1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? January 29, 2015, 02:59:59 PM I have been wondering: I have heard of 4 cyl. engines that were modified to produce 1000 H.P. If that is so, how can I go about getting 300 H.P. from a 1987 3.8L engine (rated stock at about 120 H.P.)? Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #1 – January 29, 2015, 03:33:34 PM The 94-95 SC was 230hp/330 ft lbs. from the factory, swap one of those in. Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #2 – January 29, 2015, 04:00:03 PM Start with a 4.2 block from a '97+ truck. add as much money as you can, get a big blower, some nitrous, good pistons, bore the shiznit out of the block, do all the other hot rod tricks, and call morana racing for all the details. I think he's still in business.Keep in mind those 1K horse 4 bangers aren't streetable...and it's going to be expensive to get 300 horses from a 3.8 Esshag and not spit headgaskets..one of the weaknesses of an otherwise fairly decent engine.If the power is the goal, and not so much doing it with a 3.8, I'd suggest dropping in a stroked and poked 5.0, using an aftermarket block so you won't have a custom "two-piece" job as soon as you turn the wick up...Don't forget, even with a 220 horse HO engine in one of these cars, with the shiznitty small brakes and mushy suspension of a 30 year old car...it's scarily apparent how much else has to be brought up to speed to make a well rounded "go" car than can also stop with confidence. Then of course there's the transmission and rear...neither of which will hold up to frequent full throttle blasts with a 300 horse engine.The last 2 cars I've tinkered with, I've started with the brakes and rear....my engine is still on the stand, and it's likely going to fall short of my 300/300 horse/torque goal...but the potential is there should I later add force induction...I've assembled my parts with that end in mind, 255 lb/hour fuel pump, blower friendly cam, and stock compression ratio.One of my friend's brothers is at Procharger, and Steve has one on his car, too, and right now, my engine has better parts than his. His is stock, even down to the TB, and I've got GT40/Cobra heads and intake, and a 65mm TB. Even with the same setup he has, I don't think my combo would be at or above 500 ponies...he's got the 150 horse setup now, but has another pully for it to step that up, though I don't know what PSI he's set at right now.It's all fun and games...till you have to write the checks for it...plan it out, and get good parts to start with. Cheap shiznit will only last so long. No offense if you're set on a V6...they can be made pretty fast, but it will cost you more than it would with a V8. The SC 3.8 is pretty nice, but it's a job getting everything and there's a little light fab work to get it going. A few people here have done it though. If I went that route, I'd again start with a 4.2 truck block and go from there. More inches makes more power. :)Good luck! Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #3 – January 29, 2015, 09:39:41 PM V6power.netPersonally, id swap a newer 3.8-4.0 out of a newer mustang and throw a turbo at it if your dead set on the 3.8.The same money goes farther faster with a 302. Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #4 – January 29, 2015, 10:31:58 PM Quote from: Haystack;443655The same money goes farther faster with a 302.Yeah, the 3.8/4.2 Esshag never got much above boat anchor status as far as horsepower. My 2002 3.8 splitport that's been waiting installation for 5 year now (ouch, lol) is beyond outdated. Current gen 3.5L V6s run 270/300 hp. The 3.8 topped out at 200 horsepower before it was replaced by the 4.0 (also a turd). Go with a 302/347/351! Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #5 – January 29, 2015, 11:27:15 PM 460. D0VE heads. Nice cam, exhaust, intake, carb, CJ 429 heads. 550 horse and easily that much torque without even trying. Weight aside...I'm looking at this for my '84 notch...only I need a 460, the heads, the cam, the carb, the intake, and most of all, the money to do it. Hey, I got the mounts!! Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #6 – January 31, 2015, 05:29:24 PM The best way to make a 3.8 Fox Thunderbird/Cougar faster is to swap in another engine . Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #7 – February 01, 2015, 11:02:44 AM For about 15 minutes, there was a performance aftermarket for the Esshag engine family, now it is gone. Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #8 – February 01, 2015, 12:39:47 PM 15 minutes? Kinda like the 3.8 T-Bird's quarter mile time? Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #9 – February 01, 2015, 02:17:57 PM Quote from: Thunder Chicken;44376215 minutes? Kinda like the 3.8 T-Bird's quarter mile time?Nah, a 2.3 auto Mustang is worse, lol Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #10 – February 01, 2015, 02:39:51 PM But with a 2.3 you could add a turbo and t-5.... Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #11 – February 01, 2015, 09:46:11 PM Turbo a 3.8. Then watch it blow up 100 feet down the road. Replace with a better engine. Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #12 – February 01, 2015, 11:55:29 PM Iirc, the manual used in the SC was the one from the F Series? My last Ranger had the lighter duty version of it, a great trans, but the stock slave cyls are , lol. Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #13 – February 02, 2015, 03:33:52 AM Yeah, the manual behind the SC 3.8 was the Mazda M5. Fairly tough, but not indestructible.And I agree 100% on the slave cylinders. I've replaced enough of them that when I die, I want to haunt to the guy who designed them...LOL. Quote Selected
1987 T-Bird 3.8 performance? Reply #14 – February 02, 2015, 04:27:50 PM I'm still holding the 1 year built 3.8, 88, If someone wants it. Quote Selected
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