Need help with planning out mods

[Chronos[AsG]]

I've done some searching around and haven't been able to find a whole lot of answers (thanks to all who have tried), probably because not many people have been in my situation before. I'm planning on swapping out my AODE for a manual soon (maybe near the end of this month), and I'm trying to figure out about how much HP I could be making so I can decide what transmission I need. As I've posted before, my long term goals are to replace the heads and add a Kenne Bell supercharger and a custom cam. I want a fast street car.

My problem is that no one seems to have any idea what kind of HP I will make. The guy I spoke to at Kenne Bell said little other than "It all depends on your setup." I'm looking at buying a kit online that is supposed to have everything I need for the tranny swap in it. It comes with a T45 transmission, and from what I can tell this is rated to a maximum of about 325-350 ft/lbs. I was hoping to be pushing more than that and thats where I need some help. If I'm making more torque than that I will go ahead and invest in a TKO 500, but I don't want to throw away money I can spend on other mods.

Alot of things are still up in the air. I want some AFR heads but I dont know what size to get or if I should run a lower compression ratio. I also don't know which s/c I'll end up with. There's the regular version and the Blowzilla, I'll probably get the biggest unit I can run on pump gas.

I guess all I'm asking is, based on the above, is it worth the extra cash to get the TKO or should I stick with the T45?

 

[TrueBlue95GT]

Well I'm guessing you mean the T5 transmission and not the T45 which bolts up to modular engines. I'd say stay with the T5 until you get the supercharger and then swap over. There's no use in buying it until you need it. And the T5 will hold up with the supercharger if you go easy on it. That means no hard shifting. But eventually your going to need a beefier tranny not to mention axles and other stuff.

 

[stang_gt_1994]

If you get AFR heads get 61cc combustion chambers and they won't raise your compression to high. Get a gt-40/cobra lower so you can mount up a blowzilla KB to it and get a flowzilla inlet. Get a 75mm TB, 80 mm maf, 42lb injectors, and a dyno tune. If you get a cam then you might want to get bigger injectors for safty.

 

[DaveB]

You seem to be planning well. IMHO though, I would skip the KB and just get a turbo kit. I just checked and the KB site and a Blowzilla/Flowzilla is $3700. Thats pretty close to what a turbo costs, and the turbo kits include headers and a mid pipe, and most include an MAF and injectors. You can also keep the stock cam with a turbo and make killer power while keeping stock drivability. I used to be dead set on getting a KB for my car, but seeing the numbers (both dyno and 1/4 mile) that turbos put out on 5.0s has swayed me. If you want a supercharger, check out Vortech as they just lowered their prices a considerable amount.

As for the manual swap, I would just swap in a TKO. Why put in a T5 only to break it and have to swap in a Tremec later? Just do it once and be done with it, at least thats what I try to do with my car. For AFR heads, Id go with 61cc 165s.

 

[AznStanger3v]

if you were to keep it NA, then you would use the AFR 165 58cc.

 

[final5-0]

I wish I had a good answer for you on the trans.

The KB will make a LOT of tq.

The Jerico & older Ford top loader trans are very strong but have no overdrive.

The t-56 and some of the other 5 speeds are more stronger than the t-5 for sure but not by a lot.

Like you I want a street car with 3 pedals but with a power adder the old slush box is what most people use for a solution.

Later
Grady