What can be done....

[parks911]

Now to improve my performance & HP ratings?

I'm rebuilding my 3.8 and am wanting to know what I can do since I will be ripped down to the block.

Cam?
Heads?
Block Bore?
Crank Grind?
Throttle Body?
supercharger?
Stall converter?

I'm up for any performance modifications, so give me your ideas!
I would like to get a decent amount of HP to keep those V8'er on their toes!


I have the notorious 1990 Lincoln Continental 3.8L 232 c.i. engine. Front Wheel Drive.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with this car as much as I am. Recently I through a rod (at 129,000 miles).

[Steve Moran]

Welcome Parks911
Hello fellow Midwesterner
There is an old saying "Speed costs money, how fast can you afford to go?"
Bore the block, plain the heads and intake, polish the crank. Possibly larger valves if you need new seats installed.
I would suggest taking the time and asking the machinist what he/she suggests.
These 3.8’s are not bullet proof. And he/she could have ideas.

[ December 30, 2003: Message edited by: Steve Moran ]

[roll224]

if your gunna bore the block get some dome pistons for it to they'll give you a nice amount of torque. :D :D :D

[pro-five-oh]

These two links will give you ideas, but unfortunately you will be the innovator: no one I know has tweaked a V6 Conti. It can be done so start with this:
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=24&t=000116
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=24&t=000019

That's a good place to start. The extreme method to Continental performance would be to unbolt the subframe and install a Taurus SHO subframe/powertrain combo. That, would be AWESOME.

If you are building the a 3.8L motor, start with a 4.2L minivan/truck block and Ford Windstar split port induction. Only problem is, the later model induction probably has totally different wiring, and will take a lot of effort to get it to work.

A SHO swap or 4.2L conversion will easily net 230-250hp in a V6 Conti with no change in drivability. But it might need MAJOR ecm tuning to work. And most shops won't touch a Conti. :(

My advice if you aren't ready to convert? Rebuild the motor with forged pistons (or forged everything if you can afford it), do a mild port and polish on the heads, try some larger pulleys, better flowing exhaust, 2000 stall convertor, quicker gears and a shift kit.

THEN GET A 50-100hp SHOT OF NITROUS ON IT. Be happy with 190-200hp with the fresh motor, and 250 with the bottle. Murphy's Law would say that you will need axle and tranny mods after that, but the SHO guys seem to do fine at that level of HP. smile.gif

[parks911]

quote:Originally posted by Steve Moran:
There is an old saying "Speed costs money, how fast can you afford to go?"
[ December 30, 2003: Message edited by: Steve Moran ]

Well, that is good reasonable question!!

How fast & strong can a 3.8 be built dragging the continental body?

I don't even know how fast the car can go with a stock 3.8. The Speedo won't go any higher then 85, although I know it was able to go much faster then that.

I'm just really looking for ideas right now & have'nt even spoken with the machine shop.

I've been online looking for aftermarket products for this engine & am not being very sucessfull in my searches.

[parks911]

I like the thought of being an innovator.

Install a Taurus SHO subframe/powertrain combo? I have actually thought of that, but that would also result in computer modifications. Won't it?
I have also thought about converting the newer V8 continental engine, but I got shot down there also.

And most shops won't touch a Conti.
That is one thing I'm beginning to find out. Nobody wants nothing to do with them, mechanical wise.

Rebuild the motor with forged pistons (or forged everything if you can afford it), do a mild port and polish on the heads, try some larger pulleys, better flowing exhaust, 2000 stall convertor, quicker gears and a shift kit.

Where can I begin looking for this stuff? I'm lucky if my local auto stores carry spark plugs, so I do most of my auto shopping on the net. I've been looking and can't seem to find nothing on the net for the continental.

About the tranny, I had shattered all the internal parts in it a couple years ago, so it had been off and rebuilt. I will have to track down my invoice from that to see what exactly was done to it, but I do know he had fixed the known Ford problems with it & did some minor upgrade for towing.

[Steve Moran]

Where in Minn do you live? I am going to play around with my '90 We have a full service Mech Shop at the store and I thought of giving my 3.8 or even a 4.2 a shot

[parks911]

quote:Originally posted by Steve Moran:
Where in Minn do you live?

I live in Pequot Lakes. Just north of BIR raceway.

Like I had said I'm just looking for possible ideas now. I have the car in storage for winter (Rust free body & salt don't mix well) & am hoping to get something started in the spring.

[pro-five-oh]

Okay, after a little thinking about it, this is what I see. First things first, TEST drive a new Mercury Monterrey minivan. It has a 4.2L V6 with 230hp and 260lb-ft of torque. Sound be impressive.

