The 5.0s wont handle much over 450 to the tires on the stock block. It will split down the valley. The Modular blocks will handle more boost then you can throw at it. The 5.0 cheap thing is a myth. Its not that much cheaper to get the 5.0 to put down 300+ to the wheels and it would still get worse fuel mileage. Besides, you would need to keep the rev's down or you could split the block.
If you are set are getting a sn95 94-98 body, get the Cobra. Dont bother with anything else.
I've never seen someone talk so much about splitting the block.
I have several friends pushing the limits of 5L factory 100,000 mile blocks. 500 rwhp safely tuned. It seems that whenever you go to push out 525 or more, even girdled, the darn block cracks in half.
A stock 5L rotating assembly can handle 14 psi if properly tuned w/ heads cam intake blah blah and will get you over 500 rwhp.
If you want to be safe, keep it at 10 psi and range anywhere from 425-475 rwhp depending on your package and the dyno your using.
My buddies 02Gt however with 9 psi of kenne bell put down 365 to the rear tire.
My coupe tips in at 3220 without driver, full interior, AC, power everything. I ran a lousy 12.5 @ 109. something with a 1.771 60 ft spinning a 27" slick. I really felt the car had a high two to low three in it with a 26 slick and some traction (12.20's to 30's @ 110.
This was achieved with an old school 300hp edelbrock package and a terrible e cam and a weak 3.55 gear.
Even after I installed the blower I still see 23 mpg on the highway at 70 mph with the cruise on. However, I never went back to the track after installing the blower so I won't even try to guess what it would run. I did throw the car on Anderson's dyno in Clinton where it made 427.4 to the rear tire before running out of fuel on 24lb injectors and only one 255 liter pump. I would estimate an honest 430 on a safe tune with the 42lb squirters and extra 255 liter pump I later installed. A meth kit would probably put it up to four and a half rwhp being realistic on 8lbs of boost. I still have a small pulley if I wanted to shoot for 500 rwhp, but why?
I can haze ET streets at 60-80mph on the street. I certainly understand that it is not a 700 rwhp Terminator, but she runs strong for what I consider to be a relatively low investment. Did I fail to mention I am running the dreaded hypereutectic pistons and those so called weak forged rods?
You can bend the rods if you have a nitrous backfire, don't get me wrong on that one.
Today, my friend, you're the lucky guy!
