First off I would say build the short block as a stroker engine, that will maximize the capabilities while maintaining a stock appearance outwardly. Next up is the heads, the only casting differences on the outside between the E7 heads and the iron GT-40's is the number of vertical bars cast into the front (of the engine) of the heads. The E7's have 2 vertical bars, the GT40's have 3 vertical bars, and the GT40P (explorer) have 4 vertical bars. The GT40P will also require the ford motorsport shorty headers to fit properly and not have spark plug/boot issues. A set of Ported 3 bar GT40s are going to work best for you if you're willing to let that one thing slide. Assuming you are keeping power steering, AC, alternator, and all factory looking stuff anyway, they will be VERY difficult to spot the differences on once it's in the engine bay. Go look at the front of your heads as they are now and tell us how difficult it is to spot the 2 vertical bars... worst case you could grind off the extras and paint them. They will also work with the stock valve covers.
As for headers, you mentioned the crappy stock ones, you really don't want to keep those as they will certainly be a big bottle neck... you also mentioned that people expect exhaust work to be done, so you could easily get away with just a set of shorty headers and say that's all that changed. You could also likely get away with an explorer throttle body as it's a stock ford unit, just a bit larger (65mm I think).
For the cam, I'd say contact a custom cam company, someone like Flowtech Induction, and give them your goals and requirements and tell them you want as much as possible while still sounding like a stock cam.
So:
1. Custom ground cam that goes right to the edge of stock road manners.
2. Stock block bored and stroked (unless you can't tell a DSS block from stock?)
3. Maxed out e7's or slightly upgraded GT40's with a bar ground off so they'll look just like e7 heads.
4. The intake worked over 6 ways from sunday
5. Throttle body ported out to maximum
6. Some kind of headers that look as close to stock as possible, but slightly larger and without that awful indention ford put in there. I might even be able to put some kind of optical illusion on the headers, so it vaguely looks like that indention is there. Yes, I am a nut. Yes I will do it. IF it would work out and function as intended. Probably involve a little ceramic coating artwork of some kind.
7. A high end, full exhaust system with
flowmaster hushpower mufflers. They're quiet but they're almost a straight pass-thru. Leave those factory tips sticking out the back to help complete the illusion. Anywhere the new tubing can be seen, paint it brown-ish or get it dirty enough.
9. Aluminum driveshaft? Paint it black
10. Other odds and ends?... Such as a lightweight racing flywheel? To squeeze out every last bit. ?? Anything else that can go on this list?
I will be putting all the factory engine accessories back on, yes. I'm not losing my AC, and I do need everything to help me obscure stuff.
you can hide nitrous with vaucum lines and wire wrap/tubing. get a dart block,gt40 heads and intake,oh dont forget to order a new trans. your gonna need one.
Would a dart block look different than the stock block, from the outside? Can't use GT40 intake, has to be stock. The trans can be something else, it's too hard to tell what it is. Just needs to be a 5-speed cause that's what the care came with. Maybe build up a T-5
I was really hoping this was something to do with emissions or laws, or class rules... but I must confess I am disappointed that we are giving advice on how to beat a 350Z bone stock after spending 10k + dollars for no benefit that I can see other than being able to tell the other driver you beat them on talent alone *when you didn't*.
Then again, to each his own!
Sir, you sorely underestimate my desire to troll.
I guess some people don't appreciate the fun associated with the word "sleeper". But erm, you really hoped there was some kind of law? Most people I know hope for less laws lol. And if these power numbers are close to accurate, it seems like you'd be able to beat more than a mere 350z by doing this. Your typical LS trans am or camaro put what... 320 to the wheels? If he's right this would put the car somewhere near 390 to the wheels. That would be enough to beat all those old LS cars if they were stock. Maybe not by much, but still. And there will be some skill involved, because I've always wanted to get some training and I intend to. Imagine how badly you'd beat them with a 390hp car AND some skill.
Lastly, I have several friends who would think the car is slow. I could show them the engine, and say "Look I cleaned the engine really well! But eh, it's just a stock'er. Want to take it for a spin?" Many of them will say yes because the car looks really clean inside and out. They might want to go down memory lane, or just have fun driving a mustang for a bit when usually all they drive is family-mobiles. Then look out! It's a beast they didn't expect. The whole thing will be pretty funny.
Say "Yeah back in the day these cars would often beat the LS cars. What you're remembering, is cars that just had engine problems, or were perhaps old and worn out. You never know, they might have had a whole lot of miles on their engine, when facing a new camaro with low mileage. And how many races against these did you actually see? And do you really remember what their times were? That was a long time ago. This one just runs like it's supposed to because as you can see, the odometer only has 30k miles on it." ... Say all that with a big grin and trying not to laugh