I know this is gonna sound a little crazy, but i'm thinking of trading in my 01 saleen. I dont know if any of u have heard of it, but Im looking at an 04 or 05 dodge srt-4. I love my mustang, but the v-8 sucks down the gas and, having owned mainly 4 cylinders before, kind of miss filling up once every 2 weeks. It was between either the saleen i have now or the srt, and I went with the saleen, but now Im second guessing myself. I dont know if any of u have read up, but these come pretty quick stock. 0-60 in 5.3 and quarter mile in 14.1. I think thats pretty good for a stock turbo 4 cyl. And now they have factory turbo upgrades that wont void the warranty if done at the dealership. I have read that with just a little work, these get, pretty easily, into the 12's. I know, being on a mustang board, everyone will say keep the stang, but I was just wondering what everyone thought. Thanx for ure time. And by the way, my saleen is non supercharged.
Roush trade-in
- Thread starter 01saleenkid
- Start date
marcus95
Active Member
01saleenkid said:
I tell you what. Before you do anything hasty, at least go drive a supercharged version of your car. If you go and buy a new SRT4 Neon you will lose about the same amount of money you could have spent on a decent blower for your S281 the min. you drive it off the lot with depriciation. Then go out and spend a couple of thousand on a beater 4 cylinder to drive day to day. There is no-way you will be satisfied with an SRT4 after owning a Saleen. Oh yea, what gears are you running now? I can make a naturally aspirated S281 into the high 12's with 3.73's and drag radials alone. Just a thought.
just to leat everyone know, I decided to keep my saleen. I test drove 2 srts and they dont pull as hard as my mustang. They are quick, they just dont throw ure head back like a v-8 though. And after reading marcus's post i realized 1) he is right, for the money i lose on trading in my car, i could probably have enough to throw on a kb blower or almost and b) its now time to get some 3.73 gears on my car. Plus I know Id regret getting rid of the saleen. I mean how often is it u actually see one, forget having the chance to own one. My next question is, I am kind of a newb to v-8's(used to be into 4 cyl) I know there are diff. gears like .3.27,3.55,3.73,and 4.10's. What do these numbers mean?? Like marcus said, do 3.73's, but why. The way i see it 4.10's are more for like a drag strip setup, where the 3.27 is more for like fuel efficiency?? Do i have that right?? And I take it when marcus says do 3.73 thats like a happy medium?? Also, I was planning on doing a h-pipe or x-pipe, which would be better?? Any info would be much appreciated
marcus95
Active Member
Good choice. Your thoughts on 3.27's as opposed to 4.10's or 4.11's are correct. If you plan on supercharging your car anytime soon go with 3.55's. Your car will hook up nicely with that combo. If you are just going to do an exhaust and gears now you would be happy with 3.73's. IMHO 3.73's is a little aggresive for a blown car but that's just my opinion. Do a search about gears on the Saleen thread or in the power adder area.
sal07b
New Member
Hey Marcus,
I don't think you're going to see a non-SC Saleen in the 12's with just 3.73's and drag radials. 99.9% of the time, I agree with you but I got to throw the
flag. Mid/Low 13's maybe, but you're not going to break into the 12's...
As far as teh R/T vs the Saleen, there is not question that the right decision was made. Remember, the R/T is still a turd Neon! Drive one, it is a 12K car with a turbo and that's it. A shiny fast turd is still a turd...
Sal
I don't think you're going to see a non-SC Saleen in the 12's with just 3.73's and drag radials. 99.9% of the time, I agree with you but I got to throw the
flag. Mid/Low 13's maybe, but you're not going to break into the 12's...As far as teh R/T vs the Saleen, there is not question that the right decision was made. Remember, the R/T is still a turd Neon! Drive one, it is a 12K car with a turbo and that's it. A shiny fast turd is still a turd...
Sal
Silver95Stint
New Member
LOL. Well put Sal. If gas conservation is something that's bothering you, get a 4 cylinder, and drive the saleen on the weekends. Don't get rid of a limited production car, for a far less superior car. But that's just my .02.
marcus95
Active Member
Sal.
