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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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Turbo or HCI?

  • Thread starter Thread starter zZsKyZz
  • Start date Start date Mar 2, 2006
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zZsKyZz

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Dec 1, 2005
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Mar 2, 2006
#1
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #1
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

Member
Mar 31, 2005
281
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17
Marion, Indiana
Mar 2, 2006
#2
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #2
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

Member
Oct 20, 2003
704
3
19
Chicago
Mar 2, 2006
#3
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #3
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

Active Member
May 21, 2005
1,541
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37
South Florida
Mar 2, 2006
#4
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #4
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

Active Member
Oct 27, 2003
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46
Tampa Florida....USF!!!
Mar 2, 2006
#5
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #5
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

Active Member
Feb 24, 2003
2,633
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46
Tucson, AZ
Mar 2, 2006
#6
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #6
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

Active Member
Apr 12, 2004
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Lima OH
Mar 2, 2006
#7
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #7
BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

4Jenna

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Sep 12, 2001
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Mar 2, 2006
#8
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #8
Turbo
 

Cobra4075

Founding Member
Feb 18, 2002
286
1
17
Tinley Park, IL
Mar 2, 2006
#9
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #9
BlueOvalStangGT said:
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!
Click to expand...


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

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2001
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Mar 2, 2006
#10
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #10
Bet that was on some mild boost...126mph
 
1

1SLO306

My 97 GTP owns you ALL!
Mar 31, 2005
904
1
17
Muhlenberg, ky
Mar 2, 2006
#11
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #11
BlueOvalStangGT said:
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!
Click to expand...
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

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2001
4,326
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Mar 2, 2006
#12
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #12
Well my friend went......

Oh wait I dont have friends
 
1

1SLO306

My 97 GTP owns you ALL!
Mar 31, 2005
904
1
17
Muhlenberg, ky
Mar 2, 2006
#13
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #13
eades5.0 said:
Well my friend went......

Oh wait I dont have friends
Click to expand...
ill be ur friend
 

Cobra4075

Founding Member
Feb 18, 2002
286
1
17
Tinley Park, IL
Mar 2, 2006
#14
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #14
blake89stang said:
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!!
Click to expand...

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

Member
Jul 29, 2005
961
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16
Oregon OHIO
Mar 2, 2006
#15
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #15
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

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2001
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Mar 2, 2006
#16
  • Mar 2, 2006
  • #16
Anything is possible
 

BlueOvalStangGT

Active Member
Oct 27, 2003
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46
Tampa Florida....USF!!!
Mar 3, 2006
#17
  • Mar 3, 2006
  • #17
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

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Mar 3, 2006
#18
  • Mar 3, 2006
  • #18
eades5.0 said:
Well my friend went......

Oh wait I dont have friends
Click to expand...
What am I .... "chopped liver"
RC
 

Blackened302

Active Member
Jul 21, 2005
1,439
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36
South TX
Mar 3, 2006
#19
  • Mar 3, 2006
  • #19
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

Member
Nov 18, 2003
829
1
17
Grand Rapids, MI
Mar 3, 2006
#20
  • Mar 3, 2006
  • #20
blake89stang said:
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!!
Click to expand...


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.
 
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