OK - I got bit by the modular intake ... I knew about the issue, I had the intake replaced on my '96 t-bird 4.6L after 5 years, when it started leaking around the coolant sensor. Found Ford's "program" to fix it up to 7 years/unlimited mileage, at the time, and got it replaced for free.

Well, the wife's Cougar turned 8 years old back in April 2005, so I doubt I've got any quick fixes for this.

What are my options besides buying an updated intake from Ford?

Can I put a PI intake on it? I've heard of people doing this, but have not researched this in a long time, and I hate to visit the SCCOA or TCCOA web sites - too much chatter, most of it mind-numbing.

And, I don't think I can get a set of heads past the wife She's too smart for that.

Thanks in advance for any info!

art k.

 

i'm not 100% sure about putting the power improved intake on but i dont think it would work due to the diff. port shapes.ford has dropped the price on the kits,and a after market company called Dorman makes a kit that is a little cheaper.i have installed many of both.i prefer the ford kits.the Dorman kit has the geskets molded into the intake .either way good luck,and sorry about the bad luck.

 

Yup, ebay has them for $199 and up, aftermarket.

I found one at the local Napa for $281 (bought it!) w/12month warranty.

Ford wanted $491.95!!! Sounded like the exact same kit.

Sheesh. So, Merry Christmas to me, I'll be changing the intake on the wife's car next week

The PI intake needs an adapter or something to get it to work with the NPI heads, and some other mods that I didn't like (like modifying the water tube under the intake for the PI intake, and I have climate control, so that tube has to be a modified original or a bung welded on for the sensor for the climate control).
art k.

 

What kind of heads does it have on it just a question. I had 95 with some really eat heads on it just wondering.

 

My '97 has standard non-PI heads, if that's what you're asking

 

Have you ever been told of a stock 4.6 with hemi heads. My cougar is an xr7 and the dealer told me when I went to get it tuned up this was a few years ago now that it had stock hemi heads. They told me that it was a factory option have you ever been told this. Mine is a 95

 

Sounds like a huge load of BS.

The only motors put in the t-bird/cougar from '89 up to '97 were:

1) 3.8 V6 naturally aspirated
2) 3.8 V6 Supercharged (T-bird SC and early years Cougar XR7)
3) 5.0 V8
4) 4.6 V8 (2-valve)

Never heard of a Ford motor with "hemi" heads. They could be talking about the 4-valve DOHC 4.6L but that was NEVER an option.

The Lincoln Mark VIII which is the same platform as the '89-'97 t-bird/cougar (MN12) has the DOHC 4-valve 4.6L, and it can be retro-fitted into the t-bird/cougar, but that's definitely NOT stock.

And I do know my MN12's

 

I am sure that it has hemi heads as I have removed the heads my self. Can anyone tell me where they came from as they have ford part numbers on them. I don't have the numbers right in front of me but I had to take the heads off the put the quad platnum plugs in. Have any ideas

 

I trust you I am just trying to figure out what is going on with my car and I have never come across anyone that knew much about them.

 

I don't quite understand. You don't need to remove the heads to put in spark plugs.

Do you mean the spark plugs go into the top of the head, sorta like they would in a hemi?

 

You should go to www.tccoa.com

 

Yes the plugs go through the heads trust me it has hemi heads. I just can't figure out where they came from and why the have for factory part numbers.

 

I was just thinking about this I remeber that when I called my local dealer they wouldn't work out unless I agreed to the $80.00 an hour labor cost insted of the 60. I called all around and no one would work on it so I ened up doing the job myself and have yet to have a problem except for the trani. I also had to have that worked on and they told me that it had the same trani as the crown vic is that normal or not remeber I bough this car used.

 

There are no "hemi" heads from Ford. The OHC (overhead cam) design is why the plugs go through the top of the heads. They are not "hemi" heads

The crown vic uses the same engine and tranny, but the CV (in '95/96/97) put out slightly less power because of the exhaust system.

Can you post some pictures of the heads or at least the valve covers? That will tell us something.

 

I will try to get some pics from it I have it in storage for the winter but the next time I am down to check on it I will try to remember to take the camera. The engine and trani may have been swaped but I don't know for sure. The numbers don't match the dealer told me that a while ago. Thanks again