Help me decide if I should try to save her?

[Mechanically]

New guy here. I've been a fan of the 90s SHOs since I was a kid. Since then, I've continued to cultivate weird taste. Show me a V8 ZO6 and I'll agree it's a fast car. But if a MKVii LSC rolls past, I'll get hot and bothered. Anyway...

I work on houses. A house I'm likely purchasing will probably have a V8 SHO baked into the deal. (Mostly, because no one cares to go get it.)

https://imgur.com/a/I45u0uR

I'm not worried about getting a title, there's a pretty straight-forward method to get that done here. But I'd welcome some thoughts on how to QUICKLY decide if I should borrow a buddy's car hauler and get it over to a shop where we can do additional work? Here's what I'm trying to sort, but I'd WELCOME some expertise here if I'm missing something obvious.

1. There's a slim chance there's a key somewhere, but I'm not counting on it. If I have a title, can I get a key from Ford with the VIN? What's the best way to source one? Ideally, I'd like to not simply replace ignition, since it wouldn't match door locks.

2. Cam Failure - easiest way to check if this has happened?

3. It's sat since at least 2017, most likely. I'm not gonna throw a jump pack on it and turn it over. But is it easy to run this off a remote tank just for evaluation?

4. Whatever else I'm missing? Obviously there's lots that is bad. Paint's shot. Lots of rubber is going to be bad, tires, etc. The interior is actually pretty clean...

Thanks!

 

[rubydist]

Unless you really want that car when you are done, you should not spend money on it, because its going to cost you a lot more to get it running right than what it will be worth when you are done, imho.

 

[luigisho]

I am not sure that the key codes stay in teh system after X amount of years. You can check but I think there is a cutoff. 10yrs maybe more? like rubysidt stated above, how much are you willing to spend in both time and money and what is the end goal? Cam failure is a messed up running condition, or loud noise or hard to tell without trying to run it. Really you need to pull valve covers to determine it. IF you intend on keeping it you should do that if you plan on running it. Money and time wise it's a loser. If it is a personal project for reasons other than making sense (there are plenty of those around here) then go for it.

 

[gamefanatic]

Any locksmith can make you a set of keys and program them for the car once power is applied. If you had a key you just need an OBD-II reader link OBDLink MX and the ForScan software. It will never forget the previous keys/codes until someone programs it.
If you want to see CAM conditions, you just need to pull the valve covers and inspect or drop a borescope down the cylinders to see if there is damage from the valves hitting the pistons.
If no damage then get it to a welder to take care of the CAMs.
Its hard to say if the car is a loss unless you know whats wrong. Definitely change all fluids. Inspect for rust / leaks.

 

[Devin]

Worst case, you can make a few bucks parting it out..

 

[SM105K]

I like taking on bastard child car projects. However, I would most likely pass on this one.

 

[yaycandy]

I like taking on bastard child car projects. However, I would most likely pass on this one.

Fwd and automatic means no for me lol.
Id love to fix the engine from the cam issue and swap it into something

 

[Roger Briggs]

If you part it out, I would like to purchase the cable to the speed sensor on the transmission. There are actually 2 sensors on the transmission. IL take both of them us you part out the car. Mine is bad on my 98 and I can't fud one anywhere. It seems that when they take out the transmission in parting out a car they rip out all the cables! [email protected].

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[peglegtom]

As Roger indicated, Gen 3 SHO specific parts are hard to find, which is why i got rid of my second one and got a Gen 4/5

 

[SeanDev]

That Gen is one that shouldn't have been made. Ford missed the mark, sorry to say man I agree with everyone, it's not worth it. Props to you though and respect to be the odd man out wanting to save an obscure SHO.

 

[luigisho]

That Gen is one that shouldn't have been made.

I have to say my GenIII gave me less trouble than most of the other early generations of SHO. Sounded great and engine was durable once cam issue addressed. I miss my GenIII except for the dumb climate control/stereo integration.

 

[SM105K]

I have to say my GenIII gave me less trouble than most of the other early generations of SHO. Sounded great and engine was durable once cam issue addressed. I miss my GenIII except for the dumb climate control/stereo integration.

Those are the reason why I want one.......lol.

 

[99sho-time]

if you can get it cheap id def do it having it runing would def be a bonus. Any chance to get the parts is a good thing. Those cylinder heads are going to be the hardest thing to ever find in the future and even right now.