SHO powered Fox

[Peganit2]

FWIW, my mom had an early 1986 Aerostar.

Transmission was replaced 3 times.

We sold it when the transmission started slipping a 4th time.

Maybe just really bad luck but I wouldn't put anything stronger than a hamster wheel in front of one.

-Mike

Maybe I'll go with the later trannys then. My 96 Aerostar has 129,000 on the original trans. Seems to be fine.

Knock on wood.

All moot anyway. I'm selling the 83 vert that the SHO auto was going into.

[Peganit2]

Any progress?

I thought I had a lead on a REALY cheap Ranger 5 speed. panned out.

I have to do this on a squeaky tight budget for two reasons. One, it's highly experimental and I have a hard time putting a lot of money into an experiment and reason number two, I have a hard time putting money into ANY of my projects!

Being cheap and being broke go together well.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Man this is an awesome project. I see those SHO V6's in the junkyard all the time and it's such a shame because they're such cool engines.

[mfpmax]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RWD-B...QQcmdZViewItem

[Peganit2]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RWD-B...QQcmdZViewItem

Thats tempting. It looks like an early Aerostar manual tranny bellhousing. I think I need to do some research.

[negusm]

The problem with the transmission was the overdrive. There was something in it that would sheer off after so many miles.

-Mike

[Peganit2]

The problem with the transmission was the overdrive. There was something in it that would sheer off after so many miles.

-Mike

You mean the early manual 5 speed? I wouldn't even consider that one. That is one odd duck.

If I were to get this bellhousing I would look into fitting a T-5 to it somehow. But from the picture it doesn't look easy.

[negusm]

You mean the early manual 5 speed? I wouldn't even consider that one. That is one odd duck.

If I were to get this bellhousing I would look into fitting a T-5 to it somehow. But from the picture it doesn't look easy.

This was an automatic transmission 1986 aerostar.

-Mike

[80 Capri]

My grandpa bought a '86 Aerostar new. Went 185k miles without a problem. It was a 5 speed manual though (I don't know that I've ever seen another manual trans Aerostar). He has a '93 now with 336k miles with an auto trans. The trans was rebuilt at 215k, but otherwise the van has been problem free aside from a little rear differential whine that started up around 150k, but has yet to have any ill effects.

[Peganit2]

I did some playing today out in the pole barn.

I got excited by this;

This stock Ranger 2300 5 speed is bolted to my SHO mockup motor!

The two locator dowel screw holes look like they put the trans right where it belongs. I didn't do anything to the holes.

Some welding and machining to do. No biggy.

This could be an issue. But only if the starter gets in the way of the reciprocating assembly. Mini starter maybe? I don't have a loose 2300 starter yet.

This is what happens when the manifold is turned around and placed on the original sealing surfaces. Hood clearance will dictate what I do here.

Very promising.

But this is a dumb setup. I bought this trans Saturday thinking about the right side starter and the small bellhousing pattern, and how easy it would be to convert this to a clutchfork setup. It was a quicky side purchase and a good deal on the trans so I snapped it up. But THEN it occurred to me on the way home that if you're going to modify a 2300 bell housing you might as well use a T-5 bellhousing! DOHHHH!!!!!!! Already a clutchfork bellhousing and the shifter is already in the right place .

And I have one of those! Still in the 87 hatch though.

This might be easy for me.

[mfpmax]

That and the odd shifter placement of the Ranger transmission.

[Peganit2]

That and the odd shifter placement of the Ranger transmission.

Exactly, but I was going to look into the SC Thunderbird trans. They appear to be the same trans as the Ranger and the shifter is in the right place. Swap the SC tailshaft and shifter mechanism onto the Ranger trans.

All moot now!

FYI my son and I measured the difference between the Mustang T-5 shifter and the Ranger's, and the Rangers is 9" farther forward. The shifter would be under the dashboard.

[mfpmax]

Yeah the SC is a mazda tranny too. When the Ranger guys put T5s in their trucks they gotta goto regular seats or cut a area out of their bench seats....or a rreally funny looking long shifter.

[Peganit2]

Yeah the SC is a mazda tranny too. When the Ranger guys put T5s in their trucks they gotta goto regular seats or cut a area out of their bench seats....or a rreally funny looking long shifter.

Kind of like the original Cobra.

[samickguy15]

A buddy of mine is contemplating and probably going to do the SHO/Fox swap also. I'd love to do it also. I'd want to use the V-8 though. Just because...Find a good lower mileage, weld the cams, make some headers, bell, etc. and give her hell. Then there's that stupid intake issue...

[48fordnut]

awesome improv. keep up the good work.

[Peganit2]

I've been in my polebarn with my son working on this swap and getting at the 2300 T-5 in my 87 Aero hatch. We pretty much have the engine and transmission completely unhooked and it will be coming out tomorrow.

Two things confirmed today.

