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    #1

    Need Advice - Engine & Transmission stuff

    Hi there. I own a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, it has a 351 under the hood.

    You know what? I don't even know if that's true or not. I was told it was, but I dunno.

    Anyways, it's carbeurated, and the 8th digit of the VIN is a "G" meaning it's a "police package".

    So it seems my intake manifold seal is spewing oil (engine, if you're gonna spew, spew in THIS) and possibly the crankcase seal is going as well. Additionally, the fuel system has never run right and apparently I have redundant vacuum on it or something.


    What I wanted to do was see what the biggest motor I could go with and get the corresponding transmission. So I was hoping someone could advise me on what the next bigger motors that'll fit on the engine mounts of the car and what transmissions I should get for it.

    Also, I wanted to put a cold air intake and some performance heads for it. Not wanting to turn it into a racing car, but I want to have the power available if I need it (emergency runs to the hospital for instance).

    Thanks for any input.

    I also have the build sheets coming from Ford for my car. Hopefully they'll help me.
    Tags: None
    #2
    With no significant fabrication? You've got it. 351 based. A stock one can go to 408CI. 418 if you're willing to sacrifice some durability. If you wanna go aftermarket block but still a "windsor" motor they go up to 460+cubes.


    A big block will fit with significant modifications, but they never came in these cars.



    Incidentally, a mercury with a 351 from the factory is somewhat rare as it was a Canada-only option as far as I know. If you have an actual police model (will have an auxillary power steering cooler and a 'certified calibration' speedometer) then you have about as rare a Panther chassis vehicle as exists.

    85 4 door 351 Civi Crown Victoria - Summer daily driver, sleeper in the making, and wildly inappropriate autocross machine
    160KMs 600cfm holley, shorty headers, 2.5" catted exhaust, 255/295 tires, cop shocks, cop swaybars, underdrive pulley, 2.73L gears.
    waiting for install: 3.27's, Poly bushings, boxed rear arms, 2500 stall converter, ported e7's, etc

    06 Mazda 3 hatch 2.3L 5AT (winter beater that cost more than my summer car)

    Comment

      #3
      So would a crate 460 work then?

      I don't believe I have a power steering cooler or a funky speedometer, but the 8th digit of the VIN is a "G". Which means "police package". I don't get it either...

      Comment

        #4
        Sure. With a bit of fabrication. However the 351W can put out similar numbers with little to no fabrication needed. And with a bit less $$ invested.
        Builder/Owner of Badass Panther Wagons

        Busy maintaining a fleet of Fords

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          #5
          So I should stick with the 351 Windsor and the AOD transmission then.

          I still want to fuel inject it though, and go with performance heads and stuff.

          Comment

            #6
            Apparently it's a headache to convert a 351 Windsor 5.8L from carbeurated to fuel injection. Has anyone managed it before?

            Comment

              #7
              no more a headache than the 302 CFI to EFI conversion. if you shop around for 408W engines... those will bolt right up and run like a bat outta hell. It'a basically a stroked 351W anyhow, so all the dimensions will match up. It does depend on how much you've got to budget on it though.

              Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
              rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

              Originally posted by gadget73
              ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

              Originally posted by dmccaig
              Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by Mike_Windsor View Post
                So would a crate 460 work then?

                I don't believe I have a power steering cooler or a funky speedometer, but the 8th digit of the VIN is a "G". Which means "police package". I don't get it either...
                G vin merely means 351 two barrel engine. Is it a Canadian car? I have a non-police Canadian Crown victoria with a factory 351W and G vin.


                Oh and the main headache is that there are no decent factory intakes that will fit under the hood, whereas all EFI 302 intakes fit under the hood.




                I'd stick with the 351, just punch it out to 408 with a stroker kit.



                What is your budget here? 500? 5000? 15000? What are your goals? How much time will it see on the street and will it see more city or highway? You can make a 351W vic silly fast (relatively speaking) for cheap cheap cheap but it won't be 'streetable'.

