Finally got my V8 SHO !!!

[kvm101]

After owning Gen 1 bought with 138k, trans was new with 80k, went through the drivetrain , painted it drove it hard, sold it with 192k (still on road) ([Still!] was on Crgslst in 5/2011 Saw it pass me 7/10/2011) Still ! Crgslst12/2011 93 SHO atx wanted to do the 3.2 swap into the 89 but chased oil leaks ,trans out twice, ouch! (sold) Then I moved on to a 93 Saab9000 CSE turbo, balanced crank, adj boost, balance shafts elim, A/c delete kit, quick but I abused it.
After searching for about 2 yrs off and on on the web I picked up a 97 SHO with 141k running for $ 540 Deer hit but driveable.
This guy had all 3 gens in his driveway and I chanced out on this one. I made an offer with no money. Bills due galore wife screaming, kid needing shoes etc. So with all the bills getting payed (barely) I got my SHO.
1st up when my money tree starts growing welded cams !:woo-hoo:

 

[lowc]

congrats on the purches hope the denero situation gets better for ya

 

[luigisho]

You can stretch the money out if you don't drive it too hard to cut down on maintenance. These trannys will break like the genII atx if you're too ******* them.

 

[kvm101]

Heard yah, I had the trans out twice on my 93 atx. 1st time $3.00 servo clip broke that caused overdrive to go out (mis diag by a tranny guy) I rebuilt a slo trans that had one less friction clutch, all new parts, trans go shift kit, didnt use it because after dropping mine out I realized ,servo clip for 4th was the only problem plus after swapping parts over the one I built was a column shift and the PRND did not line up electrically. Either way (ouch). 2nd time I had to pull it (jumped on it reved out first and bang) the planetary gear sheared off. The side in the trans were the passenger axle shaft goes into the trans. Saved $300 plus using parts from previous build.
On my long awaited 97 Gen III I'll weld the cams so I can jump on it ,but I heard yah jump on it to much and blow the trans. Dont want that !!!

 

[luigisho]

How bad is the body? Gotta be rough for ~ $500

 

[SHO1]

Congrats! Hope you Get welded soon, drive as little as poss until then, don't want that good deal to go bad.

 

[kvm101]

The body is descent. This car was on ebay around the week of 9/15/10 Reserve at 640. Deer hit right front needs right headlamp but the impact blew the bags, the bag blew the windshield. The owner planned on keeping it but to many project. With 3 SHO's in your driveway I'd say thats alot of projects. Car was in Maryland and tough on emmisions, they do 2 drivecycles to check emmisions. He told me there system in maryland tells them when you cleared a code. Hope that system never makes it to PA !!! Hood is crumpled in the front right but body is descent. We have the upull it yards so wndshield, headlight bags module runs around 280 Hoods fixable.
Of course its fall and there soon to be crushing alot of cars so I have to get out there soon to pull parts.
In fact I planned to drive it home but the brake line blew glad the wife had AAA plus.

 

[luigisho]

Brake lines are a known weak spot on these cars. Especially up in salted earth country. You might want to replace all the lines while you're in there.

 

[kvm101]

Tried to post a pic. I have a former coworker in the collision world whose going to lone me his 110 mig welder. I probably will need a cam to practice on to get the right heat range and wire speed ! Working till the week of 10/18. Then a scheduled QC with my manager. Why is it when you have time you have no money. When your making money no time!
Stay tuned btw my dad is pump buying me a battery from the upull it which is like 3 miles from the house. They load test them after you pic one.

 

[kvm101]

My dad picked up a new used battery for 18.00 12/09 date on it 525 ca 625 cca. Some one must have inatalled it then junked there car. Either way its sits in the SHO. I'm looking to get a repair manual. Chilton had very small images in there taurus repair manual on the 3.4 motor. May get a CD.
One more week of work (repair left bedside on a dodge ram) Then 10/18-23 an evaluation report is due. Then its SHO time. 1st up welded cams.
I'll post results. Meaning as previous owner said maybe I'll open it up and there done. If not I'll borrow the 110 mig welder.

 

[kvm101]

Finally got the valve covers off. Clean. The rear head firewall side did show signs of the known heat problem with the V8. Wiring harness was fine, yet when the rear valve cover was replaced the # 8 sparkplug well must have slipped out when they reassembled it. Oil in plug well # 8 with a distorted plug well ring same cylinder that had a black top coil pac,the rest were oem. So needles I doubt I can get 1 spark plug well oring. Valve cover set!

 

[luigisho]

Even if you could get 1 of the o-rings the old ones wouldn't seat right with a new one in there. I think you might be able to get the o-rings seperately. I had a post or I found one with part numbers for valve cover gaskets this past spring/summer.

 

[kvm101]

Sounds good on the o-rings. I was hoping to get just that. The gasket are pliable. Owner emailed prior owners sales add it mentioned replaced coil packs. The rear bank has 3 oem and one a/m. So I'm assuming they replace valve cover set then. Front bank has 2 oem 2 a/m. Surge tank has oil in it so I may rinse it with degreaser.
Priced out standard brand coil packs 124.00 my cost 216 list.
Defenitly not in the budget, probably will stick to plan A Weld Cams. !!!!!!
Get to used tires and windshield ,right hdlamp for inspection.

