switching motors

[hadleys1]

Hello, I was thinking about buying a 1996 ford winstar van, it has a bad motor and I am wanting to know if i can take my 1997 ford tauraus 3.0 and put it in the 1996 ford winstar it has a 3.8.

[wiswind]

That might be a lot of work.
Does the 3.0L have the IMRC?
I am pretty sure that the PCM and wiring harness will not be a match.

[tomj76]

I wonder which is more work switching an engine or rebuilding/repairing the bad one?

Switching engines, unless known to be 100% compatiable, seems more overwhelming to me. I've never done it, so maybe it's a lot easier than I imagine.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by tomj76

I wonder which is more work switching an engine or rebuilding/repairing the bad one?

Switching engines, unless known to be 100% compatiable, seems more overwhelming to me. I've never done it, so maybe it's a lot easier than I imagine.

On a front wheel drive car packed full of electronics..... a swap, especially one which involves some re0engineering is probably more difficult than you imagine.

It may be easier to rebuild the existing engine. It all depends on how it failed. If you are lucky, the faulty components may be replaced without engine removal. What want wrong with the van?

[hadleys1]

the people selling it says that is stalls when you put it in gear. It has a new tranny in it. My husband check the radiator and said it had oil in it. when you have it idling it sounds great. But when you put it in gear it drops to a low deep hum and it doesn't want to move.

[Jon04CTSV]

So basically when there's load on the engine it dies?

Crankshaft bearing possibly?

That's what happened to my engine. Ended up buying a new shortblock.