ok so like the title suggest, I am getting about 4k from my grandmother for my 20th birthday and will have about 5 and some change when the summer comes to work on my car. Now I already know there are going to be those that say SELL IT AND GET A GT... well thats just not an option, this car already has about 5k put into it and I dont want to pay for v8 insurance just for the badge. I know the six has got potential just not sure how to go about this.

the performance shop I was talking to kept trying to talk me into getting a junked out GT for like 3k and then swaping everything over that would cost me toal about 6 to 7k. now I know the six can handle ALOT and just takes the knowledge to get it. I probably have too many questions to ask in just one post but basically I want to know whats the best way to go about staying with a six (not necessarily my six but maybe a v6 swap so dont need new mounts and wires) or using the six ive got and build off of it. maybe a list would be better.

1. Is the 3.8 block i have a good foundation to start from?
2. should I go with a 4.2L or 4.3L from some place like SSM
3. what all else aside from just motor can I do with this much

now I already have the following mods: (not everything is ofcourse a performance mod)

4:10 gears with T-Loc
CAI
droped 2.5 in
18" rims
Saleen body kit
Cobra R hood
Tinted 20%
Dash mounted tac w/ shift light
true duel exhaust

Please dont flame this post with the "just get a v8" responces, I already know that I am not willing to do that more then likely

thanks in advance for any help given it is much apreciated
sorry forgot to list that it is a 04 3.8L 5 speed

 

dude your grandmother gives you 4 thousand dollars for your birthday.......what does she get you for christmas a leer jet hahaha lucky dog you

 

get a vmptuning.com supercharger kit procharger

 

Stage 3 Powerpack from SuperSix $2350 - LINK

Supercharger ~$3,000-4,000

Handheld tuner + Dyno tunes and runs to tweak your system config: $~600

along with this you should also get long tube headers and some suspension work done on your car. Also buy a pair of drag radials so you can have to use at the track.


All that would cost roughly $7,000.

The remaining $2,000 you will have to use for any installation costs.

 

1. The 3.8 block is an excellent foundation to start from. As i have learned here, it is pretty sturdy and can handle some impressive power reliably. It sounds like your leaning towards forced induction (pretty much have to if you dont wanna swap another engine in). This would mean nitrous, turbocharger, or supercharger, or a combination of those (ie. nitrous combined with a supercharger, i'm not really sure how safe this would be, so I can't really recommend doing it). superchargers and turbochargers are more expensive and harder to install (cost more to install), but are always operating when you get to a RPM (when they start making boost). superchargers can be found at various forum sponsors, as well as www.vmptuning.com. turbochargers can be found at various vendors, one of the more prominent ones being www.tmaturbo.com. You can expect to pay around $4000 for a basic kit for either charger type, new of course. nitrous is also a good choice (when used properly) and can offer the same or close to the same performance as a turbocharger or supercharger. nitrous kits are MUCH cheaper than charger kits as well as easier to install, but require nitrous refills at a race shop or automotive place. The most common kits are dry and wet, dry being that only nitrous is shot, wet being that nitrous and extra fuel are being shot. a kit i have heard to be good is the NX (nitrous express) EFI Stage 1 Ford ALL (WET) found at vendors, ebay, and http://www.nitrousexpress.com/Pages/FordStage1.htm. it comes with everything except a purge, bottle heater, and pressure guage which can be bought separately. A common shot for V6 mustangs is 75 for safe, or 100 with a tune. However, with any shot of nitrous (this goes for turbochargers and superchargers as well) you are running a risk of something breaking if you do not tune it right.

2. A SSM powerpack or forged internals is a great investment before putting on any type of FI! forged internals are tougher and are almost guaranteed to last longer than stock parts. Heads, cam, etc help to increase airflow, allowing for a more dramatic power gain when switching to FI.

3. other than that, I would recommend getting a tuner (SCT or diablo), perhaps some underdrive pulleys if your not getting a supercharger, and a short shifter, because the stock one is [:'(].

Good luck with the mods! **NOTE** i don't have any experience with any FI, although i hope i will soon. I am simply stating what is generally accepted on the forums in regards to the 3.8 engine

 

I was talking to a friend of mine that knows a good bit about cars and he mentioned if I went with the stage 3 pack I should also probably get some of the options they ofer such as:

Installation kit: gaskets, sealants, head bolts, t-stat- $275
BBK 65mm throttle body- $240
1.7 stud mount stainless steel roller rocker kit- $475
65mm throttle body inlet matching- $25

also since that stage 3 comes with your choice of SSM cam he suggested either their 210/210 .48/.48 1.73 114 turbo monster cam

does any of that sound about right?

 

well do you want to stay n/a or would you be willing to use forced induction?

 

willing to do both, just thought it was best to build up the motor first before going FI

also the same guy I was talking to mentioned I might want to go with bigger headers for my car but ceramic ones would cost as much as 710 or I could go with crome plated for 510...I know the ceramic would help insolate but are they really going to make a big differance

one other thing is after I do all this work I still need the car to be street able and basically is my daily driver till I get out of college in 3 years or so. gas milage is not too important but would like to start above 15 if possable lol

 

header's for our mustangs dont really do anything unless they are LT's is what im told...im with ya on the gas mileage thing too

 

Ceramic headers will last forever. If you want a mean sound, LT's are good. And they help if you eventuallt do go F/I.