Good Idea, or Great Idea?

"Makoyouidiot" (makaan12) 01/25/2018 at 13:28 • Filed to: Project Cars, Found on Craigslist, Ford Mustang

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A foxbody with a GM 3800 supercharged engine in it? Neat. I assume it’s GM anyway, as I’m unaware of other 3.8l supercharged engines.

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HammerheadFistpunch > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:34

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Ford Essex motor with a supercharger? EDIT: yeah, the thunderbird supercoupe had a supercharged version of this engine.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:35

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Engine is installed but needs finished.

CL for I couldn’t make it work. CP

jimz > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:36

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1989 Thunderbird SC/ Cougar XR7

Party-vi > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:36

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The engine is from a Thunderbird Super Coupe, Ford’s 3.8L Essex V6 with a blower on it. 210HP - 230HP depending on year, and oodles of torque. Odd they didn’t just rebuild the 5.0L into something nice, but I guess dropping a junk yard engine into this fox body was easier than a complete rebuild.

Future next gen S2000 owner > HammerheadFistpunch 01/25/2018 at 13:37

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89-95 Thunderbird Supercoupe.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:39

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Anything with a 3800SC is a good idea.

But Ford did make a 3.8L V6 and while I don’t know if they ever sold a supercharged version it shouldn’t be impossible to do.

jimz > Party-vi 01/25/2018 at 13:40

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if it’s your typical craigslist schnook, he probably had an older carb/TBI 3.8 and thought he could put the MN12 intake stuff on it.

CobraJoe > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:42

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$1600 for an unfinished engine swap with a questionable body and no interior? Hard pass.

Plus, a 5.0 would be more robust than the 3.8SC, and a T5 was too weak for a stock Thunderbird SC, so long term reliability is definitely a worry with this setup.

LOREM IPSUM > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 13:52

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Make it a grand and we’re talking. I’d buy it just to see how much boost it can take before grenading.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 14:09

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These engines were turds.

Makoyouidiot > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/25/2018 at 15:31

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Ouch.

Makoyouidiot > LOREM IPSUM 01/25/2018 at 15:32

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ALL THE BOOST. Till it blows, anyway.

Makoyouidiot > CobraJoe 01/25/2018 at 15:33

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I dunno, I’d almost prefer the no interior bit, the original stuff was probably disgusting. Slap some cheap racing seats in there, figure out what parts the guy forgot to save when he got the engine, somehow make it all work, and then drive it till it explodes.

Makoyouidiot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/25/2018 at 15:34

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Several other commenters mentioned a Thunderbird Super Coupe that I hadn’t previously heard of. I love learning new stuff!

Makoyouidiot > Party-vi 01/25/2018 at 15:34

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More interesting, at least. And nice to find out about a Ford engine I hadn’t previously known about!

Makoyouidiot > jimz 01/25/2018 at 15:35

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Super Cool (Coupe)

Makoyouidiot > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/25/2018 at 15:36

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or CL speak for “Wife said it’s me or the car and I’m not quite as dumb as she thinks”

Makoyouidiot > HammerheadFistpunch 01/25/2018 at 15:36

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Now it’s even weirder. I want it.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 15:39

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They pop gaskets at an alarming rate.

Makoyouidiot > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/25/2018 at 15:42

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So Ford thought bolting on a supercharger was a good idea. American ingenuity!

CobraJoe > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 16:01

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Ripping out an interior is not that difficult, but buying a new interior to stuff in there is always going to be more expensive and more difficult than cleaning up what’s already there.

Even using cheap seats will add about $600 to the total price (unless you want those unpadded poly seats, but even stock seats are more comfortable than those). Plus a bit for the mounting hardware. Plus a bit for getting everything to work (Plus a lot if major components are missing). It’s not exactly a cheap “Slap it together and drive it” project.

Besides, there are two V8 foxes on my local CL priced well under $3000 with some good performance parts. One is cammed and one has a 351, so for the total cost you could have a more reliable V8 with more power and installed in a driving vehicle.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Makoyouidiot 01/25/2018 at 16:31

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I think they were fairly reliable without the blower actually, just not very good.

Makoyouidiot > CobraJoe 01/26/2018 at 09:37

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Eh, V8's. I’m much more intrigued by a blown v6 or straight 6 than I ever will be by a v8, tbh.

CobraJoe > Makoyouidiot 01/26/2018 at 10:19

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Fair point, but I have driven a Thunderbird SC on a test drive... that supercharged 3.8 is a rather tame way of making the same power. Add in the extra complexity and headgasket issues, and there’s a reason why the 3.8 isn’t used by hot rodders very often.

Now, if it was a GM 3800, or a 300 I6, or even a turbo 2.3L I4, I’d say the price is still a bit high, but go for it.

That 3.8 SC is a lot of work for an interesting engine with no advantages. (And I even loved the 3.8L V6 I had in my ‘84 Mustang.)