Need More Power

[Karlton694u]

Hey guys, I would like to get a little bit more power out of my 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis. It has the 4.6L V8 in it but I would like a little bit more on the low end. I have found a CAI for like $200 for it, but I am not sure if I should buy it or just get a K&N filter to help it breath. I have already put dual exhaust on it. I was wondering if anyone knew if you can get a programmer for it or not, and if so where. Links please. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Will]

I would regear it. Those come with 2.73s or something in the rear axle. You would get 1/3 more off the line torque with 3.55s in it and lose nothing on the top end. Those can't pull overdrive. 3.55s would feel amazing compared to what you have now. In fact, nothing you can do with those meager 281 cubic inches are going to improve your situation. You need gears.

 

[Karlton694u]

I don't know about that, I know re-gearing would give it more low end, but at the same time, worse mileage. I am trying to keep it right around where it is right now as far as mileage goes. I am looking for like a programmer or something. Something that isn't very much work and or money. I bought the car for $1700 and I would rather not stick a lot of money into it. I know that you might be thinking that the exhaust cost a lot, but it was like $40 because I have access to a Huth.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Eaton or roots style superchargers will really bump up your low end torque but not worht the price, I have to agree with will here, go with gears. I would push farther than 3.55 and go with 3.93's or higher. An intake is nice and helps mildly with gas mileage and when you really start adding mods the extra airflow will add up but not right now. The only benefit is a washable unit.

I WILL SAY THIS You can spend some dough and get a kit for the transmission that will stiffen your shifts and make them stronger. Its a must with the AOD.

Because your unit is 95 its got all the crappy stuff, you can find a newer interceptor and swap the running gear, tranny, tranny cooler, springs etc. It will make a difference. Go read the POlice interceptor post and it shouldgive you some ideas.

Oh yeah regearing will not affect your mileage that much even if you get 4.10's. From 2.73 to 3.55 like Will suggested would only be a 500 rpm increase and the overdrive gear in those cars is so rediculously high you wont have any issues. ( me personally I would invest in a 5 speed and get the 3.93's) A stick Vic (or marquis) would be the shyt.

SCT and DIablosport have the programmers you need. they run about 500 bucks ( you can get gears for less than 100 and have them installed for less than 4)

 

[Karlton694u]

That it? I really don't want to re-gear. I just want a little more from it. And I'm going into school this year so I don't have a lot of money to put into it.

 

[feellnfroggy]

If you dont ahve alot of money puttnig gears in it is the cheapest way to go. You can fnid em online for like 75 bucks, Everyone on this site selling 8.8 gearshave the same rearend you have, for the most part. The trans kit will run you 600-1100 bucks, and any kinda forced induction is gonna cost you minimum 1500 used not counting tuning your ecu. Intake and exhaust mods are so minimal that its not worth it for what you are looking for. The only other option would be to take your engine to a machine shop and have the cylinder heads decked, the intake and cylinder heads ported and polished.
You can get a set of cams for like 300 but installationwill be expensive unless you know what your doing and they wont be worth much wihtout the ported heads. You wont get alot out of the ported heads without the cams. Gears are your best shot. Or trade it for a vette.

EDIT:: So I was reading our new homepage, which looks awesome, and saw one more thing. You can go the underdrive pulley route. I had a buddy at ft bragg with a 98 GT, He ran intake, exhaust, underdrive pulleys and 75 shot of nitrous. 75-125 is safe for the 4.6 when done right costs about 300 bucks and is a real kick in the pants, but only when needed. The only disadvantage is an empty bottle.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I wouldn't personally go that deep with gears, would go 3.27 or 3.55, cop cars use 3.27's a lot of times. Did you do headers with the exhaust? Don't do a programmer 'till everything else is done first. If you are looking for cheap power buy a bicycle.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I wouldn't personally go that deep with gears, would go 3.27 or 3.55, cop cars use 3.27's a lot of times. Did you do headers with the exhaust? Don't do a programmer 'till everything else is done first. If you are looking for cheap power buy a bicycle.

