3000 torque convertor or SW Long tubes, NEXT MOD?

[MarauderMatt200]

so ive saved up some money and itching for my next mod. Im looking at buying SW Long tubes with no cat lead pipe + built H-pipe ($1450 + labor) Or PI 3000 Stall convertor ($1300 installed) or 2 1/2 inch Cowl hood and while that's being painted have front clip painted as well ($1400 painted and installed)

My car currently has 4.10 gears, rear cat delete, flowmasters, Mo's Tune, and CAI...im torn between my next mod because all these other mods moving forward are pricey as ive knocked out some of the cheaper mods. I just want to make the right decision because it may be awhile before having money for another mod.

I appreciate any and everyone of yalls opinions! Out of those 3 mods what has made you the happiest? Whats yalls opinion on each one. Thanks for your time!!

[Ourobos]

I'd go with the exhaust. I had planned on going with a converter when I upgraded my blower, but I've decided to stay with the stock one for good, or until it bites the bullet. I'd go with hood / paint next. Just me.

[MarauderMatt200]

what made you not want a convertor?

[Ourobos]

Well, I've had several mustangs, and I am a big believer in a converter in those. Even on a mild street car, I like around a 3500 stall. Totally different animals. With these cars, especially with a positive displacement blower, I don't see it being much benefit. If I were drag racing, maybe. But for a street car I plan to run at 80mph and sees most duty from stop light to stop light, I'd rather keep the heat down. Wonderful things can be done with the 4r70w with a proper trans tune, a good cooler, and even a J-mod.

[chief455]

I'd do the convertor.
You will feel the thrill every time you drive.
Headers will yield more power - only if Marty retunes for them.
If you are just wanting 'fun' mods that make driving an already fast car more fun, 3000 or 3500 stall convertor.
Marty can tweak your shift schedule - if you need it - after the swap.

Ourobos - light to light or freeway driving - the convertor raise my trans temp zero - none. After ~8k, still has pink, new fluid, with no external cooler added.

If anything, on a do over, I might skip the headers! Pleanty of guys withing 10-15rwhp of mine using stock manifolds.
Zero labor issues on repair work with stock manifolds = O2 sensors, gaskets, working area, etc.
I'd never feel 15rwhp on the street, but I sure feel my 3500 stall hit the tires from a 30mph roll :)

[Red Rum]

I got Kooks 1 5/8 to 2 1/2 collectors long tubes. kooks X-pipe with high flow cats and Borla Pro-XS mufflers. And did mt 2 1/2 tail pipes custom made. And put back the stock 3 1/2 tail pipes. Then I got a Marty 93 octane tune for my SCT TUNER. Car sounds and runs awesome. And I totally fell in love again with my Mercury Marauder. Also got a Accufab twin blade Throttle body. And a JLT Cold air kit. And I am happy. Kooks are the ish for me. I am not a fan of SW headers and on and on. So if i were you. I would get a Kooks or SW set up. Being you got the 4.10 gears already. And take it from there.

[chief455]

I got Kooks 1 5/8 to 2 1/2 collectors long tubes. kooks X-pipe with high flow cats and Borla Pro-XS mufflers. And did mt 2 1/2 tail pipes custom made. And put back the stock 3 1/2 tail pipes. Then I got a Marty 93 octane tune for my SCT TUNER. Car sounds and runs awesome. And I totally fell in love again with my Mercury Marauder. Also got a Accufab twin blade Throttle body. And a JLT Cold air kit. And I am happy. Kooks are the ish for me. I am not a fan of SW headers and on and on.

So his next mod should be :confused:

Matt - you have a super sweet ride.
Can you get in a Marauder with a stall convertor to feel how it drives?
You'll get out wanting one.

[Bradley G]

If you want more push, get the converter .

Don't be afraid of the stall number, I went 3600-3800 Circle D converter stage III,(with 416/RWHP)
On my tuners recommendation.
IMHO, the only better performance mod is forced induction.
I've never seen anybody post a higher trap speed than Trilogy #93 @ the same power level it was at.

[lji372]

keep saving and eaton swap

converter and headers will not equal a blower, not to mention with a blower you won't need the converter. just my 2 cents :burnout:

[JimP]

3,000 stall PI converter here. Car feels 1,000 lbs lighter, Trans temp never above 180-190. Streetability is great. That's where I'd put my money.

