Rekindled enjoyment of engineering done better than most

[RLP_92_MTX]

In just two months I’ll be turning 65 — still hard to wrap my head around that — but here I am. After many conversations with K-BL, my son, I finally decided to register.
My introduction to Ford Taurus MTX cars goes back to 1987. I was working for a company in Louisville, KY and was issued a replacement company car. That ended up being a 1986 MT5, black with a red interior. I was supposed to pick up a 1987 GL, but this was a brand new, last year's model for less than the GL my boss had said I could get.
I absolutely loved the car. Even though the turbocharged four-cylinder was underpowered by today’s standards, it left a lasting impression.
In 1996, I purchased a 1992 SHO — green, 5-speed, tan leather — which I later passed down to my son in 2001. After that came two more SHOs: a black 1999 V8 (now with my daughter) and a white 1999 V8.
Just yesterday I put a down payment on another 1992 SHO, 5-speed, white with black leather. It’s a beautifully maintained car, and I’ll be picking it up after a trip to Florida in February.
My fondness for these cars runs deep and has a lot to do with what Ford and Yamaha achieved together — and the engineering decisions they made at the time. While the SHO series never gained the traction Ford had hoped for, they built enough of them that we, as enthusiasts, can continue preserving and improving them today.
Once I pick up the car, I’ll post photos and share my plans.
Cheers!

 

[bpd1151]

What an absolute stellar story.

Loved every bit of it!

Look'n forward to your newest impending acquisition. Pics are a must!

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[zoomlater]

Welcome! I had the same car at one point. It was the car that started working on myself and learned so much from this forum at the same time.

 

[bpd1151]

I should've added that it's because of "older" (term used VERY loosely) owners like the OP, all of you/them have motivated me to not only purchase my own SHO (2010/GEN4) brand new, but also to have stuck with it, through the ups and the downs.

Still hoping the proverbial phoenix rises from the ashes come 2026. Been way to long now that she's been down.

Hard to believe I'm approaching 16yrs of ownership. Egads!

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[RLP_92_MTX]

I should've added that it's because of "older" (term used VERY loosely) owners like the OP, all of you/them have motivated me to not only purchase my own SHO (2010/GEN4) brand new, but also to have stuck with it, through the ups and the downs.

Still hoping the proverbial phoenix rises from the ashes come 2026. Been

 

[RLP_92_MTX]

I get it — it’s hard to believe how many vehicles I’ve owned over the years, and even harder not to regret some of the ones I let go, traded in, or hauled off.
My sons and I are planning to focus initially on the MTX Gen 1 and Gen 2 platforms, looking at how newer technology can be applied to strengthen and better tune these cars. The emphasis will be on the fundamentals — intake design, airflow, fueling, ports, and addressing known restrictions — with the goal of improving reliability and performance. We may branch into other areas later, but this is where we’re starting.
I’m an engineer by trade, and I enjoy digging into problems that have multiple viewpoints and seeing what can realistically be improved with today’s tools and data.
I’ll elaborate more once I get the car home and can start hands-on work — mostly looking forward to learning, experimenting, and having some fun with it.
I own a machine shop with a custom designed (from the mind of Bob) CNC Machine and a very large format 3D Printer. We are going to tune, test, modify, test again and keep going until we have several options that can be repeated, documenting along the way. We are open-source minded and will be sharing our dream successes and failures.

Cheers!

 

[Irish Pride]

In just two months I’ll be turning 65 — still hard to wrap my head around that — but here I am. After many conversations with K-BL, my son, I finally decided to register.
My introduction to Ford Taurus MTX cars goes back to 1987. I was working for a company in Louisville, KY and was issued a replacement company car. That ended up being a 1986 MT5, black with a red interior. I was supposed to pick up a 1987 GL, but this was a brand new, last year's model for less than the GL my boss had said I could get.
I absolutely loved the car. Even though the turbocharged four-cylinder was underpowered by today’s standards, it left a lasting impression.
In 1996, I purchased a 1992 SHO — green, 5-speed, tan leather — which I later passed down to my son in 2001. After that came two more SHOs: a black 1999 V8 (now with my daughter) and a white 1999 V8.
Just yesterday I put a down payment on another 1992 SHO, 5-speed, white with black leather. It’s a beautifully maintained car, and I’ll be picking it up after a trip to Florida in February.
My fondness for these cars runs deep and has a lot to do with what Ford and Yamaha achieved together — and the engineering decisions they made at the time. While the SHO series never gained the traction Ford had hoped for, they built enough of them that we, as enthusiasts, can continue preserving and improving them today.
Once I pick up the car, I’ll post photos and share my plans.
Cheers!

Welcome home! You must be the one picking up the 92 in Oklahoma....

-Chad

 

[RLP_92_MTX]

Welcome home! You must be the one picking up the 92 in Oklahoma....

-Chad

Yes I am

 

[kryptto]

What a cool story and thanks for sharing welcome!

 

[Qshiplvr]

I get it — it’s hard to believe how many vehicles I’ve owned over the years, and even harder not to regret some of the ones I let go, traded in, or hauled off.
My sons and I are planning to focus initially on the MTX Gen 1 and Gen 2 platforms, looking at how newer technology can be applied to strengthen and better tune these cars. The emphasis will be on the fundamentals — intake design, airflow, fueling, ports, and addressing known restrictions — with the goal of improving reliability and performance. We may branch into other areas later, but this is where we’re starting.
I’m an engineer by trade, and I enjoy digging into problems that have multiple viewpoints and seeing what can realistically be improved with today’s tools and data.
I’ll elaborate more once I get the car home and can start hands-on work — mostly looking forward to learning, experimenting, and having some fun with it.
I own a machine shop with a custom designed (from the mind of Bob) CNC Machine and a very large format 3D Printer. We are going to tune, test, modify, test again and keep going until we have several options that can be repeated, documenting along the way. We are open-source minded and will be sharing our dream successes and failures.

Cheers!

Terrific story! I too got hooked on manual SHOs when I drove a '92 5 spd for 4 years. While I am the happy owner of a Gen3 V8 I always lamented the lack of a 5 spd MTX though there was a story many years ago of one owner transplanting an MX-6 MT5 trans and having a manual V8 SHO. I know it would be asking a lot, but what is your opinion of trying to make something like this happen for the V8 Gen3?

 

[RLP_92_MTX]

Terrific story! I too got hooked on manual SHOs when I drove a '92 5 spd for 4 years. While I am the happy owner of a Gen3 V8 I always lamented the lack of a 5 spd MTX though there was a story many years ago of one owner transplanting an MX-6 MT5 trans and having a manual V8 SHO. I know it would be asking a lot, but what is your opinion of trying to make something like this happen for the V8 Gen3?

One issue is space, the main reason that the Gen 3 SHO only comes with an Automatic is space. No room.
The V8 would sound much different, love the tone of V8 Dual "Tuned Exhaust" but the 3.0 and 3.2 liter V6 engines is designed to fit, can easily make 300 to 500 HP and a lot less headaches getting it all to fit. I see guys spending thousands on Turbo systems and applaud what they've done. I love how much more you can push out the Yamaha engines. To me Naturally Aspirated engines maybe some NO2. Switch out the restrictions Ford did to keep the Mustang with more power. Look at the Blue Turd, he has pushed that design past what most ever thought it would. And yes zip know he has a Turbo.
But these are my thoughts, and yes I am sure someone may have done it or is in the process of doing it.
Me, I wouldn't just because