Did 3.8L Tauruses come in Manual?

[chrisofna]

My friend was looking for something interesting to build up so he was thinking 3.8L Taurus from the 80s (don't hate, he like's being different). He's thinking the 3.8L SC from the Thunderbirds. He wants manual though. Does anyone know if they came manual? And yes, we know about the SHO, the motors are expensive as heck to work on.

BTW guys... I'm back. LOL, had to work on the MR2s for a while. I still want a Festiva but money is tight.

[anomoly40]

Welcome back!

[25Horseplay]

I don't know if the 3.8 came in manual but there was a 4cyl wwith a manual trans called a MT-5 in the mid 80's. I had one.

[FB71]

the only manual trans Taurus' were the aforementioned MT-5 with the 2.5L 4cylinder (86-90), and the SHO. All others (3.0L and 3.8L) were auto trans only

[chrisofna]

Is there any way to put a manual on it? I've seen a Mercury Sable manual 3.0L before.

[FB71]

oh, and the AXOD/AXODE won't hold up to more than 200hp.

And I'm not sure, but the MTX-IV from the SHO may (I stress may) share the same bellhousing as the FWD 3.8 block. Any SHO guys have a tracing of the block plate to compare against?

[FB71]

Is there any way to put a manual on it? I've seen a Mercury Sable manual 3.0L before.

Are you sure? There was a 3.0L manual Mercury Topaz, but a manual was never an option on any Sable, that I'm aware of...

and that would be an MTX-III, wouldn't hold up to even a stock 3.8L

[chrisofna]

Topaz, that's what it was. I'm sorry about that/

[elcamino1]

That would be different,but I think Fords 3.8 V6s are junk!

[FB71]

only the head gaskets are junk. The old single port heads (83-98 ) are prone to chewing up head gaskets (as I'm sure you know, El). The 99-up 3.8, 3.9 and 4.2s have a much better head design, and don't eat head gaskets.

Check www.moranav6racing.com for hotrod v6 Ford stuff, including better head gaskets.

[chrisofna]

Okay, the SHO motor bolts up to any 3.0L tranny, but I dunno if the 3.0 shares the same bolt pattern as the 3.8...

[festivaWES]

3.0 trans is garbage....i used to own a 88 taurus. It was my first car, and i can't even count the number of neutral drops i did on that thing Maybe that's why the trans took a dump!