Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!

[Billy Nees]

Is there a FFFFord expert on here who can tell me if there's anything wrong with a 1996-7 Crown Vic with the 210 horse motor? It's in the guide and they have to be a "Dime" a dozen at cop auctions. There's no factor for the motor. Are they the same as the Mustang and T-Bird? If they are, that's got to be one heck of a Q and R car. It's even listed with a 5 speed!

[6130]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Is there a FFFFord expert on here who can tell me if there's anything wrong with a 1996-7 Crown Vic with the 210 horse motor? It's in the guide and they have to be a "Dime" a dozen at cop auctions. There's no factor for the motor. Are they the same as the Mustang and T-Bird? If they are, that's got to be one heck of a Q and R car. It's even listed with a 5 speed!

Billy, I hope it's okay for me to just jump in here with both feet. I was a Ford factory-trained technician, through the introduction of the Modular 4.6 V8 engine. I've been participating in sanctioned drag racing since the '70s, sometimes seriously. I have always had a major appreciation for NHRA Stock Eliminator cars, especially the slower ones.

There are some minor differences between the police and civilian versions of the Crown Victoria, depending on year.

The 2-valve 4.6 was made at both the Romeo and Windsor engine plants, and parts are not the same. There is also the newer PI (Product Improved) version and the older Non-PI (NPI) version. The Mustang got the PI version in '99, and the Crown Vic got it in 2001. The PI has better heads and cams, and the PI version has a MUCH better intake manifold, resulting in about 20 additional horsepower over the older NPI engine.

These engines have SERIOUS piston-to-valve clearance issues, especially the PI engine. The Modular Head Shop web site has good cam selection info here. They sell Bullet cams of their own design.

I also am interested in researching a Q/R 2-valve 4.6 Crown Vic. Maybe P if you could get one light enough. The factory horsepower ratings were 210, 215, 235, 239, and 250, depending on civilian/police and the specific year.

FWIW, the brakes and suspension was revised in '03, requiring 17" front wheels, and it is somewhat hard to find lightweight, affordable 17" front drag wheels. M&H makes a 28" tall front drag tire for a 17" rim.

They have driveshaft speed issues- you're gonna need a lightweight large-diameter driveshaft.

Stainless Works makes 1-5/8"X3" headers.

Competition Engineering makes adjustable drag shocks (front and rear) for models all the way up to '02.

Everyone makes 8.8 parts.

[6130]

Billy, is the 235 horsepower '01-'02 Crown Vic listed in the guide? That's the one I'm looking at, because it has the PI engine but will take 15" front racing wheels, and I can get adjustable drag shocks for it.

I don't see any '96-'97 cars going to auction in my part of the country.

I'm assuming that the police versions are eligible for competition? I'm sure that Ford does/did sell enough of them to retail customers to homologate them for competition, and there was no difference in horsepower until the 250 horsepower police version (larger airbox, MAF, and zip tube) came out in 2004. There were no other material differences that would relate to a competetive advantage.

[Billy Nees]

6130, the 01 Mustang is in the guide. If you are serious about the combo then contact your division tech director and get the ball rolling. I know little if anything about 4.6 FFFFords. The reason I was looking at the 96-7 car is that the body is in the guide already and it only needs a HP factor assigned to it, much easier.

[joe huestis]

Was wandering through the classification guide and since I have a Monza stocker was checking out different combos for my car, Happened upon the '78 305 combo which appeared to be a natural P car and with weight fit into Q. Now I know Brianne can run high 12s at will at Q weight with the 262 combo. Appears this might be the ticket ? Do I have this right? Someone please check on me. Thanks !

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by joe huestis

Was wandering through the classification guide and since I have a Monza stocker was checking out different combos for my car, Happened upon the '78 305 combo which appeared to be a natural P car and with weight fit into Q. Now I know Brianne can run high 12s at will at Q weight with the 262 combo. Appears this might be the ticket ? Do I have this right? Someone please check on me. Thanks !

Way back when I was a pup. Guy I worked with bought one of the first new 262 V8 Monza's. I know we'd goof around after work, he could kick my little Pinto's @&$ at will. I had a couple simple mods, this kid knew nothing about cars. Except how to start it. I believe these little cars originally had five speeds, not sure?

Now, today, you could tie the frames. Build a killer transmission. Bullet proof rear end. On the surface, sounds like a good starting point. Have to put the combination to paper to see what it's potential is. Next up, finding heads, intake and carb for this engine?

If you know someone running the engine. Can't hurt to look into it,

[Billy Nees]

Pretty much the same motor but I doubt the extra inches is worth the 15 HP penalty. It would be easier to find blocks and cranks!