Ford SHO V6 engine

Ford SHO V6
Overview
Manufacturer	Yamaha Motor Corporation
Production	1989–1995
Combustion chamber
Displacement	2986 cc (182 CID) (3.0 L) 3191 cc (195 CID) (3.2 L)
Cylinder bore	89 mm (3.5 in.) (3.0 L) 92 mm (3.6 in.) (3.2 L)
Piston stroke	80 mm (3.1 in.)
Cylinder block alloy	Iron
Cylinder head alloy	Aluminum
Valvetrain	DOHC
Combustion
Fuel type	Gasoline
Output
Power output	220 hp (164 kW) at 6200 rpm (3.0 L) 220 hp (164 kW) at 6000 rpm (3.2 L)
Torque output	200 lb·ft (271 N·m) at 4800 rpm (3.0 L) 215 lb·ft (291 N·m) at 4000 rpm (3.2 L)
Chronology
Successor	Ford SHO V8

The Ford SHO V6 is a family of DOHC V6 engines fitted to the Ford Taurus SHO from 1989 to 1995. The designation SHO denotes Super High Output.^[1]

Due to the engine's unusual and aesthetically pleasing appearance it is sometimes transplanted into other vehicles. Its distinctive variable length intake manifold is bilaterally symmetrical, so it can be rotated 180 degrees (making it face "backwards" on the engine, relative to its original installation orientation) to ease the engine's transition from transverse to longitudinal mounting.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

The SHO engines share a common bell housing pattern with the following Ford engines: the 2.3/2.5 L FWD HSC I4, the 3.0 L FWD/RWD Vulcan V6, and the 3.8 L FWD Canadian Essex V6.^[8] In 1996, Ford discontinued the SHO V6 and began fitting the Taurus SHO's with the SHO 3.4 L V8 and the Ford AX4N automatic transmission.

Origin

In 1984, executives of the Yamaha Motor Corporation signed a contract with the Ford Motor Company to develop, produce, and supply a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine based upon the existing Vulcan engine for transverse application.^[9][10]

There has been some confusion about the original intended use of the engine. It was thought this engine was first intended to power a mid-engine sports car, that project (known internally as GN34) was canceled. Patents have been found and pictures of prototype SHO powerplants installed in the Taurus show that the original intent was for the larger FWD setup and the GN34 would have come later. There were a few GN34 prototypes produced, most with standard Vulcan engines and a few other factory swaps, a SHO Ranger being one.

3.0 L

The SHO V6 was a high-tech and revolutionary design when it debuted in 1988. Displacing 3.0 L (2986 cc/182 cu in), it was an iron block, aluminum head 24-valve DOHC engine with an innovative variable length intake manifold. Its oversquare and symmetrical design, which sported an 89 mm (3.5 in) bore and 80 mm (3.1 in) stroke, gave the high-revving engine an output of 220 bhp (164 kW; 223 PS) at 6200 rpm and 200 lb·ft (271 N·m) of torque at 4800 rpm at the flywheel, and it sported the added luxury of being able to be used in rear-drive applications. Redline was marked on the tachometer at 7000 rpm, and fuel cut-off occurred at 7300 rpm. The engine was capable of 8500 rpm, but it was electronically limited to 7000 rpm due to the Ford accessories in the prototypes malfunctioning at approximately 8000 rpm. This engine was only available with the Ford MTX-IV transmission.

3.2 L

From 1993 to 1995, the SHO engine was sold in two displacements: the existing 3.0 L continued to be sold mated to the MTX-IV manual transmission, and a new 3.2 L engine (3191 cc/195 cu in) was sold mated to the Ford AX4S automatic transmission. The new 3.2 L engine, while retaining the same 80 mm (3.1 in) stroke of its 3.0 L brother, sported a larger 92 mm (3.6 in) bore that helped raise torque output to 215 lb·ft (292 N·m) at 4000 rpm at the flywheel.^[11] Horsepower output was still 220 bhp (164 kW; 223 PS), but now at 6000 rpm: This was due to a milder cam setup compared to the more aggressive intake camshaft in the 3.0 L version.

