AustinSVT :: SVT of the Month

May 2006 - Luke's 1999 Contour

This 1999 SVT Contour is #2759 of 2760 made for the 1999 production year. (1 of 710 in Amazon Green)

In Jan 2001 Luke went to Covert Ford to look at the last 2000 SVT Contour in Texas; Amazon Green with Tan leather interior. He fell in love with the car. The price had been reduced to about $19-20K. Covert wasn't going to give him a fair trade for my 1999 Taurus SE and he said no deal and gave up.

In November of 2003 Luke sold his 1998 Honda Prelude and happened to be looking in the newspaper and saw a 1999 SVT Contour for sale, Amazon Green and Tan leather interior, 42k miles, $8900. A drive to Cedar Park to meet the owner and inspect the car. At the time, he really didn't have any intention of purchasing it. They went for a short test drive around Lake Line Mall. When he pulled back into his driveway, Luke was convinced that he wanted this car and paid him $8900 the next day for it.

From Nov. 2003 to Mar. 2005 he had put about 25,000 miles on the car. On March 27, 2005 at 67,000 miles Luke pulled the 2.5L HO V6 to begin his 3L swap project. The car went from stock to highly modified all at once. He completed the project in December 2005. All work was done under his carport, living room, kitchen, and all by himself.

As of mayil 5th, 2006, the car has 69,995 miles with ~2,500 miles on the new engine and drivetrain. Currently he still has a few aesthetic mods that he is working on, but overall, he is completely content with the performance and next would like to improve the brakes at some point.

Modifications-

3L Engine Swap from 2003 Mercury Sable
SVT Cams
MSDS Headers
2.5" Stainless mandrel bent exhaust, 3" slash cut stainless tips
Polyurethane filled motor mounts
NGK Iridium plugs
Aluminum underdrive pulleys (Alt and PS)
160 Degree T-stat
Dual Mass Damper
2005 Ford Escape oil pan and baffle
200amp high output alternator

Rebuilt transmission with all updates and revisions from the Cougar and Focus
swapped 4.02:1 final drive for 3.83:1
Ford Racing Torsen Torque Biasing Differential
Fidanza 9.5lbs Lightwieght Aluminum flywheel
Sach's Super Set clutch

Roush Springs
BAT European Struts
Reinforced rear subframe
Roush 21mm rear sway bar
Polyurethane endlink bushings
SS brake lines
European Ford Mondeo ST200 17" x 7" wheels
Nitto NeoGen 215/45-17 tires

No track or dyno numbers yet

-Additional Pictures-