1982 Ford LTD-S 351W Police Car

[Brown_Muscle]

Yeah! I think you and John are the only ones I know with them. Mine broke apart and the spring came out, but its not that bad to repair. I was able to wind it a bit tighter too, as it had problems fully retracting. Where did you mount yours? I think john has his on the fender with a separate switch

[87gtVIC]

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?26257-My-1987-Two-Door-Crown-Victoria-AKA-THE-BROWN-BLOB&p=623730&viewfull=1#post623730

Pretty much the stock location. link above is from ages ago.

It is just ever so slightly wearing itself into the tubular upper intake at the very front corner of the plenum.

[Brown_Muscle]

Looks good! Okay yours is at a slightly different angle than mine, I wasn't sure if these cars ever came with one, so i just lined it up to where i though fit best, and used one of the existing light holes.

I should also mention...something big is happening over the next week or two. I plan to go up to CT and Nick and I will remove the engine and trans, re-gasket everything, and put GT40 heads on it while I'm at it. It should kill with the GT40's and 2 barrel carb! (haha). Eventually I'll get a 4 barrel, don't worry.

[gadget73]

Need the stock air horn back on there with the tube all the way to the rad support. Cold air intake bro. Or flip the lid for superior carb sound, those are the only correct options here.

Paint and speakers look much better. Old foam sucks, its the death of a lot of vintage speakers. Kraco speakers weren't all that awesome in the 80s, and they don't exactly improve with age. They do pair properly with a Spark-o-matic tape deck though.

[1987cp]

I recently watched an "Engine Masters" show on Motor Trend TV where they made more power with - no joking - a stainless steel salad bowl with a hole cut to fit the carb inlet - either with or without one of those K&N flow through lids over the top - than they did with no air cleaner at all.

Need the stock air horn back on there with the tube all the way to the rad support. Cold air intake bro. Or flip the lid for superior carb sound, those are the only correct options here.

Paint and speakers look much better. Old foam sucks, its the death of a lot of vintage speakers. Kraco speakers weren't all that awesome in the 80s, and they don't exactly improve with age. They do pair properly with a Spark-o-matic tape deck though.

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[Tiggie]

You’ve been busy. Good updates. I’d be very happy with that MPG with a 351 and automatic in a heavy brick at 73MPH.

[DerekTheGreat]

Yeah, very good. I might be tempted to try the next smallest jet size to lean the mixture out a bit more at cruise. If it makes a negative impact, go back to what you had. I'm a fan of higher combustion chamber temps short of melting pistons. Better for the plugs and results in less carbon smut in the combustion chamber.

[Brown_Muscle]

I considered doing that, i have #58 jets. that would put me at about 15.1 or so at cruise (on my gauge). But since I'm replacing the heads, and then sooner than later getting a 4 barrel, I'm not sure its worth it, but we'll see, I'm not in a rush to replace the 2 barrel, I just know now when I do, it'll REALLY wake her up.

[DerekTheGreat]

Yeah, try those. At cruise you won't notice anything from the 4bbl if the secondaries are vacuum operated, which they should be With new heads maybe, I'm not sure. Be a good idea to swap the cam out while you're there, no?
I tuned mine on my '69 Plymouth to only open with your foot in it. Before I knew diddly about a carb they were open on the highway which was dismal for fuel economy. No wonder I never understood what people meant when they said "Feel the secondaries kick in."

[Brown_Muscle]

It would be a great idea if i could afford it, and if we had time. Its flat tappet so it would need a break in cycle too.

Have to yank the engine/trans, re-gasket and install heads, and reinstall in 3 days, ill be doing this in Connecticut so if its not done in time, i cant get home!

[87gtVIC]

Gonna be fun!

[Brown_Muscle]

It would be really interesting to see what just a head change does on the dyno. Previously i was 170hp/271tq on the dyno. It would be a different dyno...but never the less it would be still be interesting.

[Hearsesrock427]

You should be able to crack 300 RWTQ easily. The heads that came on 351 panthers were not even remotely high performance, nor as was the camshaft. Plenum likely isn't anything to write home about either (not sure if you swapped in something else). But it's all easily fixed, because SBF aftermarket!

Do get what you mean about flat tappet camshafts, and how their irksome break in period is in direct opposition to your goal of timely install. Less working, more driving! Vroom.

[gadget73]

The heads and intake are probably the biggest choker, though the cam ain't so hot either. If you can move more air through the heads and intake though, the stock cam should still be acceptable.

[Brown_Muscle]

300RWTQ would be great with my 2BBL... Yeah the stock cam and valve springs made good power through the range on the dyno...no valve float in the upper RPM range. I think with heads and intake the cam will do nicely. Im not looking for anything crazy, just trying to keep up with modern sedans really.

Doing some research the valve springs on the 351W HO in the trucks and police sedans were the same ones used in the 82 mustang...specifically, and an article about the 82 mentioned that the new springs for that year enabled it to be used up to 6000RPM...so i take that as kind of promising.

I guess i should mention im re-using my valve springs on the new heads. I know its not ideal, and its not entirely by choice, but the springs it come with are very strong, strong enough to potentially wipe my lobes.