Does anyone know much about a factory original 3.8 L V6? I have one I purchased from the government and can't find much research. It was built in 83 and 84. Not very popular and very rare now.

Thanks.

 

You are right, not very popular. It's basically the old 3.8 that they put in some of the mustangs, not very much power and a poor engine for a large pickup. Do some research, but I think a 302 will bolt up to that tranny.

 

Wow. I've never seen one. Pictures?

 

I thought 82 was the last year for the 3.8 v6 along with the 255 v8.

I had one in a 2wd reg cab flareside w a 4 speed. It was pretty peppy. Would out run 300 6 cyl all day long. Dont know how it would of done w a load though

 

Welcome to FTE

3.8L V6 (232 cid) introduced in 1982, there were FWD and RWD versions.

1982/89 installed in: 1982 RWD Continental Sedan & Granada / 1982/83 F100 (but not in F150's) / 1983/86 Mustang/Capri & LTD/Marquis / 1983/89 Thunderbird/Cougar / 1988/89 FWD Taurus/Sable/Continental Sedan.

Installed in 1990's Taurus/Sable/Continental Sedan, Thunderbird/Cougar, but I've misplaced the microfiche slide that covers 1990/2001 Passenger Car engines, so I don't know the last year it was used.

The bad news: This engine was a terd from day one. We used to call it the miracle engine, because if the timing cover didn't rot out before 40,000 miles, if the head gaskets didn't blow before 70,000 miles...it was a miracle!

The valve covers seeped oil from day one. Ford changed the valve covers and gasket designs several times, was never able to solve the problem.

In 1983, I bought a new LTD Brougham (Fox body, replaced the 1981/82 Granada, also a Fox). I went with the 200 I-6 (last year it was available) due to all the warranty issues we were having w/the 3.8L.

 

So you are saying the 3.8 v6 was never offered in a F-series?

 

That's kind of weird to hear. I had an '86 T-bird that had the 3.8 in it and it was a great little engine. Yeah, once you hit 5 grand, it sounded like it was going to come apart, but it pulled pretty good for what it was. A buddy of mine bought a brand new camaro in the mid 90's, I think about '94 and that had a 3.8 also (GM motor, duh). One day on the way to work, we met up at a light and raced, every thing we had and he couldn't pull from me. I had a little over 150,000 miles at the time. I pulled the motor at 185,000, as it was still running great, but was making an awful noise. Come to find out it was the flexplate that had cracked around the crank bolts. Pulled it apart and could not find a thing wrong with it. Cylinders were in great shape, bearings nice yet, nothing wrong with it. I bet that little motor would have gone at least another 50,000. Oh, and I beat the CRAP out of that car, and over 100,000 miles I put on it, and it didn't leak a drop.


Just my experience though.

 

(sigh) I never said any such thing. What I did say was:
There is no 1980/89 Ford Truck Parts Catalog listing for an F150 with the 3.8L V6.

1980/83 F100: Ford advertised these as a "Light Truck." Some have, among other things: "Swiss Cheese" frames, 5 lug 4.50" bolt circle wheels, the only F Series truck to use this pattern.

Some have 10" x 2 1/2" rear brakes (exclusive to these trucks only), some have 11" x 2 1/4" rear brakes (as do all 1975/96 F150's, 1968/79 F100's). Have different suspension and shocks than like F150's.

Limited options were available, for examples, there were no Super Cabs or 4WD's. The largest available V8 was the 302 2V, also offered was the anemic 255 2V, 300 I-6, 3.8L V6.

F100 4.50" bolt circle: Passenger Car wheels with a like pattern will not fit, as they won't clear the calipers.

It's real EZ to sit back and say: "I never had any trouble with the 3.8L." But how many of y'all worked at FoMoCo dealerships back then as a mechanic or partsman?

Prolly none. I was a Ford partsman for 35 years (1962/97), so I know the associated problems with the 3.8L and the AOD, the worst terd of an A/T FoMoCo ever offered.

Worse than the A4LD...and that's saying something!

 

Ok. I follow ya now

 

I typed the 3.8L in the year sequence/vehicles it was installed in, so 1982/83 F100 came after 1982 Continental Sedan and Granada.

 

Yes it is easy for me to say. I had zero problems with the one I had. I was just stating my personal experience. Even though they may have had many problems, that doesn't make them all junk.

 

I have worked in manufacturing/machine assembly line repair for 25 years. Though none of that was in the automotive industry, the comments given out in the forum are familiar to me. This engine and it's problems would be labeled not having a "robust" design. I will translate that for you in real-world terms; It can't be thrown together on a assembly line with all it's tolerances and errors, and be expected to give good service. And the experiences in this thread with this engine bears that out. Some of them were thrown together and it all "turned out right" and others were thrown together, and it added up before they left that they were doomed for a short life, and were destined for the dealer's garages.

A robust design can stand up to the tolerances experienced on the assembly line, and still live a long life. Believe it or not, there will still be some failures, and that is factored in to the equation. Yes, they expect a certain precentage of failures when they build engines, cars, trucks, kitchen cabinets, medical products, been there, seen the paperwork on the last two.

 

Primary problem with the 3.8L V6 was the torque-to-yield head bolts. By the time the heads were *properly* torqued down, these bolts were stretched. Over time, the thousands of hot/cold cycling from normal use of the engine led to the bolts further weakening, until the inevitable happened and the head gasket started leaking.
Replacing a head gasket, without using new bolts, would result in a repeat failure in very short order.
Years ago, my buddy rebuilt a 3.8L for a T-bird "super coupe" (supercharged) and I recommended using ARP studs. ARP didn't offer a kit at the time, so he gave them the specs, and they sent him the studs. The next new catalog ARP sent out, had a listing for 3.8L SC engines......
He never had any head gasket issues with that engine, right up till the day the engine caught fire thanks to a PS leak and untimely short on the alt plug.......

 

Dear numberdummy,
I appreciate your service to The Ford Company, and your knowledge, I have read your advice many times. When I went to get the fuel pump at O'Rielley's it was in the computer listed as a V-6. I am having trouble posting pics from my smart phone, I will try my regular camera. I am also having it appraised, but with all of these issues I am afraid to drive it. The appraisal Co. I am using said in good condition it is worth $8k, making it a museum piece.

 

Do not go by figures from appraisals, as these figures are taken from the NADA Value Guide...which is as worthless as teats on a mule...and has been since it was first published.

These figures are based on advertisements gleened from newspapers, Hemmings Motor News and etc. These figures are averaged out from what peeps are ASKING for vehicles, NOT what they actually sold for.

The bottom line is, these trucks are money pits, are not rare, so...they are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them!