I have a 94 Taurus wagon with a 3.0 and the automatic transmossion. We all know the problems that these cars will give you. I'm intrested in doing an engine and trans swap or just a transmission swap. What would you like to see in a taurus?

Some of my ideas:

5.0 with an automatic
4.6 with an automatic
or just swaping out the trans with one of the following
2004 jaguar automatic yes I would like to go rear wheel drive:biggrin:

A V8 and RWD would not a good choice for the Taurus platform, it is not structuraly designed for a RWD or that much power. Unless you have a lot of money (probably tens of thousands of $'s) that you can afford to put into this project, you probably should not even consider it.

For some more detail, search the Engineering/Technical forum (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=670) for keywords "conversion" or maybe "swap."

-Rod

On the TLC channel in an episode of Rides, they show Jay Leno converting a front wheel drive Riviera to RWD. Basically they made a new frame for RWD starting with a new Corvette, then put the body on it. I'd look for a RWD car with the same wheel base and try the body swap. But it will still be pretty expensive as shorod says.

Wasn't it actually a '60's Toronado that they did that to?

-Rod

Yes, you're right, it was a toro. For some reason I was thinking about the funny headlights and the ones on the riv that opened from the middle going to the sides is what I pictured.

I was thinking of puting it on a frame. For some reason I'm stuck on using mustang donor parts. When it runs it's last run. This is when I will start. I think people should remember the taurus and there should be one that gives the others hell:evillol::evillol:

I think people should remember the taurus and there should be one that gives the others hell:evillol::evillol:

Wouldn't that be this... (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/officially-official-2010-ford-taurus-sho/)?

-Rod

If you have your heart set on a RWD, try looking under a early 70s convertible and see how they reinforced the frame to make up for the missing structural support of the roof. Medium walled Square tubing is fairly cheap and you can bend a full cage out of straight role cage tubing using hand tube bender. That would make the body just that..... of no importance.
The only real problems are the suspension mods that would have to be done. That is unless you can get your hands on one of those aluminum Chevy V 8s they use in outboards….. They are basically a small block standing on its end. I forgot what brand outboard they sold them as, but I saw one in an Omni that was quite stunning. If you are good with a tape-measure, and scrounging parts, I bet that you could do the swap for less than 5gs with access to a mig, or even a stick welder if you have talent.

I was thinking of tieing the two sub frams together with tubing and by welding. Maybe cross tieing the two outer pieces together with an x type tubing and using an independent rear end so that the driveshaft would not be an issue. The mustang used an IRS in 95 or 97 cobra models so that would be an options.