Have any of you stuffed a 3.8 V-6 under the hood of a 53,54,55? If so
are you happy with the preformance.
Come April I'll be moveing and the commute turns into 50 miles each way.
Still want to drive the effie. but 10 mpg won't cut it. (besides its a chance to re-do)

Don

 

Exactly which motor are you thinking of using? I have been thinking about the 3800 V6 from a 1989 Oldmobile Cutlass Cierra. The car weighs just as much as my truck and it runs great. It also has Multiport fuel injection and is made to run at a lower rpm since the car has an overdrive. I am not quite sure about the transmission. I was hoping a T5 from an S-10 might work. Maybe a GMC truck uses that motor?

 

Christopher, Ford also had a 3.8L V-6 that they used in the Mustangs and Windstars.

 

OOps I might have said the "O" word by mistake.

 

With that long of a commute I would buy a cheap fuel efficient car and not wear out my beloved truck. Heck you can get small cars that get 40 mpg it might pay for itself in gas with the prices these days.

 

Id go with the O engine before a Ford 3.8! Check around on Taurus and TBird forums, they are notorious for head problems as well as eating the mated automatic trannies. OTOH, the Ford 3.0 is a workhorse.

But in a truck Id look at something above 4 liter, Im not sure what all is available in Fords.

 

Merc is right, both pretty much suck, although Ford has pumped up the very latest Mustang V6's to about 200 HP. The later Explorers have a decent 4.0L. The GM 3800 is a smooth, proven engine, but you'd have to find one out of a Camaro to get the RWD mounting, and it wasn't made for truck duty. Maybe a 4.3?

Weight isn't the only factor in MPG; the truck has the aerodynamics of a brick. If you're on the highway, I wouldn't expect more than 18 no matter what. IMHO even a 302 would feel sluggish unless geared down, you need torque.

 

awww come on....be a big man and go with the 5.0 V8, haha.....you should get 20 if u play the tranny and the rearend right....thats what im hopin for anyway, and with like 2.71 rear ends, its really possible....besides, with a fuel economic car, ud never look as cool as u would if u were drivin the effie......

 

Thanks guys. You are probably right H.F. go with a 5.0, AOD,and 3.0 rear gear,or buy a hybred. Lord that ain't cool though. I went to 1 piece glass so I could streach out my arm and get that just right "laid back attitude " drivin stance.
Ought not screw every thing up by puttin in some little bitty v-6.

Don