[Ourobos]

Chief and JimP - My stock converter has a trans tune and I love it.. I had formed my opinion from several thread I read on here about the stock converter being perfect with the Eaton. Any opinions on that? Interested (not to jack his thread BTW).

[fastblackmerc]

The stock converter is 2400 or 2800 so a 3000 isn't much of an improvement. I did a 3600 from PI and I love it.

[MarauderMatt200]

Some great info. I forgot to add that my car is my daily driver i put about 12-15K miles on it a year. So far no one has said yes to the aftermarket hood lol

[MarauderMatt200]

The stock converter is 2400 or 2800 so a 3000 isn't much of an improvement. I did a 3600 from PI and I love it.

stock Convertor is that high? wow had no idea i thought Stock Conv. were around 1400-1600?

[MarauderMatt200]

So his next mod should be :confused:

Matt - you have a super sweet ride.
Can you get in a Marauder with a stall convertor to feel how it drives?
You'll get out wanting one.

I wish, but being stuck down here in South Texas not many people with a moddded Marauder close by

[chief455]

Chief and JimP - My stock converter has a trans tune and I love it.. I had formed my opinion from several thread I read on here about the stock converter being perfect with the Eaton. Any opinions on that? Interested (not to jack his thread BTW).

your question is thread related ;)
Convertors are somewhat subjective = one guy loves 3500 stall on the street, another guy wants it stock. Personal preference.
Matt does not show an Eaton as being on his car now - so, with ~$1200 in mod money, a stall would be my choice.
As several have posted - the 3000-3500 stall doesn't suck in an Eaton car either.
Now, is your stall convertor in Marauder statement still opinion from reading, or did you install one/not, and speak from experience in the combination?
If you haven't driven a high stall in a Marauder yet - don't believe everything you read that 'stock is best'. Stock works fine, but high stall is like a power kick in the pants, helps smooth shifting while daily driving, and hurts nothing, in my experience.
I am very biased to stall convertors - been using them for 35 years.
People should feel one to form their own conclusion - including buying it for their own car.
If you don't like it, remove and sell.
I doubt that will happen ;)

[Bradley G]

That's 'cause they are a pain in the arse!
Besides I'd rather play the part than look...

Some great info. I forgot to add that my car is my daily driver i put about 12-15K miles on it a year. So far no one has said yes to the aftermarket hood lol

[chief455]

Take a look at the driving video in post #17, page 2 of this thread. Car has 3000 stall I beileve, and 4.30 gears.
http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=99368&page=2

[Bradley G]

your question is thread related ;)
Convertors are somewhat subjective = one guy loves 3500 stall on the street, another guy wants it stock. Personal preference.
att does not show an Eaton as being on his car now - so, with ~$100 in mod money, a stall would be my choice.
As several have posted - the 3000-3500 stall doesn't suck in an Eaton car either.
Now, is your stall convertor in Marauder statement still opinion from reading, or did you install one/not, and speak from experience in the combination?
If you haven't driven a high stall in a Marauder yet - don't believe everything you read that 'stock is best'. Stock works fine, but high stall is like a power kick in the pants, helps smooth shifting while daily driving, and hurts nothing, in my experience.
I am very biased to stall convertors - been using them for 35 years.
People should feel one to form their own conclusion - including buying it for their own car.
If you don't like it, remove and sell.
I doubt that will happen ;)
Interesting perspective, May I add, I did have a PI 3500 in the Marauder both N/A and with the Trilogy.
I did remove it and went back to the same stock converter.
Just like you said "everyone wants it their own way, and my choice may differ from yours.
I felt OK about having it in when the car was N/A but with 4:10's and a Trilogy it felt awkward .
It would be out of the power band too soon and bog down .
In all fairness to the PI, the car was never tuned for the looser converter, where as when I went to the Circle D 36-3800 triple plate ,Lonnie Doll of BOC spent hours with me , street tuning the car .
Besides the fact He helped me pullied down to 2.8" and 15# of boost.
For the record! He advised me against this , stating, "You know this is not a Matter of if!"

