Turbo or HCI?

[zZsKyZz]

This summer I want to do one or the other and I haven't been able to decide. Here's my choices:

HCI
GT40 Heads
GT40/cobra intake
Undecided on the cam but probably a Ford Racing Camzilla.

Turbo:
Single turbo, probably a garrett T3

Now here's what I want to know: what would be better to do, what other parts will I need, and most of all, how much will it cost? I don't have a bunch of money to spend which sucks, but I want more power.. I'm leaning torwards the Turbo...

 

[xkuntrycowboyx]

i say HCI. ...i dunno much about turbos, but i think a turbo would cost more, and you may need better heads/intake, and right cam for the turbo to be a huge boost anyways.?? im sure you wouldn't have to but. y not get the basic done and out of the way so you don't go back, then get the turbo in another year.

 

[94Blue302GT]

depends on how much money you got to roll with. If you're on a budget, do hci, and then when you have the money, throw on the turbo kit, and you'll have a huge boost. I personally have a stock cam, ported heads, and a slightly modified stock intake with a T4 turbo (P60-1hifi) but i haven't had it on the street yet. (currently changing gears, pump, etc). I pieces together my kit for under 3 i'd say.

 

[legalize420]

for comparison, mine cost about 1200. thats everything including the rockers, gaskets, and machine shop bill. i used the stock pushrods and lifters. could cost a little bit more depending on how much you spend at the machine shop.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

TURBO! I will never own a performance car without a power adder. My friends stock motored(except a explorer intake manifold) went 11.77@126 in a 93 lx. His car was heavier then my car then too. I would like to see your h/c/i car trap 126!

 

[Zero Signal]

Just comes down to what you want to do. Personally I would do H/C/I all over again 1st if given the choice. Nothing more satisfying than doing your own H/C/I install!

 

[95CobraMike]

BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[4Jenna]

Turbo

 

[Cobra4075]

TURBO! I will never own a performance car without a power adder. My friends stock motored(except a explorer intake manifold) went 11.77@126 in a 93 lx. His car was heavier then my car then too. I would like to see your h/c/i car trap 126!

I totaly agree. I have HCI and I'm adding a turbo now. To get a decent time at the track, I had to beat the sh** out of the car. With a turbo, you just shift through the gears and let it mile an hour.

 

[4Jenna]

Bet that was on some mild boost...126mph

 

[1SLO306]

TURBO! I will never own a performance car without a power adder. My friends stock motored(except a explorer intake manifold) went 11.77@126 in a 93 lx. His car was heavier then my car then too. I would like to see your h/c/i car trap 126!

11.77@126 on stock cam and e7's. sorry but i have to call i just dont see a e7 car going 11.77 with without some mayjor head work. not to mention all the lil bolt ons(ud pullies, TB, MAF, ect.)



now getting back on track...........i say go with the H/C/I and then save for a Good turbo kit and dip into the 10's maybe. but all in all its ur car and ur descision. Hope it works for ya mane!!

 

[4Jenna]

Well my friend went......

Oh wait I dont have friends

 

[1SLO306]

Well my friend went......

Oh wait I dont have friends

ill be ur friend

 

[Cobra4075]

11.77@126 on stock cam and e7's. sorry but i have to call i just dont see a e7 car going 11.77 with without some mayjor head work. not to mention all the lil bolt ons(ud pullies, TB, MAF, ect.)



now getting back on track...........i say go with the H/C/I and then save for a Good turbo kit and dip into the 10's maybe. but all in all its ur car and ur descision. Hope it works for ya mane!!

I could swear I saw a write up on a stock fox with a turbo running in the 10's. This was in MM&FF probably 10 years ago. In fact, it was one of their project cars that they recapped last issue.

 

[drakesdad]

Not to steal this thread but your guys response to this may help his decision...
not long after I bought my 215HP beast my friend dogged me with a 94 Z, I looked on Summit that night and found a Supercharger for around 2 grand.
I was talked into this......let me and the owner of this thread know if this is correct....It would be better to start with the bigger heads and intake and if more is needed later it would be a better foundation for a turbo or SC. Now I love my H/C/I with all of the minor issues but I have a lot more invested......
Does that theory of having bigger heads/intake that will allow for more air when a SC or Turbo are installed hold water?

 

[4Jenna]

Anything is possible

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Believe what you want, I probably wouldnt have believed it either had I not seen it. Heres some pics:

That car was stolen, then stripped,then burnt. Now he has this 95 Cobra which has been giving him nothing but headaches. That LX was so simple and ran like a batt out of hell. RIP LX!

His new car

The LX after it was recovered

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Well my friend went......

Oh wait I dont have friends

What am I .... "chopped liver"
RC

 

[Blackened302]

TURBO for sure!

if you buy used (just gotta make sure it's got little mileage and that the impeller spins freely and doesn't wiggle around) you can spend very little, surprisingly. example:
my gf's bro-in-law got me a turbo for $150 at a junkyard--thing's in awesome condition, very little mileage on it. after that you'll need a fuel pump (100), regulator (60?), injectors (~200), piping (cheap, maybe around 80), shorty unequal headers (mounted facing forward), an intercooler (if you wanna run more than 10 lbs, but 5-8 lbs would already be awesome!) and hmmm, what else... lemme think about it and i'll get back to you.

stock heads, maybe a ported lower (don't need to, though), stock cam, stock gears + 5lbs of boost = ~350hp @ crank. up it to 8lbs and it should be around 420ish (according to desktop dyno considering turbo, stock h/c/i)

sure, hci + turbo would be even better, but for poor college guys like you and i, the turbo would be more than enough, hehe.

 

[rio95]

11.77@126 on stock cam and e7's. sorry but i have to call i just dont see a e7 car going 11.77 with without some mayjor head work. not to mention all the lil bolt ons(ud pullies, TB, MAF, ect.)



now getting back on track...........i say go with the H/C/I and then save for a Good turbo kit and dip into the 10's maybe. but all in all its ur car and ur descision. Hope it works for ya mane!!

I call BS on you!!!! Many people have gone LOW 11's on e7's. Plenty have gone 120-125 also. Plus look at that car. It must weigh like 3100lbs.