Crown Vic P71 Performance Chip

I just bought a '99 Crown Vic P71 and was wondering about the performance chip used by the man.

Do they remove the chip before sales to the public?

If so, can I get my hands on one?

Thanks!

The "performance chip" idea is nothing more than an urban myth. A FEW departments have chips installed but it is more for durability or increasing the top speed than anything else.

You certainly can "chip" a CVPI, and no company does it better than the folks at www.superchipscustom.com (SCT). That is NOT the same a "superchips", but a division of them, and FAR FAR superior product to anything else available.

The "performance chip" idea is nothing more than an urban myth. A FEW departments have chips installed but it is more for durability or increasing the top speed than anything else.

You certainly can "chip" a CVPI, and no company does it better than the folks at www.superchipscustom.com (SCT). That is NOT the same a "superchips", but a division of them, and FAR FAR superior product to anything else available.

Hey MM,

Thanks for the great info and website!

I was wondering about the chip thing, I've had my P71 up to 115 with plenty of breathing room left.

I don't think I need no stinkin' chips!

HF

Urban myth... Police package units are quite a bit more than a "chip". The engine is different, the computer is flashed differently(not available to "civillian applications), the transmission is programmed different, the driveshaft is aluminum, the brakes are bigger and calibrated differently, wheels are larger diameter, and tires are speed rated, "prusuit" grade. The police version also uses oil coolers on the power steering and transmission.
If you have a Crown Vic P71, don't take it to the dealer for a reflash(computer). The dealer isn't authorized to reflash it to police specs unless you can prove you're law enforcement or emergency support(like fire department, or FBI).

Bear in mind a police cruiser isn't designed to be faster than most cars on the road, it's designed to run LONGER at high speeds than most cars.

Bear in mind a police cruiser isn't designed to be faster than most cars on the road, it's designed to run LONGER at high speeds than most cars.

Yeah, I drove it hard from Denver to L.A. with no problems, seemed to be right at home on long hauls!

What exactly is computer flashing?

Urban myth... Police package units are quite a bit more than a "chip". The engine is different, the computer is flashed differently(not available to "civillian applications), the transmission is programmed different, the driveshaft is aluminum, the brakes are bigger and calibrated differently, wheels are larger diameter, "prusuit" grade. The police version also uses oil coolers on the power steering and transmission.
If you have a Crown Vic P71, don't take it to the dealer for a reflash(computer). The dealer isn't authorized to reflash it to police specs unless you can prove you're law enforcement or emergency support(like fire department, or FBI).

In the interest of complete candor and internet accuracy, please allow me to make some correstions to the above statements.

"The engine is different, the computer is flashed differently(not available to "civillian applications)" - Not completely true. The PIs are flashed differently, but barely. The most significant difference is the settings of the Torque Limiter (speed limiter in conventional terms). Very similar programming IS USED ON CIVILIAN cars with the "HPP" or Sport packages.

"the driveshaft is aluminum, " - As on HPP/Sport civilian cars.

"the brakes are bigger and calibrated differently," - Absolutely incorrect. The brakes are absolutely identicle except that the PIs have phenolic pistons in the reaar calipers.

"wheels are larger diameter," - All PIs have 16" wheels, this size has been standard on ALL panthers since '98 in base trim, and 17" & 18" wheels on HPP/Sport and Mauauders.

"and tires are speed rated, "prusuit" grade." - The HPP/Sport/Marauder get better tires.

"The police version also uses oil coolers" - This is true.

"{coolers} on the power steering and transmission." - All panthers have trans coolers, and ALL panthers from '98 up have exactly the same coolers as the PIs EXCEPT for the engine oil cooler.

"If you have a Crown Vic P71, don't take it to the dealer for a reflash(computer). The dealer isn't authorized to reflash it to police specs unless you can prove you're law enforcement or emergency support(like fire department, or FBI)." - Absolutely incorrect.

Thank you ModMech, you are a wealth of information!

Thank you too samw for bring up some interesting points;-)

The observation I made about brakes and tires was from my fleet. A couple "plain vanilla" Crown Vic's were ordered for "Admin" use. They came with 15" wheels and 215X75R15 tires. They also had drum brakes on the rear and smaller rotors on the front.
The P71 Crown Victorias had 16" wheels with 225X60R16 Goodyear Eagle RSA tires. Most "plain" Crown Vic's have an engine that differs internally quite a bit from the "police only" Windsor built engine. Things like stronger connecting rods, and forged pistons are only a few things that are different.
Don't think there's a difference? Try installing a civillian "R" code engine in a police cruiser some time. You'll be getting it back, destroyed, in a matter of days.

I mentioned oil coolers. The P71 has "stand alone" or separate from the radiator coolers for both the transmission and power steering. Civillian units have their trans cooler in the radiator, and no power steering or oil coolers.

On a safety note: Crown Victorias have a habit of bursting into flames when rear-ended. To counter this, the Sheriff, (my boss) ordered fuel cell equipped fuel tanks be installed in all Crown Vic's in our fleet. $45,000 later, we are now "safe" supposedly.

The observation I made about brakes and tires was from my fleet. A couple "plain vanilla" Crown Vic's were ordered for "Admin" use. They came with 15" wheels and 215X75R15 tires. They also had drum brakes on the rear and smaller rotors on the front.

- Not since '92.

Most "plain" Crown Vic's have an engine that differs internally quite a bit from the "police only" Windsor built engine. Things like stronger connecting rods, and forged pistons are only a few things that are different.
Don't think there's a difference? Try installing a civillian "R" code engine in a police cruiser some time. You'll be getting it back, destroyed, in a matter of days.

