LS1 in a Crown Vic cop car.
#1
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Hey all,
Anyone done one of these swaps? My friend and I are considering it for a cop car we bought pretty cheap. Kinda've like a Caprice. Crown Vics have always needed a better engine...
Anyone done one of these swaps? My friend and I are considering it for a cop car we bought pretty cheap. Kinda've like a Caprice. Crown Vics have always needed a better engine...
#6
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Hmm... Supercharging would be nice. I really like the increased displacement of the LS engines, though...as opposed to the tiny modulars. Heavy cars needs a little more torque down low to really get moving. I could have more torque with a 5.4L, but there goes my gas mileage. I know gas mileage should be the last thing considered when planning for performance, but it IS nice to have a little increased fuel economy.
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After spending 10 years driving around in those patrol cars (and some other ones we don't like to talk about - Dodge Diplomats
) and some that were sweeeeeeet (LT1 powered Caprices) I can tell you without a doubt that those 4.6 motors don't have **** for bottom end power and I could definitely see a Cobra style supercharger being an awesome (and stealthy) way to go......don't get me wrong, an LSx transplant would be bitchin' and fun and mighty powerful, but when the car already has HD everything built in it, why not just go with what we all (sadly) know works and that is the Cobra tricks from 2003-2004?
It is your guys car so obviously it is your choice and either way it will rock socks, and I am just guessing here, but I am betting that the 4.6 with a supercharger and other goodies would be MUCH easier, much more cost efficient and still get you that
factor. ![Nod](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_nod.gif)
Keep us posted as I just saw a NBM crown vic (ex cop car) pop up around here...............![Bang Head](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_banghead.gif)
Also something to contemplate is the weight factor....those Crown Vics are fat pigs (no pun intended) and an all aluminum engine couldn't hurt the weight distribution/chopping a few pounds off the front end.........like I said, either way is
Just could be a bitch to get a GM tranny to mate up to the Ford driveline/rearend/etc.......electronics....nothing countless others haven't dealt with in their conversions. ![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
FYI, If you don't know this or haven't figured it out, the Fords have some sort of torque management system built in (or they were REALLY underpowered) cuz smoking the tires was essentially a non-issue in those cars.......chirps here and there on cold days and hard pavement, but otherwise they seemed to have an engine/torque management setup that discouraged hard off the line starts. Do we even know what year this car is? I didn't see or don't recall........if memory serves the current style (with a lot of exterior changes) came about in 1992.........
Those cars got
for gas mileage stock.......stuffing a 5.4 in there can't kill what you don't have.
![Barf](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_barf.gif)
It is your guys car so obviously it is your choice and either way it will rock socks, and I am just guessing here, but I am betting that the 4.6 with a supercharger and other goodies would be MUCH easier, much more cost efficient and still get you that
![Mr. Cool](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_cool.gif)
![Nod](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_nod.gif)
Keep us posted as I just saw a NBM crown vic (ex cop car) pop up around here...............
![Bang Head](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_banghead.gif)
Also something to contemplate is the weight factor....those Crown Vics are fat pigs (no pun intended) and an all aluminum engine couldn't hurt the weight distribution/chopping a few pounds off the front end.........like I said, either way is
![Mr. Cool](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_cool.gif)
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
FYI, If you don't know this or haven't figured it out, the Fords have some sort of torque management system built in (or they were REALLY underpowered) cuz smoking the tires was essentially a non-issue in those cars.......chirps here and there on cold days and hard pavement, but otherwise they seemed to have an engine/torque management setup that discouraged hard off the line starts. Do we even know what year this car is? I didn't see or don't recall........if memory serves the current style (with a lot of exterior changes) came about in 1992.........
Originally Posted by Fuzzylogic
I could have more torque with a 5.4L, but there goes my gas mileage. I know gas mileage should be the last thing considered when planning for performance, but it IS nice to have a little increased fuel economy.
![Rotflmao](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies2/rotflmao.gif)
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Last edited by Rottluver; 07-26-2006 at 10:15 AM.
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#8
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We definitely have some thinking to do and you guys have helped.
The weight factor is DEFINITELY a big factor for us, hence the tendency to lean towards the aluminum LS engine.
The other thought, and no offense meant to the LS engines at all...but the '03/'04 Cobra engines do make a ton of power, enough to overcome alot of weight...
Or a big bore '01 Cobra engine, aluminum, bored out to 5.0 or 5.1L with a blower...
Arrrgghhhhh, decisions...
The car is a '01, by the way.
The weight factor is DEFINITELY a big factor for us, hence the tendency to lean towards the aluminum LS engine.
The other thought, and no offense meant to the LS engines at all...but the '03/'04 Cobra engines do make a ton of power, enough to overcome alot of weight...
Or a big bore '01 Cobra engine, aluminum, bored out to 5.0 or 5.1L with a blower...
Arrrgghhhhh, decisions...
The car is a '01, by the way.
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Originally Posted by Fuzzylogic
We definitely have some thinking to do and you guys have helped.
The weight factor is DEFINITELY a big factor for us, hence the tendency to lean towards the aluminum LS engine.
The other thought, and no offense meant to the LS engines at all...but the '03/'04 Cobra engines do make a ton of power, enough to overcome alot of weight...
Or a big bore '01 Cobra engine, aluminum, bored out to 5.0 or 5.1L with a blower...
Arrrgghhhhh, decisions...
The car is a '01, by the way.
The weight factor is DEFINITELY a big factor for us, hence the tendency to lean towards the aluminum LS engine.
The other thought, and no offense meant to the LS engines at all...but the '03/'04 Cobra engines do make a ton of power, enough to overcome alot of weight...
Or a big bore '01 Cobra engine, aluminum, bored out to 5.0 or 5.1L with a blower...
Arrrgghhhhh, decisions...
The car is a '01, by the way.
And I have now driven by that NBM ex-cop car 3 times today. Thanks a lot.
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cobra motor would be a more appropreate swap. but yes it could be done, guys put LS1s in mustangs, so you could go from there. waste of an LS1 imo, thats such a big car its never really going to be fast.
#11
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I've been thinking about picking up a crown vic, pulling it's gross tired 4.6 that makes no power, and dropping in a proper 4.6 from a mustang, and pray that the mount pattern's are the same. It's a much more realistic option, and I'm willing to bet, easier. No shortage of an aftermarket either, so don't let that worry you one bit.
Now, to address the possible flaming: It might be sacreligious or whatever to chose a 4.6 over an LSx for some of you, but it's nothing to be ashamed of, especially here. A good motor for the application to say the least! Do it and let us know, me especially, how it goes.
Now, to address the possible flaming: It might be sacreligious or whatever to chose a 4.6 over an LSx for some of you, but it's nothing to be ashamed of, especially here. A good motor for the application to say the least! Do it and let us know, me especially, how it goes.
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i changed my mind. i think an LS1 in a vic wouldnt be so bad, and it would be easier than putting a cobra motor in it. most likely cheaper also. car probably only weighs 500 lbs more than a camaro.
#18
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Still tossing the idea around - I have a baby on the way so I want a somewhat cool 4-door family car. I wanted to build my own... But the prices of used '02 M5s and some of Mazda's sporty family cars are kinda catching my eye.