Not sure what to buy

L

LXFIVEOH

Forum Member
I'm debating on maybe just keeping the 88 vert I have on here, and tossin a few bucks at it to make it more "fun". I'm not really sure what would be best for that. I was thinking a 408w would be enough, and it seems I could have that done for around 2k, but it would probably rip right through my stock T5. The car runs perfect now, never had an issue, but I figure after 114k miles, theres gotta be something inside that could use attention, so why not build a motor? Supercharged would be fun too, but idk enough about cars to know if the motor can hold it. A lot of people are saying NOS NOS NOS, but I would prefer to not go that route. I like to always have power. Mainly just looking for ideas in the 2k price range. could go a bit more if it sounded really good, but she would bitch. Thanks
 
I put a Vortech A-trim on my '92 back before I did anything more than an intake/TB/MAF upgrade. It had a smaller pulley setup and an AFM Powerpipe, and laid down 300RWHP/330TQ on the dyno. Not bad for otherwise-stock + exhaust. It was VERY fun and responsive, a great mix of some power and ease of driving. This was through a stock AOD as well, by the way, so you could probably do better. I even had the stock injectors and they only started to run a lean around 5500RPM, so you can get away with a similar project provided you aren't pegging it too high.

Since then I've upgraded everything quite a bit and 300HP is long gone, but I'll always remember those days haha. They don't make the A-trim anymore but you can find a nice deal on a used one, or the more current SC-trim.
 
Ozz said:
I put a Vortech A-trim on my '92 back before I did anything more than an intake/TB/MAF upgrade. It had a smaller pulley setup and an AFM Powerpipe, and laid down 300RWHP/330TQ on the dyno. Not bad for otherwise-stock + exhaust. It was VERY fun and responsive, a great mix of some power and ease of driving. This was through a stock AOD as well, by the way, so you could probably do better. I even had the stock injectors and they only started to run a lean around 5500RPM, so you can get away with a similar project provided you aren't pegging it too high.

Since then I've upgraded everything quite a bit and 300HP is long gone, but I'll always remember those days haha. They don't make the A-trim anymore but you can find a nice deal on a used one, or the more current SC-trim.
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That was something I was thinking about. +rep for your response, thanks.
 
Yea you can find decent used supercharger setups. I sold the S trim that was going to go on my 94 with intercooler for $1800. I'd go that route or just do heads/cam intake on a fresh 302. I'd think with all the other stuff you need for a 351w swap it would end up over 2k.
 
I agree with Ozz 100%. I think the A/S or even SC trim now can be had fairly cheap second hand. A little bigger injector can be had cheap too. This route would be cheaper even then doing heads & stuff I'd bet, and the coolness factor is a little higher.
 
Not to mention the A-trim/SC-trim were built to work on a stock engine, so there's no absolute necessity to spend $$ on a tune as you would with a bigger blower. Sure it would HELP, but you can get by without it especially if you're competent enough to check a/f mix and such to get it at a safe mixture. I didn't even use an FMU on my A-trim setup, just straight injector, and it ran perfect with a safe a/f mix. Once I stepped up my injectors is when it barely ran due to too much fuel, but that's obviously a different story beyond what you sound like you want or need.

You could always do a H/C/I swap but that's a bit more work for install + finding good used parts to keep you in your price range, another $80-100 for gaskets, and as mentioned it lacks the cool factor. But the power results would be good for sure.
 
Ozz said:
Not to mention the A-trim/SC-trim were built to work on a stock engine, so there's no absolute necessity to spend $$ on a tune as you would with a bigger blower. Sure it would HELP, but you can get by without it especially if you're competent enough to check a/f mix and such to get it at a safe mixture. I didn't even use an FMU on my A-trim setup, just straight injector, and it ran perfect with a safe a/f mix. Once I stepped up my injectors is when it barely ran due to too much fuel, but that's obviously a different story beyond what you sound like you want or need.

You could always do a H/C/I swap but that's a bit more work for install + finding good used parts to keep you in your price range, another $80-100 for gaskets, and as mentioned it lacks the cool factor. But the power results would be good for sure.
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It'd be nice to find a good deal on a decent blower, and then the stuff to swap to maf. I'm thinking hci might be a better option, as I'd just go carb, and labor doesn't usually cost me anything. I'm checking the garage sale section frequently for some goodies.
 
Ozz said:
Not to mention the A-trim/SC-trim were built to work on a stock engine, so there's no absolute necessity to spend $$ on a tune as you would with a bigger blower. Sure it would HELP, but you can get by without it especially if you're competent enough to check a/f mix and such to get it at a safe mixture. I didn't even use an FMU on my A-trim setup, just straight injector, and it ran perfect with a safe a/f mix. Once I stepped up my injectors is when it barely ran due to too much fuel, but that's obviously a different story beyond what you sound like you want or need.

