Ok 5.0 guys, I need your help.....

[TweekedGT]

Ok guys I need some advice. I've built an 88 Notchback Mustang as a street/strip car. It is becoming more strip than street lately. Currently it has a 408 Windsor based motor with a Dart Block and some TFS R CNC Race heads and TFS Box R intake. I'm at a cross roads. I've built the car for boost with about 8.85:1 compression but am not sure if I want to go that route. I'm getting really heavy into racing, especially bracket racing and am worried about consistency with a blower car. Right now I can dial my car into thousandths of a second. It is consistent as hell. I am looking at pulling the motor over the winter and boring it out to a 434 and sticking some flat tops in it or even domes. I would like to see 10's. Even high 10's is fine with me. Here's the second part of my dilemma. Stay EFI or go carb? I understand the stock computer system for Fox bodies is only good to about 6500RPM and then it starts breaking up. Would it be easier just to go to a carb and run the rpm's like hell or change to something like a Big Stuff system? I know absolutely 0 about carbs, I've been an EFI guy since I've gotten into cars. I'm scared I won't know enough about the tuning end of carbs and will ruin my consistency as well. Can you just set most carbs and forget them as long as you don't stray too far from home? I need opinions with my build guys, here are my choices:

1 Keep motor the same and just put an F1 or F3 Blower on it and have a monster but in my opinion less consistent, pro's = don't have to touch motor already built for it. cons = probably close to $9000 to get blower, intercooler, injectors, fuel system, MAF and I'm not sure I can afford that the way the Oilpatch is looking, especially over the Winter and into next year, consistency for bracket racing.

2 Bore motor out to 434 and keep EFI system. Pro's = I like EFI consistency and am familiar and comfortable with it. Cons= Have to upgrade computer to spin to high RPMS where power band for SBF's is.Supporting parts ie. injectors, MAF, Pistons, Machining costs

3 Bore Motor out and go Carb. Pro's = No more electrical or computer headaches, relatively cheap. Cons = have to buy new intake, carb, fuel pump, pistons, machining costs and no experience with carbs.

I need serious opinions guys. My friend who is going to help me with the build is pushing me to go carb because he is a carb guy and knows nothing about EFI. I just don't feel comfortable with it since I know nothing about them. I like my efi even though they have their own issues sometimes. Do I have justification to worry about going carb or should I just say screw it and do it.

Thanks
PS, here's pics of me in the car at a Division 6 National Open a few weeks ago. She's so close to lifting the tires. I think the second pick was when I hit my personal best 60ft, 1.57. She wrinkled the tires pretty good anyways. Forgive the car dirtiness. It rained like crazy the night before and the road out to the track and the track were still mucky in the pits.

http://www.pbase.com/nitroimage/image/115815412
http://www.pbase.com/nitroimage/image/115814674

 

[1991notchbackLX]

Why such a strong preference towards supercharging? Why not go exhaust gas driven turbine rather than belt driven? You need to look into a turbo setup, in my opinion.

 

[TweekedGT]

Why such a strong preference towards supercharging? Why not go exhaust gas driven turbine rather than belt driven? You need to look into a turbo setup, in my opinion.

Not for bracket racing. Heads up hell ya but just not consistent enough. I would love to go turbo if it were just a street or fun night at the track car. I'm taking racing quite seriously now and I am certain no turbo car can dial as well as an N/A car. Just my thoughts.

 

[mob]

If you are worried about consistency, why not spray? Your compression is too low for N/A you gotta throw something at it.

If you plan on going with a blow through carb you will be tuning that thing till the day you die.

If you dont wanna tear the motor apart again throw some kind of forced induction at it, if you wanna stay N/A rebuild it and go carb.

 

[TweekedGT]

If you are worried about consistency, why not spray? Your compression is too low for N/A you gotta throw something at it.

If you plan on going with a blow through carb you will be tuning that thing till the day you die.

If you dont wanna tear the motor apart again throw some kind of forced induction at it, if you wanna stay N/A rebuild it and go carb.

That's my entire question, throw boost at it now for big $$ or take it apart and reslug it for higher compression but undecided on carb or EFI.

One of the three is going to happen. I do have a juice kit in my garage though but it won't pass tech, bottles expired. Last race of the year maybe I'll sneak it in and see what she does. I'm rip the motor apart over the winter anyway.