Which Engine Set Up To Go With

I have a somewhat stock 02' GT with 80k miles and I want to start planning my upgrades for the engine. Ultimately I would like to end up with a 500hp streetable car. Thus far i have upgraded the suspension with H&R springs, Eibach Pro Damper struts and shocks, Eibach sway bars front and back and full 2 1/2" exhaust with Magnaflow MagnaPack cat back.

So far here are the options I am entertaining;

1. Stick with my stock short block (for now) and install the new TFS heads and cams with their intake too. I figure this will be the easiest and will last me for a while until i can afford either a ProCharger or TorkTech setup. Once this goes on I figure the bottom end will shoot craps so I was thinking of a 5.0stroker.

2. Next option, pull a 5.4 short block from somewhere and put the top end that I mentioned above on that with a different intake. I figure if I go with this I would go with the ProCharger setup since the 5.4 has no problem making any torque

3. Finally the last option, find an 05' or later short block and use it with the setup that i mentioned in option #1.

I want to stick with the 2V setup as much as possible just to keep this thing simple and I really want to check out those new Trick Flow 2V heads, but if you guys think a 3V swap would be more beneficial than speak up and let me know.

Any input would be much appreciated, thanks,
 
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I have a somewhat stock 02' GT with 80k miles and I want to start planning my upgrades for the engine. Ultimately I would like to end up with a 500hp streetable car. Thus far i have upgraded the suspension with H&R springs, Eibach Pro Damper struts and shocks, Eibach sway bars front and back and full 2 1/2" exhaust with Magnaflow MagnaPack cat back.

So far here are the options I am entertaining;

1. Stick with my stock short block (for now) and install the new TFS heads and cams with their intake too. I figure this will be the easiest and will last me for a while until i can afford either a ProCharger or TorkTech setup. Once this goes on I figure the bottom end will shoot craps so I was thinking of a 5.0stroker.

2. Next option, pull a 5.4 short block from somewhere and put the top end that I mentioned above on that with a different intake. I figure if I go with this I would go with the ProCharger setup since the 5.4 has no problem making any torque

3. Finally the last option, find an 05' or later short block and use it with the setup that i mentioned in option #1.

I want to stick with the 2V setup as much as possible just to keep this thing simple and I really want to check out those new Trick Flow 2V heads, but if you guys think a 3V swap would be more beneficial than speak up and let me know.

Any input would be much appreciated, thanks,

First question

500hp at the wheels or 500hp at the crank, one is easy to obtain the other well (500hp at the wheels) takes a lot of time and money.


1st problem

Your in Cal which means no Tork Tech for you(No CARB #), unless you want to take it off every 2 years to have your car smoged.

2nd problem

TF intake not smog legal either, and no real benefit unless spinning to 7000rpms but does work well under boost. I would stick with the plastic intake.

3rd problem

A 5.4 does not really make that much power over the 4.6 unless you can feed it some major air, plus the 5.4 swap once again will not pass smog.


Sorry to rain on your parade but these are the facts of living in Cal.
 
If you are looking for 500 to the wheels, I would skip the heads and cams and just go for the forced induction route. A nice little intercooled vortec V3, and a little something something in the block and you should surpass your goals.
 
You're going to need a big blower and a built shortblock. As mentioned, you are going to be limtied by Cali smog laws, and won't be able to run a decent size cam, headers, or intake manifold. The SI trim can get you there, but it will be extremely hard(if not impossible) with shorty headers/cats and limited to smaller cams.

I would contact some of the big name modular motor builders in the country and let them help you plan out your build to suit your needs.

I would think that a built block, with ported PI heads, small blower cams, a t-trim at 12-14psi and meth would get you there.
 
500 hp?!?!?!

Madness sir, pure madness. I also have a stock '02 GT. If 300 hp was my goal, I'd get there pretty easily. If I wanted 400 hp I'd just throw in the towel and sell it and buy a Terminator. If 500 hp was my goal, the best reliable, streetable option is a used GT500. If I'm not mistaken, 2007 was the first year at 500hp, and really nice examples are on ebay right now for the low 30s.
 
What are you talking about pupapup???? You can easily reach over 400 to the wheels with a 2v and a nice intercooled supercharger safely. You do not need a Terminator to reach over 300???????? Now if you want 500+ safely with minimal work then yes a Termi is a good option but if you are fine with roughly 425-450 a 2v can get the job done.
 
Hang on a second

What are you talking about pupapup???? You can easily reach over 400 to the wheels with a 2v and a nice intercooled supercharger safely. You do not need a Terminator to reach over 300???????? Now if you want 500+ safely with minimal work then yes a Termi is a good option but if you are fine with roughly 425-450 a 2v can get the job done.

