v6 to v8 swap, how hard?

[Exrider434]

I have a 96' Bird with the 3.8 motor in it and i cracked the oil pan on it the other day and figured since im gonna have to pull the motor to swap oil pans, id look into a v8 swap, as i feel the v6 lacks some power lol.

Anyone know what it'd take to sawp a v8 in there from another bird, crown vic, grand marquis or any of them? I know there are quite a few models with the 4.6 in it and just wondered what it would take to do it!

Thanks alot!

[fusion+]

Exrider434, like most things, its doable but you gotta ask yourself is it worth it? You would have to include a V-8's transmission with the swap, because the bell housings aren't the same, the motor mounts are different, the cars computer would have to be changed out, the exhaust system. I wouldn't want to tackle the job unless I had lots of free time.

[nrschaaf]

Exhaust? HA Who needs exhaust?

It is actually a big job though, I've helped on a few mustang motor swaps. With enough man power, the right tools, and all the RIGHT parts on hand it could be done in an afternoon, but two guys could get it done in a weekend at a comfortable pace. If your going high performance though I'd recomend doing something to bolster up the driveline though. Stronger driveshaft maybe a better rear, but I suppose that all depends on whats in there too.

[zpn_by]

The engine shouldn't have to be totally yanked for the oil pan should it? Because it's single-sump there should be clearance to remove it if the engine is lifted up 2-3 inches and the mounts held up with 2x4's... Besides - while engine swaps are fun, character-building exercises they are a major PAIN on EEC-V cars. The auto trans should be the same either way since the 4R70W was a pretty stout unit by 1996. The bellhousing bolt pattern should be the same between the 3.8 and 4.6 (I could be wrong about that one, but it would cost Ford crazy money to design a new transmission case when the 5.0 and 4.6 used the same transmissions in 1991-93) but the real nasty part would be the wiring harness and the computer. In some cases, even the fuel pump may have to be changed because the flow rates could be different - on the fox chassis the mustang 5.0 used an 88 LPH pump and the 88 tbird 3.8 used a 64LPH pump, so you could starve a V8 if using a V6 pump. Could be worthwhile to do the swap, especially since the 3.8 was a dog to begin with, but you've got to be ready for what you're getting into. BTW, the driveshaft was the same for V6 and V8 cars in that year, as was the axle ratio and the differential housing - the only difference was that the V8 cars got Traction-lok.