Just purcahsed a 1990 LX 5.0 7-UP Limited.
Emerald Green, Power everything, Turbine style aluminum wheels, white convertiple top.
It's got 100k on the OD.
It was a family car and I am the second owner. The Mom drove it to work and store, the daughter drove it to College until she lost it on some slick roads. The son had it till he was 18 and wanted a new 5.0. They even threw in a little 7-UP dot doll to hang on the mirror.
So, now it's mine, engine is clean, leather is cracked on the seats, new top in Nov of last year. Engine pulls very well, no smoke or leakes at all. I had Flow Masters put on it. Still has the cats installed. It has a few paint problems due to the crappy primer Ford used.
What I'm looking for is a bit more pep from the little 302.
I am looking to put a K&N intake unit on it in the near future, but was asking the group for advise as to what I can add without pulling the engine. Shorty headers are a real option. The factory headers look like someone used a pipe wrench and a hammer to make them fit.

I was given a CPU from a 1993 GT to try in the car, installed it after wrestling the damn thing from the kick panel, didn't change much other than the shift points. I understand that there are CPU's that can add 20% to the performance just as a plug up.

I'm an old SBC Carb guy, these CPU's and FI are Greek to me!

Any advise is appreciated