New to this Channel and a new 03 Marauder

[Lencac1]

Hi Guys: lencac here. Well as you probably guessed I just acquired an early 03 Marauder. It's in spectacular condition. Belonged to an old couple who neither of which could drive anymore. The guy who sold it to me on behalf of the original owner was the sales person who sold them the car brand new in 2003 at the dealer in Yreka Ca. It never left Yreka. I asked the guy "did the original owners know what they had?". He said they had no idea. Story goes that the wife was watching the Price is Right one day and they gave away a Marauder. So she told her hubby she wanted one. So he went and got her one.
Anyway, a little about the Mighty Marauder. It has 84K miles, never raced or wrecked. It's black. What a surprise, right? I have every last document this car has. Including every last service record from the dealer since day one. I have the window sticker, all the original Marauder brochures and posters, DVD's. I mean everything! My original intent was to flip it because I got an outrageous deal on it. But after driving it a little I think I want to keep it.
Being I was a ASE and Ford certified master tech for almost 30 years and I have the Merc's lowly kin the Crown Vic (best car ever made) as a daily driver I figure it was only right I keep the darn thing.
So having said all that and being I can't leave well enough alone I want to juice it up a little. So hence my question.
First I want your guys thoughts. I'm considering changing out the 3:55 axle for a 4:10. Plus I want to tune it, both engine and trans. HP Tuners say they don't make a tuner for it.
Any suggestions about getting it tuned.
Back when I was doing drivability at the Ford dealer I know using the the Ford proprietary software and a laptop I could monitor all the parameters but could not really change any of the parameters with a few exceptions. Only thing a tech could do would be to periodically download the updates for the software.
Plus if the right deal were to come along I'd consider putting a supercharger on it. I'd like the original Eaton set-up that was used on the SVT Cobras to keep it all "Fordish". But I'd consider other makes too if it fits under the hood.
Ok guys that's about it. Any info. you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
lencac

[Peace2Peep]

Welcome to the party! There's lots of info here...opinions and genius are all over this board! I would recommend a little light reading over in the DIY section: https://www.mercurymarauder.net/foru...-Resource-Room

AND for any and all updates there are several powerful voices: MartyO (Mo's Speed Shop), Curless (Curless Automotive), FastBlackMerc (Marauder Innovations), Zack (Zack), and so many more I shouldn't have started listing them...lol!

For the tuning stuff, I went with Mo's Speed Shop (most here would say he is the go-to shop). They have figured out tuning and 4.10 swaps with excellence!

[z man]

Do the 4.10s and call MO’s Speed Shop in Dallas, GA for a tune. Marty (member martyo) will take great care of you. Most members will tell you that gears and a tune are the best bang for your hard earned buck and really “wake the car up.”

[Lencac1]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

[Joe Walsh]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

When I installed my Kooks headers, I did not have to pull the engine.
It IS a PITA though.

BTW:
4.10s and a Mo tune is the best 'bang for the buck' first mod.
It's all big modding $$$$$ after that first mod.


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[z man]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

Installed at MO’s... but no, engine did not have to come out. All the Marauder historians will correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Kooks came first and are a little more challenging to install. Stainless Works came later, are true longtubes, and are easier to install. BTW, Marty is also a SW dealer and can get you the best price, shipped to your door. They aren’t cheap, but by all accounts (including mine) a great product.

[Joe Walsh]

Installed at MO’s... but no, engine did not have to come out. All the Marauder historians will correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Kooks came first and are a little more challenging to install. Stainless Works came later, are true longtubes, and are easier to install. BTW, Marty is also a SW dealer and can get you the best price, shipped to your door. They aren’t cheap, but by all accounts (including mine) a great product.

Yep.....^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Kooks are more like mid-length headers....not quite full length headers.
I bought mine and they were a very nice build quality, they fit without hitting the steering shaft.
I special ordered them with the OEM like 'ball and socket' collector.
(SW headers were not available back when I installed the Kooks.)



The passenger's side header comes down at a slight angle and is not parallel to the floorboards like the driver's side.

[MyBlackBeasts]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

You're going to want to use Stainless Works headers.

Pull the inner fenders = easy peezy job. 3 screws and a nut = left one on the ground, 3 screws and right one on the ground. They reinstall just as easy.

You have to unbolt motor mount and lift engine and put a 2" spacer (socket or something) in to hold it up.

I had a lot of fun doing mine.

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/foru...ust&highlight=
https://www.mercurymarauder.net/foru...ust&highlight=

[justbob]

Pretty much already mentioned above x 10.

Congratulations and keep us up on your progress!


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[Lencac1]

Thanks guys for your reply. I kinda figured the 4:10 axle and tuning the engine and trans would be the logical place to start. Just didn't know where to start with the tuning. But it sounds like Mo's Speed Shop is the man for that job. As time allows I will post photos and my progress on the Mighty Marauder. I think some videos would be in order also which I'll post on my YT channel. If anyone is interested to see what I have currently on my YT channel just plug-in lencac.
Ok guys I very much appreciate your help so far and I look forward to being engaged in this site. Thanks again

[justbob]

Just give her a chance to prove herself. With the right mods and Mo’s tune you won’t recognize the car and a decent performing street Marauder can be had for pretty darn cheap. It’s after you get used to that and want more that these cars will send you into the poor house QUICK!




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[Lencac1]

Hi Justbob: Oh, I'm going to giver her a chance. So my plumb line is going to be to get this thing to run a high 13 sec. pass. I think I can do that with a tune and a gear change.

[RubberCtyRauder]

If you still in Cali., Then eaton swap will not be smog legal out there. Only legal option is Vortech set up thru ADTR.net who is in Cali. MartyO does not frequent here as often. The shop has a facebook page or send me a pm and I'll send you his phone #. Good find !!

[Lencac1]

Hi Ported: Nope in Oregon

[kirk]

Congratulations and welcome. To throw an argument out on the other side of the table, I personally would keep this one stock. With these things approaching 20 years old, and fairly popular given the limited supply, bone stock cars are becoming harder and harder to come by. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from modding a Marauder, but at this point in time I would play with one someone else started on, rather than a low mileage stock car.

I say this from experience, having modded my 63 only to decide later this particular car needed to be stock. There's a market for both the stock and modded cars at this point.

All of that being said, IT'S YOUR CAR