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    Cfi performance

    Any simple, budget friendly ways I can give my 85 cfi car just a little more pep? Right now all I have done to it is an edelbrock chome air cleaner, smog/egr delete and a 12" glasspack in place of the factory muffler

    #2
    Any chrome in the engine bay is an easy 10 hp.
    1987 Lincoln Town Car - Signature, "Prudence"

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      #3
      Not sure there are a lot of economical upgrades you can do as this is a "dog" performance vehicle. Any real upgrades would not be cheap, wouldn't be worth the effort and would require several unnatural acts. Different exhaust manifolds and exhaust items would help (somewhat) but if you are not doing all the work yourself, is it worth it?
      What I Own: 1993 Mercury Grand Marquis GS
      What I Help Maintain: 1996 CV / 1988 CV / 1988 Tempo

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        #4
        Originally posted by friskyfrankie View Post
        Not sure there are a lot of economical upgrades you can do as this is a "dog" performance vehicle. Any real upgrades would not be cheap, wouldn't be worth the effort and would require several unnatural acts. Different exhaust manifolds and exhaust items would help (somewhat) but if you are not doing all the work yourself, is it worth it?
        Not really look for a "performance vehicle " just a little more passing power lol. I'd be doing any work myself as me and my dad run a mobile mechanic business

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          #5
          Dual exhaust is probably your best bet, headers might be pushing it, considering CFI doesn't play nice with mods, or so I've heard. My CFI didn't play nice even stock, and then there's @sluggish91 with a ton of mods on the stock CFI.
          I did away with CFI and now I'm running a 4bbl Holley, still running the stock single exhaust. Mid to top end definitely got more lively.
          1985 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, "Maisa"
          1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic STW, "Sally"

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            #6
            Originally posted by Arquemann View Post
            Dual exhaust is probably your best bet, headers might be pushing it, considering CFI doesn't play nice with mods, or so I've heard. My CFI didn't play nice even stock, and then there's @sluggish91 with a ton of mods on the stock CFI.
            I did away with CFI and now I'm running a 4bbl Holley, still running the stock single exhaust. Mid to top end definitely got more lively.

            How well does the TFI / E coil ignition system play with a carburetor?

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              #7
              Originally posted by 91merc View Post
              How well does the TFI / E coil ignition system play with a carburetor?
              TFI doesn't work without a computer. TFI can be made to work with an MSD ignition box, but I'm not made of money. I'm using a Ford Duraspark II distributor with a GM HEI module, still using the factory TFI coil though.
              You can read more from my MGM thread, a couple pages back. I started the carb swap in April or so.
              1985 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, "Maisa"
              1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic STW, "Sally"

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                #8
                Originally posted by 91merc View Post
                Not really look for a "performance vehicle " just a little more passing power lol. I'd be doing any work myself as me and my dad run a mobile mechanic business
                That surely helps. In that case, you can both do small incremental upgrades and see what they do. Just be aware the gains will probably be minimal.
                What I Own: 1993 Mercury Grand Marquis GS
                What I Help Maintain: 1996 CV / 1988 CV / 1988 Tempo

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by Arquemann View Post
                  TFI doesn't work without a computer. TFI can be made to work with an MSD ignition box, but I'm not made of money. I'm using a Ford Duraspark II distributor with a GM HEI module, still using the factory TFI coil though.
                  You can read more from my MGM thread, a couple pages back. I started the carb swap in April or so.

                  How long did yours take? I can't have much down time as this is my daily lol

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                    #10
                    Sluggish91 has what is likely the most performance themed CFI build around here. His signature lists

                    "CFI, K&N Filter, Edelbrock Performer 289 Intake, E7 Heads, BBK Shorty Headers, Summit H-pipe, Hooker Max Flow Mufflers, E-Fan, 3G Alternator, Race Crank Pulley, Bilstein Rear Shocks, KYB Front Shocks, Front Lowering Springs, FTI 2400 Stall Converter, PA Performance Valve Body, Motive 4.30 Gear, Eaton LSD Differential - I own quite possibly the fastest CFI powered box to the 1/8th mile: 9.95@68.89mph"

                    At some point, he was considering a cam swap but I don't know if he ever completed it.
                    1990 Country Squire - weekend cruiser, next project
                    1988 Crown Vic LTD Wagon - waiting in the wings

                    GMN Box Panther History
                    Box Panther Horsepower and Torque Ratings
                    Box Panther Production Numbers

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                      #11
                      The factory dual exhaust was supposed to be good for 15 hp. Trying to make performance upgrades with CFI, you'll eventually run into the limitations of the ECU programming.

