Ok, so I've been lurking on the forums here since I bought my car back in February, and I've recently started posting. For the most part the forums are great. Lot's of information, and very knowledgable people on here. That's the main reason I haven't needed to post much, because if I search, I can find 99% of the information I'm looking for already. But there is one thing that bothers me, and I see it in like a third of the posts I read in the v6 forums. It's that the answer to every question about making someone's v6 faster is to sell it and by a GT.....

Now, I do understand that the GT is a better platform to work with, undoubtedly....but for some, the v6 was the better option, whether it be pricewise, or availability, or both. Is there some place where v8's are magically closer in price to the v6's, so much so that selling one for the other is plausible? I mean, for example: I paid 4k for my v6.....and I did want a v8, but they were all going for 10k and up around here... So, hypothetically, if I were to add a supercharger, gears, lsd, tune, hell even a shot of nitrous, I figure that'd be approx another 5k right? So for about 1k less than the v8, wouldn't the v6 be faster? Or is my math way off? I mean, I'm just tired of seeing everyone bash the v6's, even in our own section of the forum. I mean, aren't the RB26's a great platform to work with too? What's to bad about a 6 cylinder engine that would make it worthless to work on?

So the question is this....is this car really as crappy as everyone makes it seem? I mean, I hate the handling, but it does beat the hell out of my neon or eclipse in every other area....eventually I'd like to go the FI route, but if you all can show me that it wouldn't be worth it, then maybe I'll just wait to graduate college and buy my dream car instead.Oh, and please no ricer comments because of the RB26 mention, I've seen that word thrown around a bit too freely as well.....anyways, thanks for reading my little rant, and I hope to hear some good responses.

The V6 is worth it with the right amount of money and knowledge. It's just that if you take a V6 and a GT, dump say, $3000 into both, which will be faster?

Here's the question: Do you like your V6? If so, then it's worth it.

In all honesty, a GT vs my v6 in auto-x, with the same amount of mods as me, is going to have a very difficult time keeping up on a tight course. The V6 is superior in a slight few ways over the V8, and the main one is weight balance. With a better balance, the car is able to handle better in the corners. This is what I mainly use mine for.

Now forthe price, I paid a mere $7500 for my '02, the closest GT in similar shape was going for $18,000. And I could only find a handful of decent ones in all of Houston.

Ryan

ORIGINAL: RyansQuick6

In all honesty, a GT vs my v6 in auto-x, with the same amount of mods as me, is going to have a very difficult time keeping up on a tight course. The V6 is superior in a slight few ways over the V8, and the main one is weight balance. With a better balance, the car is able to handle better in the corners. This is what I mainly use mine for.

Now forthe price, I paid a mere $7500 for my '02, the closest GT in similar shape was going for $18,000. And I could only find a handful of decent ones in all of Houston.

Ryan


Auto-X a V6 will have an advantage. But in straight line racing, which most of us here are concerned with, the GT with the same mods as the V6 will beat the V6. Hell, a stock GT could beat a pretty modded V6 in a straight line race.

of course a modded GT will be a modded 6, assuming equal mods. however the GT starts out at a higher price so your comparison isn't really that valid. for comparable miles and comparable wear the 6 will be cheaper than the V8. i like my 6 and it's easy to work on and fun to mod. when i get out of college i might get a GT, but then again with gas at $3 a gallon I might keep the six as my toy and get something more practical for daily driving.

bet ur stock gt wont beat my v6 [sm=nxsmile.gif][8D]

I understand that given the same mods, of course a GT will beat a 6. I was just wondering why everyone was always suggesting that the first mod should be to replace the v6 with a GT....I mean for the price the v6 seems like a pretty nice car. And the money spent to make up for the difference in getting a GT could be used to mod the hell out of it and ultimately make it faster than a GT. So why then, do people always suggest going with the GT? I know it sounds a hell of a lot better, but that can't be it? Surely that wouldn't justify another 6 or 7 grand.....

