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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725
Veteran CEG\'er
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OP
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725 |
I�m not planning a 3L conversion but it has been intriguing me the amount of gains people are getting from an engine that is only rated 200/193 hp/lbs.
I noticed that there are a handful of 3L tours in Eastern Canada and I would like to hear from those folks about their experiences.
How many people have completed a 3L install, and what were the biggest problems they faced?
Anyone having/had reliability issues?
Ease of finding parts such as gaskets, bearings, bolts�
Did the 3L conversion live up to your expectations?
was it worth the $$$ vs gains compared to other mods?
Those that went from regular tours to 3L without the SVT heads and cams, was it still worth it?
95 SE MTX
DH UIM, 65mm TB, SC CAI, Quaife, Centerforce, Fidanza, UR Pulley, F/R Strut Braces, Cross Drilled Rotors, S.S. Brake Hoses, 18" Enkei RS5, SVT Engine Mounts+Inserts, MSDS & y-pipe, Trubendz resonated exhaust & MagnaFlow cat
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725
Veteran CEG\'er
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OP
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725 |
I�ve done most of the performance bolt-on mods and I�m not satisfied with how far I got vs. money spent considering 3L conversions.
Maybe that why I�m always interested in the 3L but I�ll never spend that kind of money NOW. I�m married, got a kid, and need a different vehicle at home suited more for a family with more room, rated highly for safety, and automatic for the wife so she can drive.
You see before I found out about this site and the 3L conversions I did two 2.5L engine swaps on my car and to this day I kick my self in the azz for not finding out sooner.
Even when I get another vehicle the Tour will stay, but other than suspension upgrade (badly needed) and paint I�m done modding. Always wishing I�ve done a 3L when the old 2.5L threw a rod and the rebuild spun a bearing.
missed on 2 opportunities.
95 SE MTX
DH UIM, 65mm TB, SC CAI, Quaife, Centerforce, Fidanza, UR Pulley, F/R Strut Braces, Cross Drilled Rotors, S.S. Brake Hoses, 18" Enkei RS5, SVT Engine Mounts+Inserts, MSDS & y-pipe, Trubendz resonated exhaust & MagnaFlow cat
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,210
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,210 |
I love my 3L  I was expecting a bit more power but I am pretty happy the way it turned out with my current setup... (04 Escape, SVT cams, taurus intakes, modded fuel rail, msds headers, adc chip, 2 inch gutted cat pipe  , modded svt exhaust, stock accordian tube) This year with a couple of more refinements I am hoping to hit high 13's The swap was pretty straight forward nothing too diffucult... I replaced most bolts/parts and powdercoated most of the parts in the engine bay while I was at it including the subframce I don't think that you would run into any problems since you already swapped your 2.5 2 times The only thing would be the fuel rail which is tricky if you are doing a full 3L swap
3.0 14.392@97.237 2.302 60ft
OEM 4-bolt LCA's $105 each
Watch me go
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 375
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 375 |
I agree with Nima here. The 3L conversion can be made as simple or as complex as your budget allows. From an almost straight drop in (full oval port) to highly modded (varing degrees of hybrid) The most difficult is the fuel rail. If you go full oval port you need to modify your injector harness and fabricate the rail with parts from both the 3L rail and 2.5. Your next challange is tuning. Many have had good luck with mail order chips from ADC. I am one of those who have not. So keep this in mind as well. My recomendation would be to find a good tuner with at least mustang experience and is familier with ford ecu programming. Otherwise, egr mod simple, cutting off of ears n bushings also simple, custom intake. Everything else is a straight swap. Too bad to hear you're not going through with it. When I first finished, I thought it was less than what i was expecting, but it is deceiving. The car is QUICK with a 3L. I love it! It's even more fun if ya got a buddy who just spent close to 30K on a Cobalt SS, or other similier car and you're door to door with him all the way up to.. um... as far as the local laws will allow you to go. . (with a tune i'm positive i'll smoke him) The 3L conversion is THE BEST bang for the buck mod available for the contour, period.
96 LX 3.0L MTX - Black/Tan
K&N; 12lb F/W & uprated clutch
2.5" Pipe; SVT bits; Mystery Mod; Pull-tie Mod;
UN-tuned Mod; 3rd Gear Synro-Crunch Mod
280K on the Shell, and 40ish on the Motor... 1/4 mile??
Yeah, it's a fun daily driver...
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725
Veteran CEG\'er
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OP
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725 |
what amazes me is how you can you gain the 30-40hp in a full 3.0L swap over the same engine in the Escape without pumping up the compression like the hybrids do.
so how many kms you guys have on your setups?
95 SE MTX
DH UIM, 65mm TB, SC CAI, Quaife, Centerforce, Fidanza, UR Pulley, F/R Strut Braces, Cross Drilled Rotors, S.S. Brake Hoses, 18" Enkei RS5, SVT Engine Mounts+Inserts, MSDS & y-pipe, Trubendz resonated exhaust & MagnaFlow cat
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,210
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,210 |
I've got 10k on my car upto now...
3.0 14.392@97.237 2.302 60ft
OEM 4-bolt LCA's $105 each
Watch me go
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 375
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 375 |
I drive mine back and forth from Grimsby to Toronto daily. 220KM round trip.
I have in excess of 25000K's on my 3L... NO problems.
The only recommendataion at i think ya gotta have is exhaust. I noticed a huge improvement swaping out the stock setup with a modified y pipe and 2.5 inch piping. This may be where many of the gains come from. I know that the exhaust manifolds alone are far superior for the contour as the taurus ones I removed from my 3L.
Last edited by touredon; 03/17/06 08:29 PM.
96 LX 3.0L MTX - Black/Tan
K&N; 12lb F/W & uprated clutch
2.5" Pipe; SVT bits; Mystery Mod; Pull-tie Mod;
UN-tuned Mod; 3rd Gear Synro-Crunch Mod
280K on the Shell, and 40ish on the Motor... 1/4 mile??
Yeah, it's a fun daily driver...
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,399
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,399 |
Here's a key question: anyone run into any issues with the e-test?
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,974
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,974 |
Originally posted by Phil Rohtla:
Here's a key question: anyone run into any issues with the e-test?
I don't see how you would. A new engine will burn alot cleaner then an older engine, so I would imagine that the technician doing hte e-test will be quiet amazed at how clean the "old" contour burns .
Aaron
AKA NVS SVT
98.5 Silver/Blue SVT#4553
Yeah it's modded
98 T-Red/Blue SVT Contour Totaled 06/05/06
03 3L,VCN 2000,CAT Cams,MSDS Headers w/Y-Pipe,XCal2 and lots more
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,168
I am Canuckian
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I am Canuckian
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,168 |
Originally posted by NVS SVT:
Originally posted by Phil Rohtla:
Here's a key question: anyone run into any issues with the e-test?
I don't see how you would. A new engine will burn alot cleaner then an older engine, so I would imagine that the technician doing hte e-test will be quiet amazed at how clean the "old" contour burns .
Aaron
A new engine yes. A engine of larger displacement is in my understanding going to give up possibley more emmisions then a smaller displacement one. That assumed it would have to run very well so as to not blow over. I think that is why Phil is asking. 
Green 96 mystique gs 4cyl mtx
16.9 in the 1/4 mile @102500 miles
95SE in Midnight Red MTX
MSDS headers and y-pipe
SVT exhaust
SVT UIM
Optimized se TB.
Full pre 98 SVT body kit
15.741 @ 87.73mph :)
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