'87 Coupe Going Under The Knife... Looking For A Good Forum
- Thread starter NickPohlAandP
- Start date
Anyone have any experience with the AHP AlphaTIG 200? I need a new machine because someone stole my ThermalArc, but I can't afford to replace the ThermalArc at $2600
Trojan Horse
Founding Member
Nick, Please do not put a Chevy engine in that Mustang. I don't want you to be "one of those guys," here's why.
"Anyone can get power out of a Chevy engine; everything that can be done to a Chevy engine has already been done. All you have to do is decide how much power you want, then choose the already been done to death combination you need and do it. It takes 0 (ZERO) brain power and knowledge to build one." Understand that these are not "my" thoughts on the matter, I actually read that in a Hot Rod magazine years ago and it's been proven to be true many times over. Build a Ford, or heck even a Mopar engine for it, prove that you can get the power you want from one of them instead of taking the easy, way out. Save that Chevy engine for a future Chevy build or trade it for another engine of the proper kind. If you have the means, look into the new Hemi heads for the SBF (http://www.nickariasjr.com/sb-ford-hemi.asp), they'll help you get awesome power out of a small block Ford and look fantastic while doing it in your engine bay. Dare to be different. Whatever you decide I'll still be one of those to support you, but I had to try and dissuade you. It's in my blood.
To answer your last question, I do not have any experience with the AHP AlphaTIG 200, but it has good reviews on Amazon. Maybe check for reviews on YouTube and see what they say as well. I am going to try a Lotos LTPDC2000D Plasma Cutter, Tig, Stick Welder, 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine, myself. It has good reviews on Amazon and YouTube and it is relatively inexpensive, er, actually downright cheap to boot.
"Anyone can get power out of a Chevy engine; everything that can be done to a Chevy engine has already been done. All you have to do is decide how much power you want, then choose the already been done to death combination you need and do it. It takes 0 (ZERO) brain power and knowledge to build one." Understand that these are not "my" thoughts on the matter, I actually read that in a Hot Rod magazine years ago and it's been proven to be true many times over. Build a Ford, or heck even a Mopar engine for it, prove that you can get the power you want from one of them instead of taking the easy, way out. Save that Chevy engine for a future Chevy build or trade it for another engine of the proper kind. If you have the means, look into the new Hemi heads for the SBF (http://www.nickariasjr.com/sb-ford-hemi.asp), they'll help you get awesome power out of a small block Ford and look fantastic while doing it in your engine bay. Dare to be different. Whatever you decide I'll still be one of those to support you, but I had to try and dissuade you. It's in my blood.
To answer your last question, I do not have any experience with the AHP AlphaTIG 200, but it has good reviews on Amazon. Maybe check for reviews on YouTube and see what they say as well. I am going to try a Lotos LTPDC2000D Plasma Cutter, Tig, Stick Welder, 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine, myself. It has good reviews on Amazon and YouTube and it is relatively inexpensive, er, actually downright cheap to boot.
Trojan Horse
Founding Member
I'll try to submit my advice/opinion for a 3rd time, and see if it gets ignored all 3 times..
The TIG machine you are asking about is very similar to the LOTOS machine and a scad of other machines that come from China. I have a similar machine built by Longevity. The TIG process on my machine is only AC however, I do not have DC capability. The machine is visually cheaper built than an American unit offering similar features. Connectors, cables, the pedal and the torch are all cheesy when you compare them to a Miller/Lincoln/Hobart. However, that doesn't seem to matter at the hobbyist level.....all I know is that it works.
I've had mine since 2008.
The way it strikes an arc takes a little getting used to if you've ever used a square wave machine, the Chinee machine uses some kind of electro-wizardry, and a bunch of capacitors to start the process,..but once you get going, it seems to be the same.
I also have a LOTOS 220v mig/ spool gun combo,...and again, the thing works perfectly.
For less than half of what a Lincoln would've cost me.
