Proven Contour SVT Mods

Scott98svt

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I have a '98 Contour SVT EO, and I was wondering what the best mods were that have been proven to be effective. All I have is a drop in K&N. It sounds like many folks have removed the resonator. Does this improve performance or just make it louder? What about a Catback system, plugs, wires....?


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'98 Contour SVT, Black
 

Rara

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A good cat-back exhaust is good, usually around 5-10hp and 5-10tq, Borla and Bassani make good ones, but you can prolly have your own made cheaper (I did using SS stuff from Vibrant). Next big one I'm told is a good Y-pipe (mine is on order so, I don't speak first hand) and similar gains from that.

The B&M edge shifter is the only short throw shifter that fits the SVT tranny, but is well worth it (IMHO of course)
 

The Piper

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Scott98svt:

Your better off with a nice Cat-Back from Borla or Bassani, there are some more out on the market, you just have to look for them. I think Bassani, puts out a little more HP/TQ, because of a removed Res.

If you can, DO NOT have a custom one made for you, Borla and Bassani give out better numbers because all their bends are Mandrel. Thats where you get nice HP/TQ ratings, Custom wont.

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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
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Rara

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as to a custom cat-back, just make sure you have someone good do the work for you, and select your mufflers and resonator carefully.

mandrel bend vs. crush bend piping on the SVT won't make a huge difference, the big gains from the cat-back come from a free-er flowing resonator and a better rear y-configuration. the mufflers can help some too, but mostly just improve the sound.

My exhaust was made w/ 2.5" crush bend pipe, using some Vibrant stainless steel mufflers and a vibrant stainless 18" resonator. The 2.5" may be slightly large for my application, but I had several other reasons for choosing it over 2.25" pipe, and it still works well. Performance gains on mine are easily as much, if not more than a comparable car w/ the Bassani or Borla (I have driven cars w/ both systems, w/ other mods similar to mine) I do have a baseline dyno on my car, but I have not had a chance to re-dyno since I put the exhaust on, I also have a y-pipe on order that I will get in the next few weeks.
My point is, don't let Jay scare you off from doing custom, the Bassani and Borla are easier to do and good systems, but more expensive. w/ custom you can tailor the sound to your liking and it is usually cheaper, but it does take more work on your part than just calling and ordering a system.
 

Danny Shamblin

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Originally posted by Rara:
as to a custom cat-back, just make sure you have someone good do the work for you, and select your mufflers and resonator carefully.

mandrel bend vs. crush bend piping on the SVT won't make a huge difference, the big gains from the cat-back come from a free-er flowing resonator and a better rear y-configuration. the mufflers can help some too, but mostly just improve the sound.

My exhaust was made w/ 2.5" crush bend pipe, using some Vibrant stainless steel mufflers and a vibrant stainless 18" resonator. The 2.5" may be slightly large for my application, but I had several other reasons for choosing it over 2.25" pipe, and it still works well. Performance gains on mine are easily as much, if not more than a comparable car w/ the Bassani or Borla (I have driven cars w/ both systems, w/ other mods similar to mine) I do have a baseline dyno on my car, but I have not had a chance to re-dyno since I put the exhaust on, I also have a y-pipe on order that I will get in the next few weeks.
My point is, don't let Jay scare you off from doing custom, the Bassani and Borla are easier to do and good systems, but more expensive. w/ custom you can tailor the sound to your liking and it is usually cheaper, but it does take more work on your part than just calling and ordering a system.
Are your mufflers set up with an offset inlet and outlet, or is it a straight through design.What about the Borla and Bassani,same question.
 

Rara

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the muffs I'm using are straight through, as are the borla. Mine are actually similar to the borla muffler design in concept, but they use a different material for packing. I don't recall exactly how the Bassani is set up, but it does have resonators in the tips that most people remove.
 

Steve Bassen

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Catback (bassani, borla, custom), MSDS headers, hi-flow cat (preferably carsound or equivalent quality). If you're over 40k, try for some Taylor wires. Go from there.
 

Danny Shamblin

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Originally posted by Rara:
the muffs I'm using are straight through, as are the borla. Mine are actually similar to the borla muffler design in concept, but they use a different material for packing. I don't recall exactly how the Bassani is set up, but it does have resonators in the tips that most people remove.
So back pressure doesn't play a big factor in the Contour svt's performance,or does it only improve bottom end power and take away from top end.
 

