Engine Work or Super Charger Options

PCC · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 03:22 AM

Apologies for not been around for a while, but been so busy with work (like 80 - 100 hrs per week I haven't had time to scratch my a$%e)!

Advice needed from the Tech Gurus...................

I'm possibly looking at giving the Cobra some ummphh, but only on the proviso that I don't throw heaps of $$$$$ in the snake pit!

Dollar for dollar, which is the best option to go for and what would give the better power increase based upon a 5L EFI NC Fairlane motor:

1. Supercharge (I am assuming that such work may cost approx $5k); or

2. Engine work

What HP increase would you expect.

If 2 is the better value option, what work would you recommend i.e. cam / valve work.

I am not looking for a fire burning hot rod, but something a little better than present.

Thank guys

Merv and Sharon · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 03:47 AM

There are these: http://www.fordcobraengines.com/Cobrakitpack.html

Merv

PCC · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 04:07 AM

Merv,

I think you missed the point - thanks for the dream photos!

Limited power increase for limited budget!

I like your thinking though!!

Merv and Sharon · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 04:16 AM

After registration, I will be going the same route Peter and was thinking about some nice ally heads and a cam. Not too much for the T5 'box. Those US ones are a source of inspiration, however.

Merv

sideshow · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 05:12 AM

put an ls2 in it heheheheeh

Mac VABCH · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 05:57 AM

Peter,

I would go with a nice set of Alloy heads and a nice cam (E303). Go with either the AFT 185 or Trick Flow. I ran this comb for a lot of year in a full weight Mustang. It wasn't blazing fast but definitely better than stock about 30-40 hp. I wanted more so I super charge this combo and was never happy with it...You have to upgrade everything. I will never have a power adder motor again...Just my opinion...Mac

stephen low · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 06:03 AM

Peter

There's a very nice 5L down here with ali heads and an E303 cam in it the goes like stink. Admittedly it also has a modified for injection Victor Jnr or similar manifold and with the old school ovalloid air cleaner looks very old school nice like Craig's.

That needs an aftermarket or tunable ECU too so cost is going up.

I'm just dropping ali heads on mine in rebuild for the moment to improve breathing, in advance of the above or stroking, not sure which.

Bang for your buck though I suspect the forced air route will give you more umph! Not sure if this method needs an ECU change though.

Cheers

NASSTY · #8 (**permalink**) 08-12-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCC

Apologies for not been around for a while, but been so busy with work (like 80 - 100 hrs per week I haven't had time to scratch my a$%e)!

Advice needed from the Tech Gurus...................

I'm possibly looking at giving the Cobra some ummphh, but only on the proviso that I don't throw heaps of $$$$$ in the snake pit!

Dollar for dollar, which is the best option to go for and what would give the better power increase based upon a 5L EFI NC Fairlane motor:

1. Supercharge (I am assuming that such work may cost approx $5k); or

2. Engine work

What HP increase would you expect.

If 2 is the better value option, what work would you recommend i.e. cam / valve work.

I am not looking for a fire burning hot rod, but something a little better than present.

Thank guys

Hi Peter,
If you want to retain EFI you need to consider how the mods will affect your Ford 'puter. Some tuners who claim to reflash the Ford ECU are really just flashing generic tunes from CAPA instead of actually tuning the ECU properly. So before you start any mods consider how they will affect the ECU. Generally speaking the Ford ECU doesn't like head and cam changes and most people I know have changed over to an aftermarket ECU after performing the mods because of the Ford ECU struggling to cope. Can't say anything meaningful about supercharging but I would assume you'll have similar problems with the Ford ECU unless you buy a kit that includes a flash tune.