One, California cars are NICE to work on. All the bolts broke loose and spun off by hand.

And two, this swap isn't for the faint of heart. It's going to take a lot of fab work and modifications.

I think it's gonna be worth it when I'm hittin 7000 rpm in 4 gears. 4 valve motors are intoxicating. And SHO motors are beautiful.

I love the one in my SHO Taurus.

[Peganit2]

I'll have pics posted at the end of the weekend but after working on the swap Thursday I found six important details.

1. The stock 87 2300 full size starter WILL NOT work. The Bendix unit interferes with the block.

There are two possible solutions.

#1. Hopefully the late model 2300 mini-starter's solenoid is on
the bottom or clockable. I'm going to the parts store today to check it out.

#2. Make an adapter plate for the stock SHO mini starter. This will definitely work, but I don't prefer to do it.

Depends on pricing though. I can make an adapter for cheap, and a mini- starter may cost several hundred bucks. Anyone familiar with 2300 mini-starters?

2. If you refer back to the first mock-up pics, you can see that this is in my 85 coupe with a 2000 modular K-member in it. It fit.

Trying to put it in the 87, with the stock 87 2300 K-member, I had to take the oil pan off to get it in. It don't fit. The 2000 K-member's steering rack is lower and the K-member appears to be smaller, fore/aft. I'll take pics before I switch the engine/trans back over to the 85.

A tubular K-member would make this a non-issue.

3. The flywheel, clutch and pressure plate appear to be a non issue. That looks to be a bolt on situation. I'll know for sure by the end of the weekend.

4. The stock SHO flywheel is HEEEEAAAAVVVVYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want a light-weight alternative. I'll live with it if I can't get one for a reasonable price.

5. I have to make headers. No combination of stock manifolds work. The passenger side will clear the car, but exits pointing at the starter. The driver side isn't even close to being able to fit. Can't even put them on upside down.

6. There looks be plenty of hood clearance.

Not a swap for the faint of heart.

[jonas1022]

Just a thought. The flywheel is very heavy for a reason, like maybe without the extra wieght it causes the engine to not run as smooth? Maybe even cause some very much unwanted vibrations?

[mfpmax]

Provides...uh...don't remember the term, but without it you'd have to rev it more to get it going. Want to say Inertia.

[Peganit2]

Inertia is the right term.

It is a small motor and the flywheel is heavy to make driveability easier for general driving in the general SHO Taurus.

This combo is neither. I want it to rev quick. There is a BIG difference in acceleration using a light flywheel.

60 degree V6's are fine with vibration, it's the 90 degree's that suck.

Speaking of vibration, when me and my son took the 2300 out of the 87 we found 3 missing bell housing bolts and one more was loose! The two that were tight were on the same side of the bellhousing! There are six bolts on the 2300 bell housing.

I didn't notice before because I never had to work on the car. And who checks their bell housing bolts?

[Peganit2]

I didn't get a chance to work on the swap today, but I noticed something while I was out there in the polebarn.

Looks like my High Boy 4X4.


The sweet thing about this is that the SHO motor and T-5 are resting in the car. I didn't expect this. It had a slight downward rake with the 2300, and now it's slightly up. It's setting about 3 to 4 inches higher then it was. Sure the radiator and battery aren't in it, but my 170lb brother knealed on the front bumper and he only dropped it to level.

This is the clincher. I'm doing this swap no matter what it takes.

Oh, and I checked out the late model mini-starter and it looks like it would work. The solenoid is on top but it is quite a bit shorter in overall height then the full sized starter. But at $120, I'm not gambling with a new one.

[martin0660]

#1. Hopefully the late model 2300 mini-starter's solenoid is on
the bottom or clockable. I'm going to the parts store today to check it out.

It is on the top. The only one I have is on the car, but I dont think it can be clocked because of the nose casting. See here for reference........

.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-...spagenameZWDVW

Bob Myers

[frebaln01]

Fantastic project. What do you guess the overall weight will be? hopefully a little lighter than an SHO. My black 91 mtx feels heavy. BTW, was your 80 Capri a fourced fox? Keep us posted this one is very cool!

[Peganit2]

The early Fox Mustang Coupe with the 2300's title weight was a little under 2500lbs. The ones I had were strippers. No accesories of any kind.

Looks like this is going into my 85 Coupe, and that thing is a stripper. Some of the tin is a little heavier in the 85 vs the earlier ones, but I think I have it down pretty close to the weight of the early ones. Maybe 100lbs heavier.

Then add some weight for the heavier SHO motor, and my guess is under 2800lbs. I'm not sure but I think a usually fully loaded SHO Taurus is about a 3400lb+ car.

I'm keeping the lighter weight 7.5 rear end, and getting at least a 4.11 to 1 gearset.

Nope the Capri had a stone stock 2300 with a 4 speed when I sold it.