Bang for your Buck V8 Upgrades

[Norton]

Hi All,

I have been searching around for the best performance upgrades for my AU3 Fairmont Ghia V8 and It appears that there is many varied views on the way to go.

Matt @ G&D - Cam/Heads/Intake Manifold and Flash - $7,500 to $8,500 or Supercharger - $9,000 to $9500

Chris @ Blue Power - Stroker Kit. - $6,000 to $6,500

Other Opinions - T Series 5.6lt Engine transplant. - $6000 to $8,000

I currently have a full exhaust and SS Inductions intake.....By the way, the car is also using a Gas Research Performance Gas Kit.

I would love to hear your opinions.

Norton

[Gambit]

If you could get a T3 stroker engine for a good price I would go that way & sell your engine otherwise I would blow it (turbo or supercharge your call).

Have a look in the windsor section as this has been asked many times before...

[JC]

I chose each of the first 3.

[AU2PWR]

Superchargers Rock

[Norton]

Originally Posted by AU2PWR

Superchargers Rock

I agree, and looking at the sums they are the best Bang for Buck but still almost 10k. It's a lot of dough!!

I have 6k to spend, don't know if I can bring myself to part with another 4k and get the Supercharger....But I wan't it!!!

I'll see how the poll goes.

[The Monty]

There is no replacement for displacement. Id go the stroker.

[DJM83]

Id go a stroker kit (347ci) then a flash tune. You already have exhaust and induction i think that would amount to some reasonable power

[chief]

I have got a T3 engine woohoo. Just had to add that.

[JC]

As your budget is only $6k - I'd go the stroker kit from Chris, if he can do it for that amount. You should see 210rwkw, which will be around 50% increase on the 130/140 standard.

[Whoosha]

It would be the Blower for me there are some nice ones around .. Im guessing the gas will be gone then ..

[philstoj]

Originally Posted by JC

As your budget is only $6k - I'd go the stroker kit from Chris, if he can do it for that amount. You should see 210rwkw, which will be around 50% increase on the 130/140 standard.

If its only a stroker kit then no chance you will see this much power.
You would need a stroker kit, decent cam, and definatly a tune for that power.
What id do to get it moving better is a cam and spring change, edit, and some diff gears, that should not cost you your 6k, and will give you plenty of bang for your bucks, and also give you a better base to build on for future mods.

[Sledgehammer]

The benefits with the stroker are that you get a new motor as well, nice and fresh for all that new abuse that it will cop. If you can get some decent heads on the thing it'll be sweet.

I voted blower but thats just me......

[AU1XLS]

What sort of dollar budget do we have

[AU1XLS]

cam, heads & flash tune

[Norton]

Originally Posted by Whoosha

It would be the Blower for me there are some nice ones around .. Im guessing the gas will be gone then ..

In speaking to Matt (G&D) no problem with a supercharger and Gas, It actually works very well together.

Although I wan't to spend up to 6k I could be convinced to spend more, I just want the best results for the money I spend.

As I thought, there are a lot of different opinions regarding the best way to go.

At this stage I'm leaning towards the blower, it costs the most but I think the results will be the best.

I'm still looking for more opinions, thanks for the feedback.

Regards

Norton

[Norton]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer

The benefits with the stroker are that you get a new motor as well, nice and fresh for all that new abuse that it will cop. If you can get some decent heads on the thing it'll be sweet.

I voted blower but thats just me......

A very good point Sledgehammer, a stroker will result in a fresh block, I have also been told that the replacement block will be an upgraded item. (Stronger then the original).

[NeishaXR8_347]

How long will your std bottom end last with a blower attached to it? Did they give you any power figures and longetivity?

If you think of it like this the blower will set you back around 9000 to put it on and hope for the best, then when it says goodbye there is no point building it std and will probably spend another 5k setting it up to handle the charger, then the bottom end will be able to handle more boost and your charger will be to small, then you get a better one and so on and so on.

Heads, cam and tune would be my pick

[NeishaXR8_347]

Although i wouldn't spend upto $8000 on just heads and that like you were quoted.

[Norton]

Originally Posted by NeishaXR8_347

How long will your std bottom end last with a blower attached to it? Did they give you any power figures and longetivity?

