New member 2000 Continental

[CBHSContinental]

Hello,

I'm looking to grab a 2000 continental for $2500 next week. It has 107k miles and is in 7/10 shape. It looks and drives like it was very well taken care of but has a few minor bumps. The pics don't do it justice.

I'm going to be putting about 1200 miles a month on the car, after I get it new tires, and have everything checked out. I took it for a 30 min test drive for about 24 miles and it ran flawlessly. He also had it running before I showed up so it was up to temp before the drive took place.

I posted on another forum asking about mods/upgrades and I got the usual thread ending answers. This could be because I didn't ask good questions but I thought I would come to the SHO experts for answers because this is closer to a SHO Taurus than it is any other car.

Here is what I'm hoping to find out:

The air suspension is know for being difficult to find parts for and I don't want to be stranded 300 miles from home paying a shop 1k for a single air bag replacement. That's why I'm looking at coil-over replacements. There doesn't seem to be many coil spring options and the ride height look abysmal after install. Is there a static suspension kit that offers a stiffer spring and 2" drop? Yes it's comfy but the seat are so cushy that I'm confident that I can sacrifice comfort for better handling. I've found the Arnott (and similar) kits but I cant find information about the springs nor can I find spring options to adjust ride height or handling. Does anyone here know if you can use springs from another vehicle (Honda, Toyota ect) with the Arnott spring conversion kits?

The transmission is rated at 250hp according my internet search, I see that there is a shop in Oregon (where I'm from) that offers a shift kit to help with some of the known issues with this transmission but I don't know what the installation of the kit actually does & I don't want to drop money on it blindly. What is the best way to increase the AX4N ability to handle more power reliably?

Are there any camshaft upgrades and what do people use to tune the engine after installing the cams?

I'm interested in removing the EGR and replacing the multi cat exhaust with something beefy sounding. Is there a preferred exhaust people like to upgrade to?

I'm not building a race car but I want to flex with this car. I also want to have some better application of the power to the street. I want to have fun with it and it's a little vanilla in it's stock state.

Summary: Thread links are much appreciated.

Static suspension options?

Transmission improvement options?

Exhaust options?

Camshaft options?

ECU tuning options?

Pics:

 

[Texas Marauder]

The Continental is third cousin once removed from the Gen3 SHO. Somewhat similar.

They are nice cars and that one looks nice.

You're dealing with a 25 year old car that had virtually no aftermarket when it was new.

There are no upgrades for the 4.6 DOHC engine.

The rear air suspension can be converted to springs.

Arnott MyCarParts

 

[CBHSContinental]

I was looking a little deeper and I believe I could do an accuair set up in the rear and do coil over with stiffer strut and spring combo to reduce body roll and improve handling.

As far as I know the engine can me modded but the transmission is the weak point. I believe there’s camshafts, forged rotating assembly and forced induction options as long as you can get the AX4N to handle it.

a built transmission should be able to handle 300-350hp with about 325ft/lbs of torque. The stage 2 camshafts I found, should give a 20-30 hp increase and shift the power curve from 5750-6250.

I believe there’s upgraded torque converters also to help with slipping.

I think with a stand alone air suspension management system for the rear and stiff springs/struts in the front, exhaust, engine tune, upgraded camshafts and performance built transmission, this thing would be hard to beat in terms of long mileage road trips.

I have a successful business and I can invest about $12k into this under the banner of maintenance. Because I’d have to invest about this much into almost anything I get due to the amount of driving I do.

I’m picking up the car Wednesday and I’ll do the suspension first.

Next year after I’ve put 15,000 miles on it, I’ll put in a transmission with a shift a shift kit in.

About a year after that when it has 137,000 miles, I’ll do a timing chain replacement and I’ll swap the camshafts and get it tuned on the dyno.

I think that’s the play.