Life is not just stoplight to stoplight or 1/4 mile flat-out (unless you like attention from the man). Life is balance. I put a couple grand worth of parts & my own sweat into my '99 V6 to make it this: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2660672
Weight balance & handling was one of your points of concern, right? Adding some GT-beating handling parts (springs/shocks/swaybar/rims/tires/brakes) still won't make any V6 equal the entry-price of a GT. I agree that the accelleration still isn't that of a same-year GT, but the power & handling of my '99 are greater than the previous-generation GT's. I can enjoy crisp accelleration, but still get 30 MPG on any stretch of highway. When the road gets twisty, the handling istight & has less front-end plow than a GT. The feel isn't like any front-wheel-drive, but that's part of the allure of a Mustang.
I know the 4.6 is always ahead in stock HP, but there are areas where the 3.8 is superior ... the timing gear teeth are synthetic on the 4.6while the 3.8 ones are metal. The Ford service bulletin wants you to replace these (on the GT)every 50K, while they only state that you should check the 3.8 ones after 100K. How many GT's are out there with over 100K with the stock timing gears (worn/waiting to break) and being raced today?
Power-adders are nice, but I still believe in bang-for-the-buck. You can't beat the overall package of a V6 Mustang ... good accelleration, moderate handling (some front-end plow, but that's a 'safety feature' to scare you into slowing down) and good brakes.
A V6 still will never sound like a V8 ... and you can't beat the growl of an American V8. That's the allure of the ponycar & if it's what really matters in your heart, don't even try to make a V6 pony up to a V8.

It's not even that the GT is a good platform, because quite frankly it's not. The 2v engine doesn't respond very well to mods, so if you are planning on doing anything to your car you should probably go 4v (assuming money isn't an option). It all depends on what you want from your car.

ORIGINAL: 02 Stang

It's not even that the GT is a good platform, because quite frankly it's not. The 2v engine doesn't respond very well to mods, so if you are planning on doing anything to your car you should probably go 4v (assuming money isn't an option). It all depends on what you want from your car.


I love when V6 owners say "It's only a 2v GT" or "The 2v isn't that great", when the 3.8 is a 2v engine also.

Just curious Xemeth, but have you ever owned a v6? I see your sig says you own a GT, I wanted someones insight who has owned both, maybe they could make more sense of this.....

ORIGINAL: Willem_Black

Just curious Xemeth, but have you ever owned a v6? I see your sig says you own a GT, I wanted someones insight who has owned both, maybe they could make more sense of this.....

yes..he has had a v6 and now he's got a gt

you can make any car fast, i know a guy with a motor/turbo swaped festiva that would probably kill my car. it all depends on your goal, and budget. as long as you are happy with the car thats all that matters:D

Ok, so then I should really be asking you Xemeth....was it really worth it? I mean, do you think that my way of thinking is way off base here? Couldn't someone just use the money saved on a v6 to mod it and make it a pretty good car performance wise? And by pretty good, I don't mean it will handle like an R34 or beat a vette in a 1/4 mile any time soon. I just mean, when it boils down to simple economics, isn't is possible to turn a v6 into a fairly nice car with the money saved? Or do you think that it is better to just give up and go on to a v8? Why did you switch? And do you have any regrets?

ORIGINAL: Willem_Black

Ok, so then I should really be asking you Xemeth....was it really worth it? I mean, do you think that my way of thinking is way off base here? Couldn't someone just use the money saved on a v6 to mod it and make it a pretty good car performance wise? And by pretty good, I don't mean it will handle like an R34 or beat a vette in a 1/4 mile any time soon. I just mean, when it boils down to simple economics, isn't is possible to turn a v6 into a fairly nice car with the money saved? Or do you think that it is better to just give up and go on to a v8? Why did you switch? And do you have any regrets?


The V6 is worth it, but for what I wanted to do it wasn't. I wanted a manual car, and swapping the auto out would have costed more money than just getting a new car, plus it saved me the headache of sitting under a car for 8+hours in my driveway. And performance wise, depending on the deal you find, it could cost less to just buy a GT than to get the V6 to 230ish rwhp. Plus the GT has a V8, which is always a plus. My insurance went up a whopping $21/month, and I actually get better gas mileage. I have no regrets.

mustangs in general are known for many things, one of those things isn't auto-x. i never really saw the point in buying a mustang and making it an auto-x beast. people like playing on the streets, but you're more likely to play in a straight line more than you're willing to go on a windy road where you're more likely to crash. :D

ORIGINAL: nanaki

mustangs in general are known for many things, one of those things isn't auto-x. i never really saw the point in buying a mustang and making it an auto-x beast. people like playing on the streets, but you're more likely to play in a straight line more than you're willing to go on a windy road where you're more likely to crash. :D



+1

I'd buy a roadster for Auto-X if I were into it.

