Reccomendations?

DRock9

New Member
Aug 22, 2006
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I don't do a lot of 1/4 mile racing although I am trying to get into it, I want some more "pep" on the highway though because I feel it doesn't pull hard enough. I do not have gears right now, and was wondering if that would work well on the highway. I want to keep the ammount under $1000, my original plan was to go with a Vortec SC-Trim but it is my understanding they were just bumped up in price so I don't think that is an option anymore.

I wouldnt mind changing the upper/lower intake but I want to avoid pulling the heads at alllll costs...

I also work for a nitrous company, so telling my boss I want to go back with one of their setup's is an option too...although the torque from the 150 shot would probably MURDER my tranny.
 
I don't think I would be able to put a cam in myself, but if I did end up putting one in I wouldn't like it to take any from my bottom end...maybe a little.
 
Pep on the highway usually means more power in the upper RPM range...and that's tough to get without losing bottom end unless you get a power adder of some kind that's going to boost power all over. That is unless you just opt to do a full head/cam/intake swap which will open it up all over too but that goes beyond what you're wanting.
 
theres not much you can do to these cars to gain a little "pep", its either big gains or next to nothing gains. Thats why the cobra guys say theres only really slow foxbodies and really fast foxbodies! Get some GT40p's and an e-cam along with an explorer intake.
 
I am going to get a nitrous kit from my work, and then probably gears on top of that...should I go with 3.55 or 3.73 with the nitrous? I don't anticipate to be running it too often, but I do plan on getting either a 275/50/15 or a 275/60/15 drag radial.

EDIT: But with the very mild HCI wouldn't I have to get new injectors, maf, pushrods, lifters...and maybe a timing chain while I am in there...what about roller rockers?
 
I would get some 3.55's and throw that 150 shot on there. If you work for a nitrous company im sure you can get some deals...but depending on how mechanically inclined you are...gear installs are pretty straight forward. If you installed them it would only cost you about $250. $189 for the gears and 50 or so for the trac-lock rebuild kit some short bucks for lubes/gear oil. If you have someone else install them...your lookin at almost 400-500 for everything. Gears will make a huge difference on the highway...you wont have to downshift to pass anymore!!! Depending on how much you can get the NO2 kit for...look into a junk yard explorer intake and 65mm tb! The combination of gears, intake, and NO2 will really wake your car up!
 
I can get the nitrous kit for free, no charge. I really would like to swap intakes because I have done them numerous times and they seem to give decent gains.

I am thinking with gears, upper/lower intake, and nitrous I will be good to run some nice times and still have some good power N/A.
 
If you can manage a complete engine swap...you can always get a complete Explorer engine, throw a good cam in it and swap it in as is (with all the Mustang specific parts on it etc) and you'll be amazed at the difference. That's only because you wanna stay away from swapping heads.....otherwise you could just throw the heads and cam on your engine. Personally i think swapping an entire engine is easier than doing a head swap..but maybe that's just me.
 
I've installed all the parts I have currently on my car myself, I have never swapped an engine before nor do I know how...I have installed numerous Upper/Lower Intakes but never the whole thing. I was researching that route about a month or so ago, but I don't think I have the knowledge to make it work...plus don't they have hyper pistons?
 
Dont waste your money on a cam. Just give it more air! The stock cam kicks ass! Look for a set of used heads of Ebay, Get a Cobra or Explorer intake, then an after market mid pipe.

Scratch that, you dont wanna touch the heads,ok,

well you didnt say if you have a 5spd or AOD. Lets assume you have a 5spd. Gears,Nitrous, and DR's will get you up to a second and a half faster in the 1/4 with good driving. And no bigger then a 100 shot of the good stuff!
 
I've installed all the parts I have currently on my car myself, I have never swapped an engine before nor do I know how...I have installed numerous Upper/Lower Intakes but never the whole thing. I was researching that route about a month or so ago, but I don't think I have the knowledge to make it work...plus don't they have hyper pistons?


They do but if all you do is a cam swap and run them NA on slicks, they'll be fine. I personally hate those pistons and would rather do a head swap onto my forged pistons, but i've seen guys run 12s all day on'em so they're not all bad, but i wouldn't spray'em either.
 
Thanks for your help, it is a 5spd T5.

My friend has a tuner car and he put an upper/lower intake on it, and gained very little horsepower to the wheels...what kind of gains would I be expecting with an explorer intake...or even a Holley/Edelbrock/Trickflow intake?

Thanks!
 
Thanks for your help, it is a 5spd T5.

My friend has a tuner car and he put an upper/lower intake on it, and gained very little horsepower to the wheels...what kind of gains would I be expecting with an explorer intake...or even a Holley/Edelbrock/Trickflow intake?

Thanks!

If you can't afford a H/C/I swap, do what my buddy did. He put on an explorer intake, a 76 mm maf, and a 70 mm throttle body. It made a HUGE difference. I've done a maf and a TB on mine and it made some difference. The stock intakes are best used as paper weights.