Hi everyone. I was recently given a 1990? Lincoln continental by my uncle. It has the 3.8. The head gaskets failed on it about four years ago, and it has been parked since then. Since the cylinder was quite possibly filled with water, the motor is maybe froze up. I was wondering if a 3.0 would bolt up without much trouble. Any help is appreciated.

 

Was that year continental a Front Driver? If so, then a 3.0 from a Taurus may bolt up, but a more fun engine to swap would be a 3.2 from an SHO. If it's not a front-driver, then in theory, you could bolt it in, but you would be swapping computers and likely transmissions too. How about the venerable 5.0?

 

It is a front wheel drive. I think that it will be easier to find another 3.8 because the computer will probably need to be changed. I think that a continental like mine is very much like a taurus, although the only engine available in the lincoln was the 3.8. Thanks for the advice.

 

the 3.8 L (essex) engine is prone to head gasket failure. The Vulcan (3.0L) will bolt-up. The computer would need to be changed if you went to the vulcan.

 

Yeah, I know of many 3.8s with head gasket problems. If the motor is froze up I will look at a 3.0. My sister has a Sable with a 3.0 24V Duratec. Is this motor similar to the Vulcan?

 

The block is different (it's a DOHC as opposed to a OHV), but it will bolt up the the same AX4S or AX4N tranny. Since both the duratec and the vulcan were in the same cars, they should have the same mounts.

EDIT: sorry about the redundant posts. The server was screwed up for a minute.

 

OK, thanks for clearing that up.