If you think of it like this the blower will set you back around 9000 to put it on and hope for the best, then when it says goodbye there is no point building it std and will probably spend another 5k setting it up to handle the charger, then the bottom end will be able to handle more boost and your charger will be to small, then you get a better one and so on and so on.

Heads, cam and tune would be my pick

Thanks for the advise, I am concerned at the longevity of the other engine components, if I spend the 9k for a blower I don't want to spend more to keep the rest of the engine/driveline alive.

Power figures given were in the region of 100kw increase....massive increase....maybe too much for the other car components.

Norton

[Norton]

Originally Posted by NeishaXR8_347

Although i wouldn't spend upto $8000 on just heads and that like you were quoted.

I was quoted:

Misc $300
Labour $800
Flash $900
Tune $500
Heads $3,250 - Alloy
Intake $1,465 - Edelbrock
Camshaft $900

Total - $8115

Regards

Norton

[NeishaXR8_347]

You can get edelbrock jnr heads complete for around the $2200-2500 flow around 500hp out of box which you wont be using. Intakes are about $1100 for the edelbrocks thats rrp, ring up VPW or check there site.

My main concern are the std windsor rod bolts which are only ****y little things. ive seen a few say goodnight on N/A engines and on a boosted setup although will last a while you are only going to be hoping and waiting, and IMO thats not a reliable daily driver which is why i say heads and cam/tune or the stroker.

Shaun

[philstoj]

Which alloy heads did they quote you on?

[Norton]

Originally Posted by philstoj

Which alloy heads did they quote you on?

Quote was for RHS Heads.

[Sledgehammer]

Originally Posted by NeishaXR8_347

You can get edelbrock jnr heads complete for around the $2200-2500 flow around 500hp out of box which you wont be using. Intakes are about $1100 for the edelbrocks thats rrp, ring up VPW or check there site.

My main concern are the std windsor rod bolts which are only ****y little things. ive seen a few say goodnight on N/A engines and on a boosted setup although will last a while you are only going to be hoping and waiting, and IMO thats not a reliable daily driver which is why i say heads and cam/tune or the stroker.

Shaun

Yep your quite right here, rods and just about all other 5.0 parts are weak. If you are going to do it right do it once the first time. The rods are a weak link, have bent a few in my time. Build the good stroker, you can add some boost later on, that way you have a strong basis to work with. Think that the heads price you have been quoted is a little steep too, and the cam as well. I should go into business for myself if people are willing to pay these prices for parts....

[RG]

Go the stroker, you won't regret it. But I can't see how it could possibly ever come in at 6k.

[NeishaXR8_347]

Ive offen thought about getting into selling parts myself, i hate seeing people getting ripped off. A Roller cam is only $380 trade price, even a custom is 450, $900 is a good mark up.

[jimt3te50]

budget restraints, less stuffing around and end result- blower

[Norton]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer

Yep your quite right here, rods and just about all other 5.0 parts are weak. If you are going to do it right do it once the first time. The rods are a weak link, have bent a few in my time. Build the good stroker, you can add some boost later on, that way you have a strong basis to work with. Think that the heads price you have been quoted is a little steep too, and the cam as well. I should go into business for myself if people are willing to pay these prices for parts....

After looking on the internet, you are all correct on the prices!!

I'm suprised that I have been quoted this much for the upgrades.

[NeishaXR8_347]

Originally Posted by Norton

After looking on the internet, you are all correct on the prices!!

I'm suprised that I have been quoted this much for the upgrades.

Its called paying the middle man.

[Norton]

Originally Posted by NeishaXR8_347

Ive offen thought about getting into selling parts myself, i hate seeing people getting ripped off. A Roller cam is only $380 trade price, even a custom is 450, $900 is a good mark up.

These prices are from G&D....I have the quote in my hand now.

It's exactly as I have posted:

Misc $300
Labour $800
Flash $900 - Capa
Tune $500
Heads $3,250 - RHS Alloy
Intake $1,465 - Edelbrock
Camshaft $900

Total - $8115

Looking on the net I can find:

Misc $300
Labour $800
Flash $900 - Capa
Tune $500
Heads $2,200 - Edelbrock
Intake $1,000 - Edelbrock
Camshaft $400

Total - $6,000 Approx

The above prices were not hard to find, I have also left the labour and misc as is.

Cam/Heads/Flash/Tune is starting to look more attractive.

Norton