Performance advice wanted.

[RIOTKILL]

Ever since I've gotten my LS, I've been searching the forum for performance mods advice while I wait for my license to be returned (not due to breaking any laws actually, temp medical revocation).

Unfortunately, some of it is conflicting, and i also just have some general questions, so I'd like to just set it straight for myself.

So here goes-

Intake-
I was thinking of getting a 2nd airbox and cut the bottom out.
I had been looking for a CAI, but from what I've found, it's easier, cheaper, and nearly as effective to make one from a stock airbox.

Exhaust-
Already looking at a magnaflow system for the v6, since I'll be needing new cats at some point (216k miles)
What I'd like to know is what the interior noise and vibration is like, with magnaflow resonators and/or glasspacks.
I like the sound, especially if I can get it to sound like this-


But the noise is a concern as it would annoy my parents when they'd ride in it, especially the drone at highway speed (my mom especially hated my escort with just it's muffler swapped for a junkyard magnaflow one).
Would having a stock-style custom one made, only with a wider diameter pipe and x-pipe work?

Tires and suspension-
I'd like to keep the stock 17s, so which tires would you all recommend for them. Note I'd like to get a slightly smaller profile tire to both minimize sidewall deflection and lower ride height and that I might do speed runs at 130+ occasionally.
Unfortunately, where I live has ALOT of speed bumps, so I can't do any major suspension stuff, and from what I've read on here, any upgraded coilovers lower the car too much for the big one at the entrance to where I live.

Throttle body-
Is there any "bigbore" TB I can bolt on from another engine out of curiosity?
I was going to do this with my Escort, but never got to install the one I did get(3.8 V6 TB from the sn95 mustang, sable, and taurus bolts to the escort's 1.9cvh intake manifold exactly except for port matching which is just a bit of grinding).

SCT/speed limiter removal-
I've seen great things about them, but the only thing I'd be interested in is removing the top speed limiter.
Speaking of which, is it true the 1st gen LS Sports don't have one?
(I have a 2000 LS6 Sport with the manual 5-speed).
I'm assuming they do in 5th, like my Escort did (105mph in 5th from limiter, 115mph in 4th due to lack of power).

Ik this Lincoln will never handle better than my Escort did when I first got it (was bone stock with broken rear struts and swaybar links all around and my dad compared it to the '67 spitfire he once owned), but I'd like play on the advantages it does have-
It's power and speed, and make it handle best I can without being unable to park at my house.


Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[RigsLS]

this Lincoln will never handle better than my Escort did

False !!!

 

[RIOTKILL]

False !!!

I'll find out soon enough.

The offramp from I-95N onto Woodhaven (PA-63 IIRC) in NE Philly is a damn sharp left hander...almost always took it at 75+ in my Escort.

I wish I had a dollar for every sports car driver that passed me pre-turn at 90+ only for me to overtake, barely slowing down for the turn, then them doing a double take when they overtook me again on Woodhaven.

If I manage to duplicate that reaction in the LS with it stock, you'll be the first to know.

 

[cammerfe]

'Performance' is a relative thing. Acceleration with the stick and six in an LS is mostly a 'butt-O-meter' thing since there are small cars that'll run away and hide no matter what you do. Handling can, of course, be improved, but the weight of an LS will preclude having a really serious corner-carver.

A short-term AJ engine, with the necessary 'stuff' can be made to produce over a thousand horsepower. But one of the new Mustangs will be available with over 750 and at least a bit of warrantee. It's possible to put together an AJ V8, with a pair of turbos---by their nature a 'demand' application---and a 'spray' system that could give you four digits of power and be made to last. But that depends on how often you flip the switches and put your foot in the kitchen.

KS

 

[RIOTKILL]

'Performance' is a relative thing. Acceleration with the stick and six in an LS is mostly a 'butt-O-meter' thing since there are small cars that'll run away and hide no matter what you do. Handling can, of course, be improved, but the weight of an LS will preclude having a really serious corner-carver.

Having already floored it in 1st where I live, it's definitely a step up from the 2nd gen Escorts I'm used to, especially ones with the automatic. But I'm just looking for a tad more.

It's possible to put together an AJ V8, with a pair of turbos---by their nature a 'demand' application---and a 'spray' system that could give you four digits of power and be made to last. But that depends on how often you flip the switches and put your foot in the kitchen.