Cheers

sideshow · #9 (**permalink**) 08-12-2008, 11:52 PM

std efi is pretty **** if u want to moidify it

just wired up a haltech to an el ford v8

never played with std ford ecus on cars that old

the new ones like au onwards with obs2 diagnostics u can flash but that costs around 1000 bucks for a flash tuner from capa but thats not a proper dyno tune

so anyhting u do will cost u ****loads to do to the ford ecu
and most guys that just specialise on ford tuning are up the asssss

so put aftermarket and then u have more of a range of people to tune it

a haltech with wiring and labour and tune will be around 3g for a good one

and if yr v8 is an auto then yr stuffed cause the auto and engine ecu talks together

but with most ford efi ecus they are a pain to work with so throw them out

and go aftermarket

but to get any big gains like supercharger then u need ecu and ecxtra stuff

i can see it costing up towards 10g

stephen low · #10 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 12:08 AM

Peter

$2K for a nice pair of alloy aftermarket heads and making sure the rest of your car's breathing isn't too restricted will liven up the performance somewhat. Though by how much I do not know.

This is at least a first step, cause you can then later play with ECU's, cam, stroker, induction if you want (can afford) to!

Cheers

spookypt · #11 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 01:11 AM

Pete, how on earth do you spend 14.28 hours per day working.... Your more than human!!! Selling illicit substances is far less taxing! Like Chev engines for example!

I know its not cheap BUT You could always put in a STROKER (like a certain "other" qld member is doing....)

But MuM's the word... Shhhhhhh!

I suggest speaking to Mr Boylan.. he's got HEAPS of aftermarket performance stuff lying around (in bits) that is hardly used... Cam with 1 lobe missing......2 piece performance timing chain...

He's going to FLAME me......

SpookyPT

Gav · #12 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 03:57 AM

I like Sideshow's first suggestion.

sideshow · #13 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 04:15 AM

heheh i love my holdens heheeh

hogster · #14 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 04:25 AM

My engine hasn't been started yet, but has AFR185's, mild cam, and mass-flo efi. By all the comparisons with other cobra owners that are running a similar setups, the AFR's are great value.

Hogster

WildBill3 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 05:18 AM

The Blower is great but also can be very hard on stock parts.The term investment parts comes to mind if you build with great parts you will have a much longer lasting engine that you can run hard and wont break nearly as easily as a stock combination.Then latter when more money gets turned back the cobra way you could put on a nice blower or turbo without fear of being to hard on the lower end of your engine..Good hunting WB3

Mac VABCH · #16 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 07:11 AM

Hogster,

I have the same engine that you do, but since my car is track use only I am going with AFR 205's with as big a cam that will work. But currently it has Victor Junior steel heads with 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves and a E303 cam. It makes 340hp at the wheels with a very flat torque curve. You will be very happy with it. I will warn you about the Mass Flo. It does need to be tuned on a dyno after the car in up and running. Chis at Mass Flo does put a chip in the computer and "tunes" for you engine size but I have gain 20 hp over the initial tune with my tune at the controls. Its was also very rich initially...But once its dialed in its is wonderful. Two years after I had the car tune I went back to check on the A/F ratio and it was within 2 hp of before...Mac

McD00 · #17 (**permalink**) 08-13-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac VABCH

Hogster,

It does need to be tuned on a dyno after the car in up and running.

Boy do I hear that. Get that tune checked out and dialed in. Don't do what I did and just run the car. It ran a little funny...pinging and such and I was racing a miata when my engine blew. Turned out it was to lean...melted a piston and valve which dropped...then it blew two rods right outta the block

Bout pissed my pants when it happended...spun the car but kept it on the road.

You live and learn, I sure won't do that again.

McVette

TUF-427 · #18 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 06:37 AM

Peter if yours is a MAF equipped engine either Usa or Australian originally it will tune itself to mods within reason.
Heads ,cam, intake,throttlebody,injectors, is the usual road travelled for normally aspirated 302s,with numbers around 300 rwhp attainable without too many bad manners.
I have all sorts of performance Efi parts lying around now I have gone to 8 tbodys if your interested..

Philm · #19 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 09:23 AM

Wow Pete,
as if your car needed more bling.

Any pics?

Phil

Wazza · #20 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philm

Wow Pete,
as if your car needed more bling.

Any pics?

Phil

Yeah...Good Luck with that Phil !!!

Getting any info/secrets out of "Camp Chunky " is like pulling teeth.....

There's more developments than the Maclaren in Chunk's "House of Horsepower".

I've heard that Pete has had a "Stroke" recently....Gee...I hope he's o.k. !!!

Should see the result of all of these new developments, when we get to the track over the next few weeks, getting ready for the Nationals.