You could always do a H/C/I swap but that's a bit more work for install + finding good used parts to keep you in your price range, another $80-100 for gaskets, and as mentioned it lacks the cool factor. But the power results would be good for sure.
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This...plus with te updated S/SC trims you need the FMU even on 19lb injectors. NOS is great but you have to keep filling it. and for high mileage, when i got my car out of New York window sticker had 200K plus on it....i ben hitting it with 175 for 5 years now off a trans brake...no issues. But the vortech kit is the BEST in my opinion and will be had well within your price range and will adapt to anything you add to the engine. Also going from teh 8 pounds to 10 with teh 2.95 pulley is a ten minute deal...and i don't think you'll need a tune for it to run well. Just use an A9L computer. This will be dead reliable we put one on my bosses wifes car and even with performer heads and a comp cam he had custom cut she got 32 MPG with a 3:55 gear on the freeway in a vert. the car went 12.00 with the gator backs. One suggestion though, call vortech when you get(if you get) the supercharger and talk to them about having it inspected/feshened up, the cost up front will save you aggrivation if a problem arises in teh future.

Edit:the vortech will always be there when you want it to be...the bottle is only on when you want it to be. On the lighter side, if you want a NOS kit i have a dry kit for sale less bottle for a 5.0
 
LXFIVEOH said:
It'd be nice to find a good deal on a decent blower, and then the stuff to swap to maf. I'm thinking hci might be a better option, as I'd just go carb, and labor doesn't usually cost me anything. I'm checking the garage sale section frequently for some goodies.
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You have to factor in a fuel system for carb...you'll spend a grand doing that the right way! we just did my buddies car converted to carb...it's not cheap. Doing a MAF is about the cost of a carb intake.
 
Billydroveit said:
This...plus with te updated S/SC trims you need the FMU even on 19lb injectors. NOS is great but you have to keep filling it. and for high mileage, when i got my car out of New York window sticker had 200K plus on it....i ben hitting it with 175 for 5 years now off a trans brake...no issues. But the vortech kit is the BEST in my opinion and will be had well within your price range and will adapt to anything you add to the engine. Also going from teh 8 pounds to 10 with teh 2.95 pulley is a ten minute deal...and i don't think you'll need a tune for it to run well. Just use an A9L computer. This will be dead reliable we put one on my bosses wifes car and even with performer heads and a comp cam he had custom cut she got 32 MPG with a 3:55 gear on the freeway in a vert. the car went 12.00 with the gator backs. One suggestion though, call vortech when you get(if you get) the supercharger and talk to them about having it inspected/feshened up, the cost up front will save you aggrivation if a problem arises in teh future.

Edit:the vortech will always be there when you want it to be...the bottle is only on when you want it to be. On the lighter side, if you want a NOS kit i have a dry kit for sale less bottle for a 5.0
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FWIW that's the pulley I used on my A Trim when I laid down 300/330.
 
Most amateur kits you find online aren't worth it at all. There's a reason there aren't many professional turbo companies out there building kits for these cars...

And if you thought a supercharger was trouble, wait 'til you experience custom turbo cars. Back in the Northeast I can think of at least half a dozen people with turbo Mustangs and only one of them ever had his car running 100% in the 10 years I'd known him. Everyone else was perpetually chasing power-stealing demons, breaking things, not able to tune it, etc. Whenever most of them got the car running it'd just go down again. Some eventually switched to superchargers and some gave up and sold their cars. That's not to say it can't be done, but you've gotta know what you're doing. If I were going to go turbo, I'd go Hellion or nothing but that's my opinion. And that's probably twice your budget not including any additional supporting purchases or a tune.
 
Ozz said:
Most amateur kits you find online aren't worth it at all. There's a reason there aren't many professional turbo companies out there building kits for these cars...

And if you thought a supercharger was trouble, wait 'til you experience custom turbo cars. Back in the Northeast I can think of at least half a dozen people with turbo Mustangs and only one of them ever had his car running 100% in the 10 years I'd known him. Everyone else was perpetually chasing power-stealing demons, breaking things, not able to tune it, etc. Whenever most of them got the car running it'd just go down again. Some eventually switched to superchargers and some gave up and sold their cars. That's not to say it can't be done, but you've gotta know what you're doing. If I were going to go turbo, I'd go Hellion or nothing but that's my opinion. And that's probably twice your budget not including any additional supporting purchases or a tune.
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Ponydown has awesome poducts and won't eat your wallet, he uses name brand turbos and builds his own kits that actually fit. Also he's a hell of a nice guy and will give you customer support. On an EFI car it's easier to make run 100% carbs are a little more touchy. With EFI you pay to have it tuned by a known tuner and enjoy the ride.

The Ebay kits are good for the plumbing and what not but teh turbo's are usually sub par. Atleast teh one you were looking at has bearing shaft...most have a brass bush shaft. I would go to Ponydown before i did anything else.
 
Ponydown stuff fits and works. Uses masterpower turbos which are pretty proven by now. He will upgrade the turbo as well. I had a S trim on my car, then switched to the ponydown kit. I'll never go back to a side slinger.

And ponydown is 1/2 the price of hellion. WAY over priced IMO

91trunk is looking to sell his vortech kit.
 
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