Getting the itch for a hi-po street sleeper....

[91rangerxlt]

haha got another one get an old ford fairlane or a grand torino.

[Will]

Originally Posted by rusty ol ranger

Actually LTD II's arnt as heavy as you think.

According to this site....http://grantorinosport.org/77ltdii.htm

A LTD II's Shipping weight was 3789. Not sure what that figures but 4K isnt really that much.

A good running 351W with some decent gears oughta haul it around just fine.

Do I want something that will smoke a SCJ 351 mustang? no. Do i want something to beat the snot nosed shit talking 16 year olds with a 15 yr old corolla they think is fast? Yes.

I just like a big fast car.

later,
Dustin

Those weights look correct, and they aren't as heavy as people think. The gearing is really bad on them and then when you put in a cam and 4bbl you make your stoplight-stoplight even worse. The trick is gears--deepest you can find.

I don't think you should go with any of the stereotypical cars--because honestly, a 40 year-old guy driving a highschool looking car is sad looking.

You like the Crown Vics, I would go with that. Even the late eighties-'91 full-size Crown Vic. With tasteful hubcaps, not Cragar SSs. One of my favorites is the Buick Roadmaster wagon (or any 94-96 B-Body) with the LT1. There's lots of potential with the LT1 as it was first introduced in the Corvette and then used as a performance option in FireBirds and Camaros--and then in GMs Luxo-barges, including the Cadillac Fleetwood, and of course, the Police cars. I would get one, swap out the rear gears for some 4.56s and a Lock Right. Later, I might start upgrading the engine, but it will be a savage vehicle as-is.

Here's a video. This obviously has the Corvette pretties bolted on, but these things have some torque. With 4.56s...

The 1992 LT1 in the Y-body was factory rated at 300 hp (220 kW) and 330 lb·ft (447 N·m). 96 LT1 Y-bodies were rated at 300 hp (220 kW) and 340 lb·ft (461 N·m). The 93-95 F-bodies were rated at 275 horsepower (205 kW) and 325 lb·ft (441 N·m), while the 96-97 cars were rated at 285 horsepower (213 kW) and 335 lb·ft (454 N·m). The 96-97 WS6 and SS F-bodies were rated at 305 hp (227 kW). The 94-96 B and D-body version was rated at 260 horsepower (190 kW) and 330 lb·ft (447 N·m).

[rusty ol ranger]

The only thing keeping me from the Vic right now is dropping another 3 or 4 grand for a car. The reason the LTD looks appelaing is because its already sitting in my garage.

Will, when you said a high school car, was you refering to the LTD or a foxbody or camero?

The LTD II came stock with 2.50 gears. On a 9 inch rear end you can buy a whole 3rd member, pull the old one and axle shafts out, and reinsert the new 3 member and axle shafts and be done changing gears...correct? I dont want anything real steep, reason being id still like to be able to cruise at 55-60 without running 4K, i was thinking 3.55's. I dont really wanna go with an O/D trans cause id like to keep my FMX.

Heres a picof the old beast....



Heres my question...the old caprices, was it only the Cop ones that got the LT1 350?

Thanks for the input guys...keep it coming.

[Slingblade]

75-76 Camaro



laugh all you want.

Chris

[rusty ol ranger]

Ive always like the 70's Cameros/Trans Am's.

But once again, cookie cutter.

later,
Dustin

[Beanmachine7000]

All the Caprice's got the LT1 if I remember correctly... Beastly engine... I have one in my Camaro with almost 400hp... Heads, cam, header back exhuast, high stall converter... It's very streetable too...

[Mac]

No Mustang or Camero would make a good sleeper, just too many have been modified and you never know what's in them. The LTD would be good but heavy. Bought a Pinto with a 351 in it just for the parts but like a Maveric, big tires and a lumpy cam are a give-away. I'd vote for the lighter weight Fairmont with a 351 and mild build, blend right in.
Happy hunting! Dave

[BigJohn76]

there is a 4 door fairmont sitting in the same pasture as my 51. the guy wants to get rid of it. that would be a sweet sleeper.

[Psychopete]

Fairmonts are the shit. A friend of mine has a '79 wagon on air bags and dropped in a EFI HO 5.0L. It's a lot of fun, I couldn't even imagine one with a 351W. Or could be different and build up a later I6 200! A lot of those cars are rust proofed from the factory. I almost bought a '78 that was like that and has the I6 200 for a couple hundred bucks.

