Stock 5.0 performance
nikolas:
Jeb_Bush 2000 is correct about pricing, especially on older cars. The Blue Book or NADA is just a guide, but it gives you some idea of where you are on price That $5500. isn't bad if the car is mint but you always go for the best price you can so you have more left over for mods. Well, that's my thinking, anyway.
Getting high 13's out of a near-stock 5.0 (5-speed) is not really the herculean feat it's often made out to be.
Aside from rear gears (I have 3.55's and they work fine - minimal wheelspin but good grunt off the line) a good shifter helps a lot and knowing when to shift (RPM) in each gear is crucial. That takes practice; you can't just drive to the track and run without having all your ducks in a row.
Besides having a fresh tune-up and new oil, you can do lots of what I call 'track tricks'. Inflate the front tires to 50 pounds, take out the rear seat (45 pounds), advance the timing and always, always, use plenty of ice to cool down the intake before you run.
Frankly, lots of driving practice with your car, some easy little 'tricks' and cool air all add up to a possible high-13 timeslip for a near-stock 5.0.
That's how I did it and on the street low 14's are pretty easy with good traction and good driving - and that will keep you in front of about 95% of the cars you'll meet at stoplights.
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