- Complete and utter BS. Lies and more lies. Not a bit of truth to any of it.

civilian units have their trans cooler in the radiator, and no power steering or oil coolers.

- Well, 1 out of 3 isn't too bad. The ONLY correct part is that civilian models DO NOT have an oil cooler. ALL panthers from '98 up get EXACTLY the same P/S and A/T coolers, BOTH are mounted infront of the radiator, integrated into one unit, and completely seperate from the radiator.

Most "plain" Crown Vic's have an engine that differs internally quite a bit from the "police only" Windsor built engine. Things like stronger connecting rods, and forged pistons are only a few things that are different.
Don't think there's a difference? Try installing a civillian "R" code engine in a police cruiser some time. You'll be getting it back, destroyed, in a matter of days.======
maybe he was talking about the 91-earlier p71s. my mom had a 91 p71 and it had a carb. 351 in it. the base vics had 302s fuel injected

jasong145,

Even if you assume it applied to the older cars, none got forged pistons, rods, or "built" internals. The PI's have been, for the last 25 years or so, production cars with the largest available stock engines, and some other suspension goodies.

- Not since '92.



- Complete and utter BS. Lies and more lies. Not a bit of truth to any of it.



- Well, 1 out of 3 isn't too bad. The ONLY correct part is that civilian models DO NOT have an oil cooler. ALL panthers from '98 up get EXACTLY the same P/S and A/T coolers, BOTH are mounted infront of the radiator, integrated into one unit, and completely seperate from the radiator.


there are some random extras also like heavy duty control arm bushing and things like that. I know a lot of the interceptors got the posi rears. The chip is moded in these but there are also the special computers. We have only gotten one or two of these total but they are diffrent. Not sure if these were standard at all with anything but 2 of our interceptors have had computers that were way more responsive. enough so that even when we swaped in the newer longer runner motor, that should have more power, it was comented how less responsve it was when we took the comp. My fathers car got the nice computer of course.

also i dont know if they do this anymore but my mothers trooper car had a nice low geared rear. that thing gets to 100 real fast. and then you have all the power you need when you gete there.

We have a interceptor motor ripped apart right now i will take a look at that whole forged internals thing. Oh and a word of the wise, dont buy one of these cars with a "factory rubuild" motor. they forgot to put a ring in when they rebuilt this motor.

There IS NO CHIP from the factory.

Some, and I do mean a FEW departments nation wide install "chips" in the service ports of the EEC to allow for extended idle, or other functions. NO CHIP has EVER been factory installed.

I have an engine out of a '99 CVPI in my garage. There is absolutely NOTHING different about the ENGINE than you would find in Grandpa's Lincoln Town Car, or Grandma's Grand Marquis.

Limited Slip was an OPTION in some years, not all. It was NEVER standard until '05.

There are programming differences between ANY P71 (CVPI)/P72 (fleet car) and the civilian versions, they are mostly NOT for power.

All i know as far as the "chips" are concerned is this, I can give a guy an interceptor VIN and he can reflash the comp with the interceptor program. I'm talking the ones with the actual interceptor badge on the back. but you need the vin to get the program. i dont know if that makes it factory or what i just know that.

the limited slip is an option but it goes by county usually or state but ussually if one car in the fleet has it they all do. Most local cops dont get them but county and trooper cars in snowy locations seem to get them. Most of out old ny cars came with posi and a wisconsin car has it. some ct ones too.

the main changes i feel in the programing is responsiveness in the pedle. I wouldn't say its more powerful but it does get up and go better. I think it messes with the timing a little but not a ton.

Also i believe there are 3 diffrent programs for the interceptors. they are diffrent evolutions. so the newest is always better than the older but there are comps with diffrent interceptor programs.

Oh and you gotta love those coolant hoses on the cop cars. the only reason we have ever replaced them is becasue the new intake manifold that fixes the recalled ones use a diffrently angled thermostat flange and the old hose doesnt work.

Anybody who swaps out an engine and doesn't use the computer that came with the engine is looking for trouble. There are minuit differences in the settings, dependant on the engine factory after testing, thats why there is a computer code on the the door pillar in your car. You are supposed to use that when replacing computer critical pats such as the TPS and the like. I have found that some cars don't care what computer is on them and others run terrible if you don't change them, and that goes for all computer controlled Ford CV (PI or not 5.0 and 4.6) since 1986. I even have a few flex fuel computers from 2 NYSP test cars from 1986. They will not run a standard fuel car.

Actually, that is not completely true.

If you switch from gasoline to alternative fuel, certainly you need the correct EEC for the fuel you are using in the vehicle, and you cannot just install a gasoline engine were there was a alt. fuel engine and swap parts. In this case, the engines are often slightly different, and NOT interchangeable.

The EEC must stay with the VEHICLE, and NOT the engine. The wiring differences from MY to MY in the vehicle are your biggest problem. Save all the enigne wiring, and transfer it to any new engine that you are installing.

Now, if you are swapping engines on vehicles using "speed density" (most to '90) then yes, you can have problems if the engine you are installing is not EXACTLY like the one you removed due to air/fuel ration problems in the EEC. Beginning in '91 on MOST Ford vehicles, they began using "MASS Air" systems, and with this system, as long as you swap ALL the engine controls and wiring, there is no real issues with changing engines even 10 years apart ('92 to '02 for example). Now, you cannot exchange a 5.0 for a 4.6L as they are completely different engines, and will not bolt up to the same transmissions, nor do they share any sensors or engine electronics.

Basically, if you are doing an engine swap on anything built after '92 KEEP the EEC with the VEHICLE.