Spend $5,000 to modify this car...

[BlazinPony]

Hi

I'm looking for help modifying an otherwise stock '86 GT with roughly 124k
miles on the clock. This is a 5 speed car.

I want to spend roughly $5,000 in parts alone on this car over the next
couple of months to make it dollar-for-dollar the highest all around performer
I can -- in both acceleration and gut-twisting handling. Handling is very
important to me, and I do not want just a 1/4 mile car.

Please give me your expertise and input and help me build this beast

Thanks!!

-Mike

P.S. Here's a list of some ideas I had:

(Please scrutinize all you want, that's what I need! ;-)

Suspension:

polyurethane bushings
welded subframe connectors
steeda lowering springs
strut tower brace
KYB or Tokico shocks and struts
rear shock brace
hawk brake pads
powerslot rotors


Drivetrain:

steeda tri-ax shifter
aluminum drive shaft
king cobra clutch
steeda clutch cable
steeda clutch quadrant
3.55 gears


Motor/Powertrain:

new rings and bearings
new timing chain
new oil pump
timing bump
75mm mass air
cold air intake
70mm throttle body and EGR spacer
Cobra or Explorer upper and lower intake
-OR-
ported lower intake by Tmoss
march underdrive pulleys
equal length shorty headers (ceramic coated)
MAC powerchamber h-pipe, or O/R x-pipe
MAC catback
msd 6al ignition box
msd distributer
msd blaster coil
electric fan
aluminum radiator

...possibly heads and cam as well, but what are some good bang-for-the-
buck ones for this '86 engine???

 

[86Five-0]

You can get a nice gain outta E7 heads which came on 87-95 Mustangs and also Broncos and F-150's(not sure which years). Remember the '86 shortblock has FLAT TOP pistons, with no notches for valve reliefs so you must measure piston-valve clearance before doin ANY headswap. People say GT-40's work as well but I can't vouge for that. Also Trick Flow T.W. heads fit as well but are more expensive(aluminum). But E7's with a nice port job should make another 30-40hp or so I'd think. Oh and about the gears, why not just shoot for 3.73's. Good luck

 

[86Five-0]

Oh forgot to mention as far as cams go I can't mention any off the top of my head but you'll be limited to cam choices if you stay with the Speed Density system that's on the car. If you convert to Mass Air then you can broaden the choices.

 

[Grandmaster]

So exactly how fast do you want it? How much money will go to motor and how much to suspension? It will be easier to answer then.

 

[BlazinPony]

Hi

Thanks for the responses so far!

First of all, yes, the car will be converted to mass air.

Secondly, I'm looking to build a solid and reliable daily driven, 12 second car that'll also
pull close to 1g when the roads get twisty.

I imagine the $5,000 cash outlay would look something like this to achieve the above:

Suspension AND drivetrain: 40%

Motor/Powertrain: 60%

Please let me know what'cha think.

Thanks!

-Mike

 

[ECU5.0]

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/giab2.asp that will be a good suspension and will be about 40% of the 5 grand. and as for motors go...get some ported e7s, ive got a set of stock e7s for sale, intake and a cam. i dont know jack about cams so youll have to get that from someone else. you could always say screw it with the ported e7s and throw out a couple hundred more and get some trickflow heads.

sorry, forgot you had an 86...i dont know if they make anything that will fit it. but i doubt it will be any different