Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods 4cyl auto to an svt conversion

I have a 90 stang 4cyl I might trade for a contour. If i can only find a 4cyl auto(worst case) how can i change it over to an svt quality import killer? If i find a v-6 auto can i change it to a standard shift? how hard is this? is it worth it? i was going to turbo charge my stang but i got 2 kids and a wife so i need more room. Please HELP! I dont want to sacrifice my hunger for performance or fords. i have nitrous in my veins and it would just kill me to drive a mini-van. post it here and e-mail me. also what years am I confined to?? djd8556@yahoo.com

Converting a 4 cyclinder Contour to a SVT Contour is going to be more work and more money than you'd want to spend. A better idea would be to talk with Terry Haines about his turbo kit. He offers two different stages, stage two puts out 300hp. Check out the "Forced Induction" forum and look for the thread that has more info about it.

Get a four cylinder contour w/5-spd. slap a turbo on that sucker and you would run with, maybe outrun SVT's. The ultimate sleeper. That would eliminate the hassle of swapping in the V-6.

Maybe outrun SVTs!? Maybe someday.

Umm 300hp and 400lbs lighter...a turbo Zetec would kill an SVT!

Depends on a few things:
1. Do you actually want to convert the car to an SVT(or as close as possible)?
2. Or are you just talking about swapping the engine/tranny(and accessories)for the increase in power?
3. Or maybe somewhere in between? Engine/tranny and exterior parts?

Some options will cost a lot more than others, obviously, and that will give us a better idea of what you want.

Regardless, for the cost of even a basic engine/tranny swap you could buy/install an HMS turbo on that Zetec(4cyl) and have equivalent performance.

Edit: One more thing, for years, SVTs were only produced in 98, 99, 00. There was a 98.5 model year Contour(and SVT)in which some things changed on the cars and there have been discrepencies about what actually changed. You're best bet would be to look at 99 and 00 SVTs so you wouldn't have to worry about these 'discrepencies'. HTH.

This sounds like a nightmare. The supercharger route sounds pretty tempting though! I might have to trade in my beloved SE for a 4 banger and SC that sucker!

"Here's the deal meatball.." I heard that somewhere!?!?!? Oh yeah 'Romeo Must Die'. Any way well I just want to upgrade the performance. Another thing also...what years can i find this everso popular zetec or are they all zetecs? Will all the focus stuff fit? Where the heck is the aftermarket cosmetics for the contour??? U know hoods wings body kits? I especially want a new hood for the intercooler if i go through with this. I might keep the stang for obvious reasons. REASONS=some guy got almost 400 horses{390hp @ the wheels &407ft. lbs of torque w iron head!!} out of the heavy 2.3 in a merkur?!?!?!{musclemustangfastfords issue Aug. 2001pgs 262-263-264 and 266.} also there are lots of aftermarket goodies for my stang inside and out!!! including euro tail lights!! next no import driver would suspect that i only got 4 cylinder under the hood!!it's the factor.Unless y'all can convince me other wise--watch out for the stang!!!!P.S. I own it free and clear so no repo man!!!!

For the exterior, the really isn't any aftermarket at all. You can get the SVT kit or this other body kit that looks similar from Razzi. I don't know about any aftermarket hoods for the Contour. Every once in awhile people will start talking about having a carbon fiber hood made, but I don't think anything has ever happened. I could be wrong though.

As for the Zetec engine. If its a Contour with a 4cyl engine, then its a Zetec. Just make sure you get a 5spd if you are going to get the turbo. Have Terry beef up the transmission and throw the turbo on your car. Put on some sticky tires and don't worry about the looks of the car. After all, you are looking to shock everyone, right?

**attention** i got an update on the turbo 2.3 mustang thing!! some guy is running 9's in a pinto with the same motor!! another guy got more than 400 horses out of it, mostly with stock svo parts!!. How much can i get from a zetec??? If i can get at least 300+ i will go ahead with project zetour.by the way..does any one know how to check private messages???