Opinion Poll

marcus95 · Jan 30, 2004

Ok guys, here's the question.

What would you do in my situation? I have an 89' Saleen hatch with a basketcase for a motor. First, the rest of the car is all original Saleen , I am the original owner and will never sell the car so I 'm not concerned about doing something wild with the motor.
Should I
A. build a nice 347 stroker from the existing block and use something I am all to familiar with a Vortech centrif. blower.
or
B. Is it feasible to get a modular in there from a donor car I have my eye on and add that Kenne B blower I always wanted with a mild tune to get up to around 450 rwhp?

Don't be bashful with your responses. I can handle any sort of commentary.

Thanks
Marcus

mousetrapcar · Jan 30, 2004

i would go with a blown 351. i like the mod engines and all but like they say, there is no replacement for displacement

marcus95 · Jan 30, 2004

Thanks Mouse. Yea, I've got a blown 351 in my other car. It is fantastic. Thanks for reminding me there is'nt replacement for displacement.

MadMatt5oh · Jan 30, 2004

A 4.6? No way. Not unless its a 4v

goldbomb79 · Jan 30, 2004

i'd say stick with the 347 stroker, unless you can fit a 351 in there without hacking anything up. if it's an original 89 saleen do you relly wanna hack it all up?

marcus95 · Jan 30, 2004

Right guys. You have some excellent points.

Thanks

Lab Rat · Jan 30, 2004

You should be able to fit a 351 in there without hacking. But at that rate I'd say take the "no replacement for displacement" theory to it's logical end and stroke a 351 out to 393! Then add your Vortech....

Matt

TC93 · Jan 30, 2004

I like the KB blown mod motor idea.. That would sweet and different in a fox.. I would like to do that to my 86 but right now it's too costly....

sleeper89 · Jan 30, 2004

if you've got the $ to do it a 03cobra 4v swap would be nasty. otherwise i'd say put the most displacement you can get under the hood. good luck and keep us posted.

-steve

Michael Yount · Jan 30, 2004

Original owner of an early Saleen - if you have the pieces to put it back like it originally was and it's in decent shape, it's only going to increase in value over time. Any mods you make, especially significant ones like putting a mod motor in it, are going to hurt the value. I think I'd try to keep that puppy in original condition if I were in your shoes. I'd buy another Stang to 'play' with.

5spd GT · Jan 30, 2004

sleeper89 said:
if you've got the $ to do it a 03cobra 4v swap would be nasty. otherwise i'd say put the most displacement you can get under the hood. good luck and keep us posted.

-steve

I've seen those new 03 cobra engines going for 8k to 12k...(used to new)...

If you have a "rare" Saleen and you dont' mind doing some engine work...I would suggest don't do anything to "cut it up"...but you could still do some mods to the engine but keep all the original parts down to the bolts so if and when you decide to sell it, it will be original

David

HyPer-50 · Jan 30, 2004

repost = /

GAU89LXStang · Jan 30, 2004

I'd rebuild the original motor and keep it original. Then get a 4 cyl coupe and do whatever you want to it, ie 347 stroker, 351W, or the modular with a supercharger. I'd hate to see a rare car get hacked up.

Or you can just sell it to me cheap and I'll take excellent care of her...you know send you pictures on her birthday, and Christmas. I've got some money saved up...

But seriously, you could also rebuild the stock motor, pull it and save it for a resto later, then do what you want to it.

Later,
Mo' Town

siege · Jan 30, 2004

Michael Yount said:
Original owner of an early Saleen - if you have the pieces to put it back like it originally was and it's in decent shape, it's only going to increase in value over time. Any mods you make, especially significant ones like putting a mod motor in it, are going to hurt the value. I think I'd try to keep that puppy in original condition if I were in your shoes. I'd buy another Stang to 'play' with.

but if there's no concern about selling it, why worry about its value?

5spd GT · Jan 30, 2004

siege said:
but if there's no concern about selling it, why worry about its value?

Maybe one day he'll want to sell and get a newer one

Things happen...

David

Stock89LX · Jan 30, 2004

I'm pretty much with Michael Yount on this one. There's a pretty short list of "collectible" fox-body Mustangs, and the Saleen is on it. One option to kind of have your cake and eat it too would be to rebuild the 5.0, and slap a Kenne Bell blower on it. Plenty of torque for fun on the street, and you can easily pull it to put it back to stock.

Michael Yount · Jan 30, 2004

In my mind the issue's not whether he'll sell or not; it's simply why take something that's more valuable unmodded, and mod it in a way that makes it just like many other Fox bodies out there? Doesn't make sense, especially when you can buy a reasonably clean body for so little money. But, that's just my thinking. We live in the land of the free - so mod away if that's what you want to do. Whenever I show up at Volvo club meets, there are more than one or two officiondos who just shake their head in dismay at what I've done to a clean, original owner 2-door -- those they stopped making in 83.

5.0StangRacer · Jan 30, 2004

if money is an issue, dont go with the mod, cause aftermarket pieces for them get pretty pricey, plus, it just sounds cooler to go with the 347 in my opinion

90silverstang · Jan 30, 2004

If he wants to mod he can do the 347 and it will look like a 5.0 with no hacking plus have some extra displacement.

marcus95 · Jan 31, 2004

Thanks guys for an overwhelming response!!! It is exactly what I needed to hear.
fortunately, I will never have to sell this car because I have owned/paid off the thing so long ago. I would never hack anything up, but would like to as one said "have my cake and eat it too" Not totally made of money but have a few duckets saved up that the wife said I can use. Maybe sticking to the original block and keeping the compression on the mild side and bolting that roots KB blower on top so I can change it back if I ever wanted too!

Thanks!

Marcus

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