Engine Upgrade

Goatroper

Registered User
I have a stock 1992 SC with 130K on it. The first 100K were mostly highway miles, and the 30K that I have put on it have been mostly city driving. I have had it for five years and have performed minimal maintenance, as did the previous owner. In fact, the engine has not been touched in the last five years, other than to replace the main belt, change oil, change plugs and replace the radiator.

I absolutely love the car, but my mechanic says the transmission is shot. It is very hard to shift when standing still, but can be coaxed into gear when rolling. Usually, I have to shift into 3 or 4 to "line up" the gears, and then I can get it into R or 1. (A technically inclined friend mentioned something about syncro gears being worn out??)

I believe I will soon be forced to make the decision of keeping the car and replacing/rebuilding the tranny or buying something else. I would like something with more power. Rather than buy something new, I am considering keeping it, fixing the tranny and beefing up the engine.

I have several questions, and apologize in advance for the length of this posting. Also, please convert any technical terms to plain English. I know nothing about cars, notwithstanding my early years when my dad tried to turn me into Mr. Goodwrench. I now wish it would have taken.

1) What "big ticket" maintenance items should I be concerned about with the age and mileage of this SC? For example, I read horror stories of cracked heads. Are there any common problems with SCs that start to show up after 100K?

2) Is it advisable to make the "standard" performance modifications referenced in this forum to an engine with 130K miles, and are there any modifications I should not make because of the age and mileage of this engine? Or would it be worth the money to simply start with a new engine if I do decide to increase HP?

3) I would like to take it to a mechanic (not at a Ford dealer or otherwise a SC specialist) and have him take a look at the engine. What should I ask him to do that would give the best indication of the status of the engine? A friend suggested a compression test would be a good place to start. What else?

4) I have heard the SC engines are very reliable. Assuming nothing is seriously wrong with it, how many more miles can I realistically expect to get out of it?

5) What is the best and cheapest way to get from 210 HP to 275 - 300, taking into account a mechanic will be doing ALL of the work? What will give me the most bang my buck?

6) If the engine is juiced to 275 HP, what other modifications (drivetrain?) would I have to make?

7) What's a good ballpark estimate to fix/replace the tranny, get the engine to approximately 275HP and perform any other suggested maintenance for a SC of this mileage and age?

8) I guess the overall question is, should I spend several grand on this car and hope it holds together for another five years, or spend $30,000 to $35,000 on something new that will be worth half that in five years? This car has exceeded all my expectations as far as reliability, performance and low maintenance costs, but I fear I'll be swamped with repairs in the next two to three years. There are many ticky tack items (sunroof motor, AC compressor, power window motor) that have developed problems in the past year.

Any thoughts on some or all of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
I've been to that "crossroads", and may be able to give you some insight. It really depends on what you want to do with the car over the long haul. Where are you located? Get in touch with me if you would like and I will be happy to talk about the mistakes and successes I've had with my '92 over the past 10-yrs......
 
I don't know about anybody else but, I would not trade or sell my baby for anything else. If you decide to keep it and do some mods to the car i would recommend you start with the exhaust system. Go with 2.5" dual from the exhaust manifolds to a 3" single from the resonator, to a 2.5" to the mufflers. Get some high flow cats, resonator, and mufflers so that you can get the most out of the system. Once the exhaust has been opened up, you can put either a 5% or 10 % overdrive pulley on the supercharger so that you get back the low-end torque. Now you can work on the intake system. you should remove the air silencer and then either replace the filter with a K&N filter that fits on the factory housing, or you could put a 7" konical filter and replace the tube with a 3" inlet tube for better breathing.. Replace the MAF with a 70mm as well as the Throttle Body with a 70mm as well. You can get bigger MAF's and TB if you'd like . You can also replace the factory inlet plenum and put a Magnum Powers Inlet plenum and get the supercharger ported for better performance. they have 2 or 3 options for porting the blower. If you go this way i think you would have to get a bigger fuel pump, i think 190 and up, and you would have to replace the injectors to 36#'s or higher.. But doing this mods should get you atleast 275 HP possibly more... Oh yeah and when you rebuild the tranny, i would recommend a CenterForce Dual Friction Clutch.. they have 90% more grip than the factory clutches... anybody correct me if i am wrong with any of this info, but i think this should give you around 275 HP.....

:D :D :D
 
Goatraper...

Pretty much here is what you need to look out for. Headgaskets. With 130K miles on the stock original headgaskets and they haven't blown yet? You're lucky.

You might want to go ahead and have them changed anyway was "preventitive maintenence" but since you are having a mechanic doing alot of work for you, You might find yourself dropping $1200 on that job alone.

Consider forging a solid relationship with a Schooled mechanic in SC"s and have him work afterhours on your SC. He'll charge you less than shop rate, but be sure to buy him lots of beer and candy.

Now, A FULL exhaust will gain you about 20HP. The stock exhaust system is highly restrictive and is the cause of blown headgaskets. Get a custom exhaust done first. I wouldn't recommend headers, since the gain is minimal and the cost is high. I would seriously consider having having the stock exhaust manifolds ported out first.

You will want to look at getting a cold air intake, there are many options available or you can build your own. Main thing you want to do is use bigger piping for the MAF (mass Air flow) to TB (throttle body) tube instead of the ugly stock rubber hose.
relocate the air filter into the fenderwell for cooler intake charge. This should give you around 10-15hp.

S/C top. The top on the supercharger is highly restrictive. Get one of the aftermarket tops. They should be good for 10-15HP.

Overdrive pulley a 5% overdrive pulley for the supercharger is about a 10-15hp gain. A 10% overdrive pulley is about a 15-20hp gain. Remember though, DO NOT OVERDRIVE your supercharger until you have completley opened up the exhaust system.

