I want the motor, but not the SC body

[RickwithaTbird]

I know it has been asked a BAZILLION times, but I've never seen it asked quite this way. My car was wrecked, and now I am looking for another 96 that has no motor. I want an SC motor. I dont want the 95 body style. I dont like it as much, or any other body style for that matter. Everytime somebody wants an SC motor everyone says, "buy an actual SC." I like the 96 body. I only want the 96. Im Jet-Set on it. Can an SC motor be installed into an engineless 96, or is it still too hard? Is there too much to explain and I should look at a link? I have looked through the tccoa forums, and they lose me in all their discussions. I hate to be the guy that asks this question again, but I just couldnt tell. I cant install a motor... never done it. I have to pay someone. How much would I expect to pay to have somebody do it, including the price of the motor? I really want to know. Please dont tell me to just buy an SC and save myself time and money. If it cant be done then I will just stick with N/A 3.8 or drop a 5.0. Thanks and Sorry.... Rick

[J_ROC812004]

lol just buy an sc just kidding i have no idea bud i would think that u could put one into a 96

[J_ROC812004]

lol just buy an sc just kidding i have no idea bud i would think that u could put one into a 96

[thunderbird muscle]

If you want to go this route your going to need both the 96 and an SC doner car to strip all of the parts off of. You will need all of the wirring to go along with it so it will probably cost a good bit but if you have it then go for it. I would prefer to put a supercharger on a V8 and let it ride, but thats just my opinion.

[DMS825]

I know what you mean about the body styles. I'd rather have a 96 SC if Ford had made one. As far as swapping the SC motor into a 96, sure if you've got the $$$ to burn, it can be done. If you're expecting a big settlement from your accident, that might not be a bad way to spend it to have a car that was really unique. You are just pi$$ing the money away, because you'd never get it back out of the car, but hey - you can't take it with you can you?

[8ate8]

Ford did make a 96 SC in Mexico. They also made the SC Cougar up to 95.

[RickwithaTbird]

Well, I guess I'll have to go to mexico and get one... nah j/k

actually, I dont know, I'd like to have my 96 be a SC, but I think my money would go further if I just find a V8 and put a 5.0 in it. How hard would that be?

[fmfgnarly]

not hard at all, even easier if you use a carb instead of making it FI(wiring). if you get right down to it, the entire swap can be done in less than a week (skill is a big facter here)

[flewthecoupe]

What about buying a '95 SC and putting on a '96 front and rear end. Yeah it won't be a '96, but it'll look like it.

[J_ROC812004]

except for the molding on the side

[flewthecoupe]

Transplant them too

[RickwithaTbird]

Well, I plan to have my liscense plate transferred and it says Ricks 96, and my dashmat says Ricks 96, (which by the way I still havent seen yet, but Im sure its at my house in ohio). And I think that both projects would cost about the same, after buying and painting all the parts for a 96 front end, and moldings... I would just much rather actually have another "Rick's 96". Plus now I am thinking about going 5.0 with a carb. Easy mods, easy to find parts, beautiful roar. I plan to make my car a show car, (off topic) man, Ive got so many things I wanna do to my next t bird. Especially since I will be able to take apart my wrecked one and get to know the nitty gritty that I wasnt able to get to before w/o worrying if I can put it back together. Anyways, I've tossed it around in my head a zillion times, and I think I do wanna go with a carburated 5.0, and get a cheap daily driver so I can turn my t bird into the pimpin ass sunday driver, and eventually strictly a show car. Gimme a few years at most, and I will have another famous bird. If all goes well with the settlement, then it shouldnt be that long. Anyways, ive strolled a bit off topic, I may re open this thread in a few weeks with questions about my new 5.0 motor. Thanks guys...

Rick

[njdjh2o]

You can put a SC in a 1996 Bird. Just as long as FORD didn't make any changes. You have to find that out. But if FORD didn't make any changes you can swap the engines. Most automaker keep the same engines in the car for about 4 years top.

Just like my 2001 Pontiac Grand Am. It didn't come with power windows but the connections was there, so I went to the salvage yard and pick up four door with power windows and it was a plug and play.

So even though your car doesn't have the SC on it, all the connections are there. So all you have to do is get the wiring diagram and have it traced to the SC motor and there you go.

A good running engine (WITH A PRESSURE TEST DONE) should run you about $1000.00 then to have somebody to install it about another $1500.00.

I would take it to a engine/performance shop to have it install, because they would know what you are trying to do. If you take it to any place else they probably mess it up.

[8ate8]

Originally Posted by njdjh2o

You can put a SC in a 1996 Bird. Just as long as FORD didn't make any changes. You have to find that out. But if FORD didn't make any changes you can swap the engines.

...

So even though your car doesn't have the SC on it, all the connections are there. So all you have to do is get the wiring diagram and have it traced to the SC motor and there you go.

It's not that simple. Yes Ford didn't really make many changes with the 3.8 in all it's years, but the SC engine is completely different internally. You can't just slap on the super chargerer and call it a day.

[8ate8]

Plus the fun task of rewiring the computer. 3.8ls were OBDI until 96 when they switched to OBDII. 94-97 4.6ls were OBDII as well.