First Mustang. I have power goals and need advice.

[nv40]

Let me ask this. Why is your goal a peak HP number for a street car? Plenty of 3-400rwhp cars out there that are tons of fun to hop in and drive. Don't let the videos with the 1000+rwhp cars out there make you think that's the only way to have a car that's fun to drive. Give me a solid 350hp car I can beat the shit out of anytime as much as I want instead of an 7-800hp egg shell motor that cost a small fortune to maintain.

I forgot to mention that your post above made a lot of sense and helped change my mind on a turbo/charger setup.

I would rather get the car together faster..have some fun with it..and then figure out if I want more later. Thanks.

[AMJ]

Okay..let me go back then. I'm sure the ls1 mod is nice, from the sound of it, however I want 100% pure Ford power.

Just out of curiosity...aren't ls1 motors like really expensive? especially doing a swap? How could that possibly get me 400 RWHP cheaper than a pushrod motor using used parts?


Anyway..getting off topic...really hoping for some people with this combo who can chime in..anybody?

fuck a LS1 id go 5.3 or 6.0 LQ4 theyre cheaper than the LS1 for 1,the 5.3 can make damn near as much hp,2the 6.0 LQ4 will surpass both with l92s and a TSP 228 jus sayin lol

[AMJ]

Thank you..and thanks to everyone else for the help. I think I finally settled on what I want to do based on first hand video and pictures from a friend of a friend. I wasn't aware of how many cars he has built until I went to see some video and info on some recent builds.

This was his suggestion, and probably the direction I will take until I get tired of the build and go all out turbo with a rock solid bottom end. His suggestion:

1. Grab the AFR heads and throw them on stock,
2. Find a cheap 331 stroker kit..something in the $800 range, doesnt matter if it is forged since I wont add a power adder.
3. Balance the bottom end and throw it together with 10.5:1 pistons
4. Mild port work on lower intake
5. Trick flow cam
6. decent TB, cold air, pulleys, BBK long tubes and exhaust.

He swears he has done 3 builds just like this and with some cleanup on the suspension, a good driver, and tires, the car should pull low 12's all day long...slap a 100 shot on it if I want to see mid 11's, which is good enough for me I think.


After looking..the turbo is nice, but a lot of extra cost and I cant afford to do a proper bottom end to hold it right now.

Gonna take a while to get it all going, but I will be sure to post my final results so maybe someone new like myself can learn from my mistakes.

Thanks again guys.

stay 302 buy some pistons thatll get you 10.5:1 with the afrs,get a n-41,edelbrock performer rpmII or tfs track heat intake 70mm throttle body with matching egr spacer,long tubes,eliminate all emissions bullshit,pulleys,c.a.i.,suspension,trans built,gears.ive seen a guy pull the front wheels in a stock parted motor.he cut 1.5's on motor and a best of 1.43 on the jug.

[nv40]

stay 302 buy some pistons thatll get you 10.5:1 with the afrs,get a n-41,edelbrock performer rpmII or tfs track heat intake 70mm throttle body with matching egr spacer,long tubes,eliminate all emissions bullshit,pulleys,c.a.i.,suspension,trans built,gears.ive seen a guy pull the front wheels in a stock parted motor.he cut 1.5's on motor and a best of 1.43 on the jug.

I dont plan on much, if at all, track time..why do you suggest getting a tranny built? Is a t-5 not good for 400 flywheel HP? (for street use, and no slicks of course).

[AMJ]

the stock t-5 IF taken care of will take some abuse,but its not an if it breaks its a when is it going to break.there have been ppl that have dumped the clutch at 6k and the trans lived thereve been ppl drivin down the road getin after it and they break the t-5.its better to know its gonna take the abuse your gonna give it.just my .02

[nv40]

In a full weight car with that above combo slapped together with nothing checked, no suspension, old bald tires, no tuning, with a shitty driver, then yeah that's about right.

If you spend some good money on the heads (great valve job, valve springs, mill them to get the CR up), have a the proper cam picked and installed correctly, do some common sense clean-up on the intake, large TB, (don't buy into a "too big of a TB will make it lazy" idea) tune it right, and go with some 4:10 gears, it will run hard and surprise the shit out of folks with what you have.

Could you provide a little detail into what suspension work you are saying I should do. I assume you arent talking about all kinds of crazy race shocks and stuff for a car that will see barely, if any, track use.

[PUSHROD]

Man I have 331 in my 93 hatch with slapped together used parts that makes over 380 hp 380 tq. All TFS stuff though with a Anderson cam. Pretty fun car to go out and beat up on. You have different combos to reach your goal, should be easily reached.

[jw33]

At a bare minimum here's what I would do. Maximum Motorsport full legnth subframes, replace the rear lower control arms with MM XD arms, replace the upper control arm rubber bushings, and then save up for one of the MM starter boxes that has springs, struts, shocks, caster/camber plates ect. Yes, those above parts are more money than other brands, but they are some of the best quality out there for a road car and will make a huge difference in how it drives.

[nv40]

At a bare minimum here's what I would do. Maximum Motorsport full legnth subframes, replace the rear lower control arms with MM XD arms, replace the upper control arm rubber bushings, and then save up for one of the MM starter boxes that has springs, struts, shocks, caster/camber plates ect. Yes, those above parts are more money than other brands, but they are some of the best quality out there for a road car and will make a huge difference in how it drives.

Interesting...thank you. I will look into the products you suggested. I will probably be working on the motor the most, get it driving, and then slowly work on suspension/comfort/etc.

Thanks for the input.

[nv40]

Man I have 331 in my 93 hatch with slapped together used parts that makes over 380 hp 380 tq. All TFS stuff though with a Anderson cam. Pretty fun car to go out and beat up on. You have different combos to reach your goal, should be easily reached.

Would you mind telling me where you got your stroker kit from?

I have been looking at this kit..but ant find many reviews:

http://www.rpmmachine.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2803

[jw33]

Interesting...thank you. I will look into the products you suggested. I will probably be working on the motor the most, get it driving, and then slowly work on suspension/comfort/etc.

Thanks for the input.

I would do the same. It will be fun to get it running with the stuff on it now and then be able to feel the improvement in brakes/suspension as you change things.