Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches California Started The 3.0L Swap

Just excited, wanted to post about it incase anyone would want to stop by and check it out or help out. Only worked on it for a couple hours. The hardest part I think I will have is putting it back together.

Brad, where are you doing all the work? up here in san jose, or down south?

Since this is about working on cars......

This weekend I:
I lubed my poly bushings, squeek free baby
3-step waxed the front end of my car, too lazy to do the rest
Rollin on chromes now with mismatched tires

I also rewired the keyless remote trunk switch on my Cutlass. In the process I dripped solder on my middle finger

for those that forget what my Cutlass looks like here is a pic!

I am in the middle of the same project - using my brothers garage in The O.C. I was planning on having the same budget as you, but I got a little carried away (SPEC Stage 3 Clutch - Fidanza Flywheel). What heads are you using? I am using the 3L heads port matched to my SVT intake.

Same thing. I have lots of pictures that i will be posting when i become un lazy.

This is what I managed to do in a day:





Now its time for swapping.

Getting the engine out was a pain in the butt. Did you go out the traditional way - out the top - or did you follow the service manuals instructions. We pulled it out the top and it took us about a day. It took another day to tear down both engines (I am replacing all of the bearings in the 3L), my brother (engineer - thank god, because before this project started I was a mechanical rookie) has been doing all of the head work and should be done by Sunday. I am putting the lower block together this weekend as he welds and grinds and Monday is the magic day when the engine goes back in the car. Wednesday I have an apointment at a local shop (they specialize in Fords) with a dynojet and the ability to reflash my computer. I also have taken a picture of every step (wait you loosened a bolt - I need to get the camera) and plan on putting them up on a website one day.

Have fun putting it all back together - buying all of those torque to yeild bolts has driven me crazy (who knew that bolts could add up that quickly).