[chief455]

Interesting perspective, May I add, I did have a PI 3500 in the Marauder both N/A and with the Trilogy.
I did remove it and went back to the same stock converter.
Just like you said "everyone wants it their own way, and my choice may differ from yours.
I felt OK about having it in when the car was N/A but with 4:10's and a Trilogy it felt awkward .
It would be out of the power band too soon and bog down .
In all fairness to the PI, the car was never tuned for the looser converter, where as when I went to the Circle D 36-3800 triple plate ,Lonnie Doll of BOC spent hours with me , street tuning the car .
Besides the fact He helped me pullied down to 2.8" and 15# of boost.
For the record! He advised me against this , stating, "You know this is not a Matter of if!"
tuning any combination is key.
if Matt is still n/a, he'll love a stall convertor.
I, personally, fail to feel any loss in power with my Eaton/stall combo. It seems to flash right INTO the power band, and pull right to redline shifts.

I have the same shift tuning in my /a car with stock convertor, and that is tons of fun as well.
If he puts a stall in, the tuning of trans may be just fine. If not, Marty can make tweaks to the shifting based on the actual driving feedback provided by Matt.
We email tuned my shifting a few times until I was 100 percent happy. This is after Marty dyno/street tuned it during the build.
Each driver may like things differently, but you have to try it, not read about it ;)

[chief455]

keep saving and eaton swap

converter and headers will not equal a blower, not to mention with a blower you won't need the converter. just my 2 cents :burnout:

this is true.
I did save, and did blower, stall and headers at once.
the blower added ~35% more power to the rear wheels. The headers helped a little, but that was the best time to do them. The stall isn't needed with roots blower, but fun as hell.

If no blower is in your near future - for dollars and labor, I always chose stall.

I've beat this horse to death - good luck Matt!

[Invective]

Interesting thread and a good read. Big Marauder fan but still don't own one - yet. Been on medical leave since October - I was falling apart LOL!!! Doing much better - may go back to work in a month or two.

3000 stall with the n/a motor and a good tune, gears and a cold air kit can work wonders, as it did for me on my previous 1998 GT.

Stock rwhp: 184

Added:

Superchips 93 octane tune

K&N cold air kit

3.55 gears (stock 3.27)

3000 stall converter

Valve body kit set for mild shifts

New rwhp: 203

****************************** *******

Car was totally transformed - felt like it had 100 more hp. Nice bump to the shifts and a true pleasure to drive. Everyone said go with the flowmasters but I decided to keep the stock exhaust as it attracted less attention and was told it flowed pretty well to begin with. Current car is a 2005 GT auto, stock with the exception of a K&N cold air kit and superchips 93 octane tune. 282 rwhp. Up from 261 rwhp.

[JimP]

Chief and JimP - My stock converter has a trans tune and I love it.. I had formed my opinion from several thread I read on here about the stock converter being perfect with the Eaton. Any opinions on that? Interested (not to jack his thread BTW).

I can't comment for the roots style blower but my centripetal supercharger really works well with the 3,000 stall. Great in town, great on the highway, stop light to stop light the car gets up and really goes.

[lji372]

I've beat this horse to death - good luck Matt!

i'm still breathing

[chief455]

i'm still breathing
let go, damn you!:fishslap:

[MOTOWN]

Having read your options i would go with Stainless works headers first choice , Cowl hood , and front end paint second , and the only way I would add a stall converter is if you are going Centrifugal S/C down the line , and the stock torque converer is not 2400 to 2800 , its 2000 to 2200 at best!

[loud2004marquis]

im torn between my next mod because all these other mods moving forward are pricey as ive knocked out some of the cheaper mods. I just want to make the right decision because it may be awhile before having money for another mod.


You didn't mention if you wanted to add any type of forced induction in the future, and may not want to if you add all of these current mods your considering. I would go in the order with what Motown said because with or without boost, your going to love the headers, especially due to the fact that you already have the famous 4:10 gears!

THEN do the cowl hood and front end paint. That order will bring maximum enjoyment for you out of the car as you go through the process of dumping these thousands into it. If you get the paint done first, you will probably get some sort of rock chip or scuffs as life does happen. If you drive any car, there will always be the need for some kind of paint work.

My perspective is, if I have extensive performance mods done to the car I'll want to make sure the car is kept up more cosmetically even more then before because I value the car higher.

Whenever you decide to do the headers, consider getting them thermal coated. It's supposed to help keep under hood temps down. Haven't tested it out to verify that claim, but it sure dresses them up nice and that alone is worth it.

Good luck on your decision and HAVE FUN! :burnout::burnout: