Which Engine

[sperold]

93 SHO MTX. Unknown background.
It is very healthy and has all the upgraded stuff that suggests the motor has been out at some point recently (Al subframe bushings, solid mounts, Al flywheel, new clutch).
The coils do not sit level. They tip to the front.
Does this sound like a 3.2? My other MTX SHOs have the coils sitting level.

 

[shotime1994]

Does the front head have a notch in it on the pass side?

 

[trainguy1989]

Generally if the coil pack is tilted to the front it is a 3.2.

 

[sperold]

Thanks for the quick response guys.
I remember seeing on here the extra ribbing on the block sides, and hearing about the head alteration so the alternator will fit better, but I can never find those things when I need them.
I will do some more checking to confirm.
The car is more responsive than what I am used to, and that is what started my search.

 

[rubydist]

another thing that can give you clues:

KOB on the valve covers, etc. are from 3.2 (the rear valve cover label also give you build date)

 

[sperold]

If anyone can remember where the pictures of the extra ribbing on the block are, it would be a big help, or any other clues.
It seems like it is a 3.2.
Personally, for me, it is too much work to swap a 3.2 into a place where a 3.0 used to live, but I have to say you can notice the difference. So I can now see what all the talk has been about.
I always worry about everything being done properly with these swaps.
There are a couple of ways to perform the swap, if I remember correctly, so I will look to see if it has the same belt arrangement as my 3.0s, and that will help me figure out how it was done.
Isn't there something about the o2 sensors as well?

 

[rubydist]

the 3.2 in the mtx uses the 3.0 harness, so the wiring will look like the 3.0 should, including the 02 sensors.

one can use the 3.0 2-belt accessory drive, in which case some grinding or milling is required on the 3.2 head to allow the 3.0 alternator to fit - a careful inspection should reveal this grinding, as was mentioned above.

one can alternately use the 3.2 single belt arrangement, in which case a custom front motor mount must be employed. I have a thread detailing one such approach here on the forum. a single belt accessory drive will pretty much confirm that it is a 3.2, since there is no one of whom I am aware who has gone to the trouble of refitting that on a 3.0.

 

[SHOPLUS]

You have left one scenario, the scenario that makes the swap the easiest to do and hardest to tell. If one were to swap the 3.2 in with 3.0 heads and 3.0 accessory drive it would be hard to tell to my knowledge which is which. I bought a 91 PLUS a few months ago it is my first SHO and it lopes at idle, pulls very hard (enough to keep on the bumper of a S197 GT auto w/ exhaust and sounded like gears) and has tell tale signs of the motor being out of the car which leads me to believe it could well be a 3.2.

I am interested in this "webbing" difference as I will not be removing the timing covers until my next 60K at 120000 and Im at 112k now so it will be a while before I discover another clue as to my 3.2 vs 3.0 mystery. Also if the 3.0 heads were used the coil would sit flat I believe

 

[AREA 91]

You can tell by pulling a spark plug and looking at the top of the piston.


If the piston looks like it has a raised crown between the valve cutouts, it's a 3.0 piston.

If the piston looks like it has a flat topped crown between the valve cutouts, it's a 3.2.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Block webbing would be the easiest way to tell.

 

[Ishodu]

Block webbing would be the easiest way to tell.

Not always, Mine has 3.0 webbing.

 

[yamahaSHO]

So does mine, but most people with 3.2L swaps have a complete 3.2L short block.

 

[jimtash]

It's a 3.2. I swapped one into my '89 and besides the ATX belt set up being different and also the front head needing to be modified to fit the front motor mount, the other notable difference is the oil pan. The oil level sensor is on the front instead of the back.

 

[zblackbeast]

^^ I believe most people source a 3.0 pan.