Hey guys I got a question here that has been on my mind for quite some time. I am wondering what engines they are using in a typical cop car these days. I am assuming they are sbc 350's but I would like to know more info of these engines as to the cam specs and any other mods that the engines might have. I know around here (Vancouver, Canada) the cop cars you most commonly see are Crown Victorias. I have really seen them haul pretty fast so I am assuming they aren't just stock under the hood. Any info here would be much appreciated and hopefully settle my curiousity.
For the most part they are just stock under the hood. Heavier suspension, cooling, brakes, and such are the norm, but by enlarge they use and have always used factory engines.
just civilian cars with extra chassis parts such as rear sway bar and better springs and bigger brakes, and usually better axle ratio
otherwise pretty much a basic civilian car, also like a civilian car wih trailer package like the old caprices could have ordered. whoich included the bigger 8.5" axle with a rear sway bar and the bigger brakes and heavier springs.
same engines trannies etc as a civvy.
taxi 9C6 package is/was same deal as the 9C1 package really.
I checked with a friend of mine at pinal county maintenance garage- he assures me chevy cop cars
have had engine modifications from the factory.he won't
tell what was done, but claims if you ordered stock parts
there is a difference. you can buy old cop cars at auction
cheep. taxicabs are usually old cop cars.
I checked with a friend of mine at pinal county maintenance garage- he assures me chevy cop cars
have had engine modifications from the factory.he won't
tell what was done, but claims if you ordered stock parts
there is a difference. you can buy old cop cars at auction
cheep. taxicabs are usually old cop cars.
Your friend is mistaken, since not even the police are exempt from federal emissions certification requirements. By the way, the last Chevy cop CAR (as opposed to SUV) with a V8 was built in 1996.
Hey guys I got a question here that has been on my mind for quite some time. I am wondering what engines they are using in a typical cop car these days. I am assuming they are sbc 350's but I would like to know more info of these engines as to the cam specs and any other mods that the engines might have. I know around here (Vancouver, Canada) the cop cars you most commonly see are Crown Victorias. I have really seen them haul pretty fast so I am assuming they aren't just stock under the hood. Any info here would be much appreciated and hopefully settle my curiousity.
Back in the Muscle Car days, LAPD ran full tilt 442 Oldsmobiles with full cages inside. Between Nam assignments, I was on the 5 heading for downtown from El Toro when one of these rolled by (first time I saw one) it looked like a NASCAR late model stocker done in cop colors. What the????? was that! I was in my breathed on 66 GTA, when he lit 'em up and hit the lights while in the lane next to me. Pretty impressive departure, I'll tell ya. I don't think today's cop cars are so radical, but I haven't been in LA for a number of years either.
As a city mechanic I'll tell it ain't a secret.The Crown Vics a re standard 2 valve 4.6l with generally a 3.55 posi rear, heavy duty cooling system, oil cooler, aluminum drive shaft, bigger sway bars, better brakes. They are also pretty light compared to their civvy counterpart with much less sound deadning insulation and spartan interior with rubber floor mats.They also have the speed limiter in the ecm turned off wheras most vehicles today are limited to 118 or so in the factory pcm these are not.Hint: You will never see a factory vehicle that can out run it's stock tires speed rating the liability would kill them..
Back in the Muscle Car days, LAPD ran full tilt 442 Oldsmobiles with full cages inside. Between Nam assignments, I was on the 5 heading for downtown from El Toro when one of these rolled by (first time I saw one) it looked like a NASCAR late model stocker done in cop colors. What the????? was that! I was in my breathed on 66 GTA, when he lit 'em up and hit the lights while in the lane next to me. Pretty impressive departure, I'll tell ya. I don't think today's cop cars are so radical, but I haven't been in LA for a number of years either.
I can confirm this story. A friend of mine in the SoCal chapter of the Olds Club of America worked in the LAPD motor pool at the time and has personal knowledge of 1966 Olds police cars (four doors) with the 400 motor and tripower (which was a factory available option that year). That was pre-EPA and those cars were modified.
Having said that, I stick my earlier statement that today, federal emissions laws do not allow police departments to run engines that are not emissions certified to the same standards as any other passenger car.
As for the person from Pinal County who claims otherwise, I'll believe it when I see real part numbers. Until then, it's an urban myth. I don't understand the supposed secrecy. Dodge, as an example, has been completely public about their police packages. The Hemi Charger is a favorite. It does not use any parts that are not available to the general public. Same for the Crown Vics.
