I’m brand new to the site and was just wondering, I bought a 1982 ford Ltd wagon which we’ve completely redone top to bottom but now I was wondering what kind of performance modifications we could do the motor that’s in it is a 4.2L v8 wisidor, I don’t have a budget so I’m looking for the best any info will help

 

4.2L (255 cid) is the anemic V8 that FoMoCo installed in some 1980/82 Passenger Cars. Its "get up and go" got up and went.

LTD name changed to Crown Victoria in 1983.

 

Probably has a 2 bbl carb and a tiny restrictive single exhaust. Get more through put by opening up the air filter and adding an up-sized dual exhaust with some cherry bomb glass packs. Maybe look for a an upgrade on the carb too? There may be some smog stuff you can eliminate. Some early v-8's in the GM line had exhaust manifold pumps to add back pressure...not sure if Ford did that to their sedans. It was common to remove those and plug the manifold holes to add some hp.

Even with the two barrel if you can un-restrict the air intake (some cars you can flip the air filter top) and open up the exhaust you will probably get some more power. Let it breathe...Besides you can have fun driving a brrrrrap mobile with the glass packs or other minimal exhaust. These mods are pretty cheap...cheap thrills!

 

Unfortunately there nothing you can do with a 255 with the stock bits..
The 255 used unique heads and intake. Neither of which had ANY hope of supporting any more than the 125ish hp these engines came with. There is NO after market support for the 255 in terms of performance bits either.
If the bottom end is fine the only hope would be to source a set of early small valve 289 heads swap the cam and install a 4bbl intake with a 480/500 CFM carb. Otherwise don't even waste your time there are no gains to be had...
The 255 was an interim engine till the 3.8L V6 was ready for production and ranks right up there with the 351M as some of the worst OHV V8's Ford made.
The best solution is to just pull it and install a 302 or 351W... In the rather heavy panthers the 351W is the best solution.

 

The 3.8L V6 was introduced in 1982 Passenger Cars, it was also installed in 1982/83 F100's.

This was the worst turd of an engine foisted on mankind by FoMoCo. Parts and service guys called it the "miracle" engine.

If the valve covers didn't seep before 20,000 miles, if the timing cover didn't rust out before 30,000 miles, if the head gaskets didn't blow before 40,0000 miles, it was a miracle!