Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec Question - - I need to hear from the 2001+ 3 liter swappers...

How did you guys prep the oval port heads for the dual runner LIM? The injector hole needs to be moved to match the 2.5 LIM, that's a given. Then the head ports would need to be widened by some margin to match the wider spaced ports of the 2.5 LIM. The old injector cut out area would need to be welded up or covered with an adapter plate of some kind as well. Using the 3 liter plastic LIM with the 2.5 UIM doesn't look like an option either as the mounting holes are on the wrong side of the LIM.

I see two ways to make this engine swap complete... 1) use the 3 liter LIM and UIM (of which this customer didn't plan for or purchase). 2) Spend the money to have some adapter plates cut and modify the head ports to accept the 2.5 LIM.

What I want to know is, how did you guys do it, and what did it cost in your configuration. I can't believe this hasn't come up before the way most people document things on this site. This is my first experience with a 2001 engine, at this point I'm not sure I want a second.

Just FYI, I am not being paid to modify the heads for the swap, only the short block. My customer will be doing the head prep and I feel bad that nobody has posted a resolution to this problem before. Since I had not seen a 2001, I did not want to commit to that work until after I could see it with my own eyes. Glad I didn't. If someone has a lead to who did their prep work, or if I'm on track with telling him my ideas above, please speak up.

Use the 3.0 upper and lower,run returnless fuel,if not make a return fuel rail...dont mess with the head ports or injector position on the 3.0 ports.....OR maybe you want to call me!!!!..

Grumble grumble grumble, that's what I was afraid you would say. Now I've got to find a 3L LIM and UIM with rail to mod into return style. Any chance you could PM me with the cost of a return modded fuel rail Terry? Any in stock, or would you need me to send you one to mod up?

Didn't Jaiko use his SVT UIM and LIM though??? If so, he'd need to do something along the lines of what I mentioned above...

Bolt holes etc on 2.5 upper will not match 3.0 lower plus who wants 20lbs of ally hanging on a plastic lower!!!...if you send a 3.0 rail will take some time(busy etc)...but other parts need modding too...how did you get a 3.0 2001 without intake manifolds????

Small fire = very lightly melted manifolds. Nothing to hot, mostly just wiring shorted out. (i.e. no fuel fire) 3K on the motor, everything else is fine and dandy.

I know the 2.5 UIM will not fit the 3L LIM, that's where the confusion started. The 2.5 LIM can be modded to work on the heads though, seems that's what Jaiko had a machine shop do. (found it while searching for answers) No pics though...

BTW, which rail needs to be sent. The 3 liter returnless one to make return or the 2.5 return one to match the injector positioning?

Brad email me @ jiako@aol.com

Jaiko, you have mail. Interested in seeing your results. I just want to provide all of the answers I can.

Terry, if my customer feels he needs help making those parts, I'll send him your way.

I'm just glad I'm only helping the guy get the parts and not modding them. The '98-'99 3 liters are a lot easier to fab up parts for. '01, bleh! I'll keep my '98.

brad check your mail. I cant send pics cause i dont have em. The guy who did it is waiting to put them on his site.

Thanks guys. We're exploring the possabilities right now. I just couldn't believe nobody brought it up as a major problem before. The only real blurb about it was your posts Jaiko and it wasn't documented for the group. Certainly not a DIY installation like the '98-'99 is... Well, for most people anyway.

We've also got our guy here that can prototype some laser cut spacers/adapters for us if we wanted to hack 'em up. They'd actually be pretty simple to make. It's just not in his budget right now.

We are using the 3L UIM and LIM manifolds for our 01 swap, waiting on parts to allow SVT cams to work with the rest of the motor.