Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance cougar to tour SVT

I blew my 2.5 cougar engine. So I ordered a used contour SVT engine off car-parts.com. I have some questions about the ECU. I was just going to take my ECU to a dealer and have them do their diagnostic thing and in the process change my cougar's software (see here), but I'm having problems trying to find a dealer that is willing to do that. I looked on car-parts for an ECU this time and one for an SVT is only $65. So, I'll probably just buy one of those. The only thing I can see that may be a problem is that my car doesn't have ABS or Traction control. It seems like SVT contours would come with those standard, right? Looks like they also come with only manuel transmissions, is that right? Would it be a problem putting an ECU in my car that has ABS and Traction? Would I get an engine light? or would that just be an unused part of the ECU? Can anyone think of any other available options or any other problems I might run into?
Thanks

I hate to post without solid facts (I like to keep quiet) but if it's possable I would back out of the buy and do some more research first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From what I know (please correct me) the blocks are almost the same. The extra power the SVT makes is more from breathing (air in /hot gas out) than a block issue. So it may not be worth the extra cost for the block, but the value is with the other components. So the block it's self will not provide much if any additional power!! it's all the other stuff bolted onto it.

I would get the 3.0L motor and swap it in. Because for a little more $$$ (depending on how handy you are) you can pick up another 20hp-+ and TQ+- with the 3L option.
FYI: the blocks are the same size.

I am guessing here.. but you may also have an issue if your getting a motor from a manual and placing it into your auto?? because of how the tranny bolts up the shaft or crank?? I know it's an issue (needs to get ground down) when going from the 3.0 auto to a MTX75 (contour and couger stick)

If your other parts are still good. Heads, UIM, LIM ex.. than it should be an easyish swap, if you just do the block.

But then again I would just go with a 3.0L

you may want to check out the cougar board and see what they have done. I know a couple guys/gals have done this!

But then again I would just go with a 3.0L

I know it is the exact same engine pretty much. The upper and lower intake manifolds are different and someone told me the valves are ported a little (don't know if that't true). Anyway Ive already decided to go with the SVT motor; I ordered it 3 days ago for $1,000 -- not too overpriced. I don't have time to research everything anymore than I already have. I need a working car in 2 months so I can go back to school. That's why I didn't go with the 3L. I've read many posts about different problems people have with the 3L swap. Plus I've heard it's not that reliable. I decided to go with the SVT motor because I was going to spend almost $1,000 on a used cougar motor anyway, so I figured why not go with the same engine that already comes with the upper and lower manifolds that I was already planning on purchasing anyway. The only thing I need to do now is buy a computer or get mine reprogrammed. Many dealerships have told me that it is not possible to get it reprogrammed to a different car, but Rylee44 on the cougar forums had his stock cougar ECU reprogrammed with the SVT software through a dealership. I didn't know that thing about grinding down the new engine to go from auto to stick, but if my theory that SVT engines only come in stick is correct then hopefully I won't have to worry about that. Do Contour SVT's only come manuel? My heads are warped and there are peices missing around the firing ring, so I won't be reusing those, but I ordered a whole motor with all the accessories and everything so I won't need to worry there either. Actually I was just going to take in the heads and have them machined, but after I got them off I found gashes in the pistons and around the firing rings on the heads. I took the heads in anyway and they told me they were unrepairable (cost efficiently anyway). The price of new heads from the dealer was $1500 total (one head was $500 and for some reason the other was twice as much) That's when I decided to just go with a used engine.

Now that I have everyone filled in, would anyone be able to answer my first post?


Thanks for the recommendation though woz, I do appreciate it.


Also, I called a junk yard for an SVT ecu and the guy asked me if the vin had one of two letters, I can't remember which letters, but I imagine all contour SVT's would have the same one right? I think one was a z and the other was a b?? Anyway, would anyone want to give me their VIN on a SVT contour? Or if you know which letter I need just give me that. Do all SVT contours have the same computer program?

Thanks everyone




On the very first post I meant to say that my car doesn't have ABS or Traction control. Also my car is a manuel transmission.

The letters you are looking for are "x" and "g" thats eith in the 8th or 9th number of the VIN for a SVT.

