cheapest way to 300
 

hey guys,

I'm going to go back to college and doing so I'm going to sell my 2002 and get my brothers 89GT for some odd 2k. now I'm really going to miss the power my 4.6 modular gave me, and would like to take a stock 5.0 to get about 300 HP out of it.

thing is that I want to keep the cost as low as possible so i can get it all payed off by summers end.

what would be needed to put down 300 HP and be very happy with a stable motor that will do reliable power and not cost me and arm and a leg.... I'm used to researching for modulars, so the windsor area is out of my normal relm.... any help?

Torinalth

A good set of aftermarket aluminum heads, a camshaft, roller rockers, intake manifold, 65mm Throttle body, bigger MAF meter, headers and a good exhaust system will net you around 300 HP.

That will set you back around $2500.

Oh, I forget 24lb. injectors.

I agree with Mach1. TFS heads (cheap but are awesome). Good cam, intake, injectors. Or of course Nitrous will get you there too. Take a look at some combinations in the User's Rides section, and see what they have. A favorite used to be TFS Twisted Wedge heads, E-303 cam (there are better out there though) and an Edelbrock Performer intake with 24lbers, 65mm throttle body/spacer, 75mm MAS.

Hope that helps.

tried to find the cheapest possible but its kinda hard...

for a total of 2300 I was able to price out

TFS heads
TFS upper and lower intake
pro-m 75mm bullet
holley TB
push rods
e303 cam
cam sprocket and chain

and that about covers it..... that does not seem to be enough to get me to 300, as you stated earlier about getting a good exhaust, something like BBK longs with an H and strait through mufflers.... which in its self will add another 1k.... man... not going FI is getting expensive....

Torinalth

Just reaad my profile:D

I dont have fancy heads or even an aftermarket cam and I totaly destroy the 4.6's in my 5.0 even the 96-01 cobras.

ackbar - so still looking at heads and intake manifold running me around 1500..... and by bolt ons.... what does that include :) that including MAF, TB, and full exhaust? that alone would double the cost.....

300hp
 

It's going to take more than $2,000 to achieve 300+ horsepower. You could always get the stock heads worked over with bigger valves & some porting. That would save you some $$ and still perform pretty close to out of the box/aftermarket/big valve alum. heads. You could always get a used intake off of e-bay to save even more $$.

Nitrous.

Caymon

Well, he did say "cheapest", so that would be the correct answer...

Look for used parts. Everything on my car is hand-me-downs. I got the heads & intake for 1200$ meter for 65$ and TB for 100$. but the others are right. NOS would be the CHEAPEST. About 550-600$ for a nice new system. Plus as you get more money to buy better parts, You will see better gains.

Yeah, you can save a bundle buying used parts, and there are thousands of used stang parts out there.

Ive sold many myself.

You want 300 hp on tap, and more with a simple swap.....get a SUPERCHARGER :D
For overall cost in the longrun and convenience of not having to get a bottle, i believe it would be best to get a supercharger. A vortech A trim, or powerdyne are usually advertised at under $2000 for a kit to start with (small HP kits, but will easily get you to 300 hp).
Building your engine may be not worth your time because of mileage or other reasons, plus it takes alot more time to build your engine right than it does to put on a supercharger kit.
A nitrous kit is the simplest solution and cheapest, but inconvenient because of refills.
300 horsepower is running just a little below the point where you'd have to start upgrading your fuel/ignition/suspension, etc. etc. etc. to deal with the extra power and torque, so that's probably a good number to go with. You may want to invest in subframe connectors and rear control arms to go with this stuff just because it makes driving your car better overall.
Good luck,

Yeah, subframe connectors are a "must have" on any fox body, modified or not.

ackbar are those heads 6037's you use?

i agree with dark5_0, i never really lose to the 99+ gt's, im still on stock heads, but probaly dont have anywhere near 300.

A stock '89 allready has 225hp. IMO, a set of heads and exhaust system alone will yield you 300hp.

hmmm.... if i go with a cheap charger I'd like to go with something that is scalable to higher yields with just a pully change, and without having to drop in a new blower.... kinda looking at a Novi2k for 3grand or a procharger for 2.6.... much more gains, but still more than I'd like to spend to get the power i want.....

Torinalth

i say rebuild the 302 block thats in it. get 9:5:1 hyperutetic (sp?) pistons if your goin to run it on the street, a set of AFR 165's w/ 1.6 roller rockers and some porting/polishing on the heads. a light-weight valve train (titanium everywhere :D), a f-303 cam, TFS track heat intake, port and polish the intake too, 65 MM FRPP T/B, Pro-M/Anderson powerpipe package with 76 MM MAF, 24 FRPP injectors, adj. fuel pressure reg., 190lph intake fuel pump, frpp shorties, o/r x-pipe, bassani catback. that should get you in the 300rwhp++

oh yeah 0 deck the block too :)

Heads and exhaust alone wont make 300 hp. If the heads are capable of making say, 50 HP over stock, that means with the supporting parts that will allow them to flow to thier potential, which means maf meter, TB, intake, etc....

Ok, I didn't know the supporting parts were included like that.
It wouldn't really take that much money to be able to run with the 4.6 liters though.
With a set of pulleys,gears, advanced timing and exhaust, you should be able to run with a stock 4.6..even the '99-up engines.(excluding the cobra's)
If you had more money to spend I would say to build a 351w and be done with it.