NEED SOME HELP WITH AN 87 crown vic

I have an 87 crown vic with a 5.0L and I want to know what I can do to make more power without spending a fortune. I do plan to build a 347 stoker to put in it.
I have already taken the smog pump off and the A/C compressor. and put a K&N filter in it.

     Any advice would be helpful.
thank you


    It's gonna be a sleeper.  

have you scanned the system for codes????      KOER test   KOEO test....   with the smog pump,  diverter valve and hoses removed... the self test  will set a code and reduce power and fuel economy... so taking off the smog pump may be a bad thing to ***   how does it know....   during automatic tests...  it turns on the diverter valve to the upstream air...  the oxygen sensors will pick up this blast of of extra oxygen... and the computer knows that the system is working properly..

old oxygen sensors can also reduce power ...

the ac compressor does not take any noticeable  power except when it it pumping..   it freewheels most of the time...

put in a new 195F thermostat...  put in a new coolant temp sensor.. a new air temp sensor...   this will bring the fuel injection system back to as close a proper tune as possible... the sensors do go bad and get slightly out of range after a few years...

i did the oxygen sensors... replaced the leaking diverter valve , replaced the ignition coil...  did a tune up on my sisters 87 town car... 5.0....  it now gets 26 mpg...

there are also tons of ways to make a bunch more power.. have you read the magazine lately??? or one of the other ford magazines here????

http://www.musclemustangfastfords.com

http://www.mustang50magazine.com

http://www.mustangmonthly.com


the 5.0 motor in your car is the same as the mustang motors...   a few slight differences in manifold design...  

Best bet at getting more power without putting in a fresh motor would be a cam swap.

But, if you're planning on swapping in a 347 in the near future, don't waste money on the current motor, just put everything into a fresh motor and build it to achieve your goals.  

Thanks for advice guys. any ideas on if i can put full length headers on it or should i put shortys on it.