What the 3.0 Aerostar Needs is...

[jottoh12]

Originally Posted by 96_4wdr the SHO 4 cyl is rare best to go a 4L Aero V6 from later model w tranny. far more take off torque, easy on gas and cheap compared to the hi pro exotics. parts are easy to find and cheap also If I go this route, Is it most likely a direct fit to an 89? I have found a donor AWD, a 94 I think. Can use some or all its parts or should I find a 2WD donor? Forgive all the questions but I have never seen (crawled under and through) anything but older aerostars and am unsure what frame/body changes have occured.Thanks in advance for your time.

[xlt4wd90]

The later model SHO Taurus had a 3.2 or 3.4 liter v8. Now there's a compact v8, but again, the heads and intake would be too big to fit in the Aero's engine compartment.

[93nighthawk]

Originally Posted by jottoh12

If I go this route, Is it most likely a direct fit to an 89? I have found a donor AWD, a 94 I think. Can use some or all its parts or should I find a 2WD donor? Forgive all the questions but I have never seen (crawled under and through) anything but older aerostars and am unsure what frame/body changes have occured.Thanks in advance for your time.

I would go with a clean 3.0L Aero. The 3.0/3.2L SHO block will bolt right up to the tranny and motor mounts without any modification (it's lower exterior is the same as the 3.0L in the Aero.) The only modification you would need to do is the wiring engine harness, and make room for the heads/intake.

The 3.4L is a whole nother beast. I personally would not touch a used one. To many of the used ones have bent valves and pistons. It is also based on the 2.5/3.0L Duratech engine found in the Taurus SLO's and Contours. You would be looking at more modifications to the tranny and motor mounts.

[peganit2]

I thought I'd never see an Aerostar forum but here it is! Cooool.
Unlike Aerostars

I love my Aerostar. Smooth, reliable, peppy enough and I think it's a good looking little vehicle. And it's WAAAAAAAAAAAAy better then my buddies AstroVan.

The only thing the Aerostar needs is a comeback. I'd get another one.

I saw an ebay ad once for an Aerostar with a 5.0L HO 5spd!
It took a lot of fab work but it was done nice. Wild. You could get away with murder in that thing.

I think there's more room in there than it looks like. A V6 SHO might fit without cutting it up.

I'm not touching mine. I like it just the way it is.

[V8aerostar]

i love mine too. first car, BUT im currently putting a 302 in mine. with a holley 4bbl carb