Throttle Position Sensor.

[sly]

good idea to double check if it's all seated well (wires). I've had them pop off the plugs before.

[Toploader]

I will do this, but I doubt this will be of any effect..............my problem of hesitation is only when engine is cold when first started in the morning. Pulling away is jerky and when on the road, I have to put my foot into the throttle to get her to accelerate........there is a marked period of dead-ness.......meaning no response. On the highway she goes beautiful, but when I want to pass, I have to really floor it.

[sly]

point. My 88 will do this if I don't let it settle down first before moving. Takes about 15 seconds.

I don't even try to pass with my 88 most of the time. It just doesn't work at high RPM. The vic has no problems though.

[Toploader]

So much for Mercury "ride engineered" :-(..........you know I wonder if the new 6 cyl 300 bhp Mustang engine could be transplanted in my '86 Tudor? I mean that is double the power of the 5.0!

[gadget73]

Improve the exhaust and let it get more air. It helps tremendously. Pantera's wagon ran better 1/4 mile times with pretty minor work than any of the HO powered vehicles. Pretty impressive for a high mileage lopo that hasn't had any miracles worked on it. In stock form though, they're kind of horrible. Mind you even when optimized, its never going to be anyone's idea of fast but its a whole lot less intolerable.

[Toploader]

Can I just order a Walker OEM dual exhaust system and be done with it?

[jaywish]

Headers might be nice.

[Toploader]

So would a large bank account!

[gadget73]

The stock duals are much better than the single, but the stock type mufflers pretty much suck. The stock tailpipes are also not real big, though I think we're kind of out of options there. Used to be you could get the Dynomax tails for a 96 Impala SS for a nice big pipe, but I think its discontinued now. Headers help, even the stock 5.0 HO ones that everyone gets rid of, but if you can find 1990 Towncar manifolds they work almost as well and are a direct no BS fit to the stock exhaust. Less weight too. Those stock iron logs suck. Swap the upper intake and throttle body for stock HO parts and that helps too.

[Toploader]

Elimate the cats too?

[sly]

I put cats and performance mufflers (all magnaflow in my case - including the cats) on my 88 (the rest of the pipe was custom bent at a local shop that has some awesome guys working in it and don't charge near as much as the chains do) and it helped a lot on the butt dyno (seat of the pants feel). I have NO times to quote, but it felt a good second or 2 faster to 60. (probably filled out that 2nd tick with the 3.55 gears I put in recently). I also gained 1mpg with the duals (when I kept my foot out of it). Gained 2mpg in town with the 3.55 gears though. It is rather hard for me to keep my foot out of it off the line though.

I'd keep the cats for stink prevention (raw exhaust sucks IMHO as well as burns my lungs). I hate the exhaust of my Lincoln (no cats). It sounds great (though not much different than any other dual exhaust HO) but it stinks. If I don't sell it and end up keeping it, I'll put cats on it.

[Toploader]

Before I jump into an exhaust..............I need to cure the cold start pull away situation.......as suggested, when next I drive the car it will be with the vac line disconnected from the EGR..............if I no longer have a jerky pull away, then I will replace the EGR solenoid........if I still have the jerky pull away...........I will live with it, because it is caused by nothing related to the EGR.