 

[Tbird6]

I would look for a forum for your car. The SHO as posted above is pretty far from your car.
Not much crosses over.
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[SHOrod]

I suspect there will be some Mercury Marauder enthusiast groups which might be able to provide more input on that platform (I think the Continental is still on the Panther platform). Also consider Crown Vic and even 4.6L Mustang groups.

-Rod

 

[CBHSContinental]

I’m on the other forums for modular engines, Acura (suspension questions) and Lincoln’s online. We do share a lot depending on how you define “a lot”.

Specifically the transmissions and differentials might be swappable. I might be able to incorporate a SHO front end,ecu, and differential to get the platform for front suspension and the gear ratios I want as well as tuning.

I’m using AI focused on the forums I’m member of and allowing it to search for archived threads regarding people’s past endeavors. I’m learning a lot.

I think a stand alone rear air suspension that can have a driving (soft mode) and racing (stiff mode) would be easy to set up with aftermarket air bags, tank and possibly integrating the stock compressor. I think it would need 3-4 minutes to fill the tank in start up.

The front suspension might be adjustable by using the stock struts and adding stiffer linear weight springs. I know it wouldn’t be valved correctly but it’s a starting point.

The AX4N can be rebuilt with a trans go shift kit, and a better torque converter can be installed.

The ECU and Trans controller will most likely need to be after market and stand alone.

If the AX4N can be built to handle 650 HP and higher torque, then we can start address the rotating assembly and consider forced induction via centrifugal Super Charger.

The top end on this engine can handle a lot more power (650hp for the heads and 350hp for the intake on NA set up.)

I don’t want a race car, I want a bad ass, fast, comfy, hammerhead full size business sedan. Something that has a pistol grip pump and custom billet aluminum bat in the trunk for when stuff gets real .

Most forums are shutting down the idea on its face but AI is pulling information and providing links to archived threads that support the idea.

Any way, I’ll drop in with updates and questions as the project continues.

 

[luigisho]

Tools can help you search for ideas and some processes. How much do you want to sink into this vehicle? That can be a big factor with people posting what is reasonable vs possible.

 

[CBHSContinental]

Tools can help you search for ideas and some processes. How much do you want to sink into this vehicle? That can be a big factor with people posting what is reasonable vs possible.

If I do this in stages as components wear out, I’m thinking :

$3500 on suspension
$5000 on transmission and differential
$7500 on engine bottom end (only if the transmission can be built to handle it)
$3000 on a supercharger if the AX4N can handle it.

This wilt be over 2 years most likely. I’m looking at another one with a bad trans for $600 to be my test dummy.

I found a universal air kit that I think would work. I need to find a shop that would be willing to install it. Suspension is my first upgrade I’m going to do.

The transmission will be next, then engine mods.

 

[luigisho]

You're going to spend in excess of 10x purchase price? You're a better man than I. I would just buy a faster platform or, shore this one up and enjoy it. I will follow along if you decide to build it though.

 

[CBHSContinental]

I think it’s an under developed platform with a race bread engine. The transmission might be able to hold at 350hp. It might help to install taller gears that give me %11 increase in RPM and help reduce the strain on the transmission.

I’ll start with figuring out the front suspension, move on to wheels and tires, then the transmission and finally the engine.

I’m also buying a second one to use for R&D. I don’t want to ruin a perfectly good one with hair braided dunning Kruger attempt at car modding.

 

[CBHSContinental]

Ok the first mod I did was buy a service manual. I also read parts of the owners manual.

The current suspension has 3 control settings> low, normal, high. it is designated as "steering effort level". The stock set up is actually really good but limited. It isn't as hard to maintain this stock system as you might think. If you are a hot-rodder then remove the systems carefully because it could easily be adapted to/or be used for/ another car. I think the best modification would be to attempt a shorter and stiffer spring. I wonder if the stock management system would work with different front height. I want a 1.5-2" drop. this is for looks and for handling. I think the stock rear air is really good but I want the ass-end down and more rigidity. I'll see how that effects performance and then decide if I want to go with a custom set up.