                      With CFI, just having it run properly is an achievement.
                      1985 LTD Crown Victoria
                      1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
                      1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, 360

                      Past: 1995 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

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                        #12
                        I'd say dual exhaust gears/converter. Getting rid of 3.08's you likely have and getting into a 3.27 or 3.55 might wake it up, but I've never tried it on a LOPO CFI car so I may be disproven on that thought process. Beyond that it would involve dumping the CFI and going to a newer type system which is $$. Not sure but maybe a pair of stock Mustang exhaust manifolds would help? Just thinking outloud.
                        These are highly engineered precision vehicles, the first step in diagnosing the problem is to strike the suspected offending part sharply and repeatedly with a blunt object, then re-test.

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by FordMan77 View Post
                          I'd say dual exhaust gears/converter. Getting rid of 3.08's you likely have and getting into a 3.27 or 3.55 might wake it up, but I've never tried it on a LOPO CFI car so I may be disproven on that thought process. Beyond that it would involve dumping the CFI and going to a newer type system which is $$. Not sure but maybe a pair of stock Mustang exhaust manifolds would help? Just thinking outloud.

                          I agree with this and every one else. Rear gear change and dual exhaust will be the best bang for your buck
                          -Phil

                          sigpic

                          +1982 Ford LTD-S Police Car. Built 351w, Trickflow 11R 190 Heads, Holley Sniper EFI, RPM Intake+ Hyperspark dizzy, WR-AOD, Full exhaust headers to tails. 3.27 Trac-Lok Rear. Aluminum Police Driveshaft. Speedway Springs+Bilstein Shocks, Intermediate Brakes, HPP Steering Box.

                          +2003 Acura CL Type S 6-speed

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                            #14
                            Truthfully, it is not budget friendly to try to even make it remotely fast. Really, you get what you get with your CFI performance. I have a lot into my garbage but its been a great learning experience maximizing the limits of this system. As with any car, the entire combination plays a large role in how the vehicle performs. The way I've been going about my CFI build is I've been asking myself, "has everything around the CFI system maximized already?". Basically what I'm trying to say is make the engine put the power down before adding more power. Try and make the most of what you already have. Shocks. Rear springs. Poly trans mount. Brass terminal ignition coil. Copper plugs. weight reduction....?
                            1985 2-Door: CFI, K&N Filter, Edelbrock Performer 289 Intake, E7 Heads, BBK Shorty Headers, Summit H-pipe, Hooker Max Flow Mufflers, E-Fan, 3G Alternator, ASP Underdrive Crank Pulley, Bilstein Rear Shocks, Rear Lowering Springs, KYB Front Shocks, Front Lowering Springs, FTI 2400 Stall Converter, PA Performance Valve Body, Ford Racing 4.10 Gear, Eaton LSD Differential - I own the fastest CFI powered box to the 1/8th mile: 9.658@70.74mph
                            1991 4-Door (Dad's Car): Pro-M EFI, 306ci, Forged Pistons, Ford Racing Aluminum Heads, COMP XE264HR cam, Cobra 1.7 Rockers, Edelbrock Performer RPM 2 Intake, 30lb. Injectors, Custom 65mm TB/EGR Spacer, Pro-M 75mm MAF, BBK Ceramic Shorties, Custom Summit H-pipe, Walker Mufflers, Jegs Built AOD, Roadrunner 3000 Stall Converter, Ford Racing 4.10 Gear - Best 1/8th mile time: 9.76@72.03

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                              #15
                              Originally posted by 91merc View Post
                              How long did yours take? I can't have much down time as this is my daily lol
                              It could probably be a weekend-ish project if you're more experienced than me (quite likely), have all the parts ready and won't spend time painting valve covers, redoing all hoses, making 3 versions of a FP-regulator placement or cleaning up all the wiring in the engine bay.
                              1985 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, "Maisa"
                              1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic STW, "Sally"

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