MTX Swap or Trade in car?

[Nafunu32]

Ok, I'm currently putting a 3.0l into my car as you all know. I also have a drift body kit and 18s on it. Would it now just be cheaper and easier to do a MTX swap or remove the kit and rims, trade the car in on a MTX?

[1COUGAR99]

That really depends on your level of knowledge. IF you can do all the work yourself and get junkyard parts (subframe, mounts, if you get a junk MTX make sure you crack it open and take a look, etc.) then it would probably be cheaper. If you can't do the work yourself then I would say look for an MTX Cougar. There is a LOT involved with the swap but if you are patient, have the time and are fairly good mechanically then you should be okay. There is an FAQ around somewhere about what is required, I recommend reading it word for word until you understand everything that is involved and THEN decide if you are up to the challenge.

Although you could just keep the 3L with the ATX and be different :biggrin:. I hope your going to also put a tranny cooler on when you are doing the swap.

[wadespencer99]

You aren't going to be able to remove the Drift sideskirts if they are molded to the car...which I hope they are.

[Frosty]

I'm pretty sure you won't get much for your car if you trade it in, just stick with your 3L ATX idea.

[Whiskey]

3l atx

[ilovemycar]

trade it in! or sell it outright...

[Nafunu32]

I've been thinkin, but I'm just not sure... ha. ATX are so easy, but they just dont make a lot for them. Am I missing anything other than exhaust, intake, headers, and spray? Anyone find a working ATX supercharger/turbo? Going to look around but I didn't recall anyone finding one that actually fit in the car.

[StealthyWeasel]

you're missing a ton man. You might be able to kinda do a crash course type thing by looking on cougardb at the mods I guess

[Nafunu32]

Just trying to get to mid 14s... ha (with an atx)

[BobKaBob]

high 14s are no problem if you do a good 3L build (PnP heads, SVT cams, high stall TC, etc)... with the proper tuning i would expect mid 14s... Of course this is when your budget comes into play, the heads alone were $1400 to get PnPed... the whole swap i spent a little under $5,000

Everyone who gets in my car is amazed how fast it is... nevermind the MTX/ATX deal... everyone says that my car feels redicliously fast... and its an ATX that still needs work.

EDIT: You may want to go the level10 route if you really want to stay ATX... mine dosent seem to like torque too much and is a ton slower on takeoff than it used to be. It may just be my solenoid, but i'm too broke to find out right now

[Nafunu32]

I am doing the full 3.0l swap. Not PnP of heads or SVT parts. Mid 14s would be awesome. Looking to add about a 75 dry shot after the I/H/E route... would be some fun then. I'm guessing the stock atx tranny can handle I/H/E/Nitrous with a tranny cooler? ::crosses fingers::

[DemonSVT]

A 3L and Nitrous on top of a ton of money dropped into the POS slushbox and you will get mid 14's. You see the lack of logic here right. Mid 14's after all that work and money and you are still stuck with a POS peg-leg slushbox.

Sell it a get a MTX Cougar if you want performance from a Cougar.

The cheap route.
Just get a nitrous kit and you might crest high 14's anyway. However the slushbox will not take that for very long and "NAWS" is just so damn temporary anyway.

[Nafunu32]

Doesn't Nemesis have an auto? He is running 14.4 with his 2.5l

[Nemesis]

Doesn't Nemesis have an auto? He is running 14.4 with his 2.5l


Yep I was able to hit 14.6 last summer with every bolt on , on a 2.5 and a tuned 65 shot (video to prove it). I bumped it up to a 75 shot, fuel tuned it myself on true load conditions (SAFCII and custom nitrous jets) and was able to pull a 14.41@98mph. If I actually gave a crap about hitting a lower time, I could toss the 15s on with drag radials, but that doesnt interest me anymore.

All those MTX *****es wanna talk about how itll take a swap and nitrous for an ATX to hit a mid 14, can EAD. :cool:

[ilovemycar]

If I actually gave a crap about hitting a lower time, I could toss the 15s on with drag radials, but that doesnt interest me anymore.

No you can't :rofl:

[Nafunu32]

Ok, so you hit a 14.4 with your 2.5l set up... I'm wanting a 75 shot of nitrous on my 3.0l... I'm guessing I should run around a 14.0 - 14.2?

[ilovemycar]

Ok, so you hit a 14.4 with your 2.5l set up... I'm wanting a 75 shot of nitrous on my 3.0l... I'm guessing I should run around a 14.0 - 14.2?

If i were you i would throw some drag radials on there and be the 1st 13 second ATX.

[Nafunu32]

So with my set up ill be hitting 13s with any type of traction? Suh weet... heh

[Nemesis]

The biggest reason why I probably havent broken anything is because of loss of traction. More traction= more likely to break something. So if you plan on placing dg radials on there, better hope you have some extra cash in the bank

[Nafunu32]

It's my daily driver so I won't put drag radials on it. I would just like to be running <14.5s. Thats my goal.

[GrandMasterKhan]

let me put it this way. If you have the chance to trade/swap up for an MTX it is definitly worth it.

ATX 2.5L with n20 = still slower than my 2.5L MTX. I have raced quite a number of n20 2.5L ATX cougars and not a single one has beaten me. 50-75 shots. Including Nemesis prior to his tune. :shrug:

MTX = 1 full second faster, more reliable, and you have more control over your machine.

Throw all the mods you want at your atx and i'll always be there mocking you. Not to say its impossible its just smarter if you have the chance to do so.

[ilovemycar]

I would beg to differ on the "more reliable" part. An ATX is no better/worse when it comes to reliability if you take care of it!

If the MTX was soooooo much better then why would so many people have LSD's, upgraded shift forks, and performance clutches?.....Cause the stock ones aren't that great! :rofl:

Both trannies have their downfalls...if you want to drive a car "normal" everyday then get what you want...if you want to go "faster" then get a MTX.;)

[GrandMasterKhan]

Hell i have the stock clutch, stock shift forks. stock diff and 95k miles. Its all about how well you drive and how well you take care of your tranny. :shrug:

I shift quick but without excessive force, and ensure I rpm match when shifting to ensure minimal clutch wear during daily driving.

Plus the MTX has SOO much more potential for upgrades (High peft cluches, lightweight flywheels, LSD, and improved shift forks for smooth as glass shifting.


I'll also chime in about my friend who dropped $5,000 dollers to Level 10 to have them bulletproof his ATX... only to have it burn up 25k later. (no tranny cooler = atx death)

[Nafunu32]

Alright... but damn MTX swaps are so expensive. After I get my n20 and headers I may start working on getting a MTX swap together. How hard would it be to find a totalled MTX cougar, buy the car, and rebuild the tranny? They shouldn't charge over a grand for the totalled car would they?

[GrandMasterKhan]

i wouldnt think so. Keep in mind you can nab up a 98+ Contour. Doesnt need to SVT either (but it would be nice)

Just be certain its a 5speed V6 and not the I4

[StealthyWeasel]

hell you can buy a new mtx75 from bat for 800 bucks

[Nafunu32]

hell you can buy a new mtx75 from bat for 800 bucks

But then it would get expensive with the rest of the parts. About how much do you think a shop would charge for this? My uncle can do the swap, but I don't want to bother him with something like this.

[Instigator]

a shop? at least 2 grand, if you can find one thats:

a.) good enough
b.) willing to do something thats a major PITA

[Nafunu32]

2 grand plus parts? Holy crap.... lmao. Maybe I will be bugging him.