Ford SHO V6 engine
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.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.
to develop, produce, and supply a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine for transverse
application.
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.
. 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 at 6200 rpm and 200 lbft 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.
. 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 lbft at 4000 rpm at the flywheel. Horsepower output was still 220 bhp, 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.
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. In 1995 one of these vehicles finished 15th in the 1995 One Lap of America
event.
s 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.
Since the creation of these cars, others have imitated the idea by performing SHO-to-Festiva transplants of their own.
Ford Taurus SHO
The Ford Taurus SHO is a full-size performance sedan based on the Ford Taurus that was originally produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 until 1999. It returned in 2009 for the 2010 model year....
from 1989 to 1995. The designation SHO denotes Super High Output.
Due to the engine's unusual and aesthetically pleasing appearance it is sometimes transplanted into other vehicles. Its distinctive variable length intake manifold
Variable Length Intake Manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable length intake manifold , or variable intake manifold is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology...
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
Longitudinal engine
In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back....
mounting.
The SHO engines share a common bell housing
Bell housing
"Bell housing" is a colloquial/slang term for the portion of the transmission that covers the flywheel and the clutch or torque converter of the transmission on vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. This housing is bolted to the engine block and derives its name from the bell-like...
pattern with the following Ford engines: the 2.3/2.5 L FWD HSC
Ford HSC engine
The HSC is an automobile engine from Ford Motor Company sold from 1984 until 1994. It was produced in Lima, Ohio, largely using tooling and designs adapted from the predecessor 200 CID straight 6.-2.3:...
I4, the 3.0 L FWD/RWD Vulcan V6, and the 3.8 L FWD Canadian Essex
Ford Essex V6 engine (Canadian)
The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 90° V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company at the Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Unlike the British Essex V6, the Canadian Essex used a 90° V configuration, in addition to having different displacements and valvetrains...
V6.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 CompanyFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
to develop, produce, and supply a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine for transverse
Transverse engine
A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Many modern front wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration...
application.
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
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is a pickup truck produced by the Ford Motor Company. The "Ranger" name had previously been used for a premium styling package on the F-Series full-sized pickup trucks since 1965. The name was moved to this line of North American compact trucks for the 1983 model year.In North...
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 manifoldVariable Length Intake Manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable length intake manifold , or variable intake manifold is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology...
. 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 at 6200 rpm and 200 lbft 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
Redline
Redline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine...
was marked on the tachometer
Tachometer
A tachometer is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common...
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 transmissionAutomatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. 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 lbft at 4000 rpm at the flywheel. Horsepower output was still 220 bhp, 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."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. In 1995 one of these vehicles finished 15th in the 1995 One Lap of America
One Lap of America
The One Lap of America is a motorsports event in the United States that has been held since 1984. It is the successor to the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, an underground auto race of the 1970s...
event.
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 FestivaFord Festiva
The Ford Festiva is a subcompact car that was marketed by the Ford Motor Company between 1986 and 2002. Built by Mazda in Japan and Kia Motors in South Korea, the Festiva was sold in Japan, the Americas, and Australasia...
s and mounted 3.0 L SHO V6s − still mated to their native transmissions − behind the front seats in mid-rear engine configuration
MR layout
In automotive design, a RMR or Rear Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive layout is one in which the rear wheels are driven by an engine placed just in front of them, behind the passenger compartment. In contrast to the rear-engined RR layout, the center of mass of the engine is in front of the rear axle...
. 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
Gee
Gee may refer to:In fiction:*Al Giardello , a fictional character on the television drama Homicide: Life on the StreetIn record labels:*Gee Records*Gee Street RecordsIn music:...
. Two of the seven are notable; Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
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.
Since the creation of these cars, others have imitated the idea by performing SHO-to-Festiva transplants of their own.
See also
- Ford Taurus SHOFord Taurus SHOThe Ford Taurus SHO is a full-size performance sedan based on the Ford Taurus that was originally produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 until 1999. It returned in 2009 for the 2010 model year....
- Ford SHO V8 engine
- List of Ford engines
- List of Ford transmissions
- List of Ford bellhousing patterns
External links
- A 3.0 L SHO V6 in a 1994 Mercury TopazMercury TopazThe Mercury Topaz is a compact car that was manufactured by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company for model years 1984 to 1994 as a slightly upscale variant of the Ford Tempo...
http://www.tempo-topaz-performance.com/topazsho/ - A 3.0 L SHO V6 in a 1956 Austin-HealeyAustin-HealeyAustin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design...
BN2 http://members.cox.net/rdgrauman/finiahed2.jpg http://www.britishv8.org/Other/NormanRest.htm - A 3.0 L SHO V6 in a 1980 Lotus Esprit http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-1980-lotus-esprit-with-sho-under-glass-eng/
- A 3.0 L SHO V6 in a CobraAC CobraThe AC Cobra, also known colloquially as the Shelby Cobra in North America, is an Anglo-American sports car that was produced during the 1960s.-History and development:...
kit car http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&sid=233 - A 3.0 L SHO V6 in a 1972 MGB http://www.britishv8.org/MG/LeRoyBarton.htm
- A 3.0 L SHO V6 in a 4th generation Honda PreludeHonda PreludeThe Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
http://preludepower.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276684&highlight=sho - A 3.2 L SHO V6 in a 1992 Ford ProbeFord ProbeThe Ford Probe was a coupé based on the Mazda GD platform, and powered by a 2.2 L SOHC 4 cylinder Mazda F2 engine.The first generation Probe appeared in 1988 and lasted until 1992 in the United States. In some markets the model years were from 1987 to 1991...
http://web.archive.org/web/20040404064443/http://www.harborside.com/~lhumbert/probepg.html - A 3.2 L SHO V6 in a 1995 Ford Taurus station wagon http://www.klimesgroup.com/SHOwagon/
- Yamaha Motor Company timeline from 1980–1989
