Performance Chip

[Cashmer]

Hey, has anyone out there done any experimentation with install of a "performance chip" in their 3.9L ? If so, which is the best one to install for a little added giddyup?

[Lonestar]

Re: Performance Chip

There are no chips available per say but SCT has a tuner. You can do a search on SCT and see the results others have had.

[islandtime]

Re: Performance Chip

Hey, has anyone out there done any experimentation with install of a "performance chip" in their 3.9L ? If so, which is the best one to install for a little added giddyup?

There are no chips available per [se] but SCT has a tuner. You can do a search on SCT and see the results others have had.

Send a PM to Bradford. He's done it.

[Cashmer]

Re: Performance Chip

Thanks, Lonestar, I'll check SCT. Islandtime, I'm a new member...who is Bradford?

[Lonestar]

Re: Performance Chip

John, if you do some searching using the seach function you will basically learn that there are only 3 "bolt on" things you can do to the Thunderbird. Now if you want to get into cams and stuff like that then you might want to spend time on the Lincoln LS forum for ideas. But, in regards of "bolt ons", exhaust, cold air intake, and a tuner are it.

The only cat back performance exhaust system available is from Borla. There are a couple CAIs but the most popular with the members of this site is the K&N. Some members have used the SCT xCal and xCal2 but I do not believe those available any longer but SCT does have a couple of current tuner products for the 3.9L.

However, the Thunderbird is a cruiser, not a bruiser so enjoy it for what it is.

[Cashmer]

Re: Performance Chip

Thanks for the advice, if I do anything it will be through SCT. I see we have identical T-birds... I found mine about one month ago in Michigan and had it trucked out to me. A real cream puff with only 1,250 miles that was purchased new by a collector. I am really enjoying it!

[Rondor]

Re: Performance Chip

Thanks for the advice, if I do anything it will be through SCT. I see we have identical T-birds... I found mine about one month ago in Michigan and had it trucked out to me. A real cream puff with only 1,250 miles that was purchased new by a collector. I am really enjoying it!

I'm sure he made a killing...but you got the goody at any price

[Bruce]

Re: Performance Chip

In my '03 I installed a performance exhaust (Borla) and a cold air intake (K&N) then I had a custom 93 octane custom tune installed (SCT). It greatly improved berformance.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Performance Chip

You can improve the sound a bit but there isn't a lot of extra "go" available here.

The T-Bird is surprisingly heavy for it's perceived size and the engine is really very small. Ford gave you 32 valves, 4 cams and nearly 11:1 compression. The car hustles in the mid to high end of it's rev range while producing near NOTHING off idle.

This engine would be a screamer in a car that weighed 500-700 pds less and had taller rear gears and a standard transmission. Sadly, that's not what we got.

Happiness here is in living with and learning to appreciate the car for what it is rather than wishing for what it'll never be.