SUPERCHARGED 91 GS Project

[nitroracer]

I think its awesome that your building a super charged marquis, and then on top of that trying to make it in the GRM $200X challenge. Im a fan of both panthers and Grassroots.

[1987cp]

to GMN! This project sounds exciting!

Like DuceAnAHalf pointed out, most of us box-body owners are playing around with much more basic setups like his and my carburetors or Blaze86Vic's complete '94-'95 Mustang motor swap, but it'll be a lot of fun to watch and see what you come up with. Sounds like you already know quite a bit about blown setups, so the main challenges will be packaging-related. I could possibly see having a blower hanging off the driver's side of the engine with the dual-pulley setup on the alternator, but maybe it'd be more trick if it could be tucked in the location of the smog pump or thereabouts? If you were to run a front-mount intercooler, it would be easy to run the intake plumbing to either side of the engine, depending on which way you want to point the SEFI upper intake.

[87vicFIVEO]

Welcome to GMN.

I'm hoping to install a roots style huffer on an Exploder motor for my car.
Can't wait to see yours!

[Grand Marquis GT]

Forged slugs are mandatory with a blower...

[Blaze86Vic]

You can get away with 5-6lbs of boost if you are running Hyper pistons, but cast pistons and boost are a no-no.

[mrltd]

Cool, that'll be neat to see on the challenge. We all know how to build em cheap here....

[FastGallopingPonies]

Sweet. I was thinking about boosting the '88 when I get my tax returns next year. I'm looking forward to updates.

[gabegt90]

welcome mang cain't wait to see wait you do

[Pirate]

Interesting project. We don't get a lot of that here....

One problem: Actually, it's THE problem with the whole swap:The stock lopo cast pistons. As the esteemed Mr. Blaze has stated, these pistons have enough difficulty holding up in completely stock applications, much less having 5-6 psi being thrown at it. They are incredibly soft, and I have pulled apart several stock LoPo's here with the skirts broken off, ring lands destroyed, sometimes after only a full throttle run passing someone going up a hill, with only a 4000-rpm shift point.

Suggestion? Just dig up a cheap forged Mustang or Lincoln LSC 5.0, I know you are going to insist that the cast pistons will be fine....but they won't last very long. The first full-throttle run is probably going to kill off at least one or two of the slugs....

[91GSC]

Well Here is what I am thinking....

I have a finite budget to work with + I am using the car as my daily driver. So I have to be careful how much I spend and I don’t want the car down for more than a weekend

Now I could see doing a motor swap –
Pros –
Better Motor & includes the upgrades I want to do.
Cost – comparing explorer bits vs. explorer or other motor cost
Current Engine is low mileage, but does have an oil leak which needs fixed

Cons
Down Time –
Budget
Accessories and related work –
If change motor and keep its configuration – not sure how the accessories end up.
Just me, myself & I to do the work – plus baby due in 3 weeks.
Other Platforms have everything to start with so should I invest so much in a GM instead fo a T-Bird or better yet Cougar


Alright those lists are not complete, but from what I can find I will spend a enough on the HO conversion that I could just get a Mustang or Explorer Motor. I found a few examples locally or close enough, including a 97 Explorer Motor for 600.00 Delivered to my doorstep.

Sigh, its easier to spend a little at a time and get the bits to do the top end Ho conversion, vs. lump sum for 5.0 HO motor.

The wife thinks that if I am going to do all that why not start with a Cougar or T-bird? I almost agree with her, almost that is.

Anyone in the area got a cheap short block? Or used Mustang motor? I take Donations!!

[91GSC]

If I do get a Motor, I could use some help putting it in, anyone with in 100 miles or so of Cocoa, FL? I could even make it a road trip.

Better yet, you sell me a motor cheap, Instead of coming and getting it, I can come by and you help me put it in

I also need to figure out something better for the dash than the ugly, did I mention ugly? 85 MPH speedo in the GM.

[Pirate]

I understand the need to keep the budget cheap initially...I have it on good authority that almost everyone here (except for 1987cp, because he is a dirty rich wagon-driving Jew) has to squeeze every last dollar as far as they can....but it's either going to be downtime now, or downtime later, and the downtime later is a mandatory repair job, vs. optional now. The stock lopo motor is not going to last very long with a blower huffing into it, especially since the lopo was put together to be a low-rpm chugger.

[Tiggie]

Sweet project dude. You are planning a MAF conversion, aren't you?

I've seen people run ~5-7psi on cast pistons for extended periods of time without problems. Never on a lo-po, but on a 289 and 2.3L.

As far as the speedo, someone around here (they are on CarDomain too) has installed a 140mph CV Police in a GM. There was some cutting of the dash assembly involved if I remember correctly. Another option is to get a Metric Speedo from Kanadia. They go up to about 110 MPH, but the MPH is the secondary scale, KPH is the primary scale. You could have one recalibrated, but that's more money.

[91GSC]

I will spend some time reading the board on the swap see what the particulars are with regard to the accessories.

I could swap blocks and keep the setup like the lopo motor or whatever, especially if I get a no- accessory block... but isn't their issues with the accessory mounts and all that -

I understand the main differences are whats involved in the HO Conversion plus pistons. But I know the HO has the accessories in different places, etc...

Need to think this out and plan. I will be getting another car after the baby gets here, so this will then become a full time toy less I get rid of it. Till then its my daily driver.

I appreciate all the input and suggestions!! Please keep them coming!

That said - my thought without doing the research through the forum, If I am going to do a swap and that is based on cost:

• Get a better motor, keep Lopo for a stroker core (for this car or another)
• Swap all accessories from the Lopo - the new motor matches basic OEM Lopo setup.
• Build Supercharger Mounts and all that to work with LOPO setup

[1987cp]

hehe - getting a smaller car like a T-Bird or Cougar sounds like a good idea, but keep in mind that so far as I know, none of them came with the HO motor either.

Don't worry about accessory drive locations. If you're like me, you'll reuse the Crown Vic brackets no matter what, unless you get hold of a serpentine setup and just decide you like it better.

I assume you know that to get an old motor with forged pistons, it needs to be from an '86-'93 Mustang or a Lincoln LSC or similar. I *think* that even the 5.0 truck motors got regular cast pistons just like the Crown Vic. I haven't noticed you mentioning your location, but deals like this one up in Chi-town do pop up from time to time ...... just keep in mind, of course, that any used engine may well need a rebuild (as did the '96 motor I bought) - in which case you're probably money ahead to just add stronger pistons to your old motor, since the block, crank, and rods are all the same. Summit Racing has great deals on rebuild kits that include gaskets, bearings, and pistons, and if your bores look OK, you can just get standard-size pistons and drive off with a smirk, knowing you probably have at least a couple of rebuilds left if something goes kaboom.