97-V6 swap to 01-V6: Help

Have you looked at:

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2001/09/rebuilding-the-ford-3-8l-engine/

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2004/09/rebuilding-the-ford-3-0l-v6/

You are going from an externally balanced motor to an internally balanced motor. So I would think that in of itself would answer something about which "other" parts to change. IE from the rotating assembly.

But it may prove to be simpler to swap the entire cam syncro assembly than just the cam sensor. Or at the very least compare the mounting points of the two cam sensors.

Regarding which head gaskets to use. Try this. Go to rockauto and look up the part number for each model year. Are they the same part number?

It seems to me that once you start talking about swapping much more than just the heads + original intake this whole project begins to get soooo top heavy as to fall over from it's own weight.

It also seems to me like it wouldn't be all that hard to just take both sets of head off and see for yourself if they will line up. Compare the length of the head bolts. Compare the head gaskets.

Question. Have the 97 heads been leak checked, checked for straightness, and cleaned from metal debris?