I've gone over it a few times with some of our wonderful V8 owners here. Dollar for dollar - if you know what you are doing, the V6 will SMOKE a V8 Mustang in any type of race....1/8, 1/4, auto x, road course etc.....

of course it will. everyone knows a v6 responds the best to mods and boltons.:D

i'm totally selling my GT

I've sold 2 fox V8s while hanging onto the V6. ;)

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

I've gone over it a few times with some of our wonderful V8 owners here. Dollar for dollar - if you know what you are doing, the V6 will SMOKE a V8 Mustang in any type of race....1/8, 1/4, auto x, road course etc.....




That doesn't make any sense. They both take similarly to mods. Think about it.

If you take a 2002 V6 with 190 hp and 220 ft/lbs of torque, and spend say $3500 on a 9 psi Procharger, you'll make about 285ish rwhp/torque.

If you take a 2002 GT with 260 hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque, and spend $3500 on a 9 psi ProCharger, you'll make about 350rwhp/torque.

Your arguement doesn't make any sense. I don't know why you think the V6 is sooo much better than the V8.

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.

I see where he's coming from dollar for dollar wise, since it's really easy to find a v6 dirt cheap, espescially 94-95's with blown motors, and then drop in a stroker 4.3 or something and come out waaay ahead as opposed to getting a GT, but it's an argument that can go around in circles, so it's really rediculous to waste time arguing about it.

I have both a V6 and a GT, and I honestly consider doing bigger things to my six as opposed to my GT out of the fun factor. To me it's more fun to take something that isn't as popular and make it do great things. I'd probably do a stroker in my 6 before my GT even though they cost about the same. But to each his own I guess.

Ryan

i'd probably mod the hell out of my v6 if i still had it too. it's more of a shock for people to get beat by "just a 6er" than it is to get beat by a GT. "You only beat me cause you have a v8!"

ORIGINAL: nanaki

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.


Like I said....RIGHT parts.

I can find 94-98 V6 Mustangs all over for $3000 (and that's HIGH end). For$300 you get a Super Coupe bottom end (now you're fully forged, low compression and are running a blower cam all at once). I've got less than $2000 inmy M112blower set up. Spend another $300 on a GT take off 8.8. Now you've spent $5600 hundred. Dyno tune... say $500 average. So that's a grand total of $6100 and you are now making Well over 400 hp/tq to the wheels.

Now, tell me how to do than in your SN95 V8. If you can, I'll give props.

I didn't say take a V6 and a V8 and spend the same to mod them. Dollar for dollar from zero, the V6 wins.

That's exactly what I've been saying to myself the whole time LilRoush, with the money saved on getting a v6, you could spend to mod it and end up just as fast if not faster than a GT. Although in Xemeth's situation it did make more sense because of the trannie swap to just get a GT. To each his own I guess, was never really looking to start another arguement on here, just curious as to why people felt the way they did about the two cars. I think I'll stick with my v6, since I dont' really have any big plans for it. I think my biggest goal would be to go FI in the next year and try to reach 300hp. And I think that with the money I've saved going the cheap route with the v6, I should be able to reach that.

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

ORIGINAL: nanaki

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.


Like I said....RIGHT parts.

I can find 94-98 V6 Mustangs all over for $3000 (and that's HIGH end). For$300 you get a Super Coupe bottom end (now you're fully forged, low compression and are running a blower cam all at once). I've got less than $2000 inmy M112blower set up. Spend another $300 on a GT take off 8.8. Now you've spent $5600 hundred. Dyno tune... say $500 average. So that's a grand total of $6100 and you are now making Well over 400 hp/tq to the wheels.

Now, tell me how to do than in your SN95 V8. If you can, I'll give props.

