Literature

Information included here is strictly for informational purposes and does not constitute endorsement of any product or service. If you haven't yet read the SHOtimes FAQ disclaimer , take the time to read it now.

Repair Manuals

Chilton

 Chilton part number 8251 $19.95 list, $13 discount 

ISBN 0 801 98251 0 

Scott Chan's comments: "Good general purpose book. Includes some information about engine control diagnostics, wiring and vacuum drawings. Illustrations are hard to read." 

[Ed: Does not appear to cover SHO engine.]

Haynes

Haynes part number 1421 $16.95 list price, $13.50 discount

ISBN 1 56392 051 4 

Scott Chan: "Assumes we can overhaul an engine, but are incapable of reading out engine control diagnostics. Good photographs help identify things. My copy does not cover the SHO motor, but if you are just doing a brake job, it's fine." 

Haynes TechBook 2108 $16.95 list price, $13.50 discount

ISBN 1 56392 108 1 

Dictionary of computer trouble codes for many systems including Ford EEC IV. General troubleshooting. 

Haynes TechBook 2112 $16.95 list price, $13.50 discount

ISBN 1 56392 112 X 

General brake systems maintenance and repair, with information on ABS systems and on performance modifications. 

Haynes Automotive Detailing Manual, Haynes TechBook 2113 $16.95 list price, $13.50 discount

ISBN 1 56392 113 8 

Haynes does detailing, wouldja believe.

Helm

 Official Ford Motor Company shop manuals and wiring diagrams. 

Published by Helm Publications. Their telephone number is (800) 782-4356. The full manual is a bit (okay, a lot) expensive, and you don't get the addenda that the dealers do, but they're a good way to check whether your mechanic knows the SHO. 

The main manual for the Taurus is 

FPS-12055-xx (where xx is the model year) 
         19xx Taurus/Sable Shop Manual, $85.00 

Other Part numbers and prices in 1990 were: 

FPS-12106-90 
1990 Car and Truck Engine Emission Diagnosis, $81.00 
FPS-12139-90 
1990 Car Service Specifications Front Wheel Drive, $20.00 
FPS-12067-90 
1990 Taurus/Sable Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Information, $25.00 
FPS-12123-90 
1990 Taurus/Sable Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual, $24.00 
FPS-12136-90M 
1990 Taurus/Sable Wiring Diagrams Only, $10.00 
I have the shop manual, which is sufficient for a complete teardown and rebuild of the car but makes a lot of references to special tools and equipment available only to Ford dealers, and the do-it-yourself maintenance guide, which doesn't cover all I'd like but is thorough on those bits it does cover (oil changes, general inspection, etc.) 

Ford and SHO specific tuning and performance

  1. Probst, Charles. "How to Understand, Service and Modify Ford Fuel Injection and Electronic Engine Control." Cambridge, MA: Robert Bentley Inc. (Stock No. GFF9), 1993. $29.95 list price. ISBN 0-8376-0301-3


    2. Required reading if you're going to do your own wrenching or perhaps modification.

  2. SHO Performance Guide by Ted Breaux


    3. Available via $20 check to:

    Ted Breaux / SHO Performance
    127 Hwy 22 East, W9
    Madisonville, LA 70447

    To give you an idea of what Ted has experimented with, here's his list of modifications that he has made to his own car: 

    Custom 2.5" true dual exhaust w/high-flow cats and Edelbrock 5502 mufflers
Custom headers, jet hot ceramic coated inside and out
My own computer module and break-out box
Pro-M 77mm MAF
Underdrive pulleys
Extrude honed intake 
Entire intake is jet hot coated inside and out
Ported heads with unshrouded combustion chambers
Stage 2 cams
Custom valve springs
Titanium retainers
Adjustable cam degree sprockets (with my own proven timing scheme)
Magnecor plug wires
Custom intake manifold crossover tube
Remote oil filter
VDO oil press, oil temp, and boost gauges
Cyberdyne Fuel press and air/fuel ratio gauges
Grizzly clutch and T/O bearing
SHO Shop lightened flywheel
155LPH fuel pump
Bosch 35lb/hr injectors on a modified rail
Tokico struts
Eibach springs
Delrin bushings
SHO Shop subframe and strut rod bushings
17X7.5 RW Hightech wheels with BFG Comp T/A3 225X45 ZR 17 rubber
9psi Blower is on the way
    Look for Ted's Stage II Performance Guidebook to be announced soon!

General books on performance and handling

Some stuff from my library:
By Herb Adams.

Los Angeles: HPBooks, 1993, $14.95 list price ($19.95 CDN)
ISBN 1-55788-055-7
Good text on chassis and suspension design by the chassis engineer of the original Pontiac Trans Am. Mostly race-oriented, but information is equally applicable to street cars. Includes tools and techniques for doing your own wheel alignment.
Performance Handling: How to Make Your Car Handle.
By Don Alexander.

Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1991.
ISBN 0-87938-418-2
Howto book on suspension, wheels, and tires, with lots of examples (including a Shogun).

Magazines

I find it difficult to recommend any hot rodding magazines in general. I believe that the dependence of these magazines on paid advertising for their existence influences their articles and reviews to the consumer's detriment; in addition, the SHO's relative rarity means that articles are few and far between. That being said, Super Ford seems to have the best coverage of the SHO in addition to being more literate and entertaining than the norm for hot rodding magazines, although 95% of it covers V8's and rear drive. Some recent articles on 302 and 351 modifications have been quite well written and objective IMO, and they're paying more attention to the SHO recently. Past articles include: Super Ford back issues are available from:

Taylor's Reader Services
P.O. Box 624, Dept. SF
Douglas, GA 31533

Orders (800) 883-4561
Info & Questions (912) 384-4780

Other magazine articles about the SHO include :

Car and Driver

Road & Track Motor Trend Popular Science (it IS a high tech engine, afterall!) Autoweek Automobile Hot Rod Magazine Cycle