Now, it is well documented that the early 90s Caprice 9C1 cars with TBI did get higher flow rate injectors that pedestrian cars (65 lb/hr vs. 55 lb/hr), but anyone can go to a Chevy parts counter and buy them.
I checked with a friend of mine at pinal county maintenance garage- he assures me chevy cop cars
have had engine modifications from the factory.he won't
tell what was done, but claims if you ordered stock parts
there is a difference. you can buy old cop cars at auction
cheep. taxicabs are usually old cop cars.
Sorry... might have been some rare occasions in the 60s where they ordered higher HP engines for the cop cars, but there was nothing special. Just one of the stock powerplants. No secrets special "cop" engines.
Ever since the 70s, all cop cars have had civilian engines. Period.
I remember on one of those "COPS" shows they had a sheriff talking about how the police versions have those special engines :nono: Even the cops think there is something different about their cruisers.
Police versions are limited to suspension, electrical, a few extra fluid coolers, some HD components, but otherwise they are just plain old crown vics and caprices. My Uncle has always bought ex cop cars and old fire/police vehicles. His Diplomat had a plain 2-bbl 318 with a 727 tranny. His 9C1 caprice had a plain LO5 TBI, then his later Caprice had the same 260-hp LT1 that my 96 SS has. His crown vic has a normal 2-valve 4.6L.
I remember a college professor telling my class about when He ran a plymouth
dealership they had a bunch of Fury station wagons that were not moving. He
saw a bid request from the state police- swapped hemi's into them and won
the bid- wonder what ever happened to those cars......
He used it as an example of how careful you must be in bid specs- I guess
the police were not happy when they saw them but loved them when they
had them for awhile. Imagine being pulled over by a station wagon....Jim
Back yard mechanics playing with their cruisers either. In the 80's here in VA they where cracking down on drug trafficing on I-81 and I know for a fact that there where several quietly modified chase cars running around here. With todays computors and upgradable programs I would think there are a few hotter than stock cruisers out there.
Motorola is tough but you better be prepared if wanted to play with these guys. :nono: Don't ask how I know this one. These things they had would really get under your skin when you heard them at a stop light.
It just so happens that I have an 88 caprice the cop/taxi version. I agree with the other posts about the performance or lack of in these vehicles. I can not say with 100% certainty but real close to it. That in 88 if you went into the dealer to purchase a caprice it was a 305 and it was fuel injected.Now my 88 came from the factory with a 350 4bbl carb although it does have some computer stuff on it. That is the only thing other then the suspension and the like upgrades as mentioned earlier. Oh yeah and my speedo reads 120 not 85 and it is stamped certified on the instrument cluster from the factory. The speedo also reads 3 mph slower then stock.
What moves a cop car ?? speeders, drunks, and cell phone users .. others should be removed cause they are just too stupid to drive.
Forget about the ability to vote with a clue ..... hope that answers a few of the questions regarding moving a cop car .... OH yeah forgot the family violence option most active on weekends ....
I just got my brand new 09 vic, it's the exact same car they've made for the last 10 years. It's not the fastest car and it is a bone stock 4.6 with the only mod engine wise being the removal of the speed limiter. A hypertech programmer will wake it up a tad, don't ask me how I know. Suspension wise it does have some beefed up parts and handles pretty well. Over the last few years I've drivin every recent squad car made. The Charger's with the Hemi's are fast but the brakes are terrible, I've had to discontinue my response several times on hot call's due to bad brake fade, I've litterally had to down shift the auto trans to get the car to stop. The V6 Chargers were plagued with trans problems and overheating. The Intrepids had the same brake problem and have been know to catch fire from the heat. The 3.8 Impala is a hunk of crap, no power, no handling, and various trim and body panels have a tendency to fall off while driving down the road. Oh, and no cup holders either, they're just as important as my gun and cuffs. The best squad car made (in the last 15 years at least) has got to be the Caprice with the LT1 from the Impala. Those cars were insane fast and handled pretty well for a cop car. They'd do every bit of 145 mph. I hated to see the last of those go. There is a big push for a turbo diesel squad car which I think would be an awsome ride given the recent advances in diesel performance.
It gives all pertinent information on vehicles being offered for law enforcement applications, including test results.
It's interesting that the Crown Vic Police Interceptor has a top speed of only 128mph, where my old '94 Impala SS (LT1) tops out at 154mph.
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