Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: 5.0Rrrougar on January 07, 2009, 08:16:40 PM

Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: 5.0Rrrougar on January 07, 2009, 08:16:40 PM
Hello everyone!,i have and 87 cougar that im working on i have a couple of parts accumlated already,but i dont know what kind of cam to get and/or if i should upgrade to a nice set of pistons.
Well here's what i have:

gt40 heads w/1.6 roller rockers
gt40 tubular lower/upper intake manifold
65mm throttle body with spacer
bbk air induction system
87 mustang gt speed density ecu computer

any advice welcome,thanks
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 07, 2009, 08:49:40 PM
Do a forum search man you should find almost (if not all) the info you will need. Good luck with the build!
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: Kitz Kat on January 08, 2009, 06:24:29 AM
Theres plenty of info here on the board. but your pistons are going to be your limiting factor of what you can do. "flat tops"
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: vinnietbird on January 08, 2009, 09:14:56 AM
Quote from: Kitz Kat;250759
Theres plenty of info here on the board. but your pistons are going to be your limiting factor of what you can do. "flat tops"


I live this everyday.You really should toss the flat top pistons away and get new ones (or good used H.O pistons with valve reliefs).
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 09, 2009, 08:40:27 AM
Quote from: 5.0Rrrougar;250698
Hello everyone!,i have and 87 cougar that im working on i have a couple of parts accumlated already,but i dont know what kind of cam to get and/or if i should upgrade to a nice set of pistons.
Well here's what i have:

gt40 heads w/1.6 roller rockers
gt40 tubular lower/upper intake manifold
65mm throttle body with spacer
bbk air induction system
87 mustang gt speed density ecu computer

any advice welcome,thanks


You already have more air flow than the SD EEC can handle... With a cam and good exhaust system, if you want to make any real power, mass air will be mandatory...
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: jncocowboyx on January 09, 2009, 11:35:04 AM
yes... definitely go mass air, or you'll never be able to romp on it like you should. it'll be kinda embarassing.
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: 5.0Rrrougar on January 09, 2009, 12:40:38 PM
So i already have the cold air induction and i thought it was going to be an easy bolt on,but i bought it for a 87-93 mustang with mass air so i couldn't put it on..as my cougar isn't mass air ..what would happen if i just bought a mass air meter and put it in with the kit and not hook it up to the mass air computer
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: Bob on January 09, 2009, 01:30:37 PM
Quote from: 5.0Rrrougar;250921
So i already have the cold air induction and i thought it was going to be an easy bolt on,but i bought it for a 87-93 mustang with mass air so i couldn't put it on..as my cougar isn't mass air ..what would happen if i just bought a mass air meter and put it in with the kit and not hook it up to the mass air computer


I would just goto home depot or lowes and buy a small piece of pvc pipe and join it that way. I wouldn't use a meter because it would restrict flow alittle bit and its really silly to spend $$ on a mass meter and not hook it up.
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: blackcougar71 on January 20, 2009, 02:07:02 PM
if you want to make real power go mass air flow. especially if your going turbo or supercharger direction for power.
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: V8Demon on January 20, 2009, 03:11:06 PM
Quote from: blackcougar71;252672
if you want to make real power go mass air flow. especially if your going turbo or supercharger direction for power.


*sigh*
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=2028

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00214.html

It CAN be done with SD...
Not recommended for novice personnel though...
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: Thunder Chicken on January 20, 2009, 04:44:26 PM
While on the subject of Speed Density, that's what I'm going with because I'm not looking for a ton of power. If my 'Bird can outrun my father's '08 V6 Sonata (somewhere around 240 horses, probably about the same weight as the 'Bird) I'll be happy, and I figure a stock rebuilt 5.0 HO, 1-5/8 headers, off-road exhaust, a few extra degrees of timing, 3.55 gears and a T5 should be more than capable of doing so. I have the DA1 speed density ECU, which apparently can be upgraded through the service port. I'm assuming this would be a piggyback type of setup, which I've only heard of this being done with MAF systems.

Admittedly, I haven't put much effort into the search since the engine is still sitting on the floor in the garage, but has anyone heard of "upgrading" the DA1 computer?
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: V8Demon on January 20, 2009, 04:52:50 PM
Any tuner worth his salt should be able to give you exactly what you want for your projected combo without the need for a piggyback ECU.  Does you DA1 have a sticker over a hole in the case?  That's where one would plug in a chip.
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: Thunder Chicken on January 20, 2009, 05:09:08 PM
I haven't really looked at it, but I do know there's a door on the case with a screw holding it on. I'd read online that the DA1 was prgorammable. I actually stumbled on the info before buying the computer, while researching to make sure I was buying a Mustang computer and not another T-Bird one :hick:
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: Kitz Kat on January 20, 2009, 07:03:52 PM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;252734
I haven't really looked at it, but I do know there's a door on the case with a screw holding it on. I'd read online that the DA1 was prgorammable. I actually stumbled on the info before buying the computer, while researching to make sure I was buying a Mustang computer and not another T-Bird one :hick:

Sounds like you all need a new thread !, on sa. or ma., He asked what we thougt, don't cloud it and make it harder to know.
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: Thunder Chicken on January 20, 2009, 08:15:20 PM
Yeah, and if I opened a new thread people would growl that I didn't search :hick:
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: V8Demon on January 20, 2009, 08:43:54 PM
They are in fact programmable.

Heck my 3.8 ECU was programmable.
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: 5.0Rrrougar on January 21, 2009, 02:01:28 AM
well i dont need my speed density setup anymore since i'll be going with mass air,if anyone wants it let me know i'll let it go for $20

its a da1 from a 87 stick mustang

 this thread has served it's purpose i have all the info i need to build me a BEAST...haha thanks
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: blackcougar71 on January 21, 2009, 05:46:23 PM
what program did you use on your 3.8 ecu?
Title: Building 5.0HO suggestions/help
Post by: V8Demon on January 21, 2009, 06:03:22 PM
I slapped a chip on it in '96 or '97.... changed the timing and spark tables a little.  Superchips used to make them.