Planning A Street Car Project

[hungover]

Hello all,

I'm currently a SVT Lightning owner, and have had a couple SN95 projects in the past. I was thinking of picking up a S550 Mustang GT in the next month or so and throwing some mods on it and turn it into a pretty cool street car. Something in the 650-700 RWHP range would be nice. Having said that... I have a few questions, and I'm hoping y'all can point me in the right direction.

Firstly, a lot has changed since I last worked on a mustang, notably the number of different power-adder kits. Is there an established "best of breed" for a stock motor? Ideally one I can grow into once I have the other mods to support it. I've seen the Vortech kit, as well as a few single and twin-turbo setups that seem pretty cool. I figure that eventually the motor and/or trans will get smoked, but until that happens I'd like to have something fun to drive. When things start failing, I can replace with a built motor, trans, whatever.

Second question in regard to the suspension/drivetrain. The last GT I worked on had a solid rear axle, and it looks like the new ones have an IRS. How well do these hold up? Also, is the norm just to drop it with springs? Or is there a well-known kit that gives the best bang-for-buck.

Third - how well does fuel delivery handle higher HP? My last mustang had a returnless-style fuel system, and higher HP required a return-style system, or any number of boost-a-pump style addons. What's the latest with this tech?

Lastly, if anyone has any good links for wheels, I would greatly appreciate the info.

 

[skyline247]

@84Ttop and @15GTrob are good resources for these questions. I believe both of them are running centri superchargers. The stock block can handle a good amount of power but I don't recall at what power level the fuel system needs to be upgraded. It appears that the IRS can handle the power if you upgrade the half shafts.

 

[84Ttop]

2015+ fuel systems with a boost a pump will support 700rwhp on gas no problem.

I am partial to Vortech so that will always be my advice, I personally do not like the turbo applications at all. VMP makes a solid positive displacement option for the S550 as well. 650-700rwhp is a pretty easy goal to achieve anymore. The Vortech JT trim kit will do that in stock form without any other modifications. The rear is fine after a few small upgrades, vertical links, toe rods and bushings. The auto trans is super stout but you will find a lot of guys blowing up the MT82 at the 700hp power level.

FWIW, my JT trim 2015 made 676rwhp on 11lbs of boost

 

[hungover]

Awesome, thanks to both for the info. I've always like Vortech superchargers as well, their kits are top notch. The only reason I was debating a turbo was I've always done supercharged mustangs in the past and though why not do something different. But those power numbers speak for themselves. Any heat issues? It gets a bit hot here in Phoenix in the summer time...