This should get you to that 275hp for not a whole lot of money.

Bigger injectors shouldn't be needed until you decide to go past 300hp. Same goes for fuel pump. But to maxemize the mods, you might want to invest in a adjustable fuel pressure regulator or an ECC Tuner.

You should get that transmission rebuilt with new fiber blocker syncros. You should get a new clutch as well considering that 130K miles on the clutch means it might not look to pretty when pulled apart. The Centerforce Dual friction clutch is great but also gives a heavier pedal. might not be fun in city driving. Also if you get the trans rebuilt, consider a B+M ripper shifter. 25% shorter shift throws (fun in the city).

Southern Gear in georgia has done a wonderful job on another member's transmission for not alot of money. You should consider them...
 
Goatraper...

Pretty much here is what you need to look out for. Headgaskets. With 130K miles on the stock original headgaskets and they haven't blown yet? You're lucky.

You might want to go ahead and have them changed anyway was "preventitive maintenence" but since you are having a mechanic doing alot of work for you, You might find yourself dropping $1200 on that job alone.

Consider forging a solid relationship with a Schooled mechanic in SC"s and have him work afterhours on your SC. He'll charge you less than shop rate, but be sure to buy him lots of beer and candy.

Now, A FULL exhaust will gain you about 20HP. The stock exhaust system is highly restrictive and is the cause of blown headgaskets. Get a custom exhaust done first. I wouldn't recommend headers, since the gain is minimal and the cost is high. I would seriously consider having having the stock exhaust manifolds ported out first.

You will want to look at getting a cold air intake, there are many options available or you can build your own. Main thing you want to do is use bigger piping for the MAF (mass Air flow) to TB (throttle body) tube instead of the ugly stock rubber hose.
relocate the air filter into the fenderwell for cooler intake charge. This should give you around 10-15hp.

S/C top. The top on the supercharger is highly restrictive. Get one of the aftermarket tops. They should be good for 10-15HP.

Overdrive pulley a 5% overdrive pulley for the supercharger is about a 10-15hp gain. A 10% overdrive pulley is about a 15-20hp gain. Remember though, DO NOT OVERDRIVE your supercharger until you have completley opened up the exhaust system.

This should get you to that 275hp for not a whole lot of money.

Bigger injectors shouldn't be needed until you decide to go past 300hp. Same goes for fuel pump. But to maxemize the mods, you might want to invest in a adjustable fuel pressure regulator or an ECC Tuner.

You should get that transmission rebuilt with new fiber blocker syncros. You should get a new clutch as well considering that 130K miles on the clutch means it might not look to pretty when pulled apart. The Centerforce Dual friction clutch is great but also gives a heavier pedal. might not be fun in city driving. Also if you get the trans rebuilt, consider a B+M ripper shifter. 25% shorter shift throws (fun in the city).

Southern Gear in georgia has done a wonderful job on another member's transmission for not alot of money. You should consider them...
 
there pointing you in the right direction

There deffinetly pointing you in the right direction. although I do disagree with a few minor statements.
1. Deffinetly need to go with a cold air system( the least amount of bends and the shorter the better) the best setups I've seen are custom jobbys straight 3" pipe from the tb to the maf and then the k&n filter bolted directly to the maf(you don't won't that extra length or bend to get it in the fenderwell) but you also have to build a box around the filter that keeps the engine heat out and the cool air coming from the hole you stock air box left (I seen a article covering this I'll send it to you as soon as i find it reason behind all this is the fact that a supercharger was meant to push air not suck it so the eaiser you get the air the better off you are.
2. I do agree with the exhaust issue although I would go with 2.5-3.5-2.5 doing away with the resonator all together (I would also do away with the cats if you don't get emission tested).
3. your car has 130xxx on it head gaskets for sure while your there though might want to think minor rebuild. (new gaskets & bearings hone the cylindar walls and rering it. If you put head gaskets on it you going to have the motor pulled half way apart anyway might as well go a little further and make sure you dont half to do it again within a year.
4. If you want power first three steps will get you on you way. If your supercharger is orignal and hasnt been replaced Its going to need it soon mor than likely(these eaton style sc's have a life time bordering on the 100xxx mile mark give r take (my first one went bad when the car had 90xxx on it I've 92xxx on the second one so far(fingers crossed)). www.magnumpowers.com is the place to go (s-type 94-95 style sc's ported and ready to go for a little under a thousand dollars) plus they have other intake goodies to.
5. even if you stick with your sc and put a overdrive on it ( don't til you get the head gaskets and exhaust) you're going to need to upgrade your fuel systems at least with 36# injectors off of a 94-95 and a 190lph fuel pump (you could probably do with out it but theres this thing called detination that occurs in lean motors tha really plays havoc on them.
6. the stock porting of your exhaust manifolds is a good idea for the budget minded (If you have the money when you do it go for the headers (ported or not nothing flows as good as tube headers. heres the link to have the stock ones ported if you want though. http://www.datarecall.net/~tbird88/index/parts/4sale1.htm )
He also has the raised tops for the sc and a few other things
7. I think yours already has the 70mm maf on it it should be fine.
8. If you get real serouis about power check out www.coymiller.com hes the man for sc motors.

In conclusion the steps above in that order will probably give you what you want any ?'s email me or leave me a private message and I'll try to help you to the best of my capabillities or atleast point you in the right direction

good luck!!!
 
With 130K miles, stay away from overdrive blower pullies. I replaced my headgaskets and did some headwork on mine at 80K and two months later I blew my crankshaft. The old motor just couldn't take the fresh compression of new heads and valves.
Now I have over $5K in the engine and am just getting it back together after being down for over a year.

Save your money and buy a new Lightning!
 
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