96contourSE
CEG'er
SVT dies to save pre98 SE-build thread
Hi, I go by 96ContourSE on here. I have been here since 2003 officially. But was coming to CEG since 2000 when we first got the SE in this build thread. It has remained bone stock till just now.....
The SE has served me well over the last 10 years, I just checked and I have owned this Contour longer than any other car! That must mean something, right…I am still in the justifying fixing her up stage. I will soon have to get over that….and just be happy spending the money on a car that’s great!!
This Contour has been like a tank for my family. It’s been through a lot. Its even had the distinction of bringing home 2 of my daughters from the hospital after their birth, vacations and even a few accidents.
Although the SE has been fazed to a third car (back up) for us it still gets driven a lot. I guess I should just get to it…..
For starters, some history. We bought the Contour when it was 2 years old. Paid $10,000 and was happy doing so! I have always thought of it as my poor mans SVT!! We looked for months for a 96-97 black and tan SE with a MTX. Had to be black and tan and the MTX was a deal breaker! NO autos for me, and my wife wanted the 5 speed too. It was going to be her car!! Found the perfect SE in Columbus Ohio and bought it over the phone!! Then drove up to get it. Side note, it’s a Canadian spec car.
Here she was back in DEC 2000
SKIP FARWARD 4 years and the Contour is doing well, pulling family duty. And then one day, POW…..hit a deer. Well I guess the deer hit me. I was lucky that the deer jumped into the A pillar. That A pillar saved me from the deer coming in on me. The tour was not so lucky. The repair bill came to $3700. Of course the car was totaled. We just could not let it go and bought it back for $100. Get a new salvage title and an inspection and she was back on the road.
SKIP FARWARD to 1 week ago. I decided that I am sick of driving that Contour all banged up and find a parts car SVT. It’s in St. Louis, about 7 hours from my house.
And that’s were we pick up the pre98 SE build thread…..
YES, That's an SVT with a GL front bumper....This is how I found it!
Here is the 99 SVT parts car from her better side....
This is a sad day for sure for this SVT. All it really needed was a Clutch and shift coupler. And there was even a NEW LUK clutch in the trunk! But it was in far worse shape than even my poor 96SE. So I did think about saving it BUT came to the conclusion that it would be better to salvage the SVT and use the parts on my Pre98 SE. I need to call 1-800-FORD-SVT and get the SVT certificate or the # just to have it??
Now I know what you are thinking....."I would have kept the SVT...." But really the 96 was far better for a build. And I know the history as well. The picture of the SVT does look pretty good compared to my beat up old 96SE.
Planning list below. I will add to it as needed.
List updated 1/11/09
Pre98 exterior/interior
1. Install SVT body, rear bumper and side skirts
2. Repair/install Pre98 molded SVT front bumper
3. Install/paint SVT E1 rims and Goodyear tires possible painted black w/silver lip
4. Replace drivers side doors (2) with new hinges and Pre98 wiring
5. Replace drivers side fender
6. Replace rear inner fenders with SVT upgrade scooped out inners (no more rub)
7. Repair pre98 truck A. Running lights for license plate B. drill out bolts for plate
8. Repair trunk light and switch for light at trunk release (stuck ON!)
9. Replace 1996 antenna for SVT power antenna
10. Install Audi A6 side lights from SVT
11. Repair HVAC switch with new wires and switch
12. Install SVT gauge cluster
13. Mod the fog lights on with parking lights
14. Moon roof full replacement from SVT
15. Paint/die door panel 2 tone-black and prairie tan
16. Repair front drivers side electric seat track
17. Swap tilt wheel from SVT swap??
18. Clean up or wet side head lights
19. Tint all windows to match new glass from SVT
20. Replace left rear brake light
21. Find a dual cup holder for my 96 console
22. Replace broken truck lock
23. Clear front signal corner lights
Mechanical
1. SVT intake filter, Throttle body, Upper/lower intake manifolds
2. Look into using the SVT injectors and PCM??
3. SVT radiator
4. Repair power steering line leak at radiator
5. Replace low speed cooling fan
6. Repair Battery hold down
7. SVT exhaust w/resonator delete
8. Optimize y pipe and/or new y pipe
9. Replace O2 sensors
10. Replace broken SE springs with Eibach springs
11. Swap out SE struts for SVT
12. Install SVT front brakes
13. Swap out SE rear calipers for SVT calipers with upgraded emergence hand brake cables
14. Replace dash bezel (broken vent) with early 98
15. Relocate battery to rear
16. Rear sway bar mounting bolt rusted off…Fix
17. Replace all sway bar end links
18. Ford racing wires RED
Louie
Hi, I go by 96ContourSE on here. I have been here since 2003 officially. But was coming to CEG since 2000 when we first got the SE in this build thread. It has remained bone stock till just now.....
