1989 Ford Mercury Hatchback

Hey guys im new to the whole scene of street racing, and cars at that. Ive got a Mercury tracer that id like to bring from from crap to jealous status.

I seen a site that created custom turbo for 5k in Utah, i know that will increase my HP and make me faster but i have no idea where else to get started.

Im starting on custom fiber glass bumpers side skirts and hood to decrease weight and will strip most the car by next week.



My speedometer maxes out at 85 i want a 10 second car and i know 85 aint gonna get it.

Could someone point me to a high powered FWD engine and give me a very BASIC list of what needs to happen to my car for it to be a speed machine.  

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....  

That's the same as an escort, bud. And yeah, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... I mean no offense, but you need to get some thing a little more note worthy, but if you are determined to build this particular vehicle... who am I to say no. First off, realize that no one has ever built one up. Parts are next to impossible to find in the aftermarket, unless you're extremely savy in the custom department. The engine will need to be upgraded to a 1997 or 1998 engine, as this was the year that Ford changed the style of the engine to a more tuneable one. It's a Mazda engine dressed up as a Ford. LOL! It's still a good engine, though. The engine will need to be built to handle any form of turbo or power upgrades as well as the trans and suspension, etc., etc.

It's no easy build, mind you, but with determination and patience you will make it happen. Again, every part of this project is mostly a custom build. Nothing, except maybe for the engine asembly/trans mounting, will be plug and play. I'm not too thrilled on your choice of cars, but it is your dream, I suppose. Good luck. Oh, befor I forget. Try to find forum sites that cater to your car, bro. I don't know of any off hand, but it's worth a try. Even the Escort sights may help.
 
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

Dont listen to anyone else. What I think you need is to get a Mopar engine in it. Get a 442 big block crate engine. That will set you back around 5-6K but you will start out with about 300 HP more than the tiny little engine you have. To get the engine to fit though is going to be a little more than a challenge. You will have to cut out almost all of the engine compartment. After that, you will want to get a newer trans to withstand the added HP. I would suggest... Well, I dont really know what to suggest for that, but a very strong one is needed because of the engine size. After that, get a hemi. You will not be disappointed. You will have 500+ HP comming out of a tin can car. It will fly but will also be a death machine. You crash your dead... Just a warning. Also, go with fiberglass, not carbon. Its like half the price and just as light. Good luck with that racer, the streets are a fun place to race, but watch out for the Popo, they think otherwise.  

^^^ ok says the 12 year old who has no clue... first he says buy a 442, then replace it with a hemi... then he says go street race... obviously clueless. a 442 crate motor is not 5-6k nor is any of his info correct. stick with what you have... you might need some 1 off parts but better than trying this^^  

ok dude, whatever, I did a variation of this in my 82 dodge ram... I got the 442hemi. That set cost me 6k with tax and shipping. That motor rocked my world. And I never said to "go street race". I just advised that if he does (which it sounds like he intends to based on the first line of the post...) that it is not smart and I would advise him to be VERY careful if he does because I used to and its tough to do it and not get caught and your car impounded.  

Brother, brother... A Ram truck and an Escort doppleganger are two majorly different beasts. Do you know what a mid 80s escort looks like? I know he said it was a Ford/merc hatch back, but knowing the vehicles they made at that time I assumed it was an Escort.
Let's assume that it would fit a Hemi442. It would be a rightious swap, no doubt, but Ford makes a 500+hp engine in the form of a 5.4 liter, 3 valve engine and it's found in the Mustang GT500KR and the 500GT Gull wing coup. I would stick with Ford products in a build like that. Again, assuming it would fit after all the mods. The next issue is COIN. If you don't have the duckets to finance a major project like that, why go V8? An updated 4 banger would be as good a swap and with less headaches that a V8 poses. Add a turbo and your mid 80s ride would be sick. I'm not ragging, just keeping perspective. Cool?
 
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

yeah, its straight, but I have heard stories about some major swaps though. Dont take my word on this one, but one of my friends was saying that he had a Mazda RX-7. He found a totaled viper. He cut out almost ever piece of metal in the engine compartment and somehow he fit the Viper V12 into a RX-7. I dont know the details although I do know that he now resides in Cali, and He got a 9.98 quarter mile in a street car.

Dont know if this is true, but its what I have been hearing...  

I've seen Miatas with Vette engines stuffed into them. Very sick minds, but man, what a swap. I know what you're going for, but money is an issue with most people. I make a decent living at what I do and I still don't have enough t do what I want tomy Rav4. Things are tough and projects like that for most is an unreal goal. It's not impssible to do what you say, it's been done, but I see a more practicle and attainable result with a mild build. Money makes the world go 'round.  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

Oh yeah, I know what you mean and a vette engine in a mx-5?!? Damnnnn that sick! And I understand. Money is speant otherplaces with most people so they just dont ever have enough left over to do anything they want to. I use almost all my expendable money on a car and because of the students budget, Its still ***  

Every body suffers in this economy. It'll get better soon.  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

Yeah. I dont really trust obama, but I dont want to get into a huge political debate, so thats all im gunna say about him lol.  

I've been hearing that a lot lately. It's no biggy, bro. I voted for him and he seems to have disappointed me on some issues. He's trying, though. He did take on the last presidents bagage. I'll give him time and see where it goes. What's the worst that could happen...? Come his next election we don't vote fo him? His re-election depends on his performance. I for one am observing. I don't blame you for feeling the way you do, though. He does need to clarify a lot of his agendas. Read the bill, at least, and don't be misled by the media and the scare mongers. I'm debating some of what's in the bill, which is what we all need to do when some thing feels wrong and not listen to all the negative hype out there. The president is just a man and can be spoken to and can be made to reason, like any other person. I'm a little worried, too, though.  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

just some of the stuff he cooked up like the "death panels" where the goverment gets do decide whether you live or die. And just all in all it seems like he is almost trying to turn it into a socialistic economy  

That was  Governor Palins words and it's not in the bill. Again, read th bill. I'm not defending Obama whole heartedly, mind you, but the man has a lot of good ideas that are being drowned out by people that don't want to hear any thing but fear. I don't fear any thing in life nor will I take any thing from a second hand like thos folks (Palin) who are sore for not winning the election. How seriously can any one take a part term QUITTER, like Palin, seriously when she couldn't fulfill a full term to care for her constituents in Alaska. She's become bitter and will say any thing that will damage any possible good that may try t come out of this new president.
I don't trust any polititian and I don't just follow blindly to any of them. They say this and that and I want to see it in writing so that I can judge for my self and dispute it with my representative that has an obligation to speak on our behalf. Petitions help too,but you need to educate your self on the subject before committing to a debate. You know? I say keep the good stuff and leave out the junk that doesn't benefit the "Citizens" of this country. That's what I wrote to my rep and I got a few hundred thousand signitures to back it up. Don't fear any thing. Educate your self and debate on your new found knowledge.
Advice from your friendly neighborhood old fart. (forty some thing, at least.) LOL!  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!