                85 4 door 351 Civi Crown Victoria - Summer daily driver, sleeper in the making, and wildly inappropriate autocross machine
                160KMs 600cfm holley, shorty headers, 2.5" catted exhaust, 255/295 tires, cop shocks, cop swaybars, underdrive pulley, 2.73L gears.
                waiting for install: 3.27's, Poly bushings, boxed rear arms, 2500 stall converter, ported e7's, etc

                06 Mazda 3 hatch 2.3L 5AT (winter beater that cost more than my summer car)

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Mike_Windsor View Post
                  Apparently it's a headache to convert a 351 Windsor 5.8L from carbeurated to fuel injection. Has anyone managed it before?
                  Yeah, lots of times. I don't see why anyone would think it's a headache. Put EFI intake on, do sefi conversion.
                  Builder/Owner of Badass Panther Wagons

                  Busy maintaining a fleet of Fords

                  Comment

                    #10
                    the hitch is that there aren't 50 of the right intake in any given junkyard. you'll have to buy something, but really any efi intake for a 351 mustang can probably be made to work, though you'll have an easier time if its something that can be faced towards the driver's side.
                    86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
                    5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

                    91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

                    1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

                    Originally posted by phayzer5
                    I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                    Everything looks like voodoo if you don't understand how it works

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Ok, I'm gonna start a shitstorm, my experience is that a carburetor can be made to run as well as the lopo efi or TB, maybe better. The efi on the boxes is very "stupid", as efi's go; modern carbs are VERY good, and very tunable. Efi has the advantage of better cold performance and the ability to deal with higher elevations without the need for rejetting, but once set up, an Edelbrock, for example, is an extremely well-behaved and easy to live with choice. I also don't believe efi necessarily has the edge on fuel mileage, but it definitely does on emissions. And it is DEFINITELY cheaper to fix a carb.. and easier without having to run down the dozen or so possible sources of fuel system hiccups with the efi. My two cents...
                      If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough...

                      Comment

                        #12
                        BTW, has anybody ever tried one of the old 400's? I was under the impression that it was a Cleveland engine, but I don't know what family of engines it belongs to (302/351, FE,..?) I've seen a bunch of 'em in the wrecking yard; I'm wondering if they are a legit engine to build for performance and if they bolt in the box.
                        If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough...

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by GoFordBroke View Post
                          BTW, has anybody ever tried one of the old 400's? I was under the impression that it was a Cleveland engine, but I don't know what family of engines it belongs to (302/351, FE,..?) I've seen a bunch of 'em in the wrecking yard; I'm wondering if they are a legit engine to build for performance and if they bolt in the box.
                          ....400cui engines are related to "cleveland " engines....but are closer to 351m "modified" engines.....you can spend shitloads of cash on em,or just buy a true cleveland and do much better....(351m and 400m heads suck.....very restrictive....good for torque however,but not horsepower)...also these engines are not in any way related to a 302/351w...and wont fit in a panther without modification(i dont think an AOD trans will bolt up either,but dont quote me on that)
                          Last edited by Guest; 10-17-2012, 05:41 PM. Reason: spelling...my typing sucks

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Mike_Windsor View Post
                            What I wanted to do was see what the biggest motor I could go with and get the corresponding transmission.
                            Straight up, how big is your budget? Fuel injection on a 351 is easy as pie. The only reason you do not see it on this board and on CVN is the price. You can make over 400RWHP with a 351 without even trying. Here again, your wallet must support it. The AOD is used in 800HP+ engines for drag racing so a healthy 351W build is not an issue. You can keep OD and a lockup converter.
                            All your build sheet will tell you is what options your car originally came with. It is of zero use in your performance build.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Originally posted by GoFordBroke View Post
                              Ok, I'm gonna start a shitstorm, my experience is that a carburetor can be made to run as well as the lopo efi or TB, maybe better. The efi on the boxes is very "stupid", as efi's go; modern carbs are VERY good, and very tunable. Efi has the advantage of better cold performance and the ability to deal with higher elevations without the need for rejetting, but once set up, an Edelbrock, for example, is an extremely well-behaved and easy to live with choice. I also don't believe efi necessarily has the edge on fuel mileage, but it definitely does on emissions. And it is DEFINITELY cheaper to fix a carb.. and easier without having to run down the dozen or so possible sources of fuel system hiccups with the efi. My two cents...
                              ECCIV is actually not stupid at all. It does all it needs too without any unnecessary BS. I'll agree Ford's CFI isn't that great, but SEFI car's are just fine. With a QuarterHorse or Tweecer you can literally tune nearly any parameters you want to. Significantly more fine tunability then a carb.
                              2020 F250 - 7.3 4x4 CCSB STX 3.55's - BAKFlip MX4
                              2005 Grand Marquis GS - Marauder sway bars, Marauder exhaust, KYB's
                              2003 Marauder - Trilogy # 8, JLT, kooks, 2.5" exhaust, 4.10's/31 spline, widened rear's, metco's, addco's, ridetech's 415hp/381tq
                              1987 Colony Park - 03+ frame swap, blown Gen II Coyote, 6R80, ridetechs, stainless works, absolute money pit. WIP

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