Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec Have I screwed up with my engine rebuild?

Bought a 3.0L Sable (Duratec) motor. I've gone back with everything SVT 2.5L. I plugged the coolant passage on the bottom-front driver's side of the 3.0L block. Before the installation scheduled for next week, I need to know if by using the 2.5L head gaskets, I messed up. How about lubrication passages? If you could list the problems I might encounter and the appropriate cure, I would certainly appreciate it.

http://www.svtlightnings.com/go_rila/

You need 3.0 head gaskets - the piston holes in the 2.5's will be too small. All other gaskets should be same between the two motors. I used 2.5 gaskets everywhere else.

Dunno about plugging passages. I bought mine that way.

Does anyone have pictures of the passages that need to be plugged??? Everyone says it's very obvious when you have the two blocks sitting next to each other but I'm a novice and I need some reassurance I'm doing this correctly.

Thanks.

If you have the 3.0 & 2.5 head gaskets next to each other you will see the passages that need to be blocked.

Oh well, looks like I better do a little tear-down next weekend. Regarding oil passage blockage; it appears to me that if the passage diameter is drilled out a little larger, an aluminum plug could be inserted in the hole without requiring a threaded allen-head screw to be inserted. The plug would be trapped between the dead end in the 2'5L head and the block.

The 2.5L heads are a little smaller than on the 3L - you can see the plugged holes with the engine assembled, they don't just meet a blank face on the heads.