I didn't say take a V6 and a V8 and spend the same to mod them. Dollar for dollar from zero, the V6 wins.


so you can provide links to places who sell the aforementioned parts, such as the 300 dollar forged bottom end, the 300 dollar 8.8, and your complete blower setup for 2000? not to mention a shop that will do the bottom end and diff swap for free, since the average joe doesnt have the know how to get an engine out of the car, let alone change the rotating assembly.

i could get a gt35r and a fuel mgmt system from a friend of mine who has stuff laying around for free and i would make at least 400awhp, but that doesnt mean that its free for the average person to do the same thing. my white car is making around 370 to the wheels on 87 octane...running low 12s, and i have less than 5000 in the entire car, but that doesnt mean that anyone can run right out and copy my build for the same price...

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

ORIGINAL: nanaki

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.


Like I said....RIGHT parts.

I can find 94-98 V6 Mustangs all over for $3000 (and that's HIGH end). For$300 you get a Super Coupe bottom end (now you're fully forged, low compression and are running a blower cam all at once). I've got less than $2000 inmy M112blower set up. Spend another $300 on a GT take off 8.8. Now you've spent $5600 hundred. Dyno tune... say $500 average. So that's a grand total of $6100 and you are now making Well over 400 hp/tq to the wheels.

Now, tell me how to do than in your SN95 V8. If you can, I'll give props.

I didn't say take a V6 and a V8 and spend the same to mod them. Dollar for dollar from zero, the V6 wins.


woah, slow down there. I need the details on that. I'd gladly save up 4 grand to drop on my car if that owuld put it over 400rwhp/tq. Could you pm me the details on that, this may be worth looking in to.

If you can't swap a motor, you shouldn't be trying to build a 400 hp car. Period. You need the knowledge to run something like that....otherwise (in my opinion), you'd just another fool off the street trying to be cool.

A used Thunderbird Super Coupe short block can be found at many junkyards all over the US. You can also watch the SC forums (there are several). There is no need to pull internals or swap rotating assemblies. It's a direct motor swap. The SC motor has a low compression forged set up with a blower specific cam. Unbolt the tranny, unhook the wiring harness and various lines, unbolt the motor from the mounts and lift it up and out.

Finding an 8.8 is as easy as watching both local forums and junk yards. Again, it's a simple swap. If you can turn a wrench, you can swap an axle. Take off the wheels, unhook the rear brakes, unbolt the lower shock mount, unbolt the drive shaft, unbolt the upper/lower control arms.... drop axle out and reverse it to install the new one.

My blower set up is a basic boxed upper intake with an M112 on top. I've picked up several M112's for $250-$300. The boxed upper I've offer to be made fairly cheap. Fuel upgrades are take off "junk" parts from 03/04 Cobras that you can almost get free from a Cobra owner who is upgrading. Again, surf some specific forums (like svtperformance.com or ebay).

ROTM: you say your "white car"....sorry I'm not too familiar with other members cars yet. What year is it? I assume an SN95 since that is what we are comparing? I listed average prices from across the US. I'm sure I could do it cheaper if I looked harder. But that wouldn't make for a fair comparison at all. I guy I'm doing a car for here locally just picked up a SC long block and the M90 blower set up for $300 total. I didn't say everyone could do it like that, but it does happen. it gives the advantage of SC heads to, which run an upgraded valve trains as well. When tossed together with some port work, he'll see close to 380 at the wheels with less than $800 total spent (aside from the car itself).

their is a sticky over at 3.8 mustang

a new v6 costs x amount
a new gt costs x amount

and that if u take that differance between the two and put it into the v6 the v6 would win so money for money a v6 is faster

but if you get an older v8 you can get it cheaper. i bought my fox for $1,400! pretty good bang for my buck i think. i guess i don't have a point to this argument except............V8 FTW!

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

ORIGINAL: nanaki

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.


Like I said....RIGHT parts.

I can find 94-98 V6 Mustangs all over for $3000 (and that's HIGH end). For$300 you get a Super Coupe bottom end (now you're fully forged, low compression and are running a blower cam all at once). I've got less than $2000 inmy M112blower set up. Spend another $300 on a GT take off 8.8. Now you've spent $5600 hundred. Dyno tune... say $500 average. So that's a grand total of $6100 and you are now making Well over 400 hp/tq to the wheels.

Now, tell me how to do than in your SN95 V8. If you can, I'll give props.

I didn't say take a V6 and a V8 and spend the same to mod them. Dollar for dollar from zero, the V6 wins.