Let me explain. I'll be easy on you. My 02 before I sold it ran a 12.98 with only 3.73's and BFG 295-35-18's with little pressure and I am the slow old man of the bunch. (No throttle lifts) Are you still with me? As far as the mods go those were the only additions to the car. I did however make a few other (changes) and threw out some weight, ok a lot of weight from the car. What you could argue is whether or not removal of key items from a car is considered a "mod" or not. I like to consider a mod any bolt-on that can be made or even something homemade. With very little work we could get your convert to do some very respectable times but at a serious price to your drivetrain. Are you game?
Lesson # 1. Visit http://www.modulardepot.com/
Remember, my 02 was not a GT. My powerflash was very aggressive. There was no way I could do better without different heads.
It's not always all about horsepower. In a straight line it's how you hook and how you finish. I'm not going to post all of my secrets here but if you would like a hardcore tutorial p.m. me. I'm an old man compared to you for sure. I also didn't learn everything I know from one car. Is your Budget rental car your first Saleen? Don't let it be your last. I come in with my hands dirty almost every night and I swear I learn something new everyday. Here is a list of donor mustangs that have contributed to a small part of my humble knowledge.
89-0028 Saleen
90 5.0 LX hatch
88 5.0 vert
90-0025 Saleen
94 Cobra
98 Cobra to replace previous Cobra
02-0340 Saleen
95-0095 S351
Oh yea, remember everything in you car including fluids add weight. Good luck.
Let me explain. I'll be easy on you. My 02 before I sold it ran a 12.98 with only 3.73's and BFG 295-35-18's with little pressure and I am the slow old man of the bunch. (No throttle lifts) Are you still with me? As far as the mods go those were the only additions to the car. I did however make a few other (changes) and threw out some weight, ok a lot of weight from the car. What you could argue is whether or not removal of key items from a car is considered a "mod" or not. I like to consider a mod any bolt-on that can be made or even something homemade. With very little work we could get your convert to do some very respectable times but at a serious price to your drivetrain. Are you game?
Lesson # 1. Visit http://www.modulardepot.com/
Remember, my 02 was not a GT. My powerflash was very aggressive. There was no way I could do better without different heads.
It's not always all about horsepower. In a straight line it's how you hook and how you finish. I'm not going to post all of my secrets here but if you would like a hardcore tutorial p.m. me. I'm an old man compared to you for sure. I also didn't learn everything I know from one car. Is your Budget rental car your first Saleen? Don't let it be your last. I come in with my hands dirty almost every night and I swear I learn something new everyday. Here is a list of donor mustangs that have contributed to a small part of my humble knowledge.
89-0028 Saleen
90 5.0 LX hatch
88 5.0 vert
90-0025 Saleen
94 Cobra
98 Cobra to replace previous Cobra
02-0340 Saleen
95-0095 S351
Oh yea, remember everything in you car including fluids add weight. Good luck.
sal07b
New Member
Weight is definately a factor! Especially in the vert. My Budget Saleen would need some serious help to make it into the 12's, that's for sure. I love the car, but extremely fast it isn't. It is my first Saleen though. I've always wanted one, so I jumped at the chance to get it. Only after I bought it and started doing the research did I find that it is fairly rare: 1 of 19 Violet Saleens ever produced; part of a 30 car 1996 Budget series w/in Saleen and the only Violet 5-speed. That was enough "extra's" to make me excited about the car. My ultimate dream car is an S351 with the S/C (510 hp). Someday...
I have zero experience with modular 4.6's, so I'm reading everything I can get my hands on. I did build up a 5.0 in my 87 GT just short of a S/C, but the two are mutually exclusive. Plus, I'm not even sure if I should do anything to it. I ran across an article in 5.0 Mustang mag. that listed mustangs you shouldn't use for your project car. Yep, you guessed it, any "real" Saleen was on the list...
