Changing a 4.2 to a 3.8, can it be done?
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Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 38
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Changing a 4.2 to a 3.8, can it be done?
My 4.2 V-6 finally went KAPLLOOOOOYYEEEEE!!!!!, due to the good old leaky gasket syndrome. www.leakingfords.com
Anyway, that thing is knocking like I don't know what.....I am sure it has at least 2 or 3 bent rods the way it sounds and no telling what else. My mechanic buddy is telling me just to change engines, and I had no idea that the 4.2 was so EXPENSIVE to replace.......this is what I have found so far, '00 w/70k miles $1400, '99 w/103k miles $1000, 99 w/65k miles $1450. I called one salvage yard and the guy was told me that a lot of people was replacing the 4.2 V-6 with a 3.8 V-6 out of a late model mustang. Said they didn't have as much torque, but the had more get up and go. And the price is a LOT better, he told me he had several almost new 3.8's with 4k-6k miles for $600!!! He said I would have to use the truck motor mounts, manifolds, and something else but other than that.....the long block is the same. Is this right???? And if so, will my 97 model 5 speed bolt right to it?? Any advice or experience on this will be greatly appreciated.
Anyway, that thing is knocking like I don't know what.....I am sure it has at least 2 or 3 bent rods the way it sounds and no telling what else. My mechanic buddy is telling me just to change engines, and I had no idea that the 4.2 was so EXPENSIVE to replace.......this is what I have found so far, '00 w/70k miles $1400, '99 w/103k miles $1000, 99 w/65k miles $1450. I called one salvage yard and the guy was told me that a lot of people was replacing the 4.2 V-6 with a 3.8 V-6 out of a late model mustang. Said they didn't have as much torque, but the had more get up and go. And the price is a LOT better, he told me he had several almost new 3.8's with 4k-6k miles for $600!!! He said I would have to use the truck motor mounts, manifolds, and something else but other than that.....the long block is the same. Is this right???? And if so, will my 97 model 5 speed bolt right to it?? Any advice or experience on this will be greatly appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,017
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From: Sparta, IL
I work at a place where we make the valve covers for the 3.8 which just so happen to fit the 4.2 as well. I bet it is a high possibility that engines as far as the outside bolt patterns ect. are the same and just maybe the bore and crank are different. Best place to ask would probably be a ford mechanic.
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13
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From: Texas
The 4.2L and the 3.8L are the exact same motor with one exception, The 4.2L has a longer stroke. The bore size is the same, the heads are interchangeable, almost everything works. I do believe there is one difference in early model 4.2L with the returnless fuel injection.