There's a nice stock Maverick w/ 302 not too far from my house on a used lot, but they're asking a little too much for it (3K?).

My g/fs dad used to have a really nice 80's 442, but couldn't keep it from getting stolen. He owned a shop in the area and it would pop up in other shops, which the owners would let him know that his car was there.. Got sick of it and sold it. Cool cars, but just common as a 350 swap. What scares me the most about those cars (80's GPs, Cutlass, GN, etc) are the previous owners (and the rust).

Pete

[Sevensecondsuv]

Also note there are two versions of the police interceptor crown vics. The standard ones have an upgraded suspension with a rear sway bar and are governed at about 130 mph. Then there is the kind of rare "high speed pursuit" model that DOESN'T have a rear sway bar (you want a forgiving rear end for high speed) and is governed at about 160 mph I think.

Personally I think a crown vic with a tuned up 6.8L V10 swap or a pair of turbo's on the 4.6 with the PI (performance improved) heads would be the ticket. Either of those motors should make 500 hp and more torque than you know what to do with.

Electronic fuel injection is so easy to modify... Much easier than carbs. You just do all the mechanical mods, (cams, heads, turbos, supercharger, etc), pick your fuel injectors flow rate (kind of like CFM on a carb) and install them and then take it a dyno shop where they'll custom tune it for a few hundred and never have to mess with it again. Or if you want, you can buy the stuff to hook it up to a laptop and tune it yourself. The software they have out nowadays makes it really quite easy to do. If you can tune a carb and use a computer well enough to post on TRS, you can definately tune EFI.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Beanmachine7000

All the Caprice's got the LT1 if I remember correctly... Beastly engine... I have one in my Camaro with almost 400hp... Heads, cam, header back exhuast, high stall converter... It's very streetable too...

The LT1 was only available in the Caprice/Roadmaster/Fleetwood for '94-'96.

Of those '94-'96 cars all the Buick Roadmasters and Cadillac Fleetwoods will have an LT1.

Not all Caprice's have it. All of the '94-'96 Caprice stationwagons have the LT1. The Impala SS has the LT1. Most Caprice's from '94-'96 came with a 4.3, the LT1 was an option on those.

[BigJohn76]

our cop in little rock has a crown vic with a 302 from the factory. its governed to 140. ive seen the motor, just kinda wondering whats up with that.

[85_Ranger4x4]

Originally Posted by BigJohn76

our cop in little rock has a crown vic with a 302 from the factory. its governed to 140. ive seen the motor, just kinda wondering whats up with that.

That is an older car, early 90's before the mod motors came out.

[v-8power]

Originally Posted by rusty ol ranger

The LTD II came stock with 2.50 gears. On a 9 inch rear end you can buy a whole 3rd member, pull the old one and axle shafts out, and reinsert the new 3 member and axle shafts and be done changing gears...correct? I dont want anything real steep, reason being id still like to be able to cruise at 55-60 without running 4K, i was thinking 3.55's. I dont really wanna go with an O/D trans cause id like to keep my FMX.

Heres a picof the old beast....





Thanks for the input guys...keep it coming.

Nice car. As far as changing gears in a 9in. you are correct as long as the spline count is the same. If you would use a 3.73 gear this is almost a perfect grocery getter gear. IMO.

[BDAB]

Originally Posted by rusty ol ranger

What do you think a 77 LTD II would do with a 351W with a good cam, 4bbl, headers, and heads, and a 3.55 rear end?

The only reason im kinda nervous about doing something newer is ive never dealt really with modding electronic BS.

I dont want a festiva, lol. I want somethin ican throw the family in and go crusing but still dust hondas light to light.

I think the PI Vics are governed to 126..or 130 or something like that.

Ive LOVED the maruaders ever since they came out in 04, but they are rare and expensive.

I dont care about top end anyways, i just wanna mat the pedal, and hear the tires begging for mercy as you get pinned in the seat. Thats my high.

later,
Dustin

nows your chance for a big block and a stick dude........ slam a 460 into it with a modern 5spd and some 3.73's in the back. Bigger brakes with a disc brake conversion in the back and a modern suspension.