[hooliganryder]

ok its that time of the year where uncle sam writes some of us a nice check... im lookin to spend up to 3 grand on my car for performance.. i was lookin at several choices.. but i want the most bang for my buck....my car has right at 115000 miles on it... now i was lookin at on3 turbo kit with crossmember, or vortech v1 supercharger, or possibly 5.4 swap single or dohc or a dohc 4.6.. of course im goin to put in a better clutch, and 373 gear also.. any info good or bad would be awesome..or if u have a better idea let me know..

[mrsinister2424]

You could probably do a vortech kit if you put one together... Gonna be just short of 3 grand, then you have to get a dyno tune... You won't be able to get another motor swapped for that, unless you're doing it yourself and do some shopping.

[nileppezdel77!]

Over 100k mileage, you can get away with S/C or T/C, but you'll need a super conservative tune because you're still on the stock block (I think, you don't mention built block). I'd go with the swap or a new shortblock (like I'm doing because of my mileage).

+1 on the gears anyway. Cheers!

[hooliganryder]

ill be doing all the labor myself...im really leaning towards a supercharger... but im not sure what all i would need to build a kit... ive messed with turbos in the past but not superchargers... if i go supercharger i want to buy a all in one kit.. i seen a v1 kit on ebay for around three that comes with everything including a tuner with a base tune to get to a dyno shop

[hooliganryder]

and im not wanting to tear into the internals of an engine...not something im wanting to tackle right now.. also cams and a 100 shot has crossed my mind

[n03stang]

Pass on the cams and 100 shot, if you want power all the time go turbo or supercharged. What happens when you have no more spray and some Sti pulls up next to you. Your gonna get dusted. I vote supercharger! Check craigslist there is some deals in there sometimes a few weeks ago I found a kenne bell for around 3500 with everything I wanted to jump on it but couldn't get anyone "father" to lend me the money!

[Shaun03GT]

115000 isnt to bad on these cars. Eagle2000GT has like 150k on his GT and its been supercharged for like 65k miles on the stock motor.

Baker made it to 150k miles at like 430rwhp with cams.

If the tune is spot on, no more then 15 degrees of total timing, and a very conservative AFR (11.5-11.8) with 10psi and under, youll be fine. The lower the boost, the less chance of detonation. Higher boost = Higher IAT = More chance of detonation.


With $3000, I would piece togeather or buy a used supercharger kit. Vortech/Novi/Procharger. Buy a new clutch, but replace it when it goes. Eagle2000GT is still on his stock clutch. And then if you want do gears, if not use the money to save for a new motor.

[nileppezdel77!]

If you don't know the current state of the internals, boost is still dangerous, even with a conservative tune, in my opinion. I'd only do it if I was the one who put the miles on the car and knew exactly how it was treated, the last thing you want is to break something expensive after spending your 3k.

Generally speaking though, Shaun03GT is right, you can piece together a sweet centri kit with 3k. If you keep it conservative and have a good tuner in your area, you're golden. Spray is fun, but from what I've seen it ends up being a stop gap until some kind of FI gets mounted on the engine.

[Shaun03GT]

I boosted mine at 80k miles, Im at like 92k miles. But before I supercharged, I had a good 75 track passes, and I beat the shit out of my car.

The 115000 miles is a good amount, but that motor could easily make it to 150k miles with say 8psi, low timing (12-14 degrees) spot on AFR and conservative (11.5'ish) and plenty of fuel supply. And as long as he didnt go WOT 15 times a day, you'd honestly be okay.

After you do that, if your worried save for a built motor. MMR is having some great sales, and they always do.

I think nitrous is a lot harder on the motor, its such a hard hit all at once, where a centri is very easy on the motors. Builds the boost as rpm's climb, not like as soon as you hit it your either spraying a 100 shot or hitting 10psi instantly with a PD blower.

[Shaun03GT]

Originally Posted by nileppezdel77 If you don't know the current state of the internals, boost is still dangerous, even with a conservative tune, in my opinion. I'd only do it if I was the one who put the miles on the car and knew exactly how it was treated, the last thing you want is to break something expensive after spending your 3k. Generally speaking though, Shaun03GT is right, you can piece together a sweet centri kit with 3k. If you keep it conservative and have a good tuner in your area, you're golden. Spray is fun, but from what I've seen it ends up being a stop gap until some kind of FI gets mounted on the engine.

With that being said, do a compression/leak down test. That'll give you a good idea of how good of shape your motor is in.

[nileppezdel77!]

^ This. If there are no oil leaks and the compression checks out, definitely go for the blower. It's the best option for the money. Gears aren't as expensive, you can get those whenever. With a big lump of money, getting another solid 100hp or so would be the most fun option.

[mrsinister2424]

I'm sitting at 143xxx miles(installed my sc about 1000 miles ago) with a really conservative tune. I beat the piss out of the thing everytime I drive it.... Still tickin.