Also of all honesty, (please don;t get irrated for the repeat) you could have gotton the 3 liter block for the same price and purchesd used SVT parts and created a hybrid. But ....anyways..... Im not a engine swap genious so i will leave the exact specs to them.


Roz

From what I understand, all SVT Contours were manual cars featuring the MTX-75 which is the same tranny in the manual Cougar. From my personal experience, I know my car has ABS (found that out in the snow this year) but not traction control.

On a personal note, I wish Ford would have put a limited slip diff in these cars, but anyway, thats another story.

I really don't see why it would be that big of a deal to just swap the motor and get the ecu reporgrammed especailly if you have a mtx. Just my two cents though. Reading your post, you say you don't have ABS or traction control. The only issue I guess would be the ABS since the Tour does not have TracCntl. Does your dash have an ABS light even though it doesn't have ABS. If it did I guess that might come on.

Lets us know what happens, I am curious thats for sure.

-Matt

He has a Vortech Sc that he'll be strapping to it so the 3L won't work with out a lot of mods that he doesn't have time for, hence the SVT 2.5.

You can buy the $65 SVT ECU but PATS will be a issue, Better if you can get the SVT program intoyour current ECU which choudl be accomplished via a chip through keyser, plus you'll need a chip for the SC anyway so in actuality 1 chip will solve both problems.

You will still be running the SC right?

TC doens't have anything to do with the computer. I have Traction Control and a SVT ECU and it works fine on my 99 Cougar. I had the dealer program my keys for my SVT ECU for about $109. Car worked so much better with the SVT ECU. Or I guess TC could be programmed into both and just not be hooked up on the SVT Contour because it is crap anyway. Just get the SVT ECU and have the car brought to the dealer somehow and have them program the keys. I bet ABS won't matter either so don't worry about it. If you don't have the sensors for it or the ABS light then there shouldn't be a problem.

Yes I will be reusing my vortech kit on the SVT motor. What is PATS? Are you talking about the key thing? I forgot all about that chip or whatever that thing is in the keys. Maybe a new ECU wouldn't be such a good idea after all. I will be having my custom chip reprogrammed anyway, but I thought if I started with a contour SVT program in the ECU, that would make the over all tune closer to correct that way I would have a better chance of getting the first custom chip program right on target. That's why I was set on buying an SVT or reprogramming to the SVT. Maybe I will just send in the chip and hope for the best. Kinger, it was you that had your actual computer programmed rather than getting a chip, right? Did you just send in your ECU and they programmed that rather than making you a chip? Is there an advantage to having it done that way? The chip just takes over the tuning part of the ecu anyway, right? Looks like fordchip will be coming to Austin soon. Maybe I'll just wait till then and tow my car down with a uhaul or something. Or maybe if I hurry I can make the Odessa, TX tune.

Yeah they flashed my EEC and there isn't any advantage for us that I can see, in fact I wish they didn't so that if for ever reason I wanted to return to stock (a lot of work at this point) I could pull the chip and not worry about programming. I would leave the EEC and get a chip. FYI once you get a chip for the SC, it will overide the SVT EEC if you were to purchase one. See the EEC use a program contained on ROM and when the EEC sees there is a chip in the J3 port it uses that program and bypasses what's flashed into the EEC. If you were running NA I would say the SVT EEC is a good way to go, but since you need a chip anyway fordchip or keyser (reccomended) can start with a SVT program and add the vortech changes. Easy peasy man, he has lots of SC SVT's programs so you would have it fairly easy.

Also once its all done REMEMBER TO TAKE IT EASY UNTIL YOU GET TO A DYNO with the texas heat and non intercooled SC you could get into trouble, you'll have to stay out of 4 psi or higher boost and have keyser fatten up the top end to help control detonation. Hopefully we get a IC developed for SC here in the future then it would be fairly safe to run full out 8-9 psi in 100 degree heat.

3.0L not reliable? What is there to not be reliable about it? I mean I have my few little bugs that I need to work out of mine like the O2 sensor but that could happen on the 2.5L. Ive put over 3k miles on my 3.0L Hybrid and haven't had a single problem with it yet.