Everybody loves a P71.

But what are the differences between a Police model and the standard Crown Vic?

Suspension, rear gears and most police cars have the trac loc. Tune and exhaust was diffent on early p71s

"It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas." -Elwood

Sorry I had too

Not everybody loves them.

In reply to cwh:

VIN codes, son. P71 is Highway Interceptor, it's what you want. P72 = fleet (standard cop cruiser and taxi), and P73 is civilian grandma-spec. P71's got aluminum driveshafts, heavy-duty everything, trac-loc LSD, etc.

The Hoff wrote: "It's got a cop motor. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks."

This is what I usually hear.

I think there were extra coolers for steering and oil too, but not sure. Maybe a bigger alternator.

T.J. wrote: Not everybody loves them.

+1

curtis73 wrote: I think there were extra coolers for steering and oil too, but not sure. Maybe a bigger alternator.

Yup. Depending on year, you got a larger radiator, a separate trans cooler, a PS cooler, higher amp alternator, higher CCA battery, different filter-to-throttle intake tube, HD valve body with a deeper pan in the trans, aluminum driveshaft, clutch-type LSD, HD brake linings, different shocks (the rear mounts are even different, larger studs for the eyelets), higher rate springs that are actually taller static than the others, HD ball joints and tie rods, full dual exhaust system, and either 16x8 or 17x8 steel wheels. The pre-01 should be avoided at all costs (non-PI motor, about 215HP). 01-02 has the Performance Improved 4.6 (235HP). The 03+ have the newer frame with the bolt-in front subframe, rack and pinion steering, much better brakes, and share offsets with the 05+ Mustang making wheel choices easier.

P72's usually have just the wheels, radiator, and trans cooler. P73's get none of the good stuff unless it's something bizarre like an actual Crown Vic Sport (duals!). Luckily they are like legos and you can add whatever pieces you want, but they usually fetch a lot at the junkyard and/or are already gone. On the other hand, Ford uses 1 wiring harness for all, so you can bolt fancy 14-way power seats into your P71 and literally just plug them in to get them to work, etc.

No mention of the "cop chip"?

I'm pretty sure every CVPI has one since most owners I've had the pleasure talking to boast of one being installed.

My soon-to-be-16-year-old son wants one now. I'd like to take credit, but it has more to do with watching the TG USA crew enter one in a Lemons race. I'm not personally a fan of the cars, but I think it would make a great first car for a teen.

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

See my reply in the "Goofy Things People Say" thread to see what he will encounter.

I'd recommend a Panther. Cheap, tough, safe. Just don't expect it to be fast or up to modern standards of luxury.

I'd recommend a 9C1.... if you could find one that wasn't wasted.

They're all dead or donked.

I'd also look at ones driven by fire chiefs and such. At my department all the cheifs and captains got P71s, spec'd the same as police except they're red. They also have a more civilian-friendly interior.

Appleseed wrote: They're all dead or donked.

And if they're not, they're expensive. Impala SSs have dropped in price. Someone offered to buy mine for a whole $2000.

curtis73 wrote:

Appleseed wrote: They're all dead or donked.

And if they're not, they're expensive. Impala SSs have dropped in price. Someone offered to buy mine for a whole $2000.

There used to be a teenage girl I'd see driving a really clean looking tutone brown one all the time, think she lived in a neighborhood I used to commute past. I thought a few times about knocking on the door to see what they would take for it, but thought that starting a conversation with "Hey, I'm some random guy who happened to notice your teenage daughter..." might not end well...

Tom_Spangler wrote: My soon-to-be-16-year-old son wants one now. I'd like to take credit, but it has more to do with watching the TG USA crew enter one in a Lemons race. I'm not personally a fan of the cars, but I think it would make a great first car for a teen.

I would agree, but then again that is an awfully large back seat.

In reply to Appleseed:

or people who drive like they think are cops

92dxman wrote: In reply to Appleseed: or people who drive like they think are cops

Nope. They moved on to P71s and are now moving on to Chargers.

Living in D.C. for the last 16 years it's hard to hate them.

Any particular reason the power rating of the PI Crown Vics is 25 hp lower than that of the Mustang? Is it just marketing to make the Mustang seem faster, kind of like how the Corvette LS1 was rated higher than the F-body LS1? Tune? Exhaust? I know the heads/cams/intake should be identical (except for upper intake pointing the opposite way).

It's not quite as cool to look like an off duty copy anymore. I wouldn't want my kid driving around in one these days.

Because Race Car.

In reply to Will:

Intake tube, throttle body, upper plenum, exhaust manifolds, and exhaust system are all different.