3.0 vulcan engine compatibilty question. - Ford Forums

headlayoutman1 · 07-18-2008, 17:13

I have a 1998 Sable 3.0 vulcan with low oil pressue and I will be replacing the engine. I have an genuine ford replacement motor (its new old stock , not remaufactured ) but it is for an 87 Taurus / Sable. It is also a 3.0 vulcan, but uses a distributor for ignition, and has a few other minor but obvious differences. I plan to use only the long block assembly from the new 87' motor and remove all necessory parts and componets from the bad 98' and install them on the 87' new long block , some of the parts that need to be transplanted are : oil pan, timing chain front cover, upper & lower intake manifold, cam position sensor, valve covers and motor mounts.
As far as I can tell by looking up specs. on both engines the bottom ends and heads look to be the the same.

Does anyone know If this swap is possible ?

I am quite capable of doing the swap, I just want to be sure before I spend money on a gasket kit and cam position sensor alignment tool.

ANY INFO WILL BE APPRECIATED

mre_power · 07-18-2008, 20:36

it is possible just swap in all sensors. might need some machining. also cap over distributor hole and add cam sync sensor.

one thing you may want to check first is if the cam position sensor is bad on the old engine that part being replaced may fix the problem because if the gear at the end of the sensor goes or starts to go the oil pump quits spinning. your oil pump may still be good.

might be worth it to get a 98 or 99 and some 00s vulcan engine instead of the hassle of a pre 98 engine swap.

**tbird100636** · 07-19-2008, 20:08

The heads may be slightly different and affect emissions. The 95 and newer 3.0L Vulcan has a better block. Accessory mounting may be slightly different, because the 87 Vulcan used two belts instead of the later single belt. Is the engine sludged up??? If not give the heads and other reusable parts a good cleaning, and get a correct short block for a 98. If it doesn't come with a new oil pump, get one. Did you verify the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge??? A leaking oil pressure switch will cause the light to flicker (you would have seen oil on it when removing it to install the mechanical gauge).