Challenge taken, however, I'm gonna use the sn955.0 GT instead of the 2V 4.6L GT.

347 street forged stroker engine pro built and balanced from www.haneymotorsports.com (http://www.haneymotorsports.com) $2000
GT-40 Twist Flow Aluminum Heads w/ assembled valvetrain- $1200 (ebay as well as many other places)
GT-40 Cobra Intake Manifold (used) - $400 (and that's giving some) ebay
Performance Products 75mm Throttle Body - $140 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)
F-303 cam - $200 NEW www.summitracing.com (http://www.summitracing.com)
42lb injectors - $150 (depending on store) www.americanmuscle.com (http://www.americanmuscle.com)
255lb hr holley fuel pump - $120 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)
Kirbane adjustable fuel pressure regulator - $100 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)

Do a basic home made port job - $0
Do the basic needed install work on the new engine - $0

Total = approx $4310
Est. RWHP = approx 375+

Buy a used/rebuilt Paxton, Vortec, Powerdyne, etc. S/C = $1200-2000, so let's just say $1600

New Total = approx $5910
Est. RWHP = 550

Much more mods, for a less cost, and considering the old sn-95 will cost less than a V6 unless you either get riped off, or get a hell of a deal, the dolar to dolar figures point in the direction that whatever you can do, I can do for the same approx cost.

the way i see it a v6 is just a learning tool, i love learning about my car and how to work on it and see how far i can push it and once ive mastered the v6 ill move on the v8
in my point of view the v6 is exactly what ford said it was "entry level" you move up from there
but thats just my opinion

I did:D
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2538000-2538999/2538403_1_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2485000-2485999/2485403_133_full.jpg

v6 isnt just a learning tool go pick up the newer MMFF last months or this months and read a couple articles

super coup
turboed V6 running 9's
and a 4cyl running 9.1 in the article but is now running 8.9 since the artical


or just look arround the forum LilRoush is a prime example of the V6 being a good platform and not just a stepping stone to some thing better down the road

i realize that, hence the reason i said it was my opinion
i mean dont get me wrong the v6 platform is great and can be a fast car but i still dont see too many lil roushes, most people tend to get a v6 and upgrade to a v8

ORIGINAL: jthorn9

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

ORIGINAL: nanaki

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.


Like I said....RIGHT parts.

I can find 94-98 V6 Mustangs all over for $3000 (and that's HIGH end). For$300 you get a Super Coupe bottom end (now you're fully forged, low compression and are running a blower cam all at once). I've got less than $2000 inmy M112blower set up. Spend another $300 on a GT take off 8.8. Now you've spent $5600 hundred. Dyno tune... say $500 average. So that's a grand total of $6100 and you are now making Well over 400 hp/tq to the wheels.

Now, tell me how to do than in your SN95 V8. If you can, I'll give props.

I didn't say take a V6 and a V8 and spend the same to mod them. Dollar for dollar from zero, the V6 wins.


Challenge taken, however, I'm gonna use the sn955.0 GT instead of the 2V 4.6L GT.

347 street forged stroker engine pro built and balanced from www.haneymotorsports.com (http://www.haneymotorsports.com) $2000
GT-40 Twist Flow Aluminum Heads w/ assembled valvetrain- $1200 (ebay as well as many other places)
GT-40 Cobra Intake Manifold (used) - $400 (and that's giving some) ebay
Performance Products 75mm Throttle Body - $140 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)
F-303 cam - $200 NEW www.summitracing.com (http://www.summitracing.com)
42lb injectors - $150 (depending on store) www.americanmuscle.com (http://www.americanmuscle.com)
255lb hr holley fuel pump - $120 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)
Kirbane adjustable fuel pressure regulator - $100 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)

Do a basic home made port job - $0
Do the basic needed install work on the new engine - $0

Total = approx $4310
Est. RWHP = approx 375+

Buy a used/rebuilt Paxton, Vortec, Powerdyne, etc. S/C = $1200-2000, so let's just say $1600

New Total = approx $5910
Est. RWHP = 550

Much more mods, for a less cost, and considering the old sn-95 will cost less than a V6 unless you either get riped off, or get a hell of a deal, the dolar to dolar figures point in the direction that whatever you can do, I can do for the same approx cost.


