Anyone interested in performance?

[CnP]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Exactly

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

I've had quite a variety of vehicles over the years and quite frankly and with all due respect I am not to sure about that "nice comfortable ride". My 03 seems like it has a solid rear axle. That is why I want to change the suspension some how some way but also don't want to spend $2,000.00 to do so.

Read this

[gladiator99]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

I'm from the "race your car at the dragstrip every Sunday" era of the early 60's, which, unfortunately, put my 57 BelAir into an early "retirement" back in 65.
But, as much as I love stoplight performance (never cared much for high speed stuff), my 03 Bird and my 04 LS provide all the performance I need.
However, I would have loved to see how my Bird or LS would have stood up against my 65 Vette 327/300 4/speed in the standing start 1/4 mile.
Ah, the good old days.

Well, let the stories begin!
Back in 1964, I purchased a 1964 Chev impala ss 327 300 hp. A friend of mine had a nice 65 or 66 corvette with a 283 with either 2 4bbl carbs or a single 4 bbl. So the bragging started, and we just had to have a little go. Both cars were a 4 speed std. Well we were just about even and after 2 or 3 short drags we both conceded to a draw. Boy, that was fun. That 327 Impala would really dangle.
Cheers,
Jim

[BUCKWHEAR]

Anyone interested in performance?

I am. I joined this site to see what mods the Bird can handle. I have a Mercury Marauder that's supercharged & is fast at the strip. I have had Early Birds and Jags so I thought the new bird was a natural for more power. Guess not.

What transmission is in the new Bird?

Regards to all.

jb

[Welker]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

I may be out of line here and I don't mean to insult anybody, but isn't supercharging these aging cars kind of asking for trouble? I mean they were never rated as performance cars and they are still head turners for their style alone. What would hopping them up do but age them faster?

[CnP]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

All depends on how you use that power. One can use that power very wisely and not shorten the life very much. One can go crazy and blow the trans or differential, drop the driveshaft or even blow the engine very quickly. Anytime you add performance enhancing items - whether it is on a car or drugs to your body - you are going to prematurely age the vehicle/body. It is what you add and how you use it that's the determining factors. That is a given. There are always trade offs.

My humble opinion is........................... it is your car and you can do what you want to it. I have seen some members cars on this site in which the member added a cosmetic feature and I just shake my head with bewilderment. But as long as they like it then so be it. Who are we to say otherwise???

The joy, excitement and sheer exhilaration one gets from a powerful car is amazing. I've had a few cars that were extremely and I DO mean EXTREMELY powerful - one was a 1962 very modified Corvette. It had a very expensive ZL1 427 engine in it that was modified (and no, the vette didn't come from the factory with that engine), as was the front end to fit the engine, the suspension, transmission, drive shaft and differential. I drove it on the street in the summer and could pop 2 foot wheelies. Now THAT was a fun car!

[jerrym3]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

hey, gladiator99

Are you sure the Vette was a 65/66? The 65/66 Vette didn't offer a 283.

327/250 hp was the smallest motor, and no dual carb option available. (283s had dual quad options in earlier years.)

When I bought my 65, the 396 hadn't been introduced, and the 327/350 was not available in 65.

I could have bought the 327/365 hp solid lifter motor, but I figured I'd rather keep my license than have a fast Vette. Plus, didn't want the hassle of solid lifters.

My 327/300 Vette wasn't very quick off the line, for a Vette. It came from the factory with a 3:08 rear. But, with 15" stock tires, the car had a ridiculously high top speed.

64 Impalas were quick, especially if you changed the rear end ratio. My cousin's 327/250 Impala SS (3:36/1 rear) destroyed my friend's 390/300 Galaxie convert (3/1 rear), both 4 speeds.

64 Galaxies were quicker cars with their 3:50/1 rears (4 sp).

[Welker]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Maybe we should start a new thread, if there isn't one already, in which we all confess to loving one particular car more than any other. I could list a lot of pretty fancy drives I have owned but the one that was the most fun of all was a Miata.....hate to say that, I guess, because of all the ribbing one takes who owns or owned a Miata, but it was a hell of a lot of fun and it had no horsepower to speak of......and, of course, the ladies love it.

[theflash]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

The air filter’s snorkel restricts the air supply to the engine at higher RPM’s.

You can just pull off the snorkel to the air filter’s air box it will get a lot more air and more horsepower. Cost $0 for more HP.


I know a lot about superchargers and turbo’s and I can tell you in very few words “DON’T do it”

Besides the fact that the engine’s fuel and ignition system will have to have all new controls and mapping Plus larger injectors the engine and transmission will not be able to withstand 50 more HP.
This car’s chassis can not handle much more HP with out spending a lot of money to get the chassis rigid plus the tires are much too small.

In 2003 Ford had to change the engine to have variable cam timing to improve HP.

[acar]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Saw a Caddy 2 seater the other day had the top down black with red interior flew up behind me first one I'd seen beautiful car got home and looked it up on the internet 450 hp WOW saw the price $105,000 list dealer had it for $96k only thing that car had over my beautiful bird was 200hp in my humble opinion. But don't we always think our children are special!

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

There are 100s of used Caddy XLRs for sale on the major internet sites. Many three year old, non-lease cars have had up to three owners. I was very interested until I really dug into a couple of the XLR user sites and found the high maintenance. Once they are out of originaly warranty the owner will likely sell. They are a nice looking car.

[Tyrod]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

How do I start. If I had a moped, I'd want it to go faster. Even if I had the latest Japanese or Italian crotch rocket, I'd want the moped to go faster. So, even if the more conservative cruiser types out there poo poo the performance angle, there are still some of us that want things to go faster. And you Baggers out there should encourage us to do so, because as more and more TBirds get wrapped around poles or upended in ditches, it just makes yur Bird more valuable. So, while I can respect you folks that want your cruisers can't you cruisers respect those of us that Hot Rods? Maybe it's just an age thing since the average age of a Tbirder is like 150yo or something close to that.
Now, to the original question. I've done the usual, Borla, CAI, Tune. I've also lowered the Bird 1.5" allaway round using unusual means. Search my member name here, you might find the procedure. Although, I doubt the Eibach springs for the Bird are still available. That did away with the rubbery/sponginess of the ride without being harsh. A more simple thing to do is tire pressure. If you want a silky boulevard ride go with 30 psi. If you like things firmer, go with 35 psi. All the things Ford did to firm up the ride in a normally very flexible convertable, makes for a car that can carve canyons if ya get the rubbery wallowing out of the ride. I'm quite satisfied with the ride of my Bird even if I do have to be aware of obstructions in the road. Gotta watch out for speed bumps.
Superchargers? I've heard of plenty of superchargers for Birds. Never seen one. It would seem I can't buy one. I spend hundreds of dollars trying to prototype one for the Bird. I was unsuccessful. Even if I had been successful, I doubt I would have made any money. The owners base is just too small and conservative. And they would have been expensive at well over $10,000 a pop.
Nitrous Oxide? Go ahead, it's your car. I won't do it though. Nuff said about that. Seems most folks sit on either side of that fence.
Willing to put a modular engine in yur Bird? I'm pretty sure it'll fit. Course yur gonna have to take the tranny & computer with it. That's what I'm gonna do when my engine goes bad. Course, I'm gonna have to wait a while cause I've only got 17K miles on mine.

P.S. The Eibach springs are still available and I found the written procedure in my archives. PM me with your actual email address if you'd like a copy in ms .doc form.