325 HP (HOW MUCH?)

[LJS30]

Okay guys, how much will it cost to get my 88 5.0 HO into the 325 HP range? I know it's all in the heads, thus planning on some good porting and larger valves. So how much?

[NYC LS8]

Leave everything alone and slap a blower on there - instant 325 ponies :D

[302markVII]

quote:Posted By LJS30:Okay guys, how much will it cost to get my 88 5.0 HO into the 325 HP range?

At the wheels: Probably around $3,250 + labor (Kenne Bell 1500 whipple charger advertised at 450hp 6psi) with 18% drivetrain loss at the wheels should be about 360rwhp probably less. (anyone correct me if I'm wrong)

At the flywheel: Probably about $2,900 + labor (Vortech Supercharger 331hp at the flywheel.

A good set of heads, roller rockers, throttle body, upper and lower intake, headers, and exhaust will probably get you there too but at a higher cost.

Or you could buy a kit, like the Holley Systemax kit. It supposedly will get you about 350 hp. I don't really believe that but you'll dish out about $2500 + labor. It probably has no low end grunt which you need for a heavy MarkVII.

My choice would be the Kenne Bell. And they're located in Southern California so they're not too far from you.

[Bluegrass]

With a stock motor, 6 psi boost will only get close to 300 in race tune, at the flywheel.
Each pound of boost is worth roughly 15+ hp.
An example of a high end setup using a K.B.
at 14 psi, full TFS head work, 331 short block, 90 mm mass air meter and custom cam gets well over 500 hp in a Mark that runs low 11s 1/4 mile times on slicks and PA built AOD trans and 4.10 gears.
An N/A engine needs a lot of work along with running gear to get into the 340 hp range.
A blower is the overall eaiser way to get there as long as the rest of the car is brought up to match.
Either way it costs a bunch. ;)

[JSev22]

Spray it! Way cheaper than a blower!

[Drake_tr7]

Well I put $3500 in the crate motor $500 in the manifold,$200 in the throttle,$245 in the injectors,$330 in the MAF sensor + harness+ECM just to make a GT-40 motor happy..bout 6k to make 345 gaurenteed probably a lil more...I'd take Bluegras's advice and put a blower on it and pray for the headbolts
I just put 6k worth of motor in a $500 car
I need a checkup from the neck up...
(bet she's fast...)

[Red91Stangct]

Nahhh....get some jegs/kazee heads, a nice cam, air gap intake, 700cfm/750cfm carb. Youll make around 500 to the crank. Those heads do cost alot, they come with their own v/c's and rockers.

[302markVII]

Actually, there is one other route. I started down this path but we had a son and it's on the "things to do someday far into the future" list now.

JUNKYARD TURBO!!!!!

I got two Thunderbird TurboCoupe turbos from the junkyard at a total cost of $80. An intercooler will probably cost about $800 or so but you could always go without one or use two Volvo intercoolers (one for each side). I have a welder so all I need is to turn the headers upside-down and do the plumbing, necessary fuel system modifications, and computer tuning.(the tuning obviously being the most expensive I would assume). I would guess that it will cost me about $2300 to do it all.

[macx]

Don't forget the "used" market

I got a good low miles set of Ebrock
1.9 intake heads for $600. Good used
cam, roller lifters, injectors, roller
rockers, intake, headers. Cost about
60% of new. Just took a little scouting
on ebay and esp. the various Mustang board classifieds.

There's also a couple outfits that sell
rebuilt blowers of various types!

Just do a search for used or rebuilt blowers / superchargers. I've seen rebuild
links for both the Eatons like come on the Super Coupes, and links for most other types.
http://www.ststurbo.com/
That's rather unique!

[cason1]

That is pretty cool but I am kinda skeptical about it. I would like to see some independent tests of it before I rushed out and dropped $4k for the kit.