Rara

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Originally posted by Danny Shamblin:

So back pressure doesn't play a big factor in the Contour svt's performance,or does it only improve bottom end power and take away from top end.


I think you are looking at it the wrong way, the stock exhaust on the Contour SVT is the biggest bottleneck in the system (y-pipe is included here) and a good cat-back and y-pipe will improve both hp and torque across the band. however it is possible to go too large on the exhaust, and kill the exhaust gas velocity at low rpm, which means less torque at low rpm. I think my 2.5" piping is on the large side of ok, I would definately not go larger, especially on a near stock car (most are).
 

Scott98svt

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First, thanks for all the input! I figured that exhaust was the way to go. The bad new is that from what I have found, a Borla cat-back runs around $750. A bit too much for me. Are there any others out there that are a little less expensive? If anyone has had a muffler shop make one, about how much does that run?

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'98 Contour SVT EO
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KnuKonceptz

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Lookkie what I found: http://contour.org/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=27&t=000160



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2000 SVT Silver Frost #1077 of 2150
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H&R Springs;BAT 21mm Sway Bar;B&M Short Throw Shifter;Borla Exhaust;65mm TB

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Rara

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I got all my stuff from Lane Automotive in Kalamazoo, MI. I got 2 vibrant stainless mufflers (don't remember the part #) a vibrant stainless 18" resonator, and two stainless exhaust tips (they look similar to the borla's tips but they are slant cut)
and it all ran me about $270 shipped. I had a friend's shop weld it all up for me, and they did it for free, so I can't really comment on how much it will cost for having it made, but I have heard anywhere from $100 to $250.
 

Cardoctor

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The age old theory behind mandrel vs crush bends.. please ... "I wouldn't do that".. not " Do not do that".. personal opinions please on a topic that obviously you have a little knowledge of.. Do you think that Steve cares about the crush bends in his true dual system?? Do you think it makes a monumental difference in mine?? If you can show me the difference in performance between the two bends (In our systems) I will give you a cookie and a hi-five!!! Otherwise take a seat son!

Dom

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1998 E0 Toreador Red
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Many mods to list.. But who'd want to hear??..lol
 

my99svt

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Originally posted by Cardoctor
The age old theory behind mandrel vs crush bends.. please ... "I wouldn't do that".. not " Do not do that".. personal opinions please on a topic that obviously you have a little knowledge of.. Do you think that Steve cares about the crush bends in his true dual system?? Do you think it makes a monumental difference in mine?? If you can show me the difference in performance between the two bends (In our systems) I will give you a cookie and a hi-five!!! Otherwise take a seat son!

Dom

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1998 E0 Toreador Red
#3544 of 6535
Many mods to list.. But who'd want to hear??..lol

Your starting to sound like Steve Bassen. Only you forgot to tell them to use the damn search feature to find thier knowledge!
 

bret

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Originally posted by Rara



I think you are looking at it the wrong way, the stock exhaust on the Contour SVT is the biggest bottleneck in the system (y-pipe is included here) and a good cat-back and y-pipe will improve both hp and torque across the band. however it is possible to go too large on the exhaust, and kill the exhaust gas velocity at low rpm, which means less torque at low rpm. I think my 2.5" piping is on the large side of ok, I would definately not go larger, especially on a near stock car (most are).

i know guys running mustangs with 600+ hp and a 2.5" exhaust, no mufflers. If that is sufficent for them, I would say NO more then 2.5 for us, and 2.25 for those of us who are n/a. I don't think 2.5" is doing any harm, but i sure wouldn't go any larger.
 

svtcarboy

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If a cat-back is too much for you right now, then consider the Y-pipe and removing the resonator (or put in a high flow res, some prefer that tone).

SuperChips can be wonderful, depending on engine code.

Try a short shifter before you buy. It's either love or hate. I personally hated it, as it made the shifter a long reach. Others love it.
 

1998.5canucksvtcon

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how restrictive are the stock mufflers??? would removing the res. really make more of a diff or would just replacing the mufflers be the better alternative?

anyone have an opinion on just the muffs and not the res or the y?
 

sohowcome

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Originally posted by svtcarboy
If a cat-back is too much for you right now, then consider the Y-pipe and removing the resonator (or put in a high flow res, some prefer that tone).

SuperChips can be wonderful, depending on engine code.

Try a short shifter before you buy. It's either love or hate. I personally hated it, as it made the shifter a long reach. Others love it.

need a little longer arms for that :D
 

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