Didn't mean to insult you, I like to read your posts. It's just that I have been around drag racing for a long time and understand how non-trivial it is to get a "stock" car to break the 13's. If you did it, I'm not calling you a liar. You must have had a "runner" out of the box (some people are just lucky like that). I still maintain that the average stock non-S/C Saleen is not going to get below the 13's with gears and tires. Mine definately won't get there (stinkin non-PI heads...)
Sal
I have zero experience with modular 4.6's, so I'm reading everything I can get my hands on. I did build up a 5.0 in my 87 GT just short of a S/C, but the two are mutually exclusive. Plus, I'm not even sure if I should do anything to it. I ran across an article in 5.0 Mustang mag. that listed mustangs you shouldn't use for your project car. Yep, you guessed it, any "real" Saleen was on the list...
Didn't mean to insult you, I like to read your posts. It's just that I have been around drag racing for a long time and understand how non-trivial it is to get a "stock" car to break the 13's. If you did it, I'm not calling you a liar. You must have had a "runner" out of the box (some people are just lucky like that). I still maintain that the average stock non-S/C Saleen is not going to get below the 13's with gears and tires. Mine definately won't get there (stinkin non-PI heads...)
Sal
marcus95
Active Member
No problem Sal. No one should ever get offended here. It's just an open forum. Be careful with those flags though. 
The word "stock" is just a lousy word period when referring to any particular vehicle anyway.
As for my 02 N/A car it did detonate a little so I know for a fact that powerflash was a little aggresive just like I said before. You could definately call that a "runner" as you said. I didn't say that he could make a non-supercharged car get into the high 12's I said I could. Big difference. Also, if you are using your 4.6 as a comparison to what is available now in the 4.6 it is a world of difference. Don't get pissed but the 96 4.6 motors are turds. Without taking away from your authenticity of you car you should look into some cylinder heads, cams, mass air and throttle body. When was the 4.6 introduced? I think in 92 or something with the Lincoln. Here we are 12-14 years later and don't have even close to the number of aftermarket parts as the 5 liter.
Save your factory "stock" parts. Those changes including gears won't take away from your car's special character. Also, your car, a Budget 5-speed (which is even more rare) probably has 3.27's or even 3.08's. That should be illegal. Go with some 3.55's or even 3.73's. Sub frame connectors are also a must. You will enjoy your car much more after those few changes. I promise.
Are you heading out to the Saleen show in September? If you are bring you car. It would be great to see it!
The word "stock" is just a lousy word period when referring to any particular vehicle anyway.
As for my 02 N/A car it did detonate a little so I know for a fact that powerflash was a little aggresive just like I said before. You could definately call that a "runner" as you said. I didn't say that he could make a non-supercharged car get into the high 12's I said I could. Big difference. Also, if you are using your 4.6 as a comparison to what is available now in the 4.6 it is a world of difference. Don't get pissed but the 96 4.6 motors are turds. Without taking away from your authenticity of you car you should look into some cylinder heads, cams, mass air and throttle body. When was the 4.6 introduced? I think in 92 or something with the Lincoln. Here we are 12-14 years later and don't have even close to the number of aftermarket parts as the 5 liter.
Save your factory "stock" parts. Those changes including gears won't take away from your car's special character. Also, your car, a Budget 5-speed (which is even more rare) probably has 3.27's or even 3.08's. That should be illegal. Go with some 3.55's or even 3.73's. Sub frame connectors are also a must. You will enjoy your car much more after those few changes. I promise.
Are you heading out to the Saleen show in September? If you are bring you car. It would be great to see it!
sal07b
New Member
Yea, I'm going to the september show. Actually, my pregnant wife and I are leaving the kids with my mother and taking a weekend for ourselves. I'm pretty excited about it. We are going to stay at the DoubleTree (90 Pacifica Ave.) in Irvine. My wife got a $45 per night rate off of price line. I couldn't believe it! We're planning on getting our butts kicked at the driving event and then entering the show on Saturday. I'm thinking it is going to be an absolute blast. Just being away from my 4 and 2.5 year old will be fun...
Sal
P.S. Make my day and tell me you are going to bring that S351 to the show...
Sal
P.S. Make my day and tell me you are going to bring that S351 to the show...
marcus95
Active Member
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