Saddly, I am going to slightly agree with jthorn. Lil Roush, you claim that you've sold 2 V8 foxes and kept the V6...Why? Because the V6 is cheaper, and faster? Sorry broham.

While our resident sn95 owner likes to listen to the wrong people, he's at least on the right track. Given the same budget, I would guarantee that I could put 600+ to the tires with a 5.0 car. The difference is that jthorn picked the wrong heads, the VERY wrong cam, and the wrong upper and lower.

A set of use trick flow twisted wedge heads...$800. Would make at least 30+ hp over what he has listed. The holley systemax intake makes 40hp over the Cobra...used...$250. The custom ground .600 lift 234/242 cam thats floating around my garage...$0. Another 25ish hp. (Hey, you got the fuel system for free) Various other parts that if I were to actually put some time into, I'm sure I could find for less bread than what you can do with the V6. Man, it's just not gonna happen. Either you want to go really fast, or you want to be that guy would likes to talk **** with his V6. I usually find the latter to be a bunch of posers. If a V6 was really the way to go fast, everyone would do it. You're hardly an innovator.

Hee............. I just picked the cheaper option, but yea, that set up would be 10X better.:D Don't know why I put F-303 in there, the Comp Cams xtreme lift series would be one of the best to make serrious power, and cost pretty much the same. Dohhh[&:]

Wow, at this rate sideways may actually like me enough to stand mein like 10 billion years.[8D]

ORIGINAL: jthorn9

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

ORIGINAL: nanaki

i've never argued the fact you can make a v6 fast as all hell, but to say that dollar for dollar it's better is just ignorant. unless you're talking about all out drag builds or something. i was thinking the exact same thing as xemeth.


Like I said....RIGHT parts.

I can find 94-98 V6 Mustangs all over for $3000 (and that's HIGH end). For$300 you get a Super Coupe bottom end (now you're fully forged, low compression and are running a blower cam all at once). I've got less than $2000 inmy M112blower set up. Spend another $300 on a GT take off 8.8. Now you've spent $5600 hundred. Dyno tune... say $500 average. So that's a grand total of $6100 and you are now making Well over 400 hp/tq to the wheels.

Now, tell me how to do than in your SN95 V8. If you can, I'll give props.

I didn't say take a V6 and a V8 and spend the same to mod them. Dollar for dollar from zero, the V6 wins.


Challenge taken, however, I'm gonna use the sn955.0 GT instead of the 2V 4.6L GT.

347 street forged stroker engine pro built and balanced from www.haneymotorsports.com (http://www.haneymotorsports.com) $2000
GT-40 Twist Flow Aluminum Heads w/ assembled valvetrain- $1200 (ebay as well as many other places)
GT-40 Cobra Intake Manifold (used) - $400 (and that's giving some) ebay
Performance Products 75mm Throttle Body - $140 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)
F-303 cam - $200 NEW www.summitracing.com (http://www.summitracing.com)
42lb injectors - $150 (depending on store) www.americanmuscle.com (http://www.americanmuscle.com)
255lb hr holley fuel pump - $120 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)
Kirbane adjustable fuel pressure regulator - $100 www.mustangsunlimited.com (http://www.mustangsunlimited.com)

Do a basic home made port job - $0
Do the basic needed install work on the new engine - $0

Total = approx $4310
Est. RWHP = approx 375+

Buy a used/rebuilt Paxton, Vortec, Powerdyne, etc. S/C = $1200-2000, so let's just say $1600

New Total = approx $5910
Est. RWHP = 550

Much more mods, for a less cost, and considering the old sn-95 will cost less than a V6 unless you either get riped off, or get a hell of a deal, the dolar to dolar figures point in the direction that whatever you can do, I can do for the same approx cost.


does that count the cost of the car? Lilroush added 3grand in for buying the car, so techincally he only spent about 3100 on parts to get to 400rwhp. I'd like to see what the sixxer could do with and extra 2800, or what the 5.0 would be with only 3.1k in parts.

ORIGINAL: LilRoush

If you can't swap a motor, you shouldn't be trying to build a 400 hp car. Period. You need the knowledge to run something like that....otherwise (in my opinion), you'd just another fool off the street trying to be cool.