The SE has served me well over the last 10 years, I just checked and I have owned this Contour longer than any other car! That must mean something, right…I am still in the justifying fixing her up stage. I will soon have to get over that….and just be happy spending the money on a car that’s great!!
This Contour has been like a tank for my family. It’s been through a lot. Its even had the distinction of bringing home 2 of my daughters from the hospital after their birth, vacations and even a few accidents.
Although the SE has been fazed to a third car (back up) for us it still gets driven a lot. I guess I should just get to it…..
For starters, some history. We bought the Contour when it was 2 years old. Paid $10,000 and was happy doing so! I have always thought of it as my poor mans SVT!! We looked for months for a 96-97 black and tan SE with a MTX. Had to be black and tan and the MTX was a deal breaker! NO autos for me, and my wife wanted the 5 speed too. It was going to be her car!! Found the perfect SE in Columbus Ohio and bought it over the phone!! Then drove up to get it. Side note, it’s a Canadian spec car.
Here she was back in DEC 2000
SKIP FARWARD 4 years and the Contour is doing well, pulling family duty. And then one day, POW…..hit a deer. Well I guess the deer hit me. I was lucky that the deer jumped into the A pillar. That A pillar saved me from the deer coming in on me. The tour was not so lucky. The repair bill came to $3700. Of course the car was totaled. We just could not let it go and bought it back for $100. Get a new salvage title and an inspection and she was back on the road.
SKIP FARWARD to 1 week ago. I decided that I am sick of driving that Contour all banged up and find a parts car SVT. It’s in St. Louis, about 7 hours from my house.
And that’s were we pick up the pre98 SE build thread…..
YES, That's an SVT with a GL front bumper....This is how I found it!
Here is the 99 SVT parts car from her better side....
This is a sad day for sure for this SVT. All it really needed was a Clutch and shift coupler. And there was even a NEW LUK clutch in the trunk! But it was in far worse shape than even my poor 96SE. So I did think about saving it BUT came to the conclusion that it would be better to salvage the SVT and use the parts on my Pre98 SE. I need to call 1-800-FORD-SVT and get the SVT certificate or the # just to have it??
Now I know what you are thinking....."I would have kept the SVT...." But really the 96 was far better for a build. And I know the history as well. The picture of the SVT does look pretty good compared to my beat up old 96SE.
Planning list below. I will add to it as needed.
List updated 1/11/09
Pre98 exterior/interior
1. Install SVT body, rear bumper and side skirts
2. Repair/install Pre98 molded SVT front bumper
3. Install/paint SVT E1 rims and Goodyear tires possible painted black w/silver lip
4. Replace drivers side doors (2) with new hinges and Pre98 wiring
5. Replace drivers side fender
6. Replace rear inner fenders with SVT upgrade scooped out inners (no more rub)
7. Repair pre98 truck A. Running lights for license plate B. drill out bolts for plate
8. Repair trunk light and switch for light at trunk release (stuck ON!)
9. Replace 1996 antenna for SVT power antenna
10. Install Audi A6 side lights from SVT
11. Repair HVAC switch with new wires and switch
12. Install SVT gauge cluster
13. Mod the fog lights on with parking lights
14. Moon roof full replacement from SVT
15. Paint/die door panel 2 tone-black and prairie tan
16. Repair front drivers side electric seat track
17. Swap tilt wheel from SVT swap??
18. Clean up or wet side head lights
19. Tint all windows to match new glass from SVT
20. Replace left rear brake light
21. Find a dual cup holder for my 96 console
22. Replace broken truck lock
23. Clear front signal corner lights
Mechanical
1. SVT intake filter, Throttle body, Upper/lower intake manifolds
2. Look into using the SVT injectors and PCM??
3. SVT radiator
4. Repair power steering line leak at radiator
5. Replace low speed cooling fan
6. Repair Battery hold down
7. SVT exhaust w/resonator delete
8. Optimize y pipe and/or new y pipe
9. Replace O2 sensors
10. Replace broken SE springs with Eibach springs
11. Swap out SE struts for SVT
12. Install SVT front brakes
13. Swap out SE rear calipers for SVT calipers with upgraded emergence hand brake cables
14. Replace dash bezel (broken vent) with early 98
15. Relocate battery to rear
16. Rear sway bar mounting bolt rusted off…Fix
17. Replace all sway bar end links
18. Ford racing wires RED
Louie