Crown Vic buyer's guide

Around here, T56s from anything are worth their weight in gold. Cheapest I could find was $1200. Oi!

Kenny_McCormic wrote:

curtis73 wrote: T56 has been done pretty easily. Get one from a Mustang and make a crossmember. There will be tunnel hammering. From what I understand, suspension geometry isn't the greatest and hard to change without altering mount points, but I have no experience with it first hand.

Doing it on the cheap, will the M50D-R2 out of a 4.6 F150 fit with just hammering?

Not sure. Don't see why not. A variation was used in Mustangs for a while. Just be very careful which one you get. You could get a nice close-ratio 3.35 first gear, but some of the trucks had a wide-ratio with a 4.93 (?) first.

I very much like the M5OD... but it is a bit truck-ish. Even in the smaller cars, it shifts like a truck box.

T56s aren't cheap, but no reason to pay $1200. Yikes. I picked up one for $250 needing synchros for 2nd. There are so many millions of cheap 90s F-body cars out there you can buy the whole car for $1200, keep the tranny, and sell it as a roller for $1000

In reply to curtis73:

Given I've never actually had one, but when I think stick in a big car, I think I'd want a real wide spread (for creeping in traffic) and not mind it shifting a little rough. I'm reading most of the -R2s had a 3.91 first.

.. But I get it... t56 not the best idea for this. I just like them.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: In reply to curtis73: Given I've never actually had one, but when I think stick in a big car, I think I'd want a real wide spread (for creeping in traffic) and not mind it shifting a little rough. I'm reading most of the -R2s had a 3.91 first.

Agreed... I wouldn't mind a slightly wider spread, but just be careful not to get a granny gear. There is just a big difference between a wide ratio gearset that would be suitable for a car and a granny truck transmission, know what I mean?

I think of it differently when I'm putting a combo together. I look at overall final drive ratios. For instance, in my Impala SS with a 4L60E and 3.08 rear, in order to keep the same basic 1st and OD final drives, I need 4.10 rear gears with the T56. Its not that the T56 isn't wide enough or doesn't have a low enough first, its just the math of the combo.

And yes... -R2s to the best of my knowledge all had a 3.91 first, but they also jump to a 2.24 second. That is a huge jump in car terms and although it doesn't seem like a big deal, I think you will hate it. I would just hate for you to go to the trouble of swapping in a truck transmission only to find out it wasn't a good match for the car.

Ross413 wrote: I DD a 2004 p71 that I swapped a 5 speed into. It is great. I turn wrenches for a local municapilaty and was lucky enough to buy one I know very well. Find one that has had thorough services and you will be set. 2003+. Look for a p71 admin package car if you want nicer, I am not a fan personally. If you want a manual I have had great luck with the Tremec 3650 from a 01-04 Mustang GT. Cheap, easy swap. Tuning by SCT 4. Great mpg and a blast to drive. Depends where you are but ,I can let you know the ones we sell that are worth it. Thanks Ross

Thanks. I'm in North Florida. How about you?

His profile says: Kennett Square, PA USA

In reply to dyintorace:

South east PA... Seriously though. Get one that has has regular service and you will be good to go. We do oil at 2000 miles and I just did vakve cover gaskets on one with 140,000 and was blown away at how brand new,crazy clean they were. Trans service matters but get one with a blown trans for cheap as dirt then swap a manual in.

You guys are nuts with the t-56 stuff. Really, short of buying a car for the trans, I have never had access to o e for less than 1500... People think they are gold around here. I know the T-3650 is not the best, but I have had a blast with mine for about 8000 miles now with no hiccups. The swap was simple as hell and cheap also. Like WAY cheaper than any one part of a t-56...

The p71 will have 3.55 gears in it and that works well with the 3650 ratios. The stock crossmember will work with the 3650 mount with slight trimmong. Stock p71 driveshaft with the slip yolk from the 3650... Really easy stuff.

Ross

I know what you mean, I don't really consider anything less than 4 a granny gear though. I don't plan on owning one anytime soon, so don't worry too much, just a thought I had to avoid mustang tax or piecing together some franken-trans.

Though now you've got me thinking on it so the math had to be done, links to charts follow.

M5OD-R2, assuming a redline of 5000, puts you at ~2900 on the 1-2 upshift. Looks Ok on a ~2100 upshift cruising around

The often suggested TR-3650 mustang box that goes from 3.38 to 2.00, puts you around 3000 on the same 1-2 5000 rpm upshift, also not very ideal.

I'm not sure where a 4.6 2V starts to wake up, but I can't see the difference being THAT bad. The bigger concern is highway cruise RPM IMO, you''re going from .7 (auto) to .8, though you're still doing a good 90mph at 3000 rpm with the .8 5th. I doubt the highway economy hit would be that bad, the lack of automatic drag might even make up for it.

I average 21mpg with the 93 octane tune and fun driving mixed with highway. The best tank was the 87 tune all highway bit with a full car, 24. The thing is a tank, I am not complaining. I have done several auto x events with it and generally am not passive with it because it is a blast to drive.

One thing. Rear control arms... You will need to address that. I had fairly new Ford units in there when I did the swap... Less than 1000 miles and they were toast. Like bad crusty burnt toast.

You can, however, find 3650s for $300 in these parts.

My inner redneck is tingling, ive lusted over making a p71 a manual for years now..ive driven a few civilian panthers and can see the potential...and used cop cars are cheap, hmmm

brothers. A 4R70w with a J-mod fits this vehicle's personality perfectly. None of the good manual swaps are worth the cost.

After selling my 4.6, I had a 5.4 swapped into my P71 for a grand. Now THAT's money well spent.

ugh guys stop, i just decided to sell my Crown Vic.

Mark my words. When I get a garage imma get a blue p71 and put full stainless works on it from the headers back. Tint the windows and just hoon around town.

Gah, I need to stop reading these threads. I just bought a new Mazda6 last summer so the need for a DD/beater isn't necessary but I've always wanted a black P71 or better yet black and white one with the push bars and all and a Kenny Bell Supercharger on it.

OK, so the transmission ideas are pretty much done, and I think I remember another thread saying that any 2003+ Panther can use brake upgrades intended for a similar-year Mustang. Now: can somebody share, or point me to, specific/authoritative suspension advice?