I was browsing ebay when I found a 99 up 3.8 longblock for sale. There was a tube that ran down the middle of the lifter valley in the picture. My 96 3.8 doesn't have this tube. Can anyone tell me what it does? Do I really need it?
Yep, that's what it appears to be. A friend gave me a complete 3.8 from an 87 T-bird to use as a parts bin. I tore it down and it has the counter balance shaft like I saw in the picture.
The Mustang engine was put together by a kid. He wasn't able to get it running which is why we got the car for cheap. He had used the wrong heads, so I'm not surprised he left something out like that. It looks like it comes out the front through the timing cover. Will I need to remove the timing chain to get it out?
Well this just keeps getting more interesting! My mystery motor never came with the counter balance shaft. There are no oil holes drilled for the bearings and the timing chain sprocket has a spacer behind it where the helical gear would be that drives the counter balance shaft.
There is a "3.8" cast into the lifter valley but is it possible that it's actually a 4.2?
Also, if you're not already aware, there is a "gotcha" on the front timing cover. The moron engineers at Ford that designed this thing buried a hex head bolt on the lower driver's side corner. I cracked 2 timing covers before I saw the little hidden bolt. Now I have to find another timing cover. I'm really starting to hate this little engine