Supercharge or Stroker?

[cmc6070]

Hi guys...I recently picked up the pictured '91 GT...It has a basically stock 130k engine and a 3.73/31 spline Moser rear end...Along with the car I also got the following, all of which are uninstalled, for free - Cobra upper/lower intake and 65 mm TB, GT40 heads (need to be reworked), Paxton SN2000 supercharger (has a bad bearing and needs to be rebuilt). At a minimum I am planning to get the short block rebuilt, but where I go from there is still open for consideration. My goal is around 325 RWHP, with a higher torque number. I'm basically considering the following 2 options.

#1 - Rebuild Gt40's and Paxton, put them on a freshened up 302/306 shortblock with a decent cam and use the Cobra intake.
#2 - Sell the GT40's, Paxton and Cobra intake. Go stroker lower with an H/C/I set-up similar to the TFS.

Cost outright will not be my deciding factor, as I can afford either option, but more of a "cost vs output/reliability" so I figured I'd see what you guys thought?

Also, I should add that the previous owner had the Paxton on the car until the bearing went out. After taking it off he left a few Paxton items still on the car such as the FMU, the mounting bracket and air intake pipe. However, he also re-bought just about everything (all brackets, FMU, bolts, lines, etc...) needed to put the SC back on the car except for the SC itself. This leaves me with virtually 2 complete Paxton SC kits and one SC head unit..

 

[FastDriver]

Personally I'd prefer to have a badass n/a 347 setup of the two. However, in your shoes, I'd definitely go with the blower. You're going to blow a lot of cash to go 347 when you've already got the parts to make well over the power you want to make. Since you don't seem to mind about spending the extra money, consider throwing on a nice set of aluminum heads, an intake, and a cam and you could make the power you're looking for n/a without stroking the motor. Add the blower on that combo and you've saved some bucks and you have more than you were looking to make in the first place.

 

[Rookie71]

I think a boosted car would offer better driveability at higher output but at a lower reliability level due to the bad things that can happen with boost and the addition of another system that can break.

 

[bgoins]

I prefer N/A power so I'd probably go with the stroker. 347 with some nice 190 or even 205 CNC heads, systemax intake and custom cam!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

The only good side to having a blower on a stock engine is you can beat the crap out of it and blow the engine up if you want, and just swap it out for another junkyard engine and put the blower on that one and start all over. Once you've invested in a stroker, it hurts your wallet a lot more if you break it. I'm more into NA power than power adders so i'll take the 347. Plus, once you've built the 347, you can always add a blower later.

 

[Cobra912]

done both I say blower

 

[90lxcoupe]

done both I say blower

ditto... I wish i could have had more time with my stock block and the novi 2000

 

[2000xp8]

IMO, put the blower on the car now, don't even mess with the shortblock, unless you know there is something wrong with it.
Sell the gt40's, get some twisted wedges or afr 165's.
Drive the car and enjoy it, while building a replacement shortblock.

 

[fiveohwblow]

IMO, put the blower on the car now, don't even mess with the shortblock, unless you know there is something wrong with it.
Sell the gt40's, get some twisted wedges or afr 165's.
Drive the car and enjoy it, while building a replacement shortblock.

^THIS

 

[Kdubslugga]

IMO, put the blower on the car now, don't even mess with the shortblock, unless you know there is something wrong with it.
Sell the gt40's, get some twisted wedges or afr 165's.
Drive the car and enjoy it, while building a replacement shortblock.

Couldnt say it better myself!

 

[1bad67sbf]

IMO, put the blower on the car now, don't even mess with the shortblock, unless you know there is something wrong with it.
Sell the gt40's, get some twisted wedges or afr 165's.
Drive the car and enjoy it, while building a replacement shortblock.

+3 that is a very solid plan

 

[S&B]

Ill jump on the xp bandwagon he has experiance

 

[SMOKEDYA]

turbo dont look back!peace











john

 

[FastDriver]

I hate you xp, I essentially said the same thing but not as well so you get all the credit. Therefore, I ban you!

 

[fiveohwblow]

I hate you xp, I essentially said the same thing but not as well so you get all the credit. Therefore, I ban you!

dude that happens to me every now and then and it pisses me off

 

[cmc6070]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!...The frugal side of me likes the idea of using what I have to save some money...But that brings up another question...I was also thinking along the lines of what XP said cuz I've been wondering if it's cost effective to get the GT40 heads redone? Or might I be better off to spend a little more and buy all around better heads? I was thinking something along the lines of the Eddy E-streets or go crazy and get AFR 165's...And then top that off with the SC and Cobra intake?

 

[Ozz]

blower.

 

[FastDriver]

AFRs

 

[90lxcoupe]

Look into FAC twisted wedge heads

 

[2000xp8]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!...The frugal side of me likes the idea of using what I have to save some money...But that brings up another question...I was also thinking along the lines of what XP said cuz I've been wondering if it's cost effective to get the GT40 heads redone? Or might I be better off to spend a little more and buy all around better heads? I was thinking something along the lines of the Eddy E-streets or go crazy and get AFR 165's...And then top that off with the SC and Cobra intake?

Superchargers create heat and aluminum heads remove heat quicker, therefore in theory there is less chance of detonation with aluminum heads.
Besides, the better heads will allow you to get to the same power levels using less boost.
Gt40 iron heads are good budget heads, but they are not worth spending much money on.

Use TW's or afr165's. They both produce similar numbers on the dyno.
It's just that the wedges are noticeably cheaper.