To swap in a 1990 Thunderbird SC motor in my 2000? I love my car but the miles are getting up there. If it's plausible and doable, I'll do it. I've got 2 SC motors. If it's way too much trouble, I'm going to do a 4.2 with a Windstar intake.

 

It's completely doable, but maybe a little illegal because of emissions standards in some states, but if you live in a state like I do, Louisiana, that could give a rats *** less, then you're fine. But keep in mind, you need more than just the motor, you need the complete wiring harness, ecu, cooling system, and a few other things to do the job. In other words, you need a donor t-bird.

 

Not something I'd waste time with. Use the bottom end, split port heads, good upper/lower and slap a blower on it.

 

We don't do emissions in my county in NC and I do have everything. Isn't it a different fuel system though?

 

Get the 4.2 with the Windstar intake. Sell one of the SC motors if you need the money to buy the 4.2.

 

I don't like selling engines. Haha. I want the torque of the supercharged engine more than anything. I'd rather rebuild an engine I already have than build an engine I'll have to buy. Who knows? If I happen upon a good low-mileage 4.2, I'll jump on it. Otherwise, I'm still wanting to do the SC swap.

And couldn't I just use the 3.8 wiring harness? They're the same motors. And all that's going to the supercharger are vacuum lines. I just have to know if it is the same fuel system. The splitport uses a return-style line, does it not?

 

Do like lilroush said and use the bottom end of the supercoupe engine get some split port heads and throw the eaton m112.

 

your best and cheapest bet would be to get a low milage 4.2 out of a wrecked f/E-150 and swap it in

 

I've seen that, and I was intrigued at first. But then I thought: The M112 adds A LOT of weight to the front end and that weight is up high from pictures I've seen. The whole reason I love my car is because it has better balance and lighter weight than a GT and I want to keep that weight as far down as possible.

New question. What power can I expect from a cammed, tuned, and Windstar swap and longtubes on a 4.2

Also, if I get one that needs a rebuild, I'm gonna go high-compression and metal headgaskets.

So, with a 10:1 4.2 w/ cam, headers, windstar intake, and tune, what can I expect? 250-270?

 

Not much weight added with the M112 set up. And weight trade off for power gain is well worth it. I wouldn't run that set up on an open track car if it didn't have good results.


To answer your questions, the 99-04 cars use a returnless fuel system, so you'd need to compensate for that if you do the swap. You'll also want to swap over a lot of the electronics if you can.

Well built N/A 4.2L cars can put down upper 200's for hp and tq. I think mine was like 247/256 or something @ the wheels with a blower cam and low comp set up. It's been so long I don't remember.