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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

What exactly is in a stock 281" ??

  • Thread starter Thread starter EDGE Motorsport
  • Start date Start date Apr 3, 2005

EDGE Motorsport

Member
Sep 24, 2004
561
2
19
Saleen S281, London, UK
Apr 3, 2005
#1
  • Apr 3, 2005
  • #1
hi guys..

i have a few questions about the engines in 96 saleen s281's, i think it was the same engine as a regular GT

I bought the car as it is now (spec in sig) but have no idea really what's in the motor.. apparently its all stock inside... but what is stock on these..

Pistons: are they cast, forged, hypereutectic?

Rods: again, cast, forged?

Block: Iron, alluminum?

sorry foir the totally dumbass questions but I really have no idea on whats in there....

I was looking at a NOS Nozzle kit but thought i should check this out before squirting

also, ive got a set of PI heads and cams.. obviously if i put these on as is, the compresssion ratio will be too high for the blower, but Ive heard I can use the PI cams in my non-pi heads to get most of the benefits (coupled to a 99+ intake manifold) this sound right ?

any help would be greatly appreciated...

EDGE
 

Redfire03GT

New Member
Sep 10, 2003
395
0
0
Newark, CA.
Apr 3, 2005
#2
  • Apr 3, 2005
  • #2
Yeah, you're probably best off just putting in those cams and the pi intake as a pose to doing the entire head swap due to your blower.

Although, for the most part, you have a 'stock' 96 GT engine in there. Saleen usually doesnt do much in the way of tacking on performance parts inside thier '281' motors. Meaning, you'll have stock internals. You might get under drive pullies and thier EEC reflash but, that'll usually be it.

Also, for clarification, 281 is the size of the 4.6 motor in general. Most people think it's some Saleen specific thing. I have 281 SOHC badges on my car and people think I'm a Saleen poser

I'm not saying you didn't already know that but, that's for those who didnt
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Apr 3, 2005
#3
  • Apr 3, 2005
  • #3
The engine in your Saleen is the exact same as the one in your GT. Iron Block, Hypereutectic pistons, powdered crack cap rods and nodular Iron crank. As Redfire stated, the saleen package may have included under drive pulleys and/or a computer re-flash. If so, since you’re running a blower, you’ll want to get rid of the pulleys and throw the stock ones back on there and you’ll either need to have the computer re-flashed or run an SCT chip to work in conjunction with the blower. You’d be best to find out these fine details with Saleen themselves and they should be able to tell you what additional enhancements have been made, based on the model number and vin.

You’re right as far as the PI heads on the earlier block limiting boost. Your best bet in this case would be to have the Non-PI’s ported and add a set of PI cams and PI intake to your combination. Now, that being said….depending on the boost and power levels this engine is going to be making, you’re also better of saving up for a set of forged engine internals for the block as well. You can get forged rods and pistons for as little as $1199.00 ( http://www.modularperformance.com/m...e=MP&Product_Code=MP100-2100&Category_Code=EK ) and they’re well worth it if making big power numbers is your goal.
 

BLKVERT

New Member
Jan 19, 2004
407
0
0
SATX
Apr 3, 2005
#4
  • Apr 3, 2005
  • #4
The Saleen section will be extremely helpful in finding out exact info on yoru ride. Congrats.
 

EDGE Motorsport

Member
Sep 24, 2004
561
2
19
Saleen S281, London, UK
Apr 3, 2005
#5
  • Apr 3, 2005
  • #5
Redfire03GT said:
Also, for clarification, 281 is the size of the 4.6 motor in general. Most people think it's some Saleen specific thing. I have 281 SOHC badges on my car and people think I'm a Saleen poser

I'm not saying you didn't already know that but, that's for those who didnt
Click to expand...

I did relise that dude thats why I stuck 281" in the topic title.. but thanks for wraping it up for the other guys

I know the internals are the same as a stock GT. there are no underdrive pulleys on the motor although there is a steeda timing adjuster..

the problem is, as i bought this car as it is noe, i havent got all the exact spec of whats in it and trying to find a garage with some one who knows anything about modular motors is near on impossible over here in the uk... it blows, im tempted to ship the car over there to somewhere like MPH for a proper build and tune than have it sent back.... it'd probably be cheaper in the long run....

so im on an Iron block, hyper pistons and a cast crank huh

strong enough to take a 125 shot ? probably not on top of the blower huh ?

EDGE
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Apr 4, 2005
#6
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #6
EDGE Motorsport said:
so im on an Iron block, hyper pistons and a cast crank huh
Click to expand...
The rods and pistons suck, but the crank and block aren't so bad. Don't think I've ever seen a modular block go south and the stock crank is good for about 550-600hp. So if moneys tight and your stock crank is in good shape you could get away with just the rods and pistons.

EDGE Motorsport said:
strong enough to take a 125 shot ? probably not on top of the blower huh ?

EDGE
Click to expand...
To take a 125 shot alone....yeah as long as your fuel system is up to snuff. Blower and juice.....Not a chance.
 

EDGE Motorsport

Member
Sep 24, 2004
561
2
19
Saleen S281, London, UK
Apr 4, 2005
#7
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #7
thats what i thought dude...

time for some forged bits of lovelyness i think

EDGE
 
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