The TIG machine you are asking about is very similar to the LOTOS machine and a scad of other machines that come from China. I have a similar machine built by Longevity. The TIG process on my machine is only AC however, I do not have DC capability. The machine is visually cheaper built than an American unit offering similar features. Connectors, cables, the pedal and the torch are all cheesy when you compare them to a Miller/Lincoln/Hobart. However, that doesn't seem to matter at the hobbyist level.....all I know is that it works.
I've had mine since 2008.
The way it strikes an arc takes a little getting used to if you've ever used a square wave machine, the Chinee machine uses some kind of electro-wizardry, and a bunch of capacitors to start the process,..but once you get going, it seems to be the same.
I also have a LOTOS 220v mig/ spool gun combo,...and again, the thing works perfectly.
For less than half of what a Lincoln would've cost me.
Nick, Please do not put a Chevy engine in that Mustang. I don't want you to be "one of those guys," here's why.
"Anyone can get power out of a Chevy engine; everything that can be done to a Chevy engine has already been done. All you have to do is decide how much power you want, then choose the already been done to death combination you need and do it. It takes 0 (ZERO) brain power and knowledge to build one." Understand that these are not "my" thoughts on the matter, I actually read that in a Hot Rod magazine years ago and it's been proven to be true many times over. Build a Ford, or heck even a Mopar engine for it, prove that you can get the power you want from one of them instead of taking the easy, way out. Save that Chevy engine for a future Chevy build or trade it for another engine of the proper kind. If you have the means, look into the new Hemi heads for the SBF (http://www.nickariasjr.com/sb-ford-hemi.asp), they'll help you get awesome power out of a small block Ford and look fantastic while doing it in your engine bay. Dare to be different. Whatever you decide I'll still be one of those to support you, but I had to try and dissuade you. It's in my blood.
To answer your last question, I do not have any experience with the AHP AlphaTIG 200, but it has good reviews on Amazon. Maybe check for reviews on YouTube and see what they say as well. I am going to try a Lotos LTPDC2000D Plasma Cutter, Tig, Stick Welder, 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine, myself. It has good reviews on Amazon and YouTube and it is relatively inexpensive, er, actually downright cheap to boot.
That's bunk if you believe that. If it takes some sort of higher level of ingenuity to make a ford engine make more/or similar power than an LS equivalent, the " smart" thing to do then would be to take the easier path and convert.
There is nothing more commonplace than a 5.0 in a Fox Mustang...."daring to be different " is an open invitation to swap out that engine.
It doesn't take an advanced degree to learn that when you combine a 351 block, w/ a set of AFR185-205/TFS11r heads, a good cam and take your pick from a multitude of good intake offerings, your "science project" will net you in excess of 450 HP.
It also doesn't require much book larnin' to know that a 6.0 LS JY engine is a superior starting point, given that the foundation will be superior to a 351 on several levels. It doesn't make sense considering that a windsor engine platform is going on 60 years old., Seems ford could've done something in that time to deal with some of a 351's shortcomings. It also seems kinda stupid that Ford decided to dump all of their future R&D into the modular platform, an expensive to modify, technically challenging, and then jam all of that little stuff into a big giant box, that won't fit in nothing except a fox. On the other side of the street, the Chevy engineers chose to stay with similar technology that they knew would work in the new and aftermarket sectors,..and offer that engine in multiple sizes that start 50 cubic inches bigger than the mod engine, and not ignore their aftermarket sector like the guys at Ford have.
Staying true to the brand doesn't require any special skill, it only requires a brand loyalty.
And even after all of the above rant,..I am the poster child here for staying with the brand while daring to be different.
Does that make me smarter? Hardly. Most here would say it was stupid to spend the time and money on a project like mine fo the sake of keeping an LS out of my engine bay.
Doesn't mean that I have that much of a problem with it one way or the other,...but it definitely would've been the smarter thing to do, IF I was actually trying to accomplish something and had a plan to do it as cheaply as possible
(i.e. Get 400 c.i, 425/450, and 27 mpg)
Making a fast car may mean ditching that loyalty,..ford guys are the ones that all too easily forget what hotrodding was originally about,....