Other Ford vehicles

In 1989, Ford Truck Public Affairs created a one-off Ford Ranger, dubbed the "SHO Ranger", with a 3.0L SHO V6 and a Mustang GT's T-5 manual transmission. According to D.A. "Woody" Haines, assistant manager of that division, they commissioned the project truck "to test the market."^[12][13]

In 1993, Ford Canada hand-built 40 Mercury Sables, some of which were powered by SHO V6 engines, as part of their AIV (Aluminum Intensive Vehicle) program and released 20 to the public. Using aluminum suspension elements and aluminum body panels, held together with spot welding and adhesive joining processes developed specifically for this vehicle, the end result was a car that was 400 pounds lighter than a SHO Taurus. Multimatic Motorsports entered one of these vehicles in the 1995 One Lap of America event, finishing 15th overall and 1st in the Mid-Price class.^{[14][15][16][17]}

Modifications

A popular modification to cars equipped with the 3.0 L SHO engine is to replace the engine with a 3.2 L engine. Further modification can include installing the cams from a 3.0 L engine into a 3.2 L engine. These more aggressive cams, along with a higher torque output have been known to allow the manual transmission-equipped Taurus SHO to run into the low 14s on the quarter mile.

SHOGun Festiva

In 1990, Chuck Beck of Special Editions and Rick Titus took seven Ford Festivas and mounted 3.0 L SHO V6s − still mated to their native transmissions − behind the front seats in mid-rear engine configuration. Along with substantial cosmetic body changes, including custom fiberglass wheel arches to accommodate a wider stance and larger tires, the suspension was completely redesigned. Each car was painted a different color. These changes resulted in a car that could travel the ¼ mile (0.4 km) in 12.9 seconds at 100.9 mph (162 km/h), and could achieve a lateral acceleration figure ranging from .95 to 1.04 g. Two of the seven are notable; Jay Leno owns number 003 (the silver one), and number 005 (the purple one) included special modifications for competition in the SCCA, including a rollcage and 5-point restraints. ^{[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]} Since the creation of these cars, others have imitated the idea by performing SHO-to-Festiva transplants of their own.^[29]

See also

• Ford Taurus SHO
• Ford SHO V8 engine
• List of Ford engines
• List of Ford transmissions
• List of Ford bellhousing patterns

References

1. "Taurus/Sable Spotter's Guide (Generation 1, 1986-1991)#1989". Taurus Car Club of America. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
2. Tann, Jeff. "Vargas' Beauty - Smooth, Shiny, Intoxicating & Exotic Describe This '37 Ford Coupe". Rod and Custom (March 1999): 115–118.
3. Boughn, Warren. "SHO Time - Installing a SHO Taurus Engine in a Street Rod". Rod and Custom (May 2000): 121–124.
4. "SHO 37 Ford article copy". Retrieved 2010-08-08.
5. "SHO Rod article copy". Retrieved 2010-08-08.
6. "SHO engine with other Ford Transmissions". Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
7. "SHO V6 in a Healey". Retrieved 2012-08-17.
8. "Wayback archive of Ford Bellhousing information site". Archived from the original on 2003-09-07. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
9. "SHO n Tell". Jon Mikelonis and Matt Wilder. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
10. Ford Motor Company (2007-07-19). 1989 Ford Taurus SHO commercial. Ford Motor Company.
11. "Specifications". shotimes.com. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
12. Hamilton, Frank. "SHO Down. Have you stomped in a Ford lately?". Minitruckin' (Spring 1990): 28–31.
13. "SHO Ranger article copy" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-08-08.
14. "SHO Sable". Retrieved 2010-08-08.
15. "SHO Sable". Retrieved 2010-08-08.
16. "1995 One Lap of America results". Retrieved 2010-08-08.
17. "One Lap of America". www.onelapofamerica.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
18. "Writeup on Jay Leno's SHOGun #003". Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
19. "Writeup on SHOGun #001". Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
20. "Writeup on SHOGun #005". Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
21. "Writeup on Jay Leno's SHOGun". Retrieved 2010-08-10.
22. "Writeup on the SHOGun Festiva". Archived from the original on 2002-02-07. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
23. "The SHOGun". Turbo and High Performance Magazine (September 1994).
24. "Shoebox Showoff". Autoweek (December 1990).
25. "SHOGun Making Progress". Autoweek (July 1991).
26. "Rocket Science". Road and Track (February 1991).
27. "Swapping Ends". American Car and Truck (Vol 1 No 1).
28. Alexander, Don (1991). How to Make Your Car Handle-Techniques for the 90s. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-87938-418-2.
29. "Homemade SHOGun". Retrieved 2010-08-10.