hello,
i owned a 5.0 mustang several years ago, and would like to get another sometime in the future once i graduate college this spring. what i love most about them is that i can do all the work on the car myself, in my garage and how cheap the aftermarket parts are for them. i used to own a z-28 also, and those things are freakin hard to work on yourself! im a do it yourselfer to the bitter end, so i like being able to easily work on 5.0's...my previous 5.0 was pretty much stock, minus u/d pulleys, o/r h pipe, cat back and cold air induction. ive come along way in my mechanical skills since then, and am excited to do some hardcore engine mods to the next mustang i get. i currently own a 1997 grand prix gtp. i have put a cam, new valve springs/pushrods/lifters, headers, smaller supercharger pulley, fenderwell induction, custom programmed computer, exhaust, and some supporting mods such as colder plugs, etc (all of which i did myself)...its a great running car and gets me low 13 1/4 times all while getting 25/33 city/highway miles per gallon respectively. But, i got myself into some trouble and will be forced to sell it so that i can pay my lawyer to get me out of it. if you'd like to check it out, its on cardomain @ http://members.cardomain.com/ndolson97gtp
ANYWAYS...back to topic on the 5.0's im trying to decide if i should build up a motor first, and THEN find a car with a straight body to put it in, or buy the car and mod that motor? my brother can do the body work i need like a paint job or something, and i can lend a hand doing whatever so im not TOO concerned having a perfect looking, low mile 5.0...
my goal is for very low 12's/high 11's naturally aspirated. i would like to add a supercharger of some sort in the future, so whatever i do to the engine would have to pave the way for that at some point. once ive owned a supercharged car, im addicted! heres what i was contemplating for my engine:
-331 stroker kit
-fairly radical cam (need opinions here, not sure what the market is one them...been out of the circle for awhile)
-AFR 165 heads (or maybe 185's?
)
-holley systemaxx u/l intake manifold (opinions here?)
-long tube headers
-pushrods/lifters/valve springs to support the power and lift of the cam
im sure there are a host of other supporting things i will need for the engine, but i think i covered most of the things that will dictate how much power will be made. i would rebuild the engine myself of course, being as im a DIY'er. any input on the setup? i want a nice lopey idle, and lots of power throughout the entire rpm range of course, and i think the 331 would be the best bet in terms of longetivity and rpm capability. what about intake manifolds, is there anything better on the market than the holley? i had always heard it was good for high hp applications because of the long runners it had, and wasnt as good for closer to stock 5.0's because you would lose alot of low end power. should i just find an old 351W and rebuild one of those instead? i think it would be cool to have a built up 351, and im sure they have the opportunity to make lots of power too! i would definately enjoy the torque from a bigger cube engine. well.....im just trying to get a ballpark idea of what im going to do, that way i can start adding up numbers and rounding up parts. any input/advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks
neal
i owned a 5.0 mustang several years ago, and would like to get another sometime in the future once i graduate college this spring. what i love most about them is that i can do all the work on the car myself, in my garage and how cheap the aftermarket parts are for them. i used to own a z-28 also, and those things are freakin hard to work on yourself! im a do it yourselfer to the bitter end, so i like being able to easily work on 5.0's...my previous 5.0 was pretty much stock, minus u/d pulleys, o/r h pipe, cat back and cold air induction. ive come along way in my mechanical skills since then, and am excited to do some hardcore engine mods to the next mustang i get. i currently own a 1997 grand prix gtp. i have put a cam, new valve springs/pushrods/lifters, headers, smaller supercharger pulley, fenderwell induction, custom programmed computer, exhaust, and some supporting mods such as colder plugs, etc (all of which i did myself)...its a great running car and gets me low 13 1/4 times all while getting 25/33 city/highway miles per gallon respectively. But, i got myself into some trouble and will be forced to sell it so that i can pay my lawyer to get me out of it. if you'd like to check it out, its on cardomain @ http://members.cardomain.com/ndolson97gtp
ANYWAYS...back to topic on the 5.0's im trying to decide if i should build up a motor first, and THEN find a car with a straight body to put it in, or buy the car and mod that motor? my brother can do the body work i need like a paint job or something, and i can lend a hand doing whatever so im not TOO concerned having a perfect looking, low mile 5.0...
my goal is for very low 12's/high 11's naturally aspirated. i would like to add a supercharger of some sort in the future, so whatever i do to the engine would have to pave the way for that at some point. once ive owned a supercharged car, im addicted! heres what i was contemplating for my engine:
-331 stroker kit
-fairly radical cam (need opinions here, not sure what the market is one them...been out of the circle for awhile)
-AFR 165 heads (or maybe 185's?
)-holley systemaxx u/l intake manifold (opinions here?)
-long tube headers
-pushrods/lifters/valve springs to support the power and lift of the cam
im sure there are a host of other supporting things i will need for the engine, but i think i covered most of the things that will dictate how much power will be made. i would rebuild the engine myself of course, being as im a DIY'er. any input on the setup? i want a nice lopey idle, and lots of power throughout the entire rpm range of course, and i think the 331 would be the best bet in terms of longetivity and rpm capability. what about intake manifolds, is there anything better on the market than the holley? i had always heard it was good for high hp applications because of the long runners it had, and wasnt as good for closer to stock 5.0's because you would lose alot of low end power. should i just find an old 351W and rebuild one of those instead? i think it would be cool to have a built up 351, and im sure they have the opportunity to make lots of power too! i would definately enjoy the torque from a bigger cube engine. well.....im just trying to get a ballpark idea of what im going to do, that way i can start adding up numbers and rounding up parts. any input/advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks
neal
) Id say find a decent stang with a motor that runs but isnt great. that way you can get it for cheap. Then buld up another motor and throw that in. I dont trust older motors with a lot of power, the only tme id build up one with out rebuilding it is if i was planning to blow it.
its just a matter of what, and in what order. i need a little project, and building up an engine may fit the bill perfectly. 