Actually if he used a programmer, he could gain more power with one tune than intake, long tubes, and h-pipe altogether. He would also have the benefit of a fuel economy setting, as well as factory setting, and even though its a vic, he could have a towing setting all with the one rogrammer, once he has his baseline tune, he can make adjustments based on the parts he adds from his driveway. With a programmer he will have the ability to recalibrate his speedo when he finally gets gears, and can even adjust his shift points (if he has the aodE) (if he just has AOD, he cant adjust anything) He can shut off his o2's with it. Which allows him to add the long tubes without running rich. ( I had the longtubes on my mustang and it was worthless because I couldnt reprogram for the extra oxygen the o2's were reading)

Its $500+ though for a good programmer and the first dyno backed tuned(you dont want mail order).


Your right, 3.55's are a great gear for that boat. 3.27's are still to steep for what I think he is looking for. But if you wanna watch a bytch scream, put 4.10's in it.

Programmer will still not get you the increase of seat of the pants horsepower like gears will.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

well my point was being if you are gonna do something, programmer is not my first choice. Heads and cams would be right after gears. Then headers and all, then tune it right after all of it....

 

[feellnfroggy]

I got that, what I was saying is he is gonna run rich and it wont drive right until he programs it. He would have to do all that and do tha programmer immediately after all that before he can drive it. He wants to maintain gas mileage for school and that aint gonna happen without a tuner. It's the problem I have right now with my mustang.

Your not wrong by any means, there is no wrong way. Under normal build up circumstances I would do exactly what you said. But he wants to maintain his mileage and the computer systems with teh 94 and later v-6's and the 92 and later 4.6's are extremely stupid when it comes to modding and maintaining drivability.

But again there is not wrong way. Gears intake and muffler is the only thing you can really do to that motor without the computer gettin stupid. After that it gets a lil tougher.

Edit:: also dont buy new parts parts unless you have absolutely no choice, research compatability between the 4.6 motors. Intakes, exaust systems, all have pretty much the same performance value used or not. They just sit there and let air flow through. Heads are a little more difficult, you can find good heads, but the rotating parts are subject to deficiencies due to miles, as are gears and electronics. But I would look around all the blogs avail, you can find likenew parts (everything that has been suggested) for alot less than new prices.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

yup there is no real wrong way,but You have 2 different opinions anyways now..

 

[feellnfroggy]

I guess I do... I've got the mod bug, I get a new idea and wanna try sumthing new everytime I turn around. And Im constanly reading so Im always learning new things. I can throw a suggestion out there and the more I talk about it or read it I fine tune it in my head and by the end of a post Im in a totally different world.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Drop in a 5.4L No but seriously, 3.55's would give you the best mix of economy and performance. The stock 2.73's are awesome for highway crusing and mileage (I used to get 23 outta my 99 Crown Vic), but arnt the greatest for hole shots.
Although, 23 doesnt sound to impressive when you consider my old 77 LTD II with a 351W, 2 bbl carb, 3sp auto, and 2.50 rear got 23-24. The vic still got 14-15 around town though, the LTD only got 9-11, if you were lucky.
Do some reaserch on the internet, there was a guy who took a 5sp (from a mustang i believe) clutchpedals and all and put it in a Vic.

Also keep in mind, Almost any modification (not sure about suspension, but drivetrain wise) that is for a mustang will work on a Vic.

later,Dustin

 

[feellnfroggy]

Drop in a 5.4L No but seriously, 3.55's would give you the best mix of economy and performance. The stock 2.73's are awesome for highway crusing and mileage (I used to get 23 outta my 99 Crown Vic), but arnt the greatest for hole shots.
Although, 23 doesnt sound to impressive when you consider my old 77 LTD II with a 351W, 2 bbl carb, 3sp auto, and 2.50 rear got 23-24. The vic still got 14-15 around town though, the LTD only got 9-11, if you were lucky.
Do some reaserch on the internet, there was a guy who took a 5sp (from a mustang i believe) clutchpedals and all and put it in a Vic.

Also keep in mind, Almost any modification (not sure about suspension, but drivetrain wise) that is for a mustang will work on a Vic.

later,Dustin

Suspension is actually the only thing that wont work without extreme modding. One other thing to keep in mind is the 4.6 for the vic's and marauder's have the intake facing the opposite way of most 4.6 gt mustang's .

If you go the 5.4l route (bear with me Im dreaming) get one from a lincoln navigator. Its dohc and has the best torque numbers for a stock block 5.4