fictionwriter

Thanks for the tip typeR. Thing is, I don't race. I just get bored and feel like putting parts on my cars. I find the whole car thing very interesting. I'm happier with a car that can go fast from 70-100 on the highway if I just want to make a quick pass instead of a car that goes 0-60 really fast. Sometimes I forget that.

Ok, how about mustang gt headers - and instead of installing them myself I can just take it to an exhaust shop and have them put them on. those guys can make it fit and make me a whole 2.5 in exhaust for only a few hundred bucks I bet. That would help it breath better. And since there's no intake manifolds under 500 that will fit it, I'll just spend 300 on a bigger TB and pocket the extra 200 I have for that. I'm working with like 1200 after rent for the whole project. I was just about to pay a guy 350 to program my ecu for better gas until I found a programmer I could use myself on summit for 330. lol.

So there aren't even headers out there?

ok, I've decided to put my Camaro project on the back burner for now; reason being I've decided to drop in a 350 and I can't do that in parking lot of my apartment. So the Camaro waits until I can get into a house next year. I have a 2002 Crown Victoria with a 4.6. My goal is to boost over-all efficiency for a good balance of horsepower and gas mileage/reliability for my daily driver. My K&N intake is on the way to advance auto (they have an unbelievable price on those) I would like to find a better intake manifold and some affordable headers. A little down the road I would like to look at a cam and if the price is right some better breathing heads. I want to go naturally aspirated b/c I would rather not do a total rebuild all at once and there's no way an engine with 142k is going to stand much boost for long. I have some confusion though: I checked out Jegs and Summit - not much for the crown vic specifically on there. I thought about just looking up the 04 to current mustang GT 4.6 - but would those parts work on my version of that 4.6? Also, fordracingparts.com has some cool stuff but it's a little expensive. Where can I find good quality headers for my car that won't destroy my savings? 1 other question b4 I start: I need a ford guy's opinion here. What do you beleive is the biggest restriction point on the crown vic? Exhaust manifold? Cat? Intake? Heads? Let me know where to start! Thanks all - Nate

I was curious what other people have done to solve this - for instance, I learned that the air dams are indeed needed - I was wondering about that - also I hadn't thought of the dual fan thing. Another good idea I didn't know about. Additionally, I was hoping to start a thread that would help others who were having this prob.

All air dams are in place. I think the partially blocked radiator is the likely culprit of my running slightly hot on the highway, but the in-town driving without the ac on over-heating is definatly GM's fault. When the fan comes on with the ac everything is peachy, when it comes on at 230 it's not enough to get the car cool again, P.S. - Jack - 180* thermo wasn't for the over-heating problem, though it did help slightly. I was just hoping to make my engine last longer with that one.

Thanks for the tip, that's probably gonna be cheaper than the griffen radiators people buy on thirdgen, and a two-row radiator would be better.

Thanks, but on the 90-92 the fan is ecm controlled. I actually have the switch, there's just nowhere to put it on my car lol. It's normally in the passenger side head. The fan comes on at 220-230 but by then it's too late. With the ac on the fan is on if I run under 40mph.

I actually don't know a lot about 15 year old Mustangs. But I know that the third gen's were manufactured in California and painted with a water-based environmentally friendly paint because of CARB laws there. The 90-92 f-bodys got the same paint applied with a turbo-bell system which made it look better but the clear coat still doesn't hold up well. 4th gen camaros were manufactured in Canada where they used the good stuff. I've seen some fox bodies with great paint and some with not so great, same goes for some ford probe's. But I've definitely seen more rusted out f-bodies than Mustangs. Keep the votes coming guys, this has been really informative. I'm saving up for a Stang GT, but yes, I'm keeping the RS. P.S. Someone mentioned the 4.6 v8 was a failed platform? I'm not arguing, I was just wondering why it is. My daily driver is an 02 crown vic with the 4.6 so I'd like to hear about it.

Dude, I'm not a mechanic, I jsut like cars. How am I supposed to know there's a difference between rear wheel hp and crank - I thought it was all the same. My bad

ok - are we forgetting this is just some internet forum? Yeah I feel so dumb. ROFL

That post was full of info... Just because you drive a ricer honda man, don't hate on my car. I was pissed about how low 140 was, you seem to be pissed at how high it is. Why don't you google it since you seem to know everything about the 3.1 v6

I can scan my owners manual if you like man. I really doubt it's lost any after only 80k.

Yeah fo sho.

I'm glad I started this thread, it's made me appreciate my car more.

Thanks for the kind welcome - the good thing about these 3rd gens is there's enough room for whatever I want to squeeze in. Maybe I'll buy a crashed escalade and put in a 6.2 liter v8 from that. lol

I'll look into the 2 hayden fans. Thanks for the tip.

I'm not loosing any coolant at all. The car stays at about 185 as long as I leave the AC on and hence the fan always on. But I don't want to be one of those guys with the fan rigged to always on. Us thirdgen guys are stereotyped enough.

A lot of people with these cars (like me) report stubborn over-heating problems. I was just wondering what you guys have tried and how it's worked out. I've tried: Leaving the AC on so the fan always runs 180* thermo higher CFM cooling fan. New coolant temp sensor New coolant temp switch None of that shit worked out very well Further plans: New water pump 160* thermo Hypertech Thermomaster chip (turns the fan on at 180 instead of GM's retarded programming of 230) Bigger Radiator.

heh, oops

I kinda agree with you on the third gens being redneck cars. I mostly see dirty rednecks driving beat-up thirgens around Lancaster. I'm just trying to not contribute to the stereotype. I wouldn't even drive mine until I had fixed all exhaust rattles and squeaky shocks etc.

Where could I get an engine like this?

I've been on thirdgen.org for quite some time. My brother is on here, has great things to say about it.

Man, I HAVE to know... why not? Why is it so crazy? I'm just going from what I've heard, I'd be happy to be set straight... so set me straight! It's a lot easier for me to just keep the car I have.

Just heresy. I don't do all of my own work so I get to hear what the mechanics say around the shop.