Ford SHO V6 engine

Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox automobile engine 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.<ref name="G1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="SHO37Ford">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHORod">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHO37FordCopy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHORodCopy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOTransmissions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOHealey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="FordBellhousings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1996, Ford discontinued the SHO V6 and began fitting the Taurus SHOs 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.<ref name="SHONTELL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite video</ref>

3.0 L

The SHO V6 was a high-tech and revolutionary design when it debuted in 1988. Displacing Template:Cvt, it was an iron block, closed deck, aluminum head 24-valve DOHC engine with an innovative variable length intake manifold. Its oversquare and symmetrical design, which sported an Template:Cvt bore and stroke, gave the high-revving engine an output of Template:Cvt at 6200 rpm and Template:Cvt 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. 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 Template:Cvt continued to be sold mated to the MTX-IV manual transmission, and a new Template:Cvt engine was sold mated to the Ford AX4S automatic transmission. The new Template:Cvt engine, while retaining the same Template:Cvt stroke of its Template:Cvt brother, sported a larger Template:Cvt bore that helped raise torque output to Template:Cvt at 4000 rpm at the flywheel.<ref name="shotimes.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Power output was still Template:Cvt, but now at 6000 rpm; this was due to a milder cam setup compared to the more aggressive intake camshaft in the Template:Cvt version.

Other Ford vehicles

In 1989, with the help of Roush Racing, Ford Truck Public Affairs created a one-off Ford Ranger, dubbed the "SHO Ranger", with a Template:Cvt 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."<ref name="SHORanger">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHORanger2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="FordsSHORanger">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="DrivingImpression">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="PopularHotRod">Template:Cite journal</ref>

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 Template:Cvt 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.<ref name="SHOSable">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOSable2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOSable3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Modifications

A popular modification to cars equipped with the Template:Cvt SHO engine is to replace the engine with a Template:Cvt engine. Further modification can include installing the cams from a Template:Cvt engine into a Template:Cvt 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 Template:Cvt.Template:Citation needed

SHOGun Festiva

In 1990, Chuck Beck of Special Editions and Rick Titus took seven Ford Festivas and mounted Template:Cvt 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 do a quarter-mile (400 m) run in 12.9 seconds at Template:Cvt, 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.<ref name="SHOGun1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="SHOGun2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="SHOGun3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOGun4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOGun5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SHOGun article5">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHOGun article1">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHOGun article2">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHOGun article3">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SHOGun article4">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="PerformanceBook">Template:Cite book</ref> One was destroyed in the 2021–2022 Boulder County fires.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Since the creation of these cars, others have imitated the idea by performing SHO-to-Festiva transplants of their own.<ref name="GrassrootsSHOGun">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

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