Hey guys...

I've been reading the forums here for a while and there is A LOT of useful information. Thanks to all that have posted!

I am starting a project of my own and I figured I'd see if I could collect some opinions.

I have a 1998 Mustang GT Automatic Convertible. This is actually my 2nd 1998 GT so I am not in new territory here.

I have already bolted on most bolt-on-able parts. Upper Intake, Throttlebody, K&N Intake, 4.10 Gears, Shift Kit, MSD Coils, BBK Shorty Headers, BBK X Pipe (no cats), Hypertech max enery programming, and misc other parts... What I want to do is race at the local track (not sure if I want 1/4 or 1/8 yet) and be drivable on the street. I plan on getting all the appropriate parts to put the power to the ground.

I have gone out and purchased a used 2002 SOHC 4.6 engine... I am in the process of tearing it down now. I am going to spend a good bit and time and money on this one. What I want to do is make 400HP on the motor N/A if possible. Then later down the road I would like to add mild boost (8-12psi) with little/no engine mods from what I have already done. I have read through the forums and there are alot of differing opinions... but what do you guys think? (And do not tell me to get DOHC or 5.4 or anything like that. I am building the 4.6 SOHC)

1. To stroke or not to stroke? (I have read the sticky on this one and I am still not sure if I should or not. Logic tells me that if I built the rest of the motor and heads right, then I would get max benifit from stroking, but alot of you guys say otherwise)

2. If not stroking, any recommendations for the bottom end?

3. What about pistons? Dished or flat?

4. What size cam is appropriate, and almost, but not too much? I do plan on charging later with mild boost (8-12psi). Also what about springs?

5. Valves. Should I increase the valve size since the 2V heads dont breath so well? What size would be optimal?

6. Heads... How much work should I have done? Am I missing anything?

7. Stall Converter. I know this needs to match my cam, but how far above idle do I want my stall converter to be?

 

i think you are refering to crank horsepower because you will never get a 2v motor to 400whp because the heads, even when ported to the max, flow like crap. but if you read the article in muscle mustangs and fast fords about livernois motorsports making a 435 crank horsepower 2v motor is what you would need to do to get 400 crank hp...but down the road, you would have to lower your compression to 9.0:1 or lower for the boost. so either build the car for boost now and boost it later or build it N/A and keep it that way or shoot some nitrous in there for your power adder but you arent gonna get those kind of numbers without a lot of compression.

 

+1 on... this whole post pretty much you gotta decide boost or n/a unless you wanna retard the timing when you're running N/A but meh.

 

Thanks for the honest response... I do plan on boosting it in the future, but with all the money I am putting into the motor and suspension, I would like to wait a minute to boost it. And I don't want it to run like crap while still N/A... Think it is possible to hit a happy median and still push some impressive numbers N/A?

 

Yea... I do understand that, but I was hoping there might be some "middleground" or "Grey area" where I could have decent numbers N/A and then charged later.

Also... I really don't want to go nitrous unless I have to... I like supercharger or turbo idea much better...

 

And for sake of keeping this thread heading in the right direction, let's just assume I am building for N/A... But keep in mind I would like to boost in future.

If I HAVE to boost at same time as motor build then I will... Just let me know your recommendations.

I really am doing this project (not wasting your time), and would appreciate any help you guys could give. I will post pics of my progress, and my timeslips whenever I can get it completed and to the track.
-Mike