 

[luigisho]

You just have to look and make sure that fresh gaskets in the middle will compress enough to allow the used vc perimeter gasket to seal properly. Here is a link to diagrams and part#s.
http://v8sho.com/SHO/valvecovers.html

 

[kvm101]

Thanks for the help. I took my 89 SHO to VA beach on vacation. Smoked this 5 series BMWwith a simple downshift and I walked him. He was quiet peaved.
while there drove to Hampton to visit a friend. Drove the wheels off the SHO showing it off to him. Droe it back to PA without a blip. Can't do that with the average ride. Course it had a fully restored drive train and suspension. Thats awhile ago. Cant wait to get this V8 SHO going. I'm just doing the 1 thing at a time.
BTW Cams welded !!!!!
110 mig welder made in Italy one of the older good ones. Set it at 3/16 '' with descent wire speed.
Reassembly partially complete, 3 bolts missing from whoever serviced it before. Plugs were @ .50 re-gapped @ .43 spec is 42-46
next up brake line it leaks.
Like one of the earlier post mentioned (must be rough for $540) lets hope the trans shifts okay never got to test drive it. it'll be along winter if theres a trans issue.

 

[luigisho]

THere is a spot where almost all the brake lines leak near mid car and it may completely give at some point. That's one of the few problems I had with my GenIII (and no brakes while driving will wake you up). I had a shop bend and flare the hose vs buying stock. Big price difference.

 

[kvm101]

Yes thats what I'm hoping to do! Repair vrs replace. I've just figuered why my budget is so low (limited) and I just can't run out and replace all 4 rear coil packs no matter what the cost while the intake is off. My 89 SHO got it in 2000 sold 04 was completly rebuilt @ Ameys Garage were I worked in the body shop. It was a used carlot, mechanical and bodyshop. So I would go to the parts guy and order stuff and just have money deducted from my check each week. Later when I got my 93 atx I just purchased parts myself since I sank so much in the 89. Of course that was simple living with the wife & apt. Now wife house, layoff, (back to work though) and 3 yr old wow. I was hoping to put a union in with some section of new brake line. In fact Sunday I'll rap up the rest of the motor misc hose ,fan, hood back on, then jack it up on 4 stands ,pull all tires, it need like 2 maybe 3 for inspection. and go over the brakes.

 

[LJRuddy]

I dont know how I didnt see this thread before...


Congrats on the buy! I have owned my 1st gen 3 for right at a year now after owning more than a handful of v6 SHOs. That v8 is very addicting!

I had my rear brake hard lines fail back in like May/June (i think). Luckily I had a 98 parts car that I pulled lines off of to swap in. There is a plastic cover that is located just behind the pinch weld centered on the driver's side front door. Pop that cover off and inspect your 2 brake lines. That is where mine failed at. Both lines were rusted all to **** due to that cover trapping moisture and dirt for so many years. If your lines look to be in decent shape, leave them be but dont put that cover back on.

As for the transmission, I wouldnt worry too much. Yes, it is a mid 90's ford transaxle and they are all inherently weak. However, I have put quite the beating on mine and it still works flawlessly with almost 150k on it.

Enjoy the car! Just dont be stupid with how you drive it and you will be fine.

 

[kvm101]

Thanks, I love the burnout pic on your silver SHO. Yeah it a descent thread because when you've owned a Gen I and II and enjoyed both, more so the 5spd. I rebuilt it and ran the wheels off it then sold it with192k on the clock. No your way around them for repairs. If a GenIII pops up for your budget best to get it. My budget never really got around to getting a III. I've read many post and been following Gen III on V8sho.com since 2001. Reading is fundamental lets just hope my comprehension translates into a descent daily driver. Really toy in the garage.
96 Saab 900 turbo183k painted DD
02 Windstar (wifes) DD
97 SHO Garage queen
Finally got rid of that 98 Catera that I wanted a v8 swap since its RWD (costly even if I did the work). Solved that problem it's called V8 SHO

 

[kvm101]

Motor back together after cam weld. Car up on 4 mini jack stands, tires off going over brakes. Brake line from the left rear wheel proportion block to the right rear wheel caliper hose was rusted bad and weeping brake fluid. Called Bergeys ford 98.00 my cost through shop account. When you pay 540. for a car (my budget range sadly) in this case a SHO you really dont want to start dropping 100's on parts. Solution Harry's U pull it. Pulled one off a merc sable that had its gas tank out. Got home and wow got it in without dropping the tank or kinking the line. Good thing it already had factory bend's in it. Brakes are blead now grease the slider's on the calipers, emry cloth the rotors, get 2 tires and back on the ground. Then windshield, 3rd cat delete. In fact the 3rd cat delete I'm hoping to do now while the car is in the air. Lack of torches might make me wait to drive it and use my friends torch set.