Well im debating having a little fun with the 3.8 for now just to make the cougar more fun to drive since most of my motor swapping time is gonna be spent on the J body going from a 2.2 4 Cyl to a 3.1 V6. Then again the thought of building up a stout 4 cyl has come to mind as well. Either way as it stands which ever option i go with on the Cavi its gonna wind up with more HP then the Cougar unless i go to a V8 and that i dont really see as a viable option right now. Given the car has low enough milage on it i feel i could get away with doing some mods to the 3.8.
Im thinking of doing the following....
Cam
Port and polished heads and intake,
Milling down the heads for more compression,
port matching the intake to the carb as well as opening up the base of the carb as much as safely possable.
Mustang 3.8 headers and somesort of custom drivers side exit exhaust.
Does anyone have any other suggestions to get a little more out of this engine. Keep in mind I do not wish to go to a V8 at this time.
http://www.moranav6racing.com/
Not sure how exspencive you wanted to go but check these guys out.
Thanx for the link. Seems mostly oriented towards the 88 and newer 3.8 though unfortunitly. But i will look a little closer later on. The idea of being able to drop a newer 3.8 from a stang with one of their carb intakes sounds interesting though.
upgrade to the SEFI system on the 88's, using those after market parts. It will be a blast. Even if you only convert to the 88 standards, that is gonna be 20 hp right there.
Even using the 88 stuff, you cant put a cam in it unless you convert to MAF. Have fun.
Even the '88s are not SEFI, they batch fire the injectors three at a time...
I get the feeling it would be easier just keeping the car carbed and perhaps having an adaptor made for a larger carb.
Like a 4barrel?
(http://http://www.moranav6racing.com/img/Products/pictures/scan0002.jpg)
If gas mileage and smog checks are thrown out, a Holley (#4412) 500CFM 2bbl works real well. I went 7 tenths quicker in the quarter from just the carb swap. It would be streetable but not if gas mileage was important. I hate to say this but after racing my 'Bird for two years, I have given up on the bent 6. I got it down to 3250# with me in it and went a best of 16.2 ET at 1000 foot of elevation. If you pursue the V6, I hope you have better luck than I. Fred
Is it carbed or CFI? They look identical untill you pull the air cleaner off.