Supercharger vs Heads/Cam/Intake for track work.

oldeskewltoy wrote: run what you have for now... source a replacement short block, build it from the crank up. Performance parts bolted to a tired older engine tends to expedite the older bits demise. Get a spare and build it, that way its one and done. Btw... $5-7k seems like a lot... but in the Toyota 4AG world... a $5000 build only nets you an extra 40-50hp

This is the correct answer I think. I am going to see if I can find a slightly upgraded long block somewhere on Craigslist that I can go through ahead of time.

If I had a block and 7K though I could build a easy 550 rwhp motor off the car if I picked and choosed used.

Allegidly there is a 15% off coupon floating around for summit racing which would put the top end around 2.1K which is more in line with what I was hoping to spend on package.

wearymicrobe wrote:

oldeskewltoy wrote: run what you have for now... source a replacement short block, build it from the crank up. Performance parts bolted to a tired older engine tends to expedite the older bits demise. Get a spare and build it, that way its one and done. Btw... $5-7k seems like a lot... but in the Toyota 4AG world... a $5000 build only nets you an extra 40-50hp

This is the correct answer I think. I am going to see if I can find a slightly upgraded long block somewhere on Craigslist that I can go through ahead of time. If I had a block and 7K though I could build a easy 550 rwhp motor off the car if I picked and choosed used. Allegidly there is a 15% off coupon floating around for summit racing which would put the top end around 2.1K which is more in line with what I was hoping to spend on package.

if you find that coupon post it up or PM me please. I'm thinking about purchasing a set of Pontiac aluminum heads and 15% off would be a nice chunk off the top.

My initial thought is to agree with the N/A people, but I don't think the blower idea should be dismissed immediately. If you have another 150 horsepower, you have another 150 horsepower worth of heat. Blower does seem to make it more obvious, I admit.

Adding enough compression, cam and head to make the same additional horsepower may very well involve another 1000 rpm, which is not without problems, either.

A blower will add power all through the curve, although a centrifugal one does kick harder at high rpm...my little B&M roots blower on a smog 350 makes first gear in a 700r4 with 4.11s almost completely useless.

Last point- wow, am I ever a contrarian. I come here to suggest the n/a, read the posts, and feel blowers need to be defended. FML.

Throw some mufflers on the side pipes too. I've seen some cobras that have them, so it's not impossible. Sort of ugly, but track solutions sometimes are.

Excited to see this built. Someday i will have cobra.

mazdeuce wrote: Throw some mufflers on the side pipes too. I've seen some cobras that have them, so it's not impossible. Sort of ugly, but track solutions sometimes are.

I can already see in my head something like this with the pufflers up towards the body at the end of the sidepipe.

wearymicrobe wrote: I have way way more cooling then I will ever need at this point.

Radiator cooling is not the same as charge air cooling. My friend and I both have Eaton/Roots superchargers on our Focuses. His is an M45 and mine is an M62. Toward the end of a 20 minute track session he starts losing power due to heatsoak of the intake air charge. I don't have that problem. The difference is that I have an air to water intercooler on mine and he does not have an intercooler.

oldeskewltoy wrote: run what you have for now... source a replacement short block, build it from the crank up. Performance parts bolted to a tired older engine tends to expedite the older bits demise. Get a spare and build it, that way its one and done. Btw... $5-7k seems like a lot... but in the Toyota 4AG world... a $5000 build only nets you an extra 40-50hp

This gets my vote as well.

I may have missed others mentioning it, but the NA setup will also be significantly less weight than a supercharger, IC, piping, etc.

I've watched a FFR cobra click off high tens repeatedly and effortlessly with a non-exotic 347 build.

I'm fairly sure the stock 302 blocks won't hold 550whp long: what did you have in mind?

I have a third option, buy a used performance 5.0 engine with about 350 hp from a racer that's switching cars or quitting that's been dyno'ed and tested.

In reply to Mr_Clutch42:

That probably makes more sense.

Why not just spend ~$3000-4000 on a fresh 350hp crate motor and be done with it?

Easy Button 400hp solution with minimal downtime.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mll-bp3474ctc/overview/make/ford

You can get it without all the accessories for less and retain your EFI as well if you wanted to.

Hell, scroll down this until you find the price/power/features you want. http://www.summitracing.com/search/department/engines-components/section/engine-assemblies/make/ford/engine-family/ford-small-block-windsor?N=4294949512%2B4294881857%2B4294869887%2B4294951399&PageSize=100&SortBy=DisplayPrice&SortOrder=Desc

Crate motor it is. Supercharger will not fit and I have tondo the bottom end for the trick flow package

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned GT40-P heads and a cam yet.

G_Body_Man wrote: I'm surprised nobody has mentioned GT40-P heads and a cam yet.

IF I can snag a set less then 500$ with the manifold I will do this in the short term just for fun.

Something else to consider is the power curve. Forced induction tends to ramp up exponentially vs linearly. While that's a lot of fun on the street, it's not so great mid corner as you trying to feed the power in.

I love the extra power the turbo adds to my Miata, but I'd much rather have the same power N/A.

turboswede wrote: Its kinda funny, I've always wanted to build a Cobra with a Shelby-Dodge turbocharged 4-cylinder and oddly enough they can make similar power fairly reliably and with less weight. Put a Shelby valve cover on there and you could really throw people for a loop :)

What are the rules for the class - does it have to be original engine (assuming this isn't an original Cobra)?

In reply to wspohn:

Its a Factory Five replica and since he's talking about either a Paxton blower, I'd suspect he's running a track-day car which has no particular class structure.

There's a guy on a Mustang forum who road races a supercharged 4.6L S197. The amount of cooling he needs for both the engine and the air intake is mind-boggling.