improving preformance

[oldschool84]

hey panther fans, anyone have ideas for inexpensive engine mods to improve horsepower. ive added a kn air filter and dual exhaust

[sxcpotatoes]

First thing to do is a rear-end gear swap, or swap the entire axle out of a newer Crown vic/Grand Marquis to get the big disc brakes. This will mean you need to change to 16" wheels minimum. Also check out the HO swap thread, you can swap a mustang motor into your box Grand Marquis, all you have to do is swap the accessories over and flip the intake 90-degrees, put the inlet on the proper side of the car. Then you swap some pins on the Mustang computer and change your firing order to the HO scheme (easier on the bearings). You could go with an explorer swap for even more power, you can get up to 300/325/350 with just the explorer swap and headers/duals and a tune. The Explorers/Mountaineers came with GT40 or GT40Ported heads from the factory depending on which year you get. But you will need a higher flow fuel pump. You'd also need the mustang computer, and for the love of electricity first things first upgrade that alternator with a 3G conversion! The stock 1g alts suck, & 2g alts like to let the smoke monster out and cause engine fires, apparently.

As long as you can do the labor yourself, the engine swaps are your best bet for more power. I think '84 they were still running the CFI stuff which is horrible. If it's working fine, leave it alone, but you need to find a real artiste to repair or tune a CFI carb, most people just swap on an aftermarket carb when it starts acting up.

The 3g conversion is about $150-$200 for parts iirc, most 3.0 Tauruses had the 3g alternator, so you can snag one at the pull a part yard and test it at autozone/wherever. Complete rears run $125-dunno depending on your local yards. You can search at car-part.com.

[oldschool84]

I like those wheels man. well I went from 15s to 14s no way I can go to 16s!

[fmansfield444]

Upgrade that CFI to SEFI and it'll have about twice the throttle response. Even with a lopo SEFI.

You can swap the rear gears and still keep your wheels, but I think you'll have to stay with drums on the back.

Really can't do much for performance with CFI in my opinion.

[sly]

pretty much what these guys have said. short of converting to SEFI or an engine swap, your only real choice is upgrade the gears in the rear axle.

[gadget73]

Replace the timing chain. It won't help performance much, but the engine runs better and will not self-destruct. A running engine always performs better than one that doesn't run. The 85 and older cars used a crappy plastic timing gear that falls apart and lets the chain jump. When that happens, the valves smash the pistons and bend.

[oldschool84]

do you have air shocks or some variation? i have air shocks and bags on my 84 grand marq and it gives it a nice rake.

[sxcpotatoes]

do you have air shocks or some variation? i have air shocks and bags on my 84 grand marq and it gives it a nice rake.

You can hit "reply with quote" button to address someone, or just drop their name so we know who you're talking to, but I'll assume you're talking to me because of my car's stance in my signature pic.

I recently had Moog Variable Rate Cargo (Wagon) Coilsprings put on it and it gives it that much rake. I should update my sig pic as that one is pre-paintjob and still shows the rust on the right rear behind the wheel.

[marquis_82_withneons]

The 3g conversion is about $150-$200 for parts iirc, most 3.0 Tauruses had the 3g alternator, so you can snag one at the pull a part yard and test it at autozone/wherever. Complete rears run $125-dunno depending on your local yards. You can search at car-part.com.

i picked up a reman 3g off ebay for 55. thats all i have in my swap. granted i got a little help from dad for the 8ga copper, but mine was pretty cheap.

[fmansfield444]

My 3G was about 30 bucks for junk yard parts, MAKE SURE YOU USE A FUSE AND SECURE EVERYTHING TIGHTLY INCLUDING THE BATTERY!!! Or else my misfortune could happen to you.

[porschpow]

I didn't know you could swap to a HO firing order on a stock 5.0 without any consequences or repurcussions???

[87gtVIC]

You cannot, unless you swap in the HO bits.

[gadget73]

correct. Works fine if you have the proper cam, otherwise it no workie fine. it wont break anything if you really want to try it, but it runs like total shit.

[porschpow]

10-4, gotcha!

[marquis_82_withneons]

correct. Works fine if you have the proper cam, otherwise it no workie fine. it wont break anything if you really want to try it, but it runs like total shit.

take my word for this.. we found it out the hard way on my buddys towny. if you got the rong order you WILL know it.