Purchased my First SHO, a V8

[stephen newberg]

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

Yes. Most of the mods I have done have been aimed at improving an already pretty good handling large car, and I have been very pleased at the results. The biggest results were from the solid sub frame bushings and the cross tower brace. These tighten up the front box hugely, and that is where most of the flex was happening. The other stuff produced incremental handling improvement, but those two made very large differences.

pax, smn

 

[dohcsable]

Cam weld and I personally recommend a xcal2 tuned by Paul Nimz(if he still does them) and turn your shift pressures up. That changed my old sable dramatically, and probably why the current owners still haven't killed the transmission at over 200k miles.

 

[Bull Geek]

I like the XCAL 3on my 2000. Firm shifts are good Too bad it handles and rides like junk right now. Junk QuickStruts.

 

[dohcsable]

I've been playing with saturns for the last 3 years, so I've not noticed an xcal3 existed.....my bad.... and quickstruts suck.

 

[Bull Geek]

Update time.

Headgasket are not blown. Leaky valve cover and spark plug well gaskets. Two spark plug wells were filled up with oil. That's all that I can find that's wrong that was a major issue with the mechanicals. No cooling issues whatsoever.

So...
I had the camshafts TIG welded by a friend of a friend who does welding for the railroad in NC:



After getting car back home, I cleaned the visible parts with the cam covers off. Replaced the camshaft seal by the water pump. Replaced all plugs with new Motorcraft spark plugs properly gapped. I busted the ECT, so replaced with a new Ford one. I replaced the spark plug well gaskets and valve cover gaskets with new ones. I wrapped the harness that goes nearest the firewall with heat tape, good to 1000F (I don't believe it but it's better than nothing!).




I installed new wheels from the junkyard and put new tires on the car. Installed new Motorcraft ball joints (needed to make the LCA red hot to get the tapered seat out!). 400 miles later, minus an oil cooler that leaks a tiny bit and misc other stuff, the car is a safe, reliable car.



I guess that was my Christmas gift this year. A misdiagnosed, good condition, good running, V8SHO that had its mufflers removed

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

 

[SHOspazz92]

Looks great. I love TR V8 SHOs.

-Sam

 

[Vnuk1]

Agreed, this is my favorite of the Gen III's looks great!

 

[Liquid_force]

Looks/sounds nice.

My '99's not looking nearly that good.
I recently found a lot of rust under the rear passenger door.
I saw no sign until a nickel sized bubble showed up on the dog leg. Then I pulled the plastic trim below the doors and what I found was pretty depressing.

I thought it would be the trans that sends it to the JY, but rust might get there first.

 

[jimtash]

I need my V-8 welded too. Where in NC is the guy who did yours?

 

[Bull Geek]

Thanks guys! Transmission definitely needs either a valve body rebuild, or something. I am not satisfied with the way it shifts at all.

Water Temp did the same thing on way home from xmas..runs at 206F at 65mph with 50F ambient temp. Pulling the radiator next to check out what's happening. Cooling fan kicks on at 215/216 and brings temp back down to 209 without issue.

Re: person who did my welds...Guy that did my welds is a friend of a friend, he lives in Lancaster, SC (south of Charlotte). He does not do pulling of the valve covers, you gota bring it prepped to him. Just bring a battery to bump the starter. Cool guy. If you want his contact details, let me know!

 

[Aqua Roach]

Cool, glad to see you on here too!

If I get that SHO I saw on Craigslist, I'll bother you for details on the cam welding!

 

[jimtash]

I'm in WNC but would drive there if he'd let me take it apart.

 

[illSHOyou]

Thanks guys! Transmission definitely needs either a valve body rebuild, or something. I am not satisfied with the way it shifts at all.

Water Temp did the same thing on way home from xmas..runs at 206F at 65mph with 50F ambient temp. Pulling the radiator next to check out what's happening. Cooling fan kicks on at 215/216 and brings temp back down to 209 without issue.

Re: person who did my welds...Guy that did my welds is a friend of a friend, he lives in Lancaster, SC (south of Charlotte). He does not do pulling of the valve covers, you gota bring it prepped to him. Just bring a battery to bump the starter. Cool guy. If you want his contact details, let me know!

Install a 160 T-stat from a 2003 corvette. It will cool the engine and transmission fluid. The cooler transmission fluid may even improve the feel of the current valve body. Mine is not perfect either, but it certainly performs better while the fluid is cool and thicker.

You would expect 185-190 core temps while driven and stock temps while stopped at a light with stock fan temps. You will also notice more aggressive engine timing when the core temp is at a happier 185-190 before WOT. Once near or over 200 degrees heat soak and timing are down.

Sean

 

[SHOstopper1992]

Re: person who did my welds...Guy that did my welds is a friend of a friend, he lives in Lancaster, SC (south of Charlotte). He does not do pulling of the valve covers, you gota bring it prepped to him. Just bring a battery to bump the starter. Cool guy. If you want his contact details, let me know!

I live in Charlotte. We should meet up some time!

-Stephen

 

[Michelle]

I remember "Bull Geek" from my old TCCA days!

 

[Bull Geek]

Thanks for the idea Sean. No chance in risking it at 100K+ miles. $40 discount at Advance Auto for a radiator suggests that'll be replaced. If that does not fix the temp, I'll do a thermostat. It has a new coolant tank. I just installed a new Ford cap last night (revised design), we'll see if that aids as well, I still need to test drive it. it had an aftermarket cheezy one installed.

Hi Michelle! I went from 0 Tauruses (ii?) to 3, in 5 years. I see you gained a few additional ones as well...good to see ya!

Received my oil cooler o ring. Thanks My_Silver_SHO!!!

 

[chrism3784]

Whats up, you got a gen3 sho now! I had one for a few months a fews years ago, sold it cause needed the money. Had it welded and everything, drove great, nothing was wrong with it. I regret selling it, was a great car. Loved the handling. I kick myself in the ass to this day selling it.