need power

Topic: need power (Read 1880 times) previous topic - next topic

need power

July 16, 2005, 02:25:59 AM

hey i wanted to add some power into my 87 6 cyl 3.8 litre tbird. i know about like appearance and audio video mods but not to much about performance. i was wondering if anyone knows if there is a mod chip to replace the govenor on these cars and add some extra horse power or any other cheap ways to add some extra horse power. also i always see the turbo charger from a 4cyl tbird for sale on ebay, and i was wondering if i could attach that to mine without doint to many mods to my car any help would be significant, cause i dont have the $$ to buy a 8cyl engine yet.

Re: need power

Reply #1 – July 16, 2005, 07:24:43 AM

First off, you don't have a governer on your 87. I see you're looking for ricer solutions, get that out of your mind. If you throw a fart can and a huge wing on the back, you'll catch a lot of flak for it, especially from me. The upgrades you undertake should be dependent on how much you can do yourself or how large your budget is. Forget about the turbo, it won't bolt up without major modification and the 3.8 isn't a very good candidate for forced induction because of known head gasket weaknesses.

So far I have upgraded the throttle body with the v8 version, replaced the clutch fan with an electric one, and removed the smog pump. All of these added together are pretty good for few ponies. My next step is installing stock headers from a 93 'stang and going full dual exhaust. Do all of those things and you'll have a pretty reasonable power increase for less than a couple hundred bucks if you do all the work yourself.

For a little more bump, you could have it bored out and throw some rods and pistons from the 4.2 truck motor in there. No one has done that here that I know of. You're getting into slightly more expensive territory and at that point you may want to toss a v8 in.

Re: need power

Reply #2 – July 16, 2005, 08:20:27 AM

http://www.moranav6racing.com/

Re: need power

Reply #3 – July 16, 2005, 11:40:04 AM

the thing is, the free/cheap stuff doesnt give you much power at all

you can do as amooset mentioned, throw the throttle body from a V8 CFI car, its slightly larger, and stick your injectors in it, bump the fuel pressure up a touch, and that should be good

pick up some stock 94-97 stang headers, find a stock 97-93 stang h-pipe, and put a catback on it, thatll free up a nice amount of power, as long as you keep the cats on the h-pipe, itll require some work, its not a direct, easy install, but it can be done

an electric fan as amooset also mentioned, you can pick a decent one up at most parts stores, and a fan relay kit, and it should be good for your 3.8L

advance your timing a little, depending on how far you go, youll have to run premium, but it does help with power

there isnt a whole lot you can do to your 3.8L without spending money, and spending that money isnt really worth it, because you wont get much power out of it, itll feel peppier, but when you line up next to someone, and they spank ya, you feel like you wasted that money

Re: need power

Reply #4 – July 16, 2005, 11:42:50 AM

lol i didnt know they didnt have govenors n no i dont have a fart can and heuge spoiler lol my friends have rice cars and have that but my friend with a stang was telling me to look for a mod chip to replace the govenor

sorry im a lil nieve like i said when it comes to performance, where would i be able to get a dual exaust or do i have to make it? n about the other stuff do i ebay that as well?

and i dont race im looking for some pickup on the highway so i dont pull out n right away have someone on my tail

yea

Re: need power

Reply #5 – July 16, 2005, 11:46:35 AM

read my reply, itll explain that stuff

the 3.8L cars dont have a govenor because they dont have the power to really exceed the speeds they want to limit us at, i couldnt get mine past 100, and i was sitting at 97-98mph for a long time

dont trust stang boys when it comes to our cars, they dont know the specifics on these

Re: need power

Reply #6 – July 16, 2005, 12:12:30 PM

so thats the only dual exaust i can ad to my car to add some power? and paul posted that link, but i really have no clue wtf im looking at on that site

Re: need power

Reply #7 – July 16, 2005, 01:46:10 PM

you can add custom stuff, but the problem is, with the 3.8L engine, if you reduce backpressure too much, it will shift the power up higher in the RPMS, and i believe we cant really get higher in the RPMS than 5K, im guessing thats about where i was getting valve float

if you have custom exhaust done, grab the stock headers from a 94-97 stang, because theyre actually nice headers, and dont become a restriction untill about 300hp, which most 3.8's will never dream of without forced induction and lots of money, then when you go to the exhaust shop, make sure they put cats on it, and use a turbo style ler, it should open the exhaust up enough to make power, but have enough backpressure to keep your torque, and use 2.25" piping max

dont worry about that website yet, just get some small basics done, like the throttle body, the exhuast, and some other stuff, and take your time and learn, and save, so your options open up

Re: need power

Reply #8 – July 16, 2005, 02:10:44 PM

I have a set of v6 headers if you are interested in them.

Re: need power

Reply #9 – July 17, 2005, 06:55:33 PM

My 3.8L V6 T-Bird is used as a drag car. I have removed the power steering pump, the A/C is gone and all the smog, gone. To rev above 4800 RPM's I had to replace the valve springs, and now 5500 is tops. I use the 94 Mustang headers, with FlowMasters. Mine is an 83 so it has a carb, so I changed to a 500CFM Holley. At 3120 pounds it's best is a 16. 19 ET at 88 Mph. To get there I have a shift kit in the trans and a 2500RPM stall convertor, plus 4.1 gears and a TrackLok diff. As you can see I've spent some money, and if I had it to do over, I would have gone with a V8. If you don't have to go through smog checks a V8 conversion is the best for your dollar. I might add there is no way my car could be streetable. Spend your money wisely!! Good luck, Fred