Bolt-on Performance : Best Bang for the Buck

Dekk70 · May 16, 2011

I am looking for a boost in HP without spending to terribly much money. What bolt ons would get me the farthest for the money.

Or would I be better off saving my money and getting cams or a Vortech supercharger or something similar.

Regards,
Ethan

Tim2002GT · May 16, 2011

Well, honestly saving for a supercharger is the best bang for the buck. But if your like alot of us and don't have the $$$ to throw down on a sc and tune, I would get a set of 3.73 or 4.10 gears and have them installed. It won't add an hp, but it will feel alot stronger and will keep the car in its rpm powerband better.

Dekk70 · May 16, 2011

I already have 3:73's

Here is the rest of the upgrades under my hood...

Ported and Polished P.I. Heads 2 valve
Polished Intake
BBK 80mm throttle body
32lb “pink” injectors
03 Cobra Fuel Pump
Bassani x-pipe
No cats
Flowmaster 40's in the back.
CenterForce Stage 2 clutch
Streeda tri-ax short throw shifter
Ford Racing 3:73 rear end gears.
C&L Cold Air Intake System

trinity_gt · May 16, 2011

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is usually credited with giving the best "bang for the buck." Bolt on a 75HP or 100HP kit and you'll get more power than you would from most of the other bolt-ons combined. It's not perfect (refills, plumbing, potential for intake damage etc) but if HP for comparatively little money is your goal it's hard to beat.

slayerripkdc · May 16, 2011

Cams, long tubes, and a tune.

Dark04GT · May 17, 2011

Dekk70 said:
I already have 3:73's

Here is the rest of the upgrades under my hood...

Ported and Polished P.I. Heads 2 valve
Polished Intake
BBK 80mm throttle body
32lb “pink” injectors
03 Cobra Fuel Pump
Bassani x-pipe
No cats
Flowmaster 40's in the back.
CenterForce Stage 2 clutch
Streeda tri-ax short throw shifter
Ford Racing 3:73 rear end gears.
C&L Cold Air Intake System

You don't have much left for bolt-ons, you already have most of them. If your bassani x-pipe is modular than I would look at the bassani mid-length headers. Should bolt right up. After that you would be a "full bolt-on" car. I don't see anything else as far as simple bolt ons that would give you any more hp.

Tim2002GT · May 17, 2011

You could get a set of Steeda underdrive pullies or a Meziere electric water pump. I would prefer to have the electric water pump personally.

Dekk70 · May 17, 2011

Ya I guess all that is really left is a throttle body spacer and under drive pulleys.

I was looking at under drive pulleys and they say than give you up to 15 HP. How is that possible from a couple new pulleys?

trinity_gt · May 17, 2011

Dekk70 said:
Ya I guess all that is really left is a throttle body spacer and under drive pulleys.

I was looking at under drive pulleys and they say than give you up to 15 HP. How is that possible from a couple new pulleys?

It's not.

Pulleys might give you 4-5HP. The remaining 10 HP is in the heads of the pulley manufacturer marketing guys...

Dekk70 · May 17, 2011

trinity_gt said:
It's not.

Pulleys might give you 4-5HP. The remaining 10 HP is in the heads of the pulley manufacturer marketing guys...

Ya I was thinking about 2-3HP max because of less rotating mass or something but 15 HP sounded ridiculous

trinity_gt · May 17, 2011

Dekk70 said:
Ya I was thinking about 2-3HP max because of less rotating mass or something but 15 HP sounded ridiculous

Not so much reduced mass as simply slowing down ("under-driving") the accessories. Like any rotating machinery, for the accessories the power required to drive them is HP = RPM*Torque/5252. If you reduce RPM, you reduce power. The thing is, modern accessories don't generally require that much power to drive in the first place -- they are pretty optimized from the factory for low drag and optimal drive speeds -- so the savings from slowing them down a few percent simply isn't that big.

Old cars like the 5.0s benefit more but even then 15HP is doubtful...

I'd definitely pass on spending hundreds and hundreds for a few HP unless you really want to.

Dekk70 · May 17, 2011

Well now I'm thinking headers then cams and if I still have a thirst for more (most likley will) ill go forced air.

Dark04GT · May 17, 2011

Dekk70 said:
Ya I guess all that is really left is a throttle body spacer and under drive pulleys.

I was looking at under drive pulleys and they say than give you up to 15 HP. How is that possible from a couple new pulleys?

Throttle body spacer is a waste of money in our cars. Spacers only work on carb cars.

bigkeeko · May 18, 2011

Best bolt on bang for your buck is none. They`re all crap. More like little `pop`for loads of bucks.

loveN2O · May 18, 2011

NITROUS !!!!! you will enjoy every bottle i promise!! cheapest and easiest thing left for your car by far man get it done 100 hp shot giddyup

Dekk70 · May 18, 2011

loveN2O said:
NITROUS !!!!! you will enjoy every bottle i promise!! cheapest and easiest thing left for your car by far man get it done 100 hp shot giddyup

Do I have to build anything up to handle that much boost?

Stumbaugh · May 18, 2011

Depends on how much you want to spray. If you want to keep it at a 100 shot, put some NGK TR6 spark plugs in it, and if you have a tuner, put the stock tune in it, fill it up with 93 octane and let her rip.

If you want to go with a 125 shot, pull 1 degree out and let her rip.

If you want to go with a 150 shot, pull 2 degree's out, put an SVT focus fuel pump in it, and let her rip.

Here is a great write up on nitrous:
new edge nitrous question? look no further!

midnightdriver · May 19, 2011

Dekk70 said:
I already have 3:73's

Here is the rest of the upgrades under my hood...

Ported and Polished P.I. Heads 2 valve
Polished Intake
BBK 80mm throttle body
32lb “pink” injectors
03 Cobra Fuel Pump
Bassani x-pipe
No cats
Flowmaster 40's in the back.
CenterForce Stage 2 clutch
Streeda tri-ax short throw shifter
Ford Racing 3:73 rear end gears.
C&L Cold Air Intake System

What do you use the car for, that would help determine the best way to go for mods.

Dugl · May 19, 2011

For what it's worth.....

I've modded a lot of cars over the past 30 yrs....at some point every possible combo reaches it's max. Maybe a Shelby or Rousch is the next mod to start with ? Personally, with all a lame import inspired cars on the road, I just do enough to keep ahead of the best production cars.

Dekk70 · May 19, 2011

midnightdriver said:
What do you use the car for, that would help determine the best way to go for mods.

Usually a daily driver but the occasional trip to the strip or stop light drag.

The only thing I DONT want is a car that can't go down the highway without being at 3000 RPM (so no taller gears)and needs to be reliable.

Bolt-on Performance : Best Bang for the Buck

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