Purchased my First SHO, a V8

[Bull Geek]

Hi guys. Been on Taurus Club since late 2003 and on Taurus/Sable Owner's Club since it started. Have a 2000 24V DOHC Taurus SEL as my daily. Have an 1987 Taurus GL Vulcan station wagon I'm using as a learning tool on how to work on cars (and to fix back up).

Searching Craigslist, I stumbled on a 1997 Ford Taurus SHO in Greenville, SC. Toreador Red/Medium Graphite cloth. Picking it up tomorrow, got it cheap. Seller claims it has a "cracked head gasket". No mix of coolant/oil, no coolant loss issue.

First task after having it towed back to my place and taking the intakes and valve covers off to check for cam welds, and to get that done if needed. Getting anything cleaned/replaced/welded while it's all apart as PM, like rotating the ignition coils. Will be reading through here and V8 SHO to see what I need to do.

Here are some pictures I received from the seller (click for larger):


Only spot of bad paint. Just clearcoat failing, no big deal.

 

[BamSHO]

Yes check the cams first, hopefully they didnt slip. Coils you can get them off ebay for around $110 or so for all 8. Plugs, Ive been using FORD Motorcraft Finewire in all mine here. Intake prob could prob use a good cleaning. Check the tranny fluid too, fluid/filter prob would be a good idea. Other than that your normal Taurus maintance.


Brian Michael
98 black Gen3

 

[SHOhopefull]

Welcome aboard Bull Geek!

 

[newshofan]

I didn't know the 96-98 came with anything but leather seats....maybe I missed something along the way...must be a less of them made that way

 

[Bull Geek]

Thanks guys!

A friend of mine checked the car out for me that I consider competent around cars. He took the car for a ride and said the car drove great, good power no odd noises or anything. I'm not risking a drive though until I have proof.

Yea the cloth is not a common find. I think they did away with it in 98, but 97s have had it. Not sure about 96s.

 

[Liquid_force]

"Cracked head gasket"???
That sounds fishy to me. There would either be a cracked head or leaking head gasket. A description like that on one of these engines would immedately have me fearing cam issues, but it drove well, so that's definitely a plus.

That's beside the point anyway...

When I found my '99 I discovered an engine miss at idle that showed up on the road too. From my limited research it sounded like a bad coil or two. I brought it up to the seller and his mechanic mentioned possible head gasket. That was fine with me because I didn't think that's what it was, and it gave me some bargaining power.
In the end I knocked $900 off the asking price and it WAS just the coils.

If you tear into it I would suggest removing the runners and cleaning the carbon/oil build up that you're bound to have. I spent a good hour on mine, using some potent solvents and various brushes, plus another couple hours on the horns and surge tank.

 

[wuzzzer]

I didn't know the 96-98 came with anything but leather seats....maybe I missed something along the way...must be a less of them made that way

Yep, my 97 was a cloth interior also. Had every option except leather.

 

[stephen newberg]

Yep, my 97 was a cloth interior also. Had every option except leather.

And the post was correct further up also, it went to leather only in '98.

Congrats on your new toy, and wishing you the best in the Gen III SHO community.

pax, smn

 

[Bob Gervais]

Nice find, Nick! I actually like the cloth interior better than leather. Seems like it would last longer.

Hopefully it's nothing major, and you've got yourself a nice project/fun car!

 

[dohcsable]

Congrats from a former tcca'r (24vsable). I hope the sho life treats you well.



Edit: Worst case, Zach has a g3 parts car if he hasn't set the other one on fire yet

 

[calvin0325]

Welcome to the Forum's Bull Geek, have seen and talked with you over on TCCA before.

 

[Rubix]

Nick! Nice car

 

[toledogt]

:woo-hoo:nice find! Welcome to the forum and the SHO owners club. Keep us posted on your cams. I hope they are already welded.

 

[Bull Geek]

Yea. Something sounds odd. I got some of the maintenance records from the prior owner that show the diagnostics done. I'll type them up and post here in the next few days. I can tell you it has a ton of new radiator hoses, a new cap on the expansion tank, and a new Ford expansion tank.

When I take it apart, everything is getting cleaned up, definitely.

Cloth interior is NICE. Wish my sedan had cloth instead of leather.

Wow haven't spoken to some of you (former) TCCA'ers all in awhile, good to see you around!

I did a close inspection of the body. Everything really looks great for an almost 15 year old car. Found one small quarter size of clearcoat failing on the sail panel window. An assortment of paint transfers on the doors, fenders and 1/4 panels that can easily be compounded out.

I'll start taking the car apart in the next few days after I finish working on the station wagon, getting the dashboard back in that car.

Pic of it in the garage:

 

[stephen newberg]

If looking for rust, the place to check is under the plastic at the bottom sides below the doors. That seems to be the place where things go first.

pax, smn

 

[Racer X]

Ha! Nice find Nick, glad to see you're still around these cars.

- H.

 

[SHO U UP]

Also pay close attention to the brake lines on the driver side near the rear tire. There is a plastic cover that holds mud, crud, water, etc and will erode the hard lines to nothing over time. And welcome aboard too. :wave: My first SHO was a V-8 also. And there's nothing like a V-8 sound.

 

[Bull Geek]

Hey H!

This car is in dang good shape. No rust on the dog legs/wheel well arches like most 3rd and 4th gen Tauruses. Nor anything hiding behind the plastic rocker moldings. Underside looks great. AutoCheck says 1 year in Michigan as a Ford car. Otherwise Atlanta and Greenville, SC car all its life.

Can't wait to fix the issues it has and get to driving it to see if I keep it or sell it.

 

[stephen newberg]

Good to hear on the rust and living locations. I suspect if you drive it for any length of time, you are going to want to keep it. The Gen III SHO remains a really fine, comfortable, and seriously capable high speed cruiser, even after all these years.

pax, smn

 

[My_Silver_SHO]

Good to hear on the rust and living locations. I suspect if you drive it for any length of time, you are going to want to keep it. The Gen III SHO remains a really fine, comfortable, and seriously capable high speed cruiser, even after all these years.

pax, smn

I really like the SHO on the highway or curvey road.