$2500-3000

[PacmanTravis]

Im going to have around 2500-3000 dollars coming in on Friday...and naturally, I am going to spend all of it on my car. What shall I get? I have a KKM intake and a YoDude with dual exhaust. I basically wanna get my car as fast as possible (meaning no cosmetics), like possibly into the 14's..oh yeah...no N20 also. Im gonna get a turbo once hightower's kit gets built. So, please, give me your input.

[Fett]

3.0 TB, upper IM, MAF, gut pre-cats, strenghten tranny.

I just can't imagine getting 3k and dropping all of it into my car, part of me is thinking you are irresponsible...but that is also the same part of me that is jealous. ;)

[ZERO]

SVT upper 250
SVT TB 180
quaife LSD 600
msds headers 600
fidanza flywheel 400
racing clutch 600

thats gonna be like 2630 bucks but your machine will kick i think

[Fett]

Don't forget install cost, unless you do it yourself.

Also, do we have any gutted-precats vs MSDS headers numbers yet?

[PacmanTravis]

i hear that the msds headers wouldnt work well with turbo...that is why i havent gotten them yet.

[Fett]

Oh yea, I forgot you said turbo. Then I would just gut the precats.

[EdgeCat]

If you're gonna turbo the Coug, I'd say #1 mod should be a 3.0L block swap. Why start with 170/165 when you can start with 200/200? :)

[PacmanTravis]

Do the clutch and flywheel make a great deal of a difference?

[nac704]

The flywheel will let the car rev much quicker, and the clutch will help the car "bite" better.

[ZERO]

edge has a pretty good point.. srew the msds headers and get the block conversion... you should see 230 then if you gut the precats

[PacmanTravis]

Compression ration on the 3.0 is high..around 10.something:1. I am going to put a turbo on it remember.

[Afuente]

where can i buy the block conversion from? any idea how much it is? what does it take to install it?

and do gutting the PRECATS actually add horsepower...I've heard pros/cons, need facts.

what else can i do for more horsepower, hopefully SVT TB kit will be installed this weekend.

,Jer

[ZERO]

the throttle body won't really add that much hp without the SVT upper, ya shoudl get better throttle response. i figure since ya got the tb already why not go for th $250 upper at bat while they are still sellin em, now that will guive you some noticable hp.

[Joker]

weapon-r dragon intake for $169 shipped. see chromacougar's site!

i know, iknow, i'm pushin' it, but i would really love to get one :biggrin:

[pgtatx]

Well, put it this way...if you have the $2500-$3000 to spend, and you need none of it to actually live on, or use for gas, then always remember the necessities...You may need tores, brakes, oil change, etc. etc. If something happens who'll take care of it, if you gotta pay...then...well you'd be screwed. Install on many parts will cost alot unloess you can do it yourself.

Now that I said all of that...

use the basic questions:
-Short term (reachable) goals??
-Long term goals, what's the future of the car
-Maintenance issues?
-Streetable car (is it your only car)?
-other stuff...

If you want a turbo, then build up to it. P&P heads and manifolds, fuel system and computer upgrades, exhaust, suspension, brakes, transmission, engine internals, etc...buy them all, and install everything section at a time...all suspension parts, all tranny parts, all engine parts, etc...and you'll save in install charges...then you'll be good to go. I've already spent a helluva lot more thna $2500-$3000, and honestly, it's hard to keep the car street legal, and I often worry about the bad things can happen. SO always keep a little money in your back pocket for the bad things that can happen.

Besides that...good luck...

[PacmanTravis]

I do have money for a "rainy day". I may be 18, but Im not totally irresponsible. My goal is to have my car eventually be in the 13's, if not 12's. I know it's going to take a while..my car is my baby....Im not looking to take out any seats or anything like that. I just want it to be a reliable Mustang GT/Cobra ass whoopin car. Im thinking for right now, going LSD, Flywheel, Clutch, and SVT Upper and TB. Anymore suggestions? How much would install run for the transmission stuff?

[PacmanTravis]

Would I be able to get the 3.0 and get it installed for $3000? If so, I just might do that. If I can get more dont to it with that amount of money (including install), what shall I do?

[SVTKris]

<< Im going to have around 2500-3000 dollars coming in on Friday...and naturally, I am going to spend all of it on my car. >>



hehe, i see a kindrid spirit here i still remember the time i got 10 grand (CAD) to sink into my car, rims, system, NOS, touring wing, suspension and exhaust later i was broke, but happy :biggrin:

also fwiw im pretty sure that the 3.0 lowers compression

[DanN]

If you are really going to blow this on the car and are really going to go turbo, then save the money for doing the whole project CORRECTLY at one time. You will need every penny & alot more...
1) a Bulldog box MTX75 with Quaife is $2500 (+ another $500+ for clutch)
2) a pair of HD halfshafts about $750
3) internal engine mods - billet rods, SHO bearings, forged low CR pistons, some head porting, engine mount upgrades = $3000-$4000+
4) turbo kit/accusump/fuel mgmt/ignition mgnt, cooling & exhaust upgrades = $3500-$5000+
Then save BIG on combo install by a pro like Terry H. = $???

Or, upgrade suspension & brakes first - probably smarter

[PacmanTravis]

I dont plan on running too much PSI. This is a daily driver. Im talking somewhere between 8-12 PSI. The only internal mods I am thinking about doing are taking the dome off of my pistons, and PnP heads. Now, for the 3000 I wanna spend now, including install, im thinking:

Quaife
Racing Clutch and Flywheel
SVT Upper and TB
INSTALL FOR THE ABOVE

Would 3000 be enough for that? Is it too much? Can I do more with the money?

[DanN]

"The only internal mods I am thinking about doing are taking the dome off of my pistons, and PnP heads."

What you describe will entail pulling & tearing down the motor (easily $1500+) which is 1/2 the cost of doing it the correct way. Several Duratec engineers have stated the rods are good for only about 250-260 HP with any longevity (turbo should be at/above this even with low boost). The bearings are iffy at stock power levels due to crank harmonics (see numerous CEG threads). The pistons will be weaker than stock if you grind them. The tranny syncros will be iffy even with the Quaife. So, how long do you want this drivetrain to last while attacking Mustangs????? Are you doing the work yourself - if so it may be no big deal to you to pull everything and throw in a new shortblock or tranny??

[katnyp]

Your talking roughly $2000-2100 in parts, depending on what clutch and flywheel you get. Labor for SVT stuff should be free, it's not hard. I can't quote anyone on labor for the tranny work, but it's a lot of hours. $3k total MIGHT cover you, but I would bet on needing a little more.

[DanN]

Partial retraction, the pistons may be OK milled. Terry H. has apparently discussed this with other persons contemplating forced induction and feels (per the persons he talked to) that the domes are actually quite thick/strong and may work OK if milled. But better rods, bearings - YES!

[PacmanTravis]

Thanks a lot for the help...I think im gonna go mostly transmission work with this check....Quaife, Clutch, Transmission, and SVT Upper/TB. Then, ill save the money for the internals (rods and bearings anf stuff)..and then...TURBO...Woohoo

[PacmanTravis]

Another question....does a racing flywheel actualy increase HP? If so..how much?