.0 to be put in w/ the water pump off of it.
Have to change timing covers, change power steering, some minor things.. But the motor mounts right up, kind of a easy swap.
I had 2 options A) Full 3.0 Swap which requires some more fabercation.
or B) A 3.0 Hybrid swap which is when you use the 2.5 heads, change injectors, have to get your computer programed to reconize bigger injectors/more cubic "s, ect ect..
I didn't bother w/ the hybrid swap and we're just doing the full 3.0L swap.

Here are some pictures of the 2.5 w/ the heads off (Had to get the top motor mount off).











<<< --- Off the 2.5, look how dirty




<<< --- Off the 3.0, after we dipped it and cleaned it


I'll get some more pictures this weekend, hopfully droppin it in this weekend!

I hope you just ment that the cam driven water pump is non existant on that motor, and NOT that it wont fit.... as it does on 01+ motors

If you read topic, its a pre 01 swap.

Looks fun. Good sleeper.

It's great to see another pre-98 with a 3L That blue is beautiful, are you planning to clean up that paint job a bit?

a Midnight BLue 95 SE with a 3L? OMG DREAM CAR!!!!!

Do the post-97 front end swap and you will have the sexiest car around.

I would like to thank you all for the information posted on this website and contour.org.
They're both really helpful.
My intentions WHERE to drop the motor in, sell it.. but the more I work on the car, the more fond I am of it, its a pretty slick looking car!

Anyone care to fill me in on the pre 97 front end swap?

Thank you all for replys..
We used the top motor mount off the 2.5 and had to take the right head off of the 3.0 to get it on, rather than cutting it/weakening the mount. So we got that off, had it in time, ect.

Well seems since we used the mount the fuel rail on the 3.0 won't fit w/o modifing it/the mount so we're doing that in the next day or so. Got new plugs, wires, oil, oil filter on, its dropped in, now I need to wait in order to get the electric water pump orderd, do the rest of the wiring, ect!
We compression tested all the cylenders, all firing over 200.

I'll keep posted, and I'll get some pictures up here ASAP!

-Jared