550+ rwhp too much for a daily driver?

[2oo3MustangGT]

i have posted another thread saying how i might be swapping my stock 03 gt motor for a vortech 97 cobra motor with about 550 rwhp (when it was in his cobra). I haven't seen all the work about the motor, all i know is that it was built up right (all internals are forged), has different cams, work done to the heads and a vortech supercharger. I'm still trying to figure out if i can actually afford to buy this and have it put in my car/tuned but I'm also wondering if it's actually too much power for a daily driven car. i know, i sound like a nancy saying it's too much power, but will a car with that much power be too temperamental to be a reliable car?

so basically I'm asking if the swap is worth it (ease of install and reliability)

 

[32ValveRom]

Just wondering but do you know how much boost it makes and the compression?

 

[98COBRA281]

it only makes 550rwhp under full throttle and full boost, at normal driving condition it could just be a 150hp engine

my dad has always told me, its only as fast as you push the gas..........

 

[1991notchbackLX]

My car makes 455/457 on a 93 octane tune at 12.5 PSI, and it drives like a bone stock GT when not in boost. The car will soon be Whippled and retuned with fuel upgrades. On the street when not in boost, it's completely fine. Just keep your foot out of it and don't be John Force at every stop light. Oh, and get a high paying job to pay for gas.

 

[2oo3MustangGT]

that's what i was hoping to hear... i assume the car is only as fast as you drive it and that you can be civil even with monster power. just wanted to make sure that i wouldn't get squirly if i didn't want to

Just wondering but do you know how much boost it makes and the compression?

i'm not sure about the boost/compression.

 

[Winters98GT]

powerwise, no. But you need the build of the engine, shop that did it, specs, etc before you should even consider this.

 

[BurningRubber]

As long as the car is properly tuned, no.

If it's a half ass build and shoddy tune, you will feel like your trying to pilot a top fuel dragster around. Fun for some? Maybe. Good for the car and the average driver? Nope.

 

[BLK_ROUSH]

Agreed the HP will not be the drivability issue .... the tune and drivetrain components may be. Sounds like a fun swap.

 

[deftsound]

I don't know, i tend to dissagree here.

If you put some aftermarket big high revving cams in, it will definitely effect driveability....can you say cam surge??? My car behaves pretty well on the street but i wouldnt go so far as to say it drives like stock...and it was tuned by one of the best in texas.

Now im not saying its not going to drive well and close to stock, but to say it drives exactly like stock is saying a lot imo...

 

[SaleenGT2001]

mine is just as tame as a stock car. it's all in the tune.

i've been in lots of 700+ HP cars that drove fine. i've even been in a car that makes 1200 HP that has GREAT drivability except for a grabby clutch

 

[2oo3MustangGT]

the clutch was the only thing i actually thought would make a drivability issue but wanted to make sure other big hp stangs agreed. i don't think it has a real aggressive cam, I'm not expecting it to idle like a 60's muscle car that wants to choke out all the time unless you keep it reved up.

what clutch would y'all recommend for a good feel but that can handle the torque?

 

[tag4car]

it's really no issue with power available, it's whether it's utilized. In mine i can stay at 80 at 2500rpm in 6th, Just looking at some dyno charts seems to show me that's around 225 +/-hp

 

[SaleenGT2001]

my spec stage 3+ feels as light as stock but grabs like crazy! it is a HUGE improvement over the stage 3 they offer which acts like an on/off switch