Ford Repair: 1989 Crown Victoria, crown vic, stroker kit

Question
I want to get more power. My current research has revealed that I need to put all H.O. parts into my current engine. I need to know that since the H.O. is a "roller block" and mine is not will there be a problem installing all roller parts into my engine. Will I need to change pistons if I decide to turbo? What is a "Stroker Kit"? Basically, what is my best route, fix up the stock 89 crown vic motor into a beast or get a hold of a mustang H.O. or a 351W SEFI setup and beef those up?

Answer
Pat-

  Everything from a roller block will fit a non-roller block except the camshaft.  The reason it's called a "roller" block is because the camshaft is a hydraulic roller design rather than the standard flat tappet design.  All other parts will fit.  You can also swap in a roller cam if you like with a kit sold through Ford Racing Performance Parts.  If you decide to go turbo (though you'd likely have to put the kit together yourself since I'm not aware of anyone making turbo kits for Crown Vics), you should upgrade all internal engine parts...forged pistons, good rods, and maybe an aftermarket crank.  unless you're going for insane numbers the stock crank should be ok, though.  A stroker kit increases the engine's displacement by adding a crankshaft with a longer stroke.  The factory stroke is 3.00" so a 3.25" stroke will give you 331 cubic inches and a 3.4" will give you 347 inches (assuming you do the usual 0.030" overbore when rebuilding the motor, otherwise you get 327 and 342 inches respectively).  A stroker kit works great with aftermarket parts, but won't do much if the upper part of the engine is left stock.  One thing to remember is that when going over 3.25" in stroke will require clearancing the block or else the rods will hit the bottom of the cylinders.  It's nothing terribly complicated, but it will probably have to be done at a machine shop and it's somewhat time consuming.  If it were me building the same car, I would go with a stroker motor (probably a 331) using your current block along with a roller cam conversion kit (roller cams make better power usually and there's a lot more to choose from).  Then I'd get a set of good heads (say...AFR 185s, Canfields, or Edelbrock Performer RPMs), a good intake (either the BBK SSI intake or Holley's Systemax) some good headers with a 2 1/2" exhaust and injectors sized to fit your power level.  Turbo kits are great (I've got one on my 20th Anniversary Mustang) but putting them together from scratch isn't something I'd suggest without a LOT of research.  A supercharger kit would be an easier route, but fitment into that generation of Vic might be tough.  Just forget about nitrous.  It's harder on the engine and it's a pain to refill.  Well...that's my opinion anyway.  Plus it's dangerous if it's not used properly.  if you give me an idea of your power goals I could probably elaborate a little more on what direction to go.  Hope this helps.

Steve