[hooliganryder]

yeah im probably gonna get a super charger... i seen a v1 kit on ebay with everything for a hair over 3 grand... the engine seems to be in good shape.. i always change the oil on time with full synthetic. ill run a compresson test on it.. the only problem iver ever had with the current engine is timing chain tensioners.. but ive also got another engine with a spun bearing...( had to put a new engine in my wifes 99 gt.. which made it to 200000 miles) i figured i would send that block off and have it checked out and start building it so when it comes time for it ill have it... and a new clutch and gears is a sure thing..also gonna throw my stock gt rims back on it... the dam 20's weigh to much

[Shaun03GT]

Originally Posted by hooliganryder yeah im probably gonna get a super charger... i seen a v1 kit on ebay with everything for a hair over 3 grand... the engine seems to be in good shape.. i always change the oil on time with full synthetic. ill run a compresson test on it.. the only problem iver ever had with the current engine is timing chain tensioners.. but ive also got another engine with a spun bearing...( had to put a new engine in my wifes 99 gt.. which made it to 200000 miles) i figured i would send that block off and have it checked out and start building it so when it comes time for it ill have it... and a new clutch and gears is a sure thing..also gonna throw my stock gt rims back on it... the dam 20's weigh to much

$3000 is a lot, unless its new. You can buy a used setup, or piece one togeather a lot cheaper

[Kevin C]

Good idea on throwing the stock GT wheels back on. I wouldn't go over 17" but I bought my GT already with 18" FR500s, so I don't really care.

I'm just about scared to even post. Apparently everyone is banned. I'd personally go with the single turbo kit from On 3 Performance, but that's me. I'd be close to buying it right now, but my TR3650 is already going out on me, so I'm on the hunt for a T56 instead.

Should have had one last weekend actually. It's really ashame when you're TRYING to throw 1,200 dollars at someone, and they're lazy enough to ignore you, just so they don't have to drop the trans. The dude I'm trying to buy a T56 off of is just too much.

[Shaun03GT]

The On3 kit is nice. I would go for it too. Its not just $1800 though, need a k-member and all that bs. Which you can buy for another $600. Youd probally spend about $2700-$3000 on the On3 kit to make it complete. Maybe less.

Tell the guy you'll drop the T56 for him and take it for $1000

[BaznastyDave]

Go Turbo!

[Kevin C]

Originally Posted by Shaun03GT Tell the guy you'll drop the T56 for him and take it for $1000

You read my mind, that is EXACTLY what I was going to do.

This started about 4 weeks ago. Said he had an offer for 1,900, told me to check back in a week. Still available. Then he has an offer for 1,800, told me to check back in another week. Still available. I offer 1,200 cash early last week, said he'd have the T56 out by Saturday at the latest, and I said I'd drive up there to pick it up Saturday or Sunday. Saturday comes, I call him, no answer. I email him that night, ask if I can pick it up the next day, nothing. Called him Monday, nothing, so I left it alone until last night. Called him, almost a week later he answered, told me he didn't even drop the T56 yet.

Except now, he has an offer for 3,500 for the whole car, which is RIDICULOUS. It's a T56 swapped GT with only 80 some K, leather interior, aluminum driveshaft, 4.10s, a shopping list of other stuff, just has front end damage from a deer and guardrail from swerving after hitting the deer. So instead of making a third of that $3,500 on JUST the T56, he'd rather be lazy and lose money over it.

Dude talked a big game over email "I've built these cars all my life" blah blah blah "I know prices from building these cars" but can't even drop a driveshaft and unbolt a trans. I prefer to have work professionally done, but that's a whole new level of just blatant laziness.

Sorry OP for the slight hijack, I just felt the need for a rant. I don't like lazy people who back out of deals. When I put a car part up for sale, it's already uninstalled and ready to be picked up.

[Shaun03GT]

Yeah that sucks, I would just email him and just be like, Ill give you $1200 for the T56 and driveshaft (youll need a shorter one anyways) and Ill come drop the transmission. Try it, and let us know how it goes.

[Kevin C]

Originally Posted by Shaun03GT The On3 kit is nice. I would go for it too. Its not just $1800 though, need a k-member and all that bs.

Yep, I had everything pretty much planned out, except now I'd rather buy a T56 since the 2nd gear synchro went out on me. No point in adding power if the TR3650 can't even handle a few quick shifts from me.

I was gonna go for the UPR chromoly K member, coilover conversion, etc etc. Figured I'd save some cash with UPR since I don't need a beefy front suspension designed for autocross. I do like what I hear about the MM LCAs and MM torque arm though, so I'd probably tough it out and save for some quality stuff for the rear.

Man, these cars are money pits. I'm still torn between choosing a front bumper. My stocker has a couple cracks, so I want to go with either the Roush or Termi Cobra bumper. I'll most likely go with the Roush. Came on a 2V car, so I won't be as much of a poser, and the sharp lines of it fit a 01-04 GT hood scoop nicely.