Humor me please
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Its as good a chassis as any other everyday non-sports car. Depending on what motor you have, it makes a difference on what you can do. Also, if it has an automatic, you will need to either spend some serious cash to beef up the transmission, or you need to swap to a manual trans, which would be better for racing anyway.
If its going to be a track car, see if you can't find a performance cam, and get the heads ported. You will also want to open up the exhaust. If you want to keep it street legal, you will need real high performance cats, the regular run of the mill Magnaflows are NOT high flow cats. Even though you will run it on the track, you should use a muffler, go with a straight through type. Do not bother with dual exhausts, they do not improve power, the routing is just about impossible, and it will add weight that in a drag race will slow you down. An ideal pipe size is 2.5" for a modified engine that needs top end horsepower.
Also strip out all the unneeded carpet, seats, etc. You need to get rid of as much weight as you can. If your model doesn't have a plastic intake manifold, see if you can't find one off a newer model. Since the engine would be modified, headers would be better and lighter than stock manifolds. You won't need air conditioning on a race car, you should also get a set of underdrive pulleys.
Don't expect it to beat any turbo cars or V8s, but it should hold its own against other V6 motors and 4 cylinders, and even some turbocharged 4 cylinders.
If you are drag racing on the street, thats another story. One the street, you need to keep the car comfortable and street legal. Forced induction would be the way to go there because you don't have to give up drivability or fuel economy to go that route.
All of these things cost money. Be prepared to shell out some serious cash for many of these upgrades. If you can get it fast enough, you might get a sponsor.
If its going to be a track car, see if you can't find a performance cam, and get the heads ported. You will also want to open up the exhaust. If you want to keep it street legal, you will need real high performance cats, the regular run of the mill Magnaflows are NOT high flow cats. Even though you will run it on the track, you should use a muffler, go with a straight through type. Do not bother with dual exhausts, they do not improve power, the routing is just about impossible, and it will add weight that in a drag race will slow you down. An ideal pipe size is 2.5" for a modified engine that needs top end horsepower.
Also strip out all the unneeded carpet, seats, etc. You need to get rid of as much weight as you can. If your model doesn't have a plastic intake manifold, see if you can't find one off a newer model. Since the engine would be modified, headers would be better and lighter than stock manifolds. You won't need air conditioning on a race car, you should also get a set of underdrive pulleys.
Don't expect it to beat any turbo cars or V8s, but it should hold its own against other V6 motors and 4 cylinders, and even some turbocharged 4 cylinders.
If you are drag racing on the street, thats another story. One the street, you need to keep the car comfortable and street legal. Forced induction would be the way to go there because you don't have to give up drivability or fuel economy to go that route.
All of these things cost money. Be prepared to shell out some serious cash for many of these upgrades. If you can get it fast enough, you might get a sponsor.
I want to make a drag car out of a 3rd gen Taurus. I think it would be pretty cool. I'd totally do it right though:
Mustang motor
Transmission to match
Solid rear axle
450+ hp
RWD
Maybe even turbos
That would be a real setup. I am pretty uncomfortable with the idea of fast FWD cars, especially ones with transmissions weaker than grandmas hip at the nursing home. If anyone is interested in building something like this, let know, since I got some ideas about how to do it. I have dibs on the name "5.SHO" Though.
Mustang motor
Transmission to match
Solid rear axle
450+ hp
RWD
Maybe even turbos
That would be a real setup. I am pretty uncomfortable with the idea of fast FWD cars, especially ones with transmissions weaker than grandmas hip at the nursing home. If anyone is interested in building something like this, let know, since I got some ideas about how to do it. I have dibs on the name "5.SHO" Though.
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I think it's a waste of time to build a Vulcan quite honestly. The Duratec on the other hand would be worthwhile.
There are plenty of SHO's in the 500hp+ range so a SHO swap would be a good swap to go as it would be a direct bolt in. Also 1 SHO has been converted to rear wheel drive as well.
Basically you would need a lot of work or a Zex kit to get into the 15sec range which the SHO is at in the stock form. So selling for a SHO would be good as well or swapping in the SHO drive train.
You are looking at a lot of work either way. I do have some ideas for improving traction which I just have not been able to test yet due to the turbo...
Basically you would need a lot of work or a Zex kit to get into the 15sec range which the SHO is at in the stock form. So selling for a SHO would be good as well or swapping in the SHO drive train.
You are looking at a lot of work either way. I do have some ideas for improving traction which I just have not been able to test yet due to the turbo...
Well The ideas I have for it should hopefully net me a little faster times.
1. total weight reduction- stripped interior , "Webbed" rear doors, remove spare, Remove rear bumper impact bar, removed exhaust from flex back
2. custom fabricate some parts : Equal length headers , Cold air intake similar to esslingers escort,
3. Transmission : high stall converter, total rebuild using heavy duty plates, Transgo Shift kit , Large Transmission cooler
4. Engine: Custom Ground High Lift Cam, 1.7 rockers ,heavy Port and Polish , 100 hp n20 shot
What I dont Know is how I could get a "tune" put on it for my modifications.
