Everyone's pointing in different directions

[SuiGenris]

So here's my dillemma...
I'm tired of cruising around in a 'nice' http://www.mdneco.com/smile/greddy.gif car. I love my car, I love speed and I'm ready to build a little. After searching around keeping my mouth shut and my ears open I've run across an assortment of options. Each with benifits and drawbacks. I'm just curiuos to see with you guys what is the majority take on improving the performance of Cougars.

I was leaning toward a turbo. Initially, I'll see the most gain in hp/torque and overall perfomance. We're looking at 5k for the kit and another grand for the install so at least 6k to 6.5. And thats just bare minimum running close to what? About 265 horses to the fly-wheel. Does that sound about right? On top of that I'm still gonna need to get SVT Upper and Lower. I've got exhaust, but can't forget about getting a new clutch, or ofcourse a boost controller. I'm just assumming the blow off valuve and oil pan etc. comes with the kit. but like I said initial gain from a stock cougar is from 170hp to 250hp or about right? So we're looking at 7k min. and I have a again of 80 or so horses.

Then I've got the option of 3.0L conversion, which I'd love to do. Hell of alot cheaper, but with lower gains we'll say total I could do it for a grand or 1,100 bucks and with no mods hittin 200 hp. Not too shabby.

Next we have ourselves a supercharger...
just really never been appetized by these puppies...:shrug:

Or I could just piece my 2.5L as close to an SVT as possible...
**** I forgot about the chip...hell add the sport chip on all those too

But no sense buying headers and ill have to ditch my intake if I wind up going for Turbo
BTW: I heard something about an AWD turbo setup? :confused:

Anyway, If i 3.0 convert no need to buy Svt parts...as if that wasn't enough I hear something about Cobra V-8 Swaps:rolleyes:

where to start where to start, soo on the primise of spending no more than 8k what route would net the highest return in performance.

[Fett]

If I were going to drop no more than 8k in my Cougar, I would go 3.0 swap, engine/tranny/drivetrain upgrades, and No2. That will make you pretty quick without the No2, but allow you the ability to spray without worrying about damaging your car.

If you go turbo, that is $6k alone, plus all the upgrades you will need to make to keep your engine and tranny from collapsing. If you go turbo, look at spending at least $10k to do it the right way, if you forego the turbo, then $8k will make you pretty damn quick.

If speed is really what you want, honestly you are driving the wrong car. Go get yourself a 96 Mustang, drop $8k into it and run 12s.

[SuiGenris]

[i]$8k will make you pretty damn quick.

If speed is really what you want, honestly you are driving the wrong car. Go get yourself a 96 Mustang, drop $8k into it and run 12s.

Cool thanks for the in sight. After all these upgrades what kinda of numbers are we talking to the fly wheel? 245? 250? I think those mods themselves would total about the amount of the turbo if not right above. So thats around the area I'm shootin for.

And I agree not the car to be looking at if we want speed, but hell got sup-up what you got. If I coulda gotten a '96 Stang trust me I would have already had her on the strip...

Again thanks Fett...

I'm feelin ya on the advice

[SquamDuck]

Are you looking to drag or autocross? That's a main concern.

Either way, if you run the $8k through the 3.0L buildup + Nitrous, you could probably run atleast 300hp with juice. If you really build up the 3.0, you could go even further with Nitrous, making it a very quick drag car. Not to effective on Autocros, though.

You could just build up a 3.0L real nice, buy a smaller nitrous set up, and have a fast daily driver/auto cross car with the boost for those situations where you just might need it.

You could build up a turbo setup. Running low boost, 6psi-ish, you shouldn't need to spend more than $8k, but that's as you said, probably 240ish whp. If you wanted a real powerful turbo setup, expect closer to 10k+.

You could also do a 3.0L swap, then run a smaller super kit. I'd guess... 260-280whp? That would probably run near $8k.

You have ALOT of options. But, as Fett said, if you wanted something really quick you could buy an older 'Stang and run a twin turbo or massive juice set up. But then you'd be driving a Mustang.

Personally, with my very limited resources, I'll be working my MTX up just a bit. SVT UIM/TB, Intake, Ehxaust, headers, y-pipe. Stop there. Being able to beat up on V6 Mustangs and Camaros, Grand Prix GTs and Monte Carlo SSs is good enough for me. So, there are your options. I might be a little off on costs and horsepower, but that's basically your options.

[IamSPDRCR]

I would spend the money upgrading the drivetrain and then throw in a monster 3.0 with NOS. It's cheaper just as fast and just as safe as any S/C or turbo kit that has been made so far.

[SuiGenris]

Mainly I'm going autocross/daily driving
taking most those I match wheels with on the road if I want...smiling and waving in my rear viewhttp://www.mdneco.com/smile/greddy.gif
Im not going all out until I've got another car or a bike and I don't see that happening anytime soon, so with that in mind.

I think I'm leaning towards the 3.0 swap. The only reason I'm sketchy is because I'm new on the car mod scene, so I'm trying to do as much research on each topic, while understanding basic engine composition on the side.

Ive got to stay within reasonable budget, but, ofcourse i want lots of power, so what I'll do is more research and instead of tieing up an entire thread with my lack of knowledge Ill either come back with more understanding or Ill break down and pm someone, be ignorant in private. :flushed:

Thanks for the tips you guys and if you have anymore please send them my way

[Blackcoog]

If you do a 3.0L swap right and get a good port and polish job on the 2.5L SVT heads with SVT cams you can have a high compression engine and have good hp NA which is what I have. Go just straight 3.0L swap with all 3.0L parts including 3.0L heads and you can put Nitrous in it or run a turbo later on. I think a 3.0L is a better and cheaper way to go.

[Furious1]

Just wanted to clear up that with an intake, SVT UIM and TB, and an exhaust the Street Flight Turbo should give you ~265HP at the wheels, not at the crank. Nitrous kits are nice, but also a bill for the life of the car since you need to refill as you use it. With the Turbo, the power is always there. Either build up a 3.0L (should be cheaper) or stay 2.5L and go with Turbo.

[IamSPDRCR]

but also a bill for the life of the car since you need to refill as you use it.

A good NOS setup is not any harder then a turbo or S/C.

[reptar]

Keep in mind, if you do plan to autocross, all of the above modifications mentioned will bump you into the Street Modified class, where you'd be competing against trailered race cars... at least that's the way the SM class usually looks around Detroit.

[FastCougar]

I had my ZEX kit for 1 full year before I had to sell it (sold the car). During that time, I probably filled the bottle 20-22 times at the tune of $45 a fill up ... do the math ... that's $900-990! It's VERY addicting and unless it was a pure drag car, I wouldn't bother with it again unless you just plan to get into the throttle every now and then.

[sonza68]

There is something you may want to look into concerning autoX and nitrous. I don't know about other regions, but in St. Louis, cars present at an autocross event are not allowed to have a nitrous bottle. You can have the hook-up, but you are required to leave the bottle at home if you plan to run. Even if the car is only there as a spectator, if they see the bottle, you will not be allowed on the site (something to do with their insurance).

[Furious1]

Originally posted by: IamSPDRCR

but also a bill for the life of the car since you need to refill as you use it.

A good NOS setup is not any harder then a turbo or S/C.

??? I wasn't talking about it being harder or easier than a Turbo whatsoever. I was talking Benjamins $$$.