If I had the money for such a system, I'd have the V6 rebuilt to handle it. Sadly I don't. xD

Only looking for another 20-50hp from the engine, and a bit better traction and cornering ability.

To me, every little bit helps.

 

[1LoudLS]

honestly there isn't really anything your going to be able to do that doing to make it any faster with out big money or filling bottles every week.

air intake: will add great sound (and no annoying hwy speeds drone) but will not net you any power increase, often a CAI will just suck in hotter engine bay air instead of the colder air the stock intake box pulls from outside of the engine bay.

exhaust: will definitely add a lot of sound but may drone more than you would like at hwy speeds (totally dependent on exhaust of choice) and at best may add 2-5hp, nothing you're going to feel.

the only real option you may have is if somebody will tune the V6, you may be able to squeeze a few more HP out of it, but since you have a manual, you wont get the transmission improvements that make up most of the difference in feel that tuning gets you.


honestly, the biggest and most cost effective performance upgrade you could make would be to get a For Sale sign, sell it and get a V8. however there is no V8 manual trans option so you get a faster but less fun car, which was the biggest reason that I did not seek another LS when buying a new car this year.

 

[1LoudLS]

this Lincoln will never handle better than my Escort did

False !!!

the LS wouldn't be able to keep up with my Focus through the twistys (nor on open road either)

 

[RIOTKILL]

honestly there isn't really anything your going to be able to do that doing to make it any faster with out big money or filling bottles every week.

That's what I was told about my Escort, and simply uncorking the exhaust by taking the stock muffler off helped

air intake: will add great sound (and no annoying hwy speeds drone) but will not net you any power increase, often a CAI will just suck in hotter engine bay air instead of the colder air the stock intake box pulls from outside of the engine bay.

Assuming I incorrectly install a CAI, you're right, I'll lose power.
Thankfully Ik how to correctly do it.
If I was desperate, I could throw an air-to-air intercooler on and spray it with compressed co2 (have seen done)

exhaust: will definitely add a lot of sound but may drone more than you would like at hwy speeds (totally dependent on exhaust of choice) and at best may add 2-5hp, nothing you're going to feel.

As I said earlier-

To me, every little bit helps.

the only real option you may have is if somebody will tune the V6, you may be able to squeeze a few more HP out of it, but since you have a manual, you wont get the transmission improvements that make up most of the difference in feel that tuning gets you.

I got the manual because of 2 things-
1- I prefer to shift when I want, not when a computer tells me.
2- I'm not being robbed of torque by the torque converter.

And there's always the option of throwing in a 3.55 LSD, but then I'd lose top speed, sooo...

As far as computer tuning, that is an option I'm looking into.

honestly, the biggest and most cost effective performance upgrade you could make would be to get a For Sale sign, sell it and get a V8. however there is no V8 manual trans option so you get a faster but less fun car, which was the biggest reason that I did not seek another LS when buying a new car this year.

And sacrifice mileage + a little more weight + computer shifting...granted they make performance parts for the v8, but meh.

As I've said tho, every little bit helps. If I can notice the small increase in power from uncorking an Escort, pretty sure I'd notice it in something 1k pounds heavier with over twice the power.

 

[RigsLS]

Loan you two my 01 Sport V8 sitting on fresh lowered suspension with 19' plus fresh rubber, rides like on rails, see if you can find your Escorts and Focuses in the rear view. Thing so damn tight give go-karts a run for their money.

 

[RIOTKILL]

Loan you two my 01 Sport V8 sitting on fresh lowered suspension with 19' plus fresh rubber, rides like on rails, see if you can find your Escorts and Focuses in the rear view. Thing so damn tight give go-karts a run for their money.

If my Escort hadn't suffered from the dreaded valve seat failure, I'd take you up on that

 

[02LincLS]

Loan you two my 01 Sport V8 sitting on fresh lowered suspension with 19' plus fresh rubber, rides like on rails, see if you can find your Escorts and Focuses in the rear view. Thing so damn tight give go-karts a run for their money.

My kart can "bang a U-ey" in a 2 lane road at about 50 without slowing down but you gotta stiff arm it or you'll fly out haha. No rear suspension, and some stiff valve springs for front suspension to help keep the wheels on the ground. I love the LS, but its no race car (and neither is an escort).

Performance advice: Nitrous with controller, bottle heater, wideband O2, and get it tuned (gain of 100hp) for about $1500. For another 25 hp (maybe 50 if you're daring), upgrade the fuel pump and customize your fuel pump basket then bump up the shot size to 125. Everything else is a waste of $. Plus when the car breaks you can pull all the stuff off and reuse it or sell it since its not car specific.