A used Thunderbird Super Coupe short block can be found at many junkyards all over the US. You can also watch the SC forums (there are several). There is no need to pull internals or swap rotating assemblies. It's a direct motor swap. The SC motor has a low compression forged set up with a blower specific cam. Unbolt the tranny, unhook the wiring harness and various lines, unbolt the motor from the mounts and lift it up and out.

Finding an 8.8 is as easy as watching both local forums and junk yards. Again, it's a simple swap. If you can turn a wrench, you can swap an axle. Take off the wheels, unhook the rear brakes, unbolt the lower shock mount, unbolt the drive shaft, unbolt the upper/lower control arms.... drop axle out and reverse it to install the new one.

My blower set up is a basic boxed upper intake with an M112 on top. I've picked up several M112's for $250-$300. The boxed upper I've offer to be made fairly cheap. Fuel upgrades are take off "junk" parts from 03/04 Cobras that you can almost get free from a Cobra owner who is upgrading. Again, surf some specific forums (like svtperformance.com or ebay).

ROTM: you say your "white car"....sorry I'm not too familiar with other members cars yet. What year is it? I assume an SN95 since that is what we are comparing? I listed average prices from across the US. I'm sure I could do it cheaper if I looked harder. But that wouldn't make for a fair comparison at all. I guy I'm doing a car for here locally just picked up a SC long block and the M90 blower set up for $300 total. I didn't say everyone could do it like that, but it does happen. it gives the advantage of SC heads to, which run an upgraded valve trains as well. When tossed together with some port work, he'll see close to 380 at the wheels with less than $800 total spent (aside from the car itself).


If I were to find a super coupe engine somewhere, exactly what all would have to be done to fit it into my mustang? Would it be a direct fit with the tranny and mounts and evrything, or is there lots of fab work involved? I thought the super coupes were supercharged weren't they? So how would swapping the blower on an engine give you that much of a power increase? Does the dyno tune really do that much for it?

I'm also curious, if i were to use all the internals from the thunderbird engine, but still keep my mustang block, how effective woudl that be? Mine is pretty low mileage, and I know how its been cared for, and the prospect of buying a junkyard engine is a bit scary to me.

3K for a sixer, unless it's beat to hell, or owned by a grandmaw there is just no way you're gonna get anything newer than a 98 maybe 97 with 3K. The old 5.0s are a toss up because with what I have listed you could technically buy one for around 3K and be fairly fine as everything engine wise is being replaced and then the tranny, of course, would be next, which is something he forgot about. In any since, the argument is 100% pointless.

ORIGINAL: jthorn9

3K for a sixer, unless it's beat to hell, or owned by a grandmaw there is just no way you're gonna get anything newer than a 98 maybe 97 with 3K. The old 5.0s are a toss up because with what I have listed you could technically buy one for around 3K and be fairly fine as everything engine wise is being replaced and then the tranny, of course, would be next, which is something he forgot about. In any since, the argument is 100% pointless.


+1, pointless arguement. It is cheaper to work with what you have already, whether it be a 5.0, 3.8, 4.6, whatever. Its cheaper to work with what is in there rather then to buy something new, trade for a new car, or swap an engine.

--UNLESS you find heck of a deal to make it worth the trade.

There are a lot of comments beign pushed intot his that aren't valid to the discussion.

5.0L fox V8 cheap ...sure of course. We're not talking fox cars.
SN95 5.0L - come with the same hp/tq as the 4.2L V6 .....ooops... where's the big bad V8?

Let's take that $5910 to get 550 hp number though. It's legit. (Not talking car price or labor since we're assuming we do our own work, just mods)

Let's go high end SClong block$500. 4.2L crank $100 at any junk yard. Home ported heads and lower intake - free. Bigger cam we'll call $350 to be fair. M112 $500 (high end again to be fair). Modified to fit the V6free at home. Boxed upper we'll call $400. MAF, injectors can be picked up for $300 used. Fuel pumps are $250. Full exhuast will run you $400. Clutch that will take the power level will be $400. Tune will be $500.

over 500 for $3700 on a V6.

But there is more budget to play with. I picked up my KB twin screw for $800 used. Replace the smaller injectors with upgrades so add another $200 to their original price for larger units. Larger fuel rail and line will be $300.

So we're sitting at $5000 and flirting with 700hp/tq.