Here's what I think based on everythingI've read or heard: itall boils down to this: if you put $5000 into bolt ons, top of the motor, and gears, and $5000 into a supercharger, the second option will give you more horsepower and a faster times at the track. Right? Call the difference "The Gap". The first group of folks seek to close that gap with less expensive approaches, and our aftermarket folks and speed shops are testing new products, online members try a few things, and we report the results. FordFan isjust saying if you want fast and powerful,just lay down your $5K and get 'er done. Some folks are closing the gap by getting creative, like Ron (Spyder) is pushing the envelope and gutting his car somewhat, and as our FordFan has pointed out, is using every trick in the book to get his time down. I don't know his current HP, but I think he's chasing time more than power. Me, I just want to get into the 12s with sticky tires, bolt ons, cams, gears and practice before my son does. No telling what happens after that. My car has a great sound with shorties, xpipe and axleback, but I may choose to junk those for longtubes if it gets me some more HP and a better time slip. Probably cost me more in the long run for sure, but heck, I'm having fun going down this path.

John

 

I hope everyone agrees that this is "on-topic", but here's a supercharger for under $3k. . . so what's the catch? that it doesn't include all the components? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Hey Jon. I'd say the catch is "typical" price paid + installation. Not everyone is comfortable with a wrench.

Bargains can be found on just about any part, so you have to baseline with something. I see a few components are missing in that price, and you're getting close to another grand as you move down their "optional" packages. Then there's the handheld tuner, and custom tune.

I don't think my $5k figure is too far off, but it's all a bell curve. Some folks manage to pay less, some end up paying a bit more...

John

 

john: that's sorta what i figured. maybe after the warranty's gone and i see if i like high performance driving events and autocross i'll know better what i want. looking forward to your results after the dyno!!! jon

 

stage 2 stage3 you match the cam to what you are running you cannot run the a radical cam such as the 127350 if you have stock car or supercharged. comp cam explains it clearly on what cam to run with what modshttp://www.compcams.com/information/...yID=-944523949

 

My point is cams aren't magically appeared from the sky, comp cams did some R&D when they put their product out. You said "waste of cash/time" but you didn't indicate you owned a shop/dyno to do R&D on aftermarket camshafts....
I now have some insight on the "whys" but why would anyone buy a stage II anything? I know I wouldn't, the point is bang for your buck..MM&FF does alot of their own research for our cars so may I ask why you would install these stage II's just to see what the gains are? Brendspeed already did this and got 38 whp's with an aftermarket TB and stage III cams. These aren't impressive #'s so I'd steer my customers away from them based on (brendspeed"s) research..
If cams don't give me a higher rpm band along with hp then I'd say no to them. Comp cam's site made no indication on their site about even 500 more rpm's for dual cams, so that alone would steer me..

 

you just don't get it if you have a superchargered engine only one camshaft can be used. n/aengine. stage 1 stag 2 stage 3 are for n/a engine. comp cam manufactures 4 camshafts for this engine. my reason for spesking out was if you are going to supercharge your engine camshafts stage 1 stange 2 stage 3 are not going to work! this comes from comp cam.this cam was rated for 6800 rpm and it never gained hp . just trying to say make sure you don't change to the wrong cam if you ever plan to supercharge

 

Gotchya
I'll prolly go the n/a route by sticking with a stroker motor (forged shortblock) and I'll stay away from cams just because the gains don't warrant the cost...Until they open one of these blocks up and really tackle our camshafts to maximise the gains. Comp cams just produced a rush to market cam and spent all its other R/D on the FAST items due to come out this year. I agree that 10% gains (true or not are simply not gains. For the money a custom grind would be a better route.

 

thats the way we are headed on this next car. note the idle sound is cool by hard to hear over x pipes