Does anyone have any further info on what it would take to drop a 2001 Taurus 3L engine and 3L PCM into a Contour? By the way, my car is a 98 non-SVT with return fuel system. I understand that at a minimum the 2.5L oil pan, oil pickup, timing chain cover, exhaust manifolds and drive pulley would have to be transferred, and that the crank would have to be ground back slightly to mate properly to the flywheel. It also sounds like there might have to be a bit of rework to the EGR plumbing to get hood clearance with the 3L intake manifolds. Do the motor mounts correspond to the same locations? Are the changes to the intake plumbing that are required for hood clearance do-able? Would the computer swap be straightforward in terms of connectors, inputs from the various sensors, etc.? Would I have to keep my 2.5L lower manifold to keep compatible with the return fuel system?
Basically I'd like to know if there are any other potential problems that already known about - if not, then this should be a heck of a lot simpler than transferring heads from the 2.5L (I don't have SVT cams to take advantage of anyway) and worrying about all the fuel management issues. There is still the complication of the engine change, but a lot of the engine tuning headaches are removed.
In a similar vein, Terry Haines, you mentioned a while ago that the Lincoln LS V6 (extra 10 HP from higher compression) could be an option - any hidden problems going to that engine over the Taurus? Also, you quoted a price of 2k for a new Taurus engine - do you have access to the LS engines also, and if so what would the premium be beyond the Taurus 2k price?
Finally, is there a realistic route to >210 HP (i.e. non superchared, no change in cams). No one doing the 3L with SVT heads seems to be getting even close the the numbers seen by David Z and the Sho Shop and perhaps we shouldn't expect to. In terms of a more complicated route, what are the options in terms of the Jag heads? Any idea what they would cost?
Any feedback appreciated.
Eric
