[roast&toastEM]

ok to start off i recently just repaired and repainted a 94 gt. i have the body looking exactly how i want with a few extras on it. but now it is time for the motor. i do not know everything i should about them but im in the process of learning. (im a body guy.)

its a completly stock 5.0. my goal is to make this car more of a street racer and take out for fun on nice days. i already have everyting front seats back to bare metal. i would like to know some suggestions to do wtih this car. if its a matter of pulling the engine out and rebuilding it im ok with that. i want it to be solid and have power. i know for sure i would do h/c/i but didnt know if i would be better boring it or what. let me know your thoughts and how things would run on it
thanks

[maverick0817]

If you want a cheaper route of h/c/i, gt 40 heads and intakes off explorers have gotten cheap, because of cash for clunkers.

[roast&toastEM]

i dont necesarrily need cheep. i want power more than anything. but if i decide not to go all out then i have looked into that and will probably go that route

[ReverendDexter]

Do you have a particular hp number or performance spec in mind? Do you have a budget?

If you want gobs of power, start with cubic inches. Either do a stroker kit, or swap with a 351 (or even better, stroke a 351). No matter what you do to a motor it will have made more power if it had more displacement.

Do you want boost or to go N/A? You will make significantly more power with boost, but you'll want to go with a lower compression ratio if you're planning on using pump gas (I'd say no more than 9:1).

Turbos will make more power than superchargers, but will be more expensive, more difficult to install, and create more heat under the hood.

The flipside of adding power is shedding weight. The less the car weighs, the faster it goes (and stops, and handles).

[roast&toastEM]

what is ideal hp for both of those? i would like to say 350 - 500 range. budget is id say about no more than 6-9k

what all is involved with doing a stroker? and sorry i do not know what n/a means
i have already started cutting weight, hood also has 2 inch cowl and heat reduction and is fiberglass

i would like to stick with the original block too

[maverick0817]

n/a means naturally aspirated.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by roast&toastEM what is ideal hp for both of those? i would like to say 350 - 500 range. budget is id say about no more than 6-9k what all is involved with doing a stroker? and sorry i do not know what n/a means i have already started cutting weight, hood also has 2 inch cowl and heat reduction and is fiberglass i would like to stick with the original block too

Stroker involves rebuilding the shortblock with a different crank and rods to increase the stroke of the motor. If you keep your stock 5.0 block, you can increase the displacement up to ~5.7L (347 cubic inches). If you were willing to swap your 5.0 for a 351W (5.8L), you could stroke up to a 427 (7.0L). Usually you'll also increase the bore and replace the pistons with forged units at the same time. Parts are usually $1-2k, plus the labor to rebuild the bottom end.

As was said, N/A means naturally aspirated, or in other terms, no supercharger, turbo, or nitrous (sometimes called "all motor"). If you after as much power as you can get, you'll want a turbo, or at least a supercharger.

[roast&toastEM]

i was looking at the stroker more. is that carburated or still injected? i was looking at sizes too and it seemed like a 331 lasted longer life...

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by roast&toastEM i was looking at the stroker more. is that carburated or still injected? i was looking at sizes too and it seemed like a 331 lasted longer life...

Doesn't change the top end at all, though I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend staying injected for a street car.

And 331s do NOT last longer. There are many, many threads on 331s vs 347s, and every single one of them says the same thing: the only reason to go with a 331 is if you want to make less power.

[roast&toastEM]

alright. so i can by a kit to do the stroker, of course after i take it to a shop and have it bored and what not. what kind of cam and heads am i looking at putting on it then?

[Bullitt95]

Originally Posted by roast&toastEM its a completly stock 5.0. my goal is to make this car more of a street racer and take out for fun on nice days.

In that case here's what I suggest to get the best bang for your buck:

1. Gears. I suggest a 3.73 as a good, all round ratio. You'll be amazed at how much more fun the car will be to drive despite having the same HP.
2. Chassis & suspension. Upgrade the rear upper and lower control arms to improve traction off-the-line and grip around corners. The Edelbrock uppers and Maximum Motorsports lowers I have are a bit pricey but fantastic. Worth every penny. Replace all other bushings with urethane units especially at the front (including the anti-sway bar and steering rack). They'll reduce body roll, understeer, and improve steering response. Don't forget full-length subframe connectors.
3. Weight Reduction
4. Free Modifications
5. Performance mods. I suggest you work towards having a N/A GT40P set-up (GT40P heads and Explorer intake are cheap in ebay) with a CompCams XE270HR-14 cam, long tube headers, 75mm MAF, 70mm TB, and other bolt-ons. You can do a mild port job on the heads for further HP gains. You should see 280-290rwhp.
6. Once you've got a nice N/A set-up as a baseline, add a Vortech centrifugal blower with a maximum boost of 8psi. This will get you to ~420-430rwhp which is still safe enough for the stock block, and enough to get you to mid-11's trapping close to 120mph. All of this with very docile street manners.
7. That much power will sooner or later turn your stock T5 to shrapnel so this is the time to think about upgrading the tranny.

[roast&toastEM]

Originally Posted by Bullitt95 In that case here's what I suggest to get the best bang for your buck: 1. Gears. I suggest a 3.73 as a good, all round ratio. You'll be amazed at how much more fun the car will be to drive despite having the same HP. .

how would 4.10 gears compare with the 3.75? will it be that much more excelleration to make it worth it?

btw: thanks for all the info guys its really helping me learn what im doing

[95StangMX]

I say go with a 347 with a good head cam and intake setup and you should get over 400 to the wheels without the need of a charger. My same setup pulled off close to 450 to the wheels..on a car jay and jim put together......Damn I need to get back to work on that thing, maybe next month I will have some time...

[roast&toastEM]

Originally Posted by 95StangMX I say go with a 347 with a good head cam and intake setup and you should get over 400 to the wheels without the need of a charger. My same setup pulled off close to 450 to the wheels..on a car jay and jim put together......Damn I need to get back to work on that thing, maybe next month I will have some time...

what all do you have in it then as a set up? if u dont mind to share. and what was the price on it all roughly?

[Bullitt95]

Originally Posted by roast&toastEM how would 4.10 gears compare with the 3.73? will it be that much more excelleration to make it worth it?

Acceleration in each gear will be stronger with the 4.10 but the maximum road speed in each gear will be lower. I say stick to 3.73.