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Topic: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget... (Read 1526 times) previous topic - next topic

Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Ok, this could be a long post.
 
I've recently purchased a 1985 Cougar.  It has the CFI 5.0 SO in it at the moment, but I'm pulling that and putting together a 302 HO to drop in.  I've got everything I need for the engine, I'm turning a newer SO into an HO. 

I'm going to use the E7TE heads.  While it's apart I'm going to put in the newer pistons with the valve reliefs. I think I'm going to go with the mass air conversion, seems to be the smartest option and leaves some play for future mods.

Now, I'm kind of on a budget, and wondering what parts will give me the best bang for buck performance wise.  I want the car to go good enough to be fun, doesn't have to be the craziest thing on the road, and with a 302 that's not what I'm expecting anyways, but I want it to light 'em up good if you know what I mean.

So, what cam should I run, should I put in a high stall torque converter?  I also need to buy a full dual exhaust that sounds good, can I keep the stock headers?  Where should I go for parts?

While the engine is out of the car, is there anything I should add/do suspension or frame wise?

What's everyone else running?

Thanks.

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #1 –
the best place for parts is either http://www.summitracing.com or http://www.jegs.com
if i were you and wanted a good street cam id go for a Lunati .500/.510

headers? on an SO? whatever, those are exhaust manifolds dude...... the big heavy castiron 1 peice boat anchors , if i were you.......id get some BBk headers, and depending if you have emission checks.....id either get a  offroad h-pipe from summit.......or a BBK one with hi-flo cats and the lers of your choice....

thats about the onlyways i know of to make budget hp

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #2 –
Sorry, I meant the stock headers from an HO, not the clunkers on an SO.  My budget isn't that small, it's just not that huge..haha.  What about pistons, I think I have flat tops at the moment, what should they be replaced with?  Any good piston/ring combos?

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #3 –
just focus on getting that HO in the car, that is actually the best bang for the buck really, going from 140hp to 225 or so is an awesome gain

im not too sure about the 85 engines, i think those actually did get valve reliefs, someone who knows more about your year engine could elaborate more on the pistons in the car

if you pick up some E7's, if your budget allows (im assuming yours is low, just so im not throwing super expensive  at ya), drop them off at the machine shop, have them check them out, and have them port out the exhaust side of the heads, and just clean up the intake size, and get a nice, 3 angle valve job, that should help considerably, throw a good set of valve springs on em, maybe some roller rockers, and youd have a nice little set of heads there

exhaust is actually one of the more important mods, Ford is always lacking in the exhaust department. Pretty much any aftermarket headers would be beneficial, along with 2.5" exhaust all the way back, you have so many options with exhaust its not funny, we probably have a few threads covering exhaust, so hop in the engine tech, or do a search, and most questions should be able to be answered

as for a cam, theres way too many options, too many applications, and just so many different ways to go. a lot of people use the E303 cam in 5.0's, i personally dont like the motorsport cams at all, but many people get good sucess out of them

stall converter, definatly would be a plus, but you also would want to look into at least a good shift kit for the AOD, along with the nicest tranny cooler you could find, im not good with giving stall speeds and whatnot, since im a 5-speed fan, but i know for a fact some other board members would be able to elaborate more on stall speed

another thing to do, which is a great kick in the pants, is rear gears, you can pick up a Turbo Coupe rear, thatll have 3.55's or 3.73's, disk brakes, traction lock, and quad shocks, sometimes for some cheap prices, they take a little work to install, but youd be amazed at the difference the gears would make

it seems like youve done your homework, and have some previous knowledge, im glad to see some new members with brains coming in, welcome to the board, and stick around, youll like it here
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #4 –
if its apart now, i'd go ahead and install a trick flow stage 1 cam. its only about 140 and from EVERYONE i know that has it, its excelent. thats what im go'n for later on, but sence its pretty cheap and already apart, it might be easier. also those heads you have... your can port them a little yourself, or take them somewhere to be ported cheaply and get a pretty good gain. or trade them in for core  for Autozone or somewhere and get some GT-40 heads for cheap.  and last, your HO upper intake can be gasket matched. just line the gasket up  on both sides of the intake and mark  it up, then remove the excess materials. people i talked to say their is a noticable gain in power their. as for cheap exhaust, if you dont have emmissions, you can get a off road H-Pipe cheap and some high flow cheap summit lers and or a entire cat back. check out some of the prices on stuff and see if its in your range, whats the worse that can happen?

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #5 –
Hey, thanks for all of the info guys.  I'll look into the trick flow cams and such.  I'm in Canada, and I've never really played with any exhausts before so I'm not sure how strict they are with emission stuff, but I imagine they wouldn't like it if I removed all of that stuff.  However, I was thinkin of getting the car certified first, and then doing whatever I wanted to it afterwards to get around the system.

As for porting the E7's, what's involved?  How much should be taken off and where exactly should I be porting?  Would a quick polish of the rough castings be enough, or do I need to actually remove some material?  What's the tool for the job, a dremel or die grinder?  Can you modify the upper intake also?

I've also heard that if I install an aftermarket cam that the stock valvetrain in the E7's will not hold up.  What should I replace that with (springs, retainers etc...)?

Thanks for the warm welcome, seems like this place is filled with knowlegeable people, think I'll stick around and soak it all up...

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #6 –
i actually have a trick flow cam, and a trickflow valve spring kit, which comes with locks, retainers, springs, some lube, and instructions

as for porting the E7's, the big thing is that hump in the exhaust ports, i have some E6's heads, but they still have the hump, so i should be able to get a pic for you so you see what im talking about, but getting rid of that hump, and smoothing out the ports would help a good bit

for an intake manifold, you may be able to find an Explorer intake manifold cheap, they are similar in design to the Cobra manifold, and they flow very well for a factory piece, they can be had for anywhere from 50 bucks, to 300 bucks, depending on where you go

if you do these mods, youll definatly going to have to go mass air, because with that cam, it wouldnt be able to produce enough vaspoogee for it to run properly
It's Gumby's fault.
 

Re: Modding an '85 Cougar 5.0 On a Budget...

Reply #7 –
You '85 engine already has fairly decent heads(the sucky E6s were still a year away), so if you haven't bought heads your orignals will suffice.

What you can expect with a newer SO engine....

None of the '86-up SOs have valve relifs in the pistons..

All '86 newer SO have the E6 heads...

You can use a roller cam as long as the engine is '86-newer.