First time car owner. - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Wolfeyes88 · 05-15-2007, 19:55

Heres my story.

In about 1 week, I'll be the owner of an '89 Vic. I'll fid out more about it later when I actually have it. I do know for a fact it's a carburated engine. Every bit of info I've dug up about carburated 89 crown vic's shows that if it had a carb it was almost certainly a 5.8L windsor. So, my first question would be, is it realativly safe to bet that I've got a 351?

Secondly, but still on the same subject, the variable venturi carb. I've heard it called many things and none of them nice. Is it really that much of a nightmare?

Not that the second part really matters, my plan was to get a 4bbl anyway.

Thanks a carload.

larryo340 · 05-18-2007, 18:47

if it has a VV (variable venturi) carb is should be the 5.8L. They only used the 5.8L in these cars for Police or government cars I believe. They had to use a carb because FORD did not have a 5.8L fuel injection set up for a car only the trucks had them.
Yep the VV carbs are a nightmare, but when they are set up right they are fantastic

Wolfeyes88 · 05-20-2007, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryo340

...but when they are set up right they are fantastic

Yes but that's the trick isn't it

If gas prices get any higher I'm gonna have to figure out how to tune that VV carb. If gas was cheaper I would have SOOOO much fun building that engine out.

Nathan in MN · 05-25-2007, 16:25

Yeah, you've got a 351. Same as mine. Don't expect much performance-wise in stock form...lol

I've still got the VV on mine (not for too much longer) and it really runs pretty decent with it and gets decent mileage. Everyone talks about them as the worst carb in the history of the world, but what they really are is DIFFERENT, and that seems to scare people. I completely rebuilt mine (click on the Car Domain link in my sig if you're interested in seeing my writeup on it) and it went fine and ran great afterwards.

Also, if you haven't done so already, you should take a look at Grandmarq.net. They've got a lot more 5.0/5.8 tech than this place does (it's more 4.6 focused). My name there is the same as my name here, so tell 'em I sent ya! :)