"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
06/17/2016 at 10:54 • Filed to: SHO, Yamah, Ford
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"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
06/17/2016 at 10:54 • Filed to: SHO, Yamah, Ford | 4
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Ford had a new toy in the late 80s, the 3.0 Yamaha V6. We all know where it ended, but why they had it in the first place was due to a stillborn project called the GN34. But do we know why it was canceled, or what else the V6 nearly powered?
So what was it that killed the GN34 project? The Ford Explorer. Yes the SUV was becoming the statement vehicle for all urban and suburbanite buyers and Ford didn’t want to miss the opportunity. So they canceled the deal with Roush to build a mid-engine car to make sure that soccer moms everywhere could back over the landscaping with the confidence and surefootedness of a 4WD vehicle.
So what to do with the outstanding order of 3.0L V6s ready and waiting from Yamaha?
Well, Ford had a few ideas. The most well known is the Taurus SHO. I won’t linger on the details, but to say it was a popular success among enthusiasts would be an understatement. Around this time, Ford began to think of other projects to drop these engines into. The engineers, seemingly, really liked the modern V6 over the then-current, dogged 5.0L. With the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! happening, and rumors of turbocharged Sonomas in the works on the other side of town, Ford thought, ‘Hey, maybe we should stick these 220 HP fire-breathers into our compact truck and see what the people think.”
And they did just that. Here is the clippings of a quick article:
Thought I would share. Happy Friday!
The Stig's former college room mate
> PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/17/2016 at 10:57 |
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Why has no one done this swap yet? I see plenty of 302-powered Rangers. This is much cooler
S65
> PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/17/2016 at 11:07 |
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I wish we got the GN34 instead
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PotbellyJoe and 42 others
> S65
06/17/2016 at 11:12 |
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The test mule was full bonkers.
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> The Stig's former college room mate
06/17/2016 at 11:31 |
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It was done nearly 20 years ago for a race/short course trophy truck:
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The Stig's former college room mate
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/17/2016 at 12:50 |
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That is rather awesome, but i was thinking something more stock appearing.
Amoore100
> PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/17/2016 at 13:11 |
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Damn it! I was looking for the GN34 last night because it was another one of Ford’s grille-less cars from that era but for the life of me I could not remember what it was called...so thanks for jogging my memory a bit!
0pihl
> PotbellyJoe and 42 others
06/17/2016 at 13:12 |
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How about the Shogun? The SHO package installed in the back seat of a Festiva? Seven were made and I actually saw one in Albany, California in the early 90s.
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PotbellyJoe and 42 others
> 0pihl
06/17/2016 at 13:20 |
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I had a blurb in my write up about them, but pulled it as I was trying to get to the Ranger, but yes, awesome little cars.