Stay NA or get blown?

[theguyfromfaust]

I'm kind of in a bind here. I have a 98 GT with just flowmasters and 3.73's. I have a set of svo heads and an svo intake as well as bbk longtubes and a Dr. Gas X that I want to throw on in the spring. The heads already have some light port work, but I plan on getting them ported more before I put them on. Here is my question:
Should I just buy a set of VT stage II NA cams and go that route, or should I go the power adder route? If I do go with a supercharger, I was just going to bolt on the intake and leave the heads off until I get a built bottom end, so just in case I do break something I don't risk screwing up the heads. I am looking at a used vortech kit with a 3.60" pulley right now. I would probably have to get someone to install pretty much everything but the exhaust, because I don't really trust myself inside my cars engine.
Some things to keep in mind: Like I said, I am not very mechanically inclined, so reliability is very important for me. Cost is not a huge factor. The nearest tuner shop is a 3 hour drive away if something does screw up.

 

[Firemanz]

Can't go wrong with the S/C, especially since money's not that big of a deal. If you plan on going with the S/C, check on getting the bottom end built first, then slapping the blower on afterwards. It'll give you some peace of mind.

Also, nothing better than having some whistle under the hood.....

 

[theguyfromfaust]

Money isn't a huge deal, but I don't have enough for a built bottom end + installation of everything right now. I still have to buy the vortech. It's either gotta be blower + intake or get the heads ported + cams + intake. Can't afford to throw everything on with a forged bottom end, or I'd just do that right now. Built shortblock is next spring's tax return. How much power would you gues with the intake, blower(3.60" pulley), and longtubes w/ Dr. Gas X?

 

[Dan_Soprano]

Money isn't a huge deal, but I don't have enough for a built bottom end + installation of everything right now. I still have to buy the vortech. It's either gotta be blower + intake or get the heads ported + cams + intake. Can't afford to throw everything on with a forged bottom end, or I'd just do that right now. Built shortblock is next spring's tax return. How much power would you gues with the intake, blower(3.60" pulley), and longtubes w/ Dr. Gas X?

Get blown brother!!!

 

[stallion98gt]

one word: BLOWN

 

[decoy562]

Get the supercharger!

 

[JonJon]

gosh I wish I had money to get blown

 

[Firemanz]

How much power would you gues with the intake, blower(3.60" pulley), and longtubes w/ Dr. Gas X?

I'd guesstimate close to 400.

 

[Beau]

a good blow job is really hard to beat.

 

[theguyfromfaust]

Majority rules, I guess. Now, I just gotta wait for that tax return Firemanz, you mean 400 flywheel hp, right? I can't see 400 at the wheels with the pre-PI heads. How much more work is it to get at the cams once the intake is off? I'm thinking maybe I should throw some PI cams into the mix if It's not going to cost me too much more for the labor. I know I can get the cams dirt cheap. If it's going to cost me a lot more, I'm not going to do it because I want blower cams once I get the svo heads put on. Anyone have any idea roughly on the cost for labor if the intake's already off ?

 

[Firemanz]

Firemanz, you mean 400 flywheel hp, right? I can't see 400 at the wheels with the pre-PI heads.

I forgot you didn't install the heads yet. They make that much of a difference. I'd say probably about 330-350 depending on the tune......

 

[just some guy]

i think its smarter to do the heads and intake and cams, much more reliable, probably will never break anything, youll have a higher redline. not to mention, you already have all of the parts, and you would probably run the same times and trap the same, without spending the extra 3-4 k. i do not believe the blown car will be significantly faster

 

[LS2 KLR]

Hmm, hand job or blow job??? Both will get you there but one will get you there faster

 

[StngStr]

I'm an N/A guy. I say use the money on the motor and run 12's N/A.

 

[theguyfromfaust]

I think I'm leaning towards a blower now. Does anyone have any idea how much extra it would run me in labor costs to swap out cams once the intake is already off?

 

[just some guy]

I think I'm leaning towards a blower now. Does anyone have any idea how much extra it would run me in labor costs to swap out cams once the intake is already off?

dude, it will be a big mistake to s/c you npi GT, i do not think that many of the people up top have seen 96-98 s/c ed GTs run and just think having a s/c is cool, but i go to the track almost every week... and a 96-98s/c will only run between 13.1-13.6 at 103 with a decent driver.
whereas an svo headed car would easily be a 12 second car at 106-107 with the same driver

 

[torchred]

I would defeinitely go the NA way too. Non PI heads hurt you real bad. You got the SVO heads already, just do the install as you planned and you'd be happy. You don't want to spend 3-4K and be dissapointed by the performance.

 

[matsm21]

yea, depending on how much boost is made and how many miles you have the s/c will put a strain on the bottom end. id stay n/a also

 

[theguyfromfaust]

How much power do you think I could make NA with ported heads, the intake and stage II VT cams? I think people might also be a little confused about what I asked initially. If I get the blower, it's going to be run with the intake but without the heads until I get enough money for a built bottom end. Then the heads would go on WITH the blower and intake, as well as blower cams. I might be able to scrape together enough money to put on the heads at the same time as the intake and blower right now, but I don't really want to push the stock block too much and risk screwing up my 1700$ heads with a cracked piston or rod. Thanks for all the replies. keep 'em comin.

 

[NasaGT]

How much power do you think I could make NA with ported heads, the intake and stage II VT cams?

Assuming you'll get a tune for all these mods, my guess would be approching 300 but not quite there. Maybe 300 with a great tune + pullies + TB.