Biggest decision for my car: Blower, or PI swap with nitrous?

MyEarsHurt · Nov 25, 2004

Well, I always thought no way I am getting a supercharger, just too expensive, I will just do the PI headswap instead and get some nice cams to go with it. Well now I am in a pickle.

After doing the math, I figure at least $1700 for PI heads, intake, gaskets, and a mild set of comp cams. Then down the road I could add a nitrous kit for like 600-700, well thats close to 2500 bucks total. Then I am sure there will be little things, cause projects like this always cost more than you anticipate them to cost.

The alternative, a much quicker installation, a vortech s trim kit, for like $3100.

To tell you the truth, I have no idea which one would make more power! I mean, I guess with the nitrous, that would obviously make more power, but if I dont spray, then the supercharger would make more power.

I am in a pickle, and I need help deciding where to spend my money. I will probably wait until after xmas to purchase anything because I am still saving, but the stang is in storage now, and I will be doing one of these installations by the time the snow melts.

Any and all opinions appreciated cause I am about to drop a fat load of cash on this...

tomustang · Nov 25, 2004

do the headswap. cheaper now, and your making raw power. and with nitrous, you may love it. but if you run the stock heads with the blower and you want more power, you'll need to get better breathing heads

FalconGuy016 · Nov 26, 2004

I'd reccomend the heads because thats a very ... "real" upgrade for your car. Its the only reason I have a mustang, for its "real" potential. Its like you could buy a nice ricer box for the same money (cough like an SRT), but you almost cant go anywhere from there, and with a Mustang you can TRUELY become a performance car. I'm not saying a blower isnt good or something, but if it were between the two id get that. Then later on put on a blower

Questions like how much more money you plan on putting in it, and how much speed you want all the time, should be a deciding factor.

I love the sound of cams

tomustang · Nov 26, 2004

FalconGuy016 said:
Its like you could buy a nice ricer box for the same money (cough like an SRT), but you almost cant go anywhere from there

that's not true. there is a huge market for the srt-4 now.

CanadaStang · Nov 26, 2004

I would have to vote for Pi headswap Pi heads and a 100 shot, will make more HP than s/c on a non pi engine.

CanadaStang · Nov 26, 2004

FalconGuy016 said:
I'm not saying a blower isnt good or something, but if it were between the two id get that. Then later on put on a blower

It's not advisable to s/c with the PI heads b/c of the higher compression.

tomustang · Nov 26, 2004

CanadaStang said:
It's not advisable to s/c with the PI heads b/c of the higher compression.

we should race sometime

CanadaStang · Nov 26, 2004

tomustang said:
we should race sometime

Geeez tomustang, everytime I see one of your posts, I have to look at the back of your Stang in your avatar, I don't really want to see it again in person.

MyEarsHurt · Nov 26, 2004

Right thats the thing, once I do the headswap, I would be a little cautious to add on a supercharger later. So its like one or the other, which power adder should I go with?

madmatt · Nov 26, 2004

I think livernois has some Non pi ported heads that put out more hp and tq than the pi heads. Maybe thats an option if you really plan on supercharging the car later in life...good luck man.

Gearbanger 101 · Nov 26, 2004

madmatt said:
I think livernois has some Non pi ported heads that put out more hp and tq than the pi heads. Maybe thats an option if you really plan on supercharging the car later in life...good luck man.

Bang on. A set of ported NPI heads will easily outflow a set of stock PI heads. Or, you could just do what I did and pony up for some forged intertals (which if you want to do it right, you should do anyway), with 19cc pistons. Then go with a set of ported PI heads and a blower. I expect mid-12's out of my Cat with this set up....and it's a nearly 4,000lb, IRS equiped, nose heavy, Automatic!

MyEarsHurt · Nov 26, 2004

Hmm, interesting, I never really ever considered just porting my non pi heads. I guess that would be cheaper...but I would want to see some dyno numbers from a project like that before I sunk a bunch of money into it.

Gearbanger 101 · Nov 26, 2004

MyEarsHurt said:
Hmm, interesting, I never really ever considered just porting my non pi heads. I guess that would be cheaper...but I would want to see some dyno numbers from a project like that before I sunk a bunch of money into it.

Head over to www.tccoa.com There are dozens of T-Bird and Cougar guys over there like myself, running them. Had my current heads on my car not been screwed when I bought it, I would have done the same. But I was able to pick up a set of low mileage PI heads, dirt-cheap and I like to do my own port work. That’s just how it worked out. The horsepower potential with NPI ported heads and PI cams are one of the better bangs for the buck in comparison. That way, if money is tight, you can hold off on the forged internals for the time being (which I still recommend getting regardless) and make mad power with a blower, turbo and even nitrous, at the same time!

FrostyGT · Nov 26, 2004

MyEarsHurt said:
Hmm, interesting, I never really ever considered just porting my non pi heads. I guess that would be cheaper...but I would want to see some dyno numbers from a project like that before I sunk a bunch of money into it.

I have a 2002 Mustang GT and i just bought a pair of FoxLake Stage 2 Ported Heads and Comp Cam's (XE270AH) and a Diablosport Predator Programmer and also a pair of BBK Shorty Equal-Length Headers. So i'll tell you how it goes after i get everything on later next week.I had the choice between s/c or Head Swap,but i went with this instead. It's going to cost a good bit to get all of it installed and everything and all the little things your going to need like Gaskets and such. in the long run i think i'll be happier with it. Like i said i'll let you know how it's going to go K.Later

raykrv6a · Nov 27, 2004

You can get the 9psi Kenne Bell blower and get around a 140 rwhp without changing the intake or exhaust. Or you can spend quite a bit getting cams, exhaust, intake, ported heads, etc and not get 100 rwhp gain out of it.

Struggling with the same dilema.

tomustang · Nov 27, 2004

raykrv6a said:
You can get the 9psi Kenne Bell blower and get around a 140 rwhp without changing the intake or exhaust. Or you can spend quite a bit getting cams, exhaust, intake, ported heads, etc and not get 100 rwhp gain out of it.

Struggling with the same dilema.

ah... you can get more with those combos if you do it right.

CanadaStang said:
Geeez tomustang, everytime I see one of your posts, I have to look at the back of your Stang in your avatar, I don't really want to see it again in person.

come on, i have stock FORD parts

raykrv6a · Nov 27, 2004

tomustang said:
ah... you can get more with those combos if you do it right.

Could be, what ever you do you need a damn plan and budget.

However, I don't see too many 350 rwhp N/A 2V's around. The 9 PSI should get you 380-400 rwhp for 4800 bucks. Around 30 bucks hp. When you add up all that's necessary for 350 rwhp N/A motor, you also have spent quite a bit. If you need a high compression shortblock, ported heads, cams, exhaust, etc, your over 4800 bucks and it's a big job.

What you recommend to get to 310 rwhp and how much would it cost?

Darkhorse845 · Nov 27, 2004

I vote PI Headswap and 100 shot of Nitrous Express!

MyEarsHurt · Nov 27, 2004

Thanks for all the input everyone, I appreciate it. I still am unsure about what I will do. The idea of staying NA is appealing, but so is the idea of telling people "yeah its got a supercharger." I will update the thread when I make up my mind and start purchasing.

CanadaStang · Nov 27, 2004

raykrv6a said:
You can get the 9psi Kenne Bell blower and get around a 140 rwhp without changing the intake or exhaust. Or you can spend quite a bit getting cams, exhaust, intake, ported heads, etc and not get 100 rwhp gain out of it.

Struggling with the same dilema.

Keep in mind, he has the non-PI heads

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