You're probably way more right than I am, but a couple things:
1) I said 300 was easy, I said for 400 I would go the Terminator route
2) I know you can get to 400 with an '02 GT, but to say it's easy is a little strong. Here's a post from helty in the dyno thread, where he's still not there with a supercharger:
370hp* / 377 ft/lbs
*peak hp # says 393 due to lean spike @ 5800 rpm
2001 Bullitt
MPH Vortech SQ Mongoose kit @ 10 psi
MPH Powerpipe
3) My overall point was about reaching 500 hp, not about 400.
4) Intercooled superchargers are expensive (plus do you also need a new transmission and clutch, etc). Instead of spending several thousand on an intercooled supercharger wouldn't you rather sell a stock '02 and pay the difference for an upgrade to a Terminator?

Just my .02
 
I appreciate the feedback. I see your point about getting the 03/04 cobra. I had my heart set on getting one, but unfortunately the pocket book wouldn't allow for it at the time. I picked up my GT for $6,500 with 75K miles and it's in pretty nice shape. Trust me, I would love to get my hands on a cobra, but timing is everything.

I wasn't aware of the carb issue with the Tork Tech setup. That puts a little kink in my planning. I guess Vortech or ProCharger here we come. What kind of experience do you guys have with smog legal cams? I want a nice thump at idle, but obviously i still have to pass emissions. Are the Trick Flow heads worth the $2,000 sticker or should I go with the cheaper Patriot heads.

Is the 5.4 worth it if I am going with forced induction? or should I stick with the 4.6. From what I've read the heads are interchangable and there is a company that makes an intake for that swap, but i don't know how good adequate it would be for S.C.'ing.

Ultimately, I am after a solid street car with a reasonable budget. If 400 - 450 is more realistic, than i guess i will have to lower my expectations for now untill i can afford to go crazy.
 
There is no real benefit of going with a 5.4.

All 4.6 and 5.4 PI heads are the same. The only year that the 5.4 came with NPI heads was 97. They started using PI heads on the 5.4 in 1998, and then added PI heads to the 99+ 4.6 mustangs.

Like I said earlier, contact your local modular builders to reach your goals. Find the most reputable shop in Cali and ask them what they recommend. Also, contact the main modular cam companies and see what they sell to guys in Cali.

Your going to need a lot of boost and probably meth to get to 500rwhp in Cali with shorty headers and the smaller cams.
 
To run cams in California you have to use a good tuner and keep the duration and lift low. I know/read people that have run hitech stage 2's, comp 270's and similar cams that have passed without issues. You just can't role into the smog shop sounding like a 500cu big block dragster.

Just keep the lope small you should pass without a problem.

One note, California does plug into the OBII port when they smog your car to check for cel's(you can have one fault I believe). They can, i believe the same way dealerships can check, see if you have modified the values on your car's computer if they are suspicious. I don't know what they can compare it too but I have heard they can check.

SCT is Cal CARB approved though so...
 
For the price you would pay for a forged Teksid shortblock, you could pay just a little more and get a boss 5.0 iron block. You would have a LOT more power potential, a stronger block,, and need a lot less boost to get to your goal....FWIW
 
For the price you would pay for a forged Teksid shortblock, you could pay just a little more and get a boss 5.0 iron block. You would have a LOT more power potential, a stronger block,, and need a lot less boost to get to your goal....FWIW

the teksid block can handle like 1000+ horsepower i was told. how much stronger do you need? and it weighs like 87 pounds.. i could pick it up it was so light. all in all i paid like $2500 for my shortblock. MMR monster mod 1000 engine kit, teksid block, and all the bolts.
 
The Boss 5.0 can handle about 1600hp as is, but that's a good point that the Teksid can handle 1000+. The Boss does weigh more than a Teksid block at 165lbs. I'm not sure about the Teksid weighing 87lbs, but it might. I honestly thought the Teksid was closer to 115, but I could be mistaken.

Weight aside, the big advantage of the Boss block over the Teksid is the 94mm bore (stock Teksid is 90.2mm) which will have a huge unshrouding affect in 2V heads. The affect is seen in 4V heads as well, but not to the extent seen in 2V heads. You also have the option of installing larger valves in your heads for even more flow. Between the extra head flow and the added displacement, it will more than make up for the extra weight.

To be fair, you can machine the Teksid out .060" before you have to resleeve, (expensive) which gives you about 3.612". Combine that with a 3.80 stroke, you get 311CID. however, lots of people are boring the Boss out to 3.750", that same 3.800 stroke will get you 335 CID.

With either block, you get stock appearance so the Fantasyland (California) smog inspectors won't know the difference.

It's a lot to think about. Hopefully we have given some good information. In any case, have fun with your project. If you have any other questions, just ask.