With a budget of about 1k, i was wondering what the BEST performance upgrades would be to boost the TORQUE of my stock EF Futura 4.0L Auto. Killowatts dont interest me too much, TORQUE is far more fun to play with!

Try this out ,

http://www.fordmods.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=66

Shugg

I'd get a stage 2 cam -= all up about $250.00 including new gaskets and that.
Search for secound hand extractors, get them fitted with a simple sport exhaust (no fancy tips or anyhting to cut down costs as you'll need to for a grand) and cat modded to fit.
If you have any money left, which you should have a little bit, K&N pannel filter and Tickford snorkel.
Probably the best bang for a grand, but if you want to take it further, then do stuff properly from the begining - e.g. the grand'll get you a decent exhaust system (Pacey comps, hi flow cat, 2 1/2" mandrell bent with nice tip) OR stage 2 cam, K&N, SS Induction, mandrell bent air intake, Tickford/XR6 ECU.
So it really depends on weather your only planning to ever spend a grand on performance and be done and want best bang for that buck or will be spending more later and what to come out wiht the best results then.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest you rip the head off, shave the head a little bit and fit an AU head gasket.

While the head is off fit some uprated valve springs and find a cam with very big lift, but short duration.

Intake and exhaust mods, while very worthwhile IMO boost peak power more than anything and you won't feel much of a bottom end torque gain with the auto.

See if you can find some second hand extractors, typically the longer the better (for torque).

Should be able to squeeze that work in for around a grand if you can learn how to do it yourself.

I think that many people may disagree with me here, but I know first hand what extractors/exhuast/cam/CAI feel like on an auto - you feel f**k all til it starts to sing.

Cheers

if ya talk to au2low...he can chuck a manual in for a bit ova $1000

Yep, you can contact him through the link in my sig if need be.

yeh manual conversion would be great...only thing im worried about is keeping the car original. im stuck at a point because i dont have any serious cash flowing in, and i dont wanna get stuck putting the manual in cos then the computer plays up or it stuffs up another sensor or anything. i'd rather get an original manual (impossible to find)...are the conversions seemless or would you be able to tell its been converted?? in either looks or performance??

au2low converted mine, you wouldn't know it was an auto...

yeah i converted mine and they "trick" up the ECU so it thinks it is an auto. You will not be able to tell the diff on the outside unless u are a hard shifter but in performance you will notice it HEAPS

yeh im thinkin of going down the conversion path...by the sounds of things.....whats not to like? Any suggestions for places? Ive spoken to AU2LO, but im a savvy shopper, any other places?

i agree with the above