got a crown need some pointers

[xxslow50xx]

so i just bought a 1990 cv ex-detective car blue on blue with the 351. my question is is the fuel injection good on these 351 i know its not like the fox mustangs,can it be upgraded with for say the lightning or a 351 f-150 i wanna do some simple bolt ons to it like full exhaust and air filter full tune up and mabey gears and a limited slip with the fuel injection hadle this i also might do a complete msd igniton and some tranny work but please give me some pointer thanks

[Nathan in MI]

Welcome to GMN, mang! I have an '89 CV police interceptor (I love that car).

As for the EFI conversion, you can't use the truck EFI setup unless you don't mind having it stick out the top of the hood. You do have options for EFI, though. It just requires buying some aftermarket manifolding that's made for the 351 Mustangs. The problem is that it's really expensive ($500-$600). If you don't want to go with that, just a simple 4 bbl swap will do quite nicely. Mileage won't be as good, but it'll perform great. The other option would be to swap in a 302 instead, since the HO manifolding or Ford Explorer manifolding fits. In my opinion, though, having a 351 has its benefits (longer stroke=more torque).

As far as the rest of the engine, a better set of heads (E7s from an HO 302 or late '80s/early '90s Ford truck, or GT-40/GT-40P heads from a 302 Explorer) will help a lot. Also, 1.7:1 roller rocker arms can help a lot. The stock police cam doesn't have a whole lot of lift, and the stock ratio is only 1.59:1, so bumping it up to 1.7:1 should help. When you get a chance, change out the timing chain. Put on a double roller set that allows you to advance the timing 4 degrees. Advancing the cam will increase your low end torque, which you need for a heavy car like this.

For the exhaust, the best combo for these cars is usually BBK 351 swap shorty headers ( 1 5/8" tubes), Mustang H-pipe (high flow cats if you need to pass a sniffer), Mustang mid pipes, 18" extension pipes, '94-'95 Impala SS tailpipes, and two more 18" extension pipes. There's some debate over whether 2.25" pipe or 2.5" pipe is best, but for a 351, my guess would be that it moves enough air to make 2.5" worth it. Someone else with a little more expertise in that field may be able to help you there.

Yours most likely has a limited slip rear end already, though you can find out for sure by checking the door sticker. 3.27 or 3.55 gears will serve you very well.

As far as the MSD ignition, unless you're planning on SERIOUSLY building up the engine, and you're planning on high RPM operation (i.e., racing), don't bother. The stock Duraspark system works quite well.

Tranny wise, a Baumann shift kit (not finding the site in my favorites list right now, but google Baumann and you should be able to find it) will be very helpful. The next step would be a wide ratio kit. Look in the transmission archives of the site for all the info about that. A Mustang governor will be very helpful, since it raises wide open throttle shift points up a bit.

Hope this helps, and let us know if you have more questions. This is a great bunch of people, and they're all eager to help.

[xxslow50xx]

my goal would be to have it running in the 1/4 mile 14s, so i can run the 351 mustang intake manafolds like the 351 gt-40s, is the fuel injection on the crown cfi or is it efi like a mustang

[DuceAnAHalf]

my goal would be to have it running in the 1/4 mile 14s, so i can run the 351 mustang intake manafolds like the 351 gt-40s, is the fuel injection on the crown cfi or is it efi like a mustang

Yes you can use the 351 mustnag Fuel injection manifolds.

The 351s in the Crown Vics use a VV carb, basically a regular carb with some electronic controls. The CFI is a throttle body and two injectors in a single unit, the Mustang EFi is eight injectors.

My early GT-40 headed 351 with a small cam, air gap intake and a 650 carb runs 14.0-14.2 on motor.

[88Vic]

Get a 2.5" exhaust without cats(or high flow cats if you need to pass a sniffer test) 3.73 trac-lock, shift kit, 4bbl carb with an Edelbrock Performer intake, GT40 heads and you'll be into the 14's. For mufflers, glasspacks flow very well, but some people don't like the way they sound. Just go with whatever you like. And welcome to GMN.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Get a 2.5" exhaust without cats(or high flow cats if you need to pass a sniffer test) 3.73 trac-lock, shift kit, 4bbl carb with an Edelbrock Performer intake, GT40 heads and you'll be into the 14's. For mufflers, glasspacks flow very well, but some people don't like the way they sound. Just go with whatever you like. And welcome to GMN.

I was in the low 14s with shitty E7 heads and 3.55 gears. With the 351 intakes the Air-Gap is only about $40 more than the Performer RPM, unless money or hood clerance is really tight there is no reason to not go with teh air gap.

[xxslow50xx]

so how much money am i looking at to convert it to fuel injection from a mustang but use the 351 manafolds what computer and what will i need or will it still pass smog by putting the a normall carb on it??

[Nathan in MI]

Before you start any changes, you need to find out what your state's emissions requirements are? Do you have visual inspection and/or sniffer test where you live?

[xxslow50xx]

yes i have both but i have a friend that doesnt care about visual but has to pass sniffer should i just buy a 5.0 crown vic, i really like the idea of the 351 but if i cant do mustang fuel injection with like gt40 or trick flow intakes then i guess i should just go with the 5.0 cv well like i said before if anyone knows of a good conversion for the fuel injection let me know or other options i can do with the 351

[DuceAnAHalf]

yes i have both but i have a friend that doesnt care about visual but has to pass sniffer should i just buy a 5.0 crown vic, i really like the idea of the 351 but if i cant do mustang fuel injection with like gt40 or trick flow intakes then i guess i should just go with the 5.0 cv well like i said before if anyone knows of a good conversion for the fuel injection let me know or other options i can do with the 351

You could run a 351W carb'd intake and have it drilled for fuel injectors and get an elbow. the only thing you gain by going to a 302 is hood clearance and a weight savings. A 351 is a much stronger motor that produces more power.

[Nathan in MI]

What's more important to you, mileage, or performance?

[xxslow50xx]

i would like to pull at least 15 mpg because i used to have an 86 cv and it got 15 on the street and 20 highway. could i get the spyder efi manafolds and do the elbow thing that would be great where could i get a computer to run the 351 i kinda wanna keep this cheap but id spend $1000 for a whole efi swap any ideas help thanks

[DuceAnAHalf]

i would like to pull at least 15 mpg because i used to have an 86 cv and it got 15 on the street and 20 highway. could i get the spyder efi manafolds and do the elbow thing that would be great where could i get a computer to run the 351 i kinda wanna keep this cheap but id spend $1000 for a whole efi swap any ideas help thanks

Yes you can run the EFI spider set up. For a computer you can use a Mustang computer, just need to get the right one depending on mass air or speed density.

[Nathan in MI]

This is what he's talking about. It's a universal adapter for a 4 bbl intake. Then you mount the throttle body on the elbow, get the intake drilled for fuel injectors, wire it all up and go.

As far as what wiring harness and computer to use, I'm not sure what would work best, but HO parts might work all right.

[xxslow50xx]

ok sweet i will go with the whole spyder intake system with a mustang mass air harness and computer because i have them. so i guess the heads on the cv are pretty bad if the stock e7 heads are better?(i have a set of e7s from my mustang) and a trickflow stage on1 cam double roller timing chain. and headers for the 351 swap mustang shortys will work? 2.5 inch exhaust with cats electric cut outs with turbo mufflers limited slip and 3.55 or 3.73 shit kit tranny pan and cooler. anything else im missing let me know or if its good to go with thanks