1. total weight reduction- stripped interior , "Webbed" rear doors, remove spare, Remove rear bumper impact bar, removed exhaust from flex back
2. custom fabricate some parts : Equal length headers , Cold air intake similar to esslingers escort,
3. Transmission : high stall converter, total rebuild using heavy duty plates, Transgo Shift kit , Large Transmission cooler
4. Engine: Custom Ground High Lift Cam, 1.7 rockers ,heavy Port and Polish , 100 hp n20 shot
What I dont Know is how I could get a "tune" put on it for my modifications.
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1,283 Posts
There are several ways to get a tune. You can use a stand alone fuel management system. If you run an automatic, you can add a stand alone transmission controller.
Diablosport still makes the Deltachip, which can hold multiple tunes and let you use the stock ECU, but you would have to shell out for the dealer kit because finding someone who has the programmer would be quite difficult. Some other companies might still make the chips for the older computers, but all of them are internal chip swaps, which makes switching tunes a pain.
Vulcans can be good motors for power, but the Duratec and SHO motors are better staring points. The Vulcan has to have so many of its internals replaced to make it handle any serious power. You would be looking at upgrading just about everything.
Diablosport still makes the Deltachip, which can hold multiple tunes and let you use the stock ECU, but you would have to shell out for the dealer kit because finding someone who has the programmer would be quite difficult. Some other companies might still make the chips for the older computers, but all of them are internal chip swaps, which makes switching tunes a pain.
Vulcans can be good motors for power, but the Duratec and SHO motors are better staring points. The Vulcan has to have so many of its internals replaced to make it handle any serious power. You would be looking at upgrading just about everything.
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15,922 Posts
Drag racing a Sable is not a ridiculous premise at all. It's just really slow (I had a stock 3.8L w/ AX4S).
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Well if this is a daily driver of any kind most of these mods will make it so you can no longer do that.
Also most racing places do not allow open exhaust for noise reasons.
There are some mods form the Gen4 that might help as well.
As far as the most out of the Vulcan in a Taurus is still under 200hp but the Ranger guys are another story.
Something to really think about is where you are starting and where you want to go. If your goal is to have a fast Vulcan then more power to you.
If your goal is to have a fast Sable then the SHO is the way to go. You get 70hp for a $500 or less swap, easy tuning, lots of mods and responds well to boost.
You will spend easily thousand plus to match the SHO.
Think of it as either starting with the 4cyl motor or the V8. Yes either can go fast but what does it take to get there?
Loud,
The only road driving this car would see is to and from the 1/4 mile. Im honestly not to sure about the SHO swap. It seems like they are a high maintenance motor.TBH it seems like the 3.8 has much more potential than either of the 3.0s . I know every motor has its limitations but, I paid $300 for this car so I dont mind if something blows on it. Its still cheaper than rebuilding a SHO motor. I guess you could say that for the moment Id be content modifying the vulcan to hone my high performance knowledge .
The only road driving this car would see is to and from the 1/4 mile. Im honestly not to sure about the SHO swap. It seems like they are a high maintenance motor.TBH it seems like the 3.8 has much more potential than either of the 3.0s . I know every motor has its limitations but, I paid $300 for this car so I dont mind if something blows on it. Its still cheaper than rebuilding a SHO motor. I guess you could say that for the moment Id be content modifying the vulcan to hone my high performance knowledge .
It isn't that much of a high maintenance motor and all of it can be done at home. Also the motor is reliable and can put up with a lot of abuse.
Regardless of if it is a track only car you would not get far on a no catback car on the street. Like I said most tracks have sound limits anyways. Just keep that in mind.
If beating out a Corvette and Lightening isn't potential I don't know what is:
The 3.8 does have potential I have only seen 1 S/C 3.8 on here and I don't know if it has run yet.
Ok I withdraw my previous statement ...WOW! That is an amazing car!
To address the no Exhaust issue I thought of a side exit exhaust right infront of the pass rear wheel. Where I live we have no emissions testing, No inspections of any sort, and very few Local Enforcement Officers .
To address the no Exhaust issue I thought of a side exit exhaust right infront of the pass rear wheel. Where I live we have no emissions testing, No inspections of any sort, and very few Local Enforcement Officers .
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Why not run just a single 3" out the back, that will handle all the flow you need, it will be lightweight, and its legal. Running it out the side will be tricky.
Could do that! my hold up is still finding somewhere who will support the ECU we run . I know it would have to be chipped but I cant find anyone who will give me a definitive answer on who can chip. I know stand alone is a option but the cost is intimidating
Yeah its fast...
You would greatly reduce ground clearance, just a FYI.
Also have you heard a car without a catback? It gets incredibly loud.
Also most tracks have sound limits and inspectors.
Unless he goes to high boost a 2.5 would suffice.
Hence an even better reason to go SHO. The ECu is fully supported. You have the Tweecer with lot of people who have tuned their SHO.
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