Would you gain a little bit doing an exhaust at this power level? Yes, but not enough to justify the cost. Stock exhaust is more than ample for 250-280hp and still cuts the mustard at 375.

Lower it if you haven't already. Shameless plug: Buy my powerflex poly lower control arm bushings to reduce suspension slop. And buy the staggered Jag wheels while you're at it so you have traction. Follow it up with a t-loc conversion to get rid of 1 tire fires.

Upgrade to S Type R brakes.

 

[1LoudLS]

if you can find your Escorts and Focuses in the rear view.

you're going to need a whole lot more than that if you even want a chance of keeping up with the focus. lol

 

[1LoudLS]

simply uncorking the exhaust by taking the stock muffler off helped

don't forget, a lot has changed in car design since that. especially with increasing regulations and requirements the EPA has been pushing, efficiently is the name of the game, manufactured out how to make very quiet and extremely well flowing OEM systems. biggest benefit is losing a good chunk of weight ditching the huge heavy mufflers.

 

[cammerfe]

Ever since I've gotten my LS, I've been searching the forum for performance mods advice while I wait for my license to be returned (not due to breaking any laws actually, temp medical revocation).

Unfortunately, some of it is conflicting, and i also just have some general questions, so I'd like to just set it straight for myself.

So here goes-

Intake-
I was thinking of getting a 2nd airbox and cut the bottom out.
I had been looking for a CAI, but from what I've found, it's easier, cheaper, and nearly as effective to make one from a stock airbox.

Exhaust-
Already looking at a magnaflow system for the v6, since I'll be needing new cats at some point (216k miles)
What I'd like to know is what the interior noise and vibration is like, with magnaflow resonators and/or glasspacks.
I like the sound, especially if I can get it to sound like this-


But the noise is a concern as it would annoy my parents when they'd ride in it, especially the drone at highway speed (my mom especially hated my escort with just it's muffler swapped for a junkyard magnaflow one).
Would having a stock-style custom one made, only with a wider diameter pipe and x-pipe work?

Tires and suspension-
I'd like to keep the stock 17s, so which tires would you all recommend for them. Note I'd like to get a slightly smaller profile tire to both minimize sidewall deflection and lower ride height and that I might do speed runs at 130+ occasionally.
Unfortunately, where I live has ALOT of speed bumps, so I can't do any major suspension stuff, and from what I've read on here, any upgraded coilovers lower the car too much for the big one at the entrance to where I live.

Throttle body-
Is there any "bigbore" TB I can bolt on from another engine out of curiosity?
I was going to do this with my Escort, but never got to install the one I did get(3.8 V6 TB from the sn95 mustang, sable, and taurus bolts to the escort's 1.9cvh intake manifold exactly except for port matching which is just a bit of grinding).

SCT/speed limiter removal-
I've seen great things about them, but the only thing I'd be interested in is removing the top speed limiter.
Speaking of which, is it true the 1st gen LS Sports don't have one?
(I have a 2000 LS6 Sport with the manual 5-speed).
I'm assuming they do in 5th, like my Escort did (105mph in 5th from limiter, 115mph in 4th due to lack of power).

Ik this Lincoln will never handle better than my Escort did when I first got it (was bone stock with broken rear struts and swaybar links all around and my dad compared it to the '67 spitfire he once owned), but I'd like play on the advantages it does have-
It's power and speed, and make it handle best I can without being unable to park at my house.


Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[cammerfe]

Some years ago, I had the same sort of thought regarding the '54 Ford Customline that had just come into my possession. I planned dual exhaust, an improved ignition, and a 4-barrel carb to replace the 2-barrel that came from the factory. I started in a bit at a time.

By the time I was finished, I had a stick trans, and an overbored '57 312, with headers, a complete Mallory ignition, a factory set of dual four-barrels and a Paxton supercharger designed for racing in that there was no pressure limiter and the capacity to put out more than 15 pounds of boost. (My boost gauge only went to 15 pounds and it would readily peg the pointer.)

Since there were, by that time new cars that offered more than 425 horsepower, I parked the '54 and bought my first new car, a '64 Ford Custom with the dual-quad 427-T and a Top-Loader four speed.

Be aware of the possibility of ''Mission-Creep".

KS