It doesn't require brand loyalty to want a Chevy motor in a Chevy and a Ford motor in a Ford.
The seat in my CTS V are much nicer than the one in my Fox. Still... The Fox won't be seeing any Cadillac Recaros in the near future.
What's exciting about Tanner's project is the entire package. A true example of what it means to make one of those 10 second street cars that buttheads talk crap about all the time. Not 10 seconds on the perfect day... 10 seconds on nearly any day. lol
Should be fun.
The seat in my CTS V are much nicer than the one in my Fox. Still... The Fox won't be seeing any Cadillac Recaros in the near future.
What's exciting about Tanner's project is the entire package. A true example of what it means to make one of those 10 second street cars that buttheads talk crap about all the time. Not 10 seconds on the perfect day... 10 seconds on nearly any day. lol
Should be fun.
...Whatever you decide I'll still be one of those to support you, but I had to try and dissuade you. It's in my blood.
Well I'm glad you'll still support the build, because as of right now it's getting a Chevy. Everything you said about a Chevy could be said the same for a BBF... cookie cutter recipes are all over Google.
Anyone can assemble any engine. Not just anyone can PROPERLY build an engine that makes big power and still lasts the long haul. I don't recall if I posted this up at the beginning of this thread or not, but I'll recap a little for you. I am not what I would consider an expert engine builder, but I do consider myself very well versed in internal combustion engines and I have a lot of experience building many different types of engines, domestic and foreign, old school and high tech.
The choice to use a BBC was easy for me for a multitude of reasons, but the main one being cost. It is undeniable that the aftermarket availability of high performance parts for all things Chevy is far bigger and more diverse than Ford. I wanted to do a pushrod motor for this build so I looked at my Ford options. The BBF has HUGE journals that no doubt help reliability, but also rob power... strike one. How about a SBF? Well, if I go SBF then I have to be very careful about which block I use, will these heads work on this block, will this intake work... nope, can't find a combo I like. Ford, if you asked me, really screwed the pooch when they designed more than one small block platform. I'm not even going to touch on the LS or Ford Modulars (though I have built some fun modulars), but Chevy truly did it right when they used ONE small block and ONE big block. The variations of the BBC and SBC are so minute that you don't have to worry about buying a set of heads that physically will not work on your engine... you can easily do that with a Ford if you're not careful.
But as MadMike said, leaving a Ford engine in a Ford car would be what I consider running with the pack. I am straying from the norm. Someday when I'm done with my car and I go to a mustang meet up somewhere I bet 90% of those mustangs will be Ford powered. How is using a Chevy not abnormal?
Another thing you mentioned is the means to get the hemi SBF heads. I'm assuming you're referring to $. In that case I'll go back to my argument of the vast aftermarket for Chevy parts, the fact that I already have a 454 and TH400 in my shop (had that before I got the car), and the fact that with some ingenuity and a lot of time I'll be able to get my -781 casting Oval port heads to flow enough to catapult my car into a sub 10 second quarter mile.
In closing, HRM was right that anyone can build a Chevy, it's been done a billion times. That said, it takes someone with a good understanding of how an engine works to build one that makes power. There's a guy at our local track running a 496 BBC in a Vega and he has these ENORMOUS rectangle port aluminum heads in it. He swears it's the baddest thing on the street, but the light board doesn't lie. There's no reason a 3200 lb car with a 496 should be running 11.50's... unless the owner is just one of those "anyone's" that can build an engine and has no Fing clue that he'd probably pick up 100-150 hp with some smaller heads.
Edit: I will say that Ford did one thing right. They built the best damn platform for a street/drag car ever to roll off a production line. Why do you think I'm using a mustang anyway?!?!
You know what I think?
You have an engine already, you have a transmission already. Build it.
It's not like your trying to cram some damn japanese engine in there (@TOOLOW91 )
You have an engine already, you have a transmission already. Build it.
It's not like your trying to cram some damn japanese engine in there (@TOOLOW91 )
See, just when you think you know somebody,....
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