Take a look under the minivan's hood and see if the intake and accessories are similar to your Continentals. This would be an ideal swap, as the intake is already optomized for that motor.

This is what I am thinking:

1. 4.2L long block with forged pistons
2. ported stock intake or later model "split port" induction
3. Mustang, Minivan, or Truck Camshaft (don't know the differences)
4. Compare fuel injector specs between the Conti and the later model Fords mentioned to see if you need bigger injectors
5. Nitrous kit of your choice.

Keep us informed guys, this is really interesting. smile.gif

[parks911]

I have a few things wondering across my mind right now. I'll have to work them out in my hollow head before I sound like a idiot & post them.

I wish I had the opportunity to dyno my Conti. before she dies, that way I could have something for comparision.

Maybe someone else already knows what the dyno specs. are for 1990 Conti. with the 3.8 & would love to share them with me.

[pro-five-oh]

Stock HP on a 1990 Conti is 150hp??? Figure about 20% loss to a RWD car, but about 18% for a FWD.

150 x 18% friction loss = 27hp loss to the wheels

150 - 27 = 123hp. smile.gif

[ January 03, 2004: Message edited by: pro-five-oh ]

[parks911]

Still haven't spoken to a machine shop about this yet, but from wondering the web it doesn't look very good unless I do some other serious mods.

What I'll probally end up doing is putting a mild port & polish on my heads & intake, mild custom ground cam & go from there.

I'll still call a machine shop on Monday & see, hell there could still be some hope!

[MissingLINC]

Ive followed along on the SHO and various 3.8 boards for quite some time since I had a 86 3.8 T-Bird and Cougar and a 91 SHO.

In my opinion a 3.8 Conti will break the bank trying to make it go fast. Alot of guys claim they are stroking the 3.8 with a 4.2 crank. I find that hard to believe because I dont think there are alot of 4.2 cranks floating around in the salvage yards yet.

I think a mild port/polish, improved intake, exhaust, quality ignition parts, and maybe a better cam, if one is available will give you plenty of additional umph.

Everyone with a Ford dreams of swaping in the SHO V6. Those engines are tempermental and high $ maintenence. I know, I had one.

[parks911]

quote:Originally posted by MissingLINC:
I think a mild port/polish, improved intake, exhaust, quality ignition parts, and maybe a better cam, if one is available will give you plenty of additional umph.


That more or less what I have become to think. I'm going to have a custom dual exaust set-up done with fabricated headers (this is going to cost some $$). Crane Cams can custom grind any cam for any application, all that I have to do is give them is the specs & a couple hundred $$.

I did find a company (hot rod shop) about 50 miles from me that can custom build a super-charger for it, but their estimate was close to 10 grand. That idea got shot all to hell with the price!

I do have to say though, the 3.8 stock is a snappy motor. So with a port & polish, custom cam, and custom exaust it should improve a little.

[MissingLINC]

I havent even looked at cams but what about the 99+ Mustang cams? Are they better than our current cams? Visit the Mustang boards, maybe you can get a line on an aftermarket supplier or pickup a stocker someone has replaced. In any event the Mustang guys will be able to point you in the right direction.

I expermented with a CAI over xmas. I had a couple cone air filters from various projects so I visited Home Depot and fabbed up a CAI to see if it was worth it.

I placed the filter in the fenderwell. The car seemed to have better pickup and was much more responsive throughout the rpm range.

I didnt like the louder sound, I have a 03 ZX3 with a pretty aggresive intake/exhaust. Ive grown to like the smooth quite ride of the Conti on the road. So I took the CAI off and fabbed up a compromise.

I put the stock fenderwell snorkle back on. I drilled a 1.5 inch hole through the bottom of the airbox and the tray it sets on. I put a 90 elbow facing foreward and a short length of PVC to pick up air from the front of the engine. This setup works just as well I think and its just as quite. I figure that I more than doubled the amount of air going into the airbox. It also looks stock.

Since my 3.8 has 2 years of a unlimited mileage warrenty left on it I cant do any mods that cant easily be taken off. Im going to replace the mufflers and leave it at that.

BTW: I replaced the crap cap and rotor with a quality brass terminal one, what a difference, much smoother idle and a 1-2 mpg increase.

[roll224]

MISSINGLINC about that intake u made how did u connect the cone filter to the elbow on the pvc does it just slide in and attach securely or do you have to get a clamp or something to lock it in?

[parks911]

I haven't had much luck or even thought about this process lately.

My mail concern right now is getting my
F-150 rolling down the highway again, I've been working on that alot lately.

A mechanic I know just bought a vortech supercharger for the 3.8 Mustang. This same guy has a junk continental in the lot for parts & he told me he will check the supercharger to see if it will bolt to the conti before he installs it on his customers car.