I'm going to install a back up camera and after market stereo deck for hands free GPS and phone. I'm also going to have a 10" sub installed.

Tint the windows black out the lights, visit the painless dent repair guy, detail the interior fix the grill and then I will address the larger mods like:
1) stronger transmission with extra clutch plate and 3.99 gears,
2) wider front tires, staggered front to rear,
3)custom suspension,
4) custom exhaust from the stock manifold back,

I have a set of 5.4 Navi-heads and I'm considering getting 9 thread time certs installed in, aftermarket stage 2 cam, and having installed with an aftermarket engine management.

These are really well designed cars they just have that terrible 2000s era cheap fit and finish.

 

[Tbird6]

Sorry your wasting your life with AI. Just use your brain and continue searching. I am sure your getting your personal information stolen with every use!!
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[CBHSContinental]

Sorry your wasting your life with AI. Just use your brain and continue searching. I am sure your getting your personal information stolen with every use!!
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This is sad, you're emotionally attached to me using a software tool to analyze bulk information.

Any way, Let's start with an easy mod. %5 window tint & blacked out head lights. I'll post pics when that's done.

Maintenance will include spark plugs and a test on the coils and wires. The guy understands this platform pretty well and he thinks we can find a coil-over with linear spring rates. I am thinking about getting the original strut rebuilt to meet the spec of a custom spring. I am looking for a shop that would help calculate the spring rate While providing a 1.5" drop. I think the stock strut can be rebuilt internally to match the new spring specs. John is my tech and I think he can help install an aftermarket manually controlled air suspension for the rear. This set up should give excellent handling while maintaining some of the Lincolns comfort.

I think I'm going to go with 17" x 10" up front. I will maintain a thick sidewall but this should increase the patch while being easy on the AX4N transmission.

I'm locating a an additional AX4N and I am going to build it with some guidance from some friends in the industry. I'm going to attempt to adjust the gear ratios. I'm going from 3.56 gears to 3.96. Also installing a shift kit to help with solid shifts and I'm going to start looking at torque converters. This thing is going to be so cool. You'll see

 

[Majestic]

You are going to sink $19k into THAT? For that amount of money you could get one of the newer Continentals with the TT engine and just enjoy it.

 

[ScotSHO]

I am excited to see the progress, with lot of pictures hopefully! What's the timeline for all this work, the coming weeks or months from now?

 

[Devin]

You do you, goodness knows I've sunk more money in my car than any sane individual would, but why are you building a Continental on the SHO forum? Even with the drop off of membership over the years this is still an excellent place for technical knowledge but it seems like it would make more sense to go to a platform specific forum.

 

[Tbird6]

Yes it is sad when you no longer think for yourself.
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[Devin]

This isn't the place for that. Knock it off.

 

[CBHSContinental]

I’m building a Continental on here because this car is based loosely on the Taurus. My best bet for aftermarket suspension products is sho products. Because they had the same transmission and v8 so the weight and designs share similarities.

Yes. I’m am happy to put money into my car as anyone with a car they enjoy would be. I don’t need any approval to like it.

Here’s the deal, if I’m right about what can be done to this platform, then I will be able to do it again. The value return is largely in the platform knowledge. I’m doing most of the planning myself. I’m learning how to build the transmission. That will help some of you if you need technical specs in the future for your own build.

I am learning how to build and tune suspension including air suspension.

Lastly, let’s say you’re a fan of the SHO but because they are picking up in value you can’t get the v8SHO. Well this is basically the same but could be better.

And crashing out over someone using AI is extremely childish.

Feel free to follow updates or don’t. I’m on here for technical knowledge as I need it. I appreciate the help.

 

[SHOrod]

Because they had the same transmission and v8 so the weight and designs share similarities.

Doesn't the Continental have the 4.6L V8? The V8 SHO has a 3.9L V8. That does make me wonder though how possible it would be then to squeeze a 4.6L into a 1996-1999 SHO....

-Rod