What to do with my budget.

seethesvt

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I bought a 03 project a few months ago. It has under 70k miles. From what I understand it burnt up one of the back cylinders and was rebuilt 30k or so miles ago with upgraded pistons. It also has a ported Eaton.

Anyways, I have $10k to sink into it. I want 700hp by the end of the year. I'm not gonna race it, just drive it.

Right now the plan is to take it to kurgan Motorsports to have them install their cams, and some kooks headers while they have the motor out. Then I'll have them do a fore return style fuel system with fic1000 injectors and a tune. Then at a later date I'll add a Whipple 2.9, and wade at kurgan says that'll be right around 700hp.

I'd rather do all the work myself, but have no means or space to pull the motor at home.

So, I was just thinking instead of all that I could do the fuel system and injectors, headers and midpipe and Whipple in my garage instead, then take it for a tune for the same amount of money and have them do the cams later...

I'm looking for feedback on what I should do with my $10k budget.
 

03' White Snake

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Don't skimp on the fuel system, do it once and correct and be done with it. That's ~2.5k (hat, pumps, rails, injectors, filter, wiring, lines)

TS blower of your choice ~4-5K

Maf, Intake ~$500

Mid pipe ~$600

Heat Exchanger ~$250

Wideband ~$3-400

Install everything yourself to save money, add E-85 and a tune. There goes your 10K and 700 hp.

Your next upgrades should be ARP head studs, clutch to handle the power, subframe connectors, and IRS bushings.

You don't need headers to make 700hp. They are mainly for sound. Gain maybe 20-30 whp.

Cams run you ~2.5k in just parts. $1400 cams, $400 springs, $100 valve seals, $250 lash adjusters, then you need timing gears to set the cam timing. Main reason for cams is the sound. They can be added after.
 

seethesvt

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Definitely not skimping on the fuel system. Planned everything out with ward at kurgan already as for which parts Im going to get. Headers are definitely going on for sound. KMS says I'll be at a safe 650hp without the cams. Want cams because that loop!

So, you're thinking cams later...
 

01yellercobra

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There's a few guys on here making over 700 on stock cams. The lope is cool but the driveability can suffer. I'd rather have my power and be able to pull away from a stoplight easily.
 

roy_1031

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There's a few guys on here making over 700 on stock cams. The lope is cool but the driveability can suffer. I'd rather have my power and be able to pull away from a stoplight easily.

I made 720 on 98 cams with stock drivability.


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seethesvt

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Don’t forget your suspension and proper tire. Having all that power is worthless if you can’t put it down.


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I'm going to do the FTBR kit and haven't decided on what tires to get yet.


I think at 700 hp and a TS headers are needed.


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I don't know what this sentence means.
 

MG0h3

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E85, any aftermarket 2.3 and up and you can make 700+

Cams and headers are literally the two lowest bang for buck return on our cars.

I'd do the blower and fuel system. Have money left for clutch, trans, rear end stufd

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roy_1031

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I'm going to do the FTBR kit and haven't decided on what tires to get yet.




I don't know what this sentence means.

Ha Too much day drinking going on, made sense in my head when I posted it earlier haha. What I was saying was that with a goal of 700+ hp and a twin screw blower pushing some 20 plus pounds of boost, you can benefit from a set of long tube headers. Headers on your setup will benefit you greater than a Eaton only car.


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AnarchyVA

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Don’t forget your suspension and proper tire. Having all that power is worthless if you can’t put it down.


Agreed. My Cobra is only a bolt on car and I couldn't imagine having stock suspension, stock brakes, stock-ish wheels/tires. Same thing with the clutch. If you are going to go for 700hp you need to update the rest of the less than stellar systems to balance it all out.
 

seethesvt

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The car already has coilovers, brembos, a stage II clutch, cp pistons, ARP head studs and head work. Plus other things.

This is my budget now, not forever. I'll definitely get cams eventually, and definitely do longtubes too. But for now I think I'll wait on those and do a fore fuel system and bigger blower. Was decided on a 2.9 Whipple, but not sure how much boost I can run if I should just get a used TVS 2.3.
 
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cj428mach

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As others have said cams and headers are 2 worst mods when you do dollars vs hp. Usually give you the biggest headaches too.
 

biminiLX

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If you’re not going to race it, I’d go 2.3 TVS and headers; cams would be the last option and only if the engine were coming out.
A fully supported TVS will make you more than happy on the street!
-J
 

can04cobra

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Skip the cams I have a set of comp stage 3 cams sounds mean and lopey but driveability under 2000 rpm sucks. So bad that I am either gonna re degree them or go custom. I make 730 with ported heads cams long tubes 2.9 whipple 17lbs 93oct fuel.
 

seethesvt

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Skip the cams I have a set of comp stage 3 cams sounds mean and lopey but driveability under 2000 rpm sucks. So bad that I am either gonna re degree them or go custom. I make 730 with ported heads cams long tubes 2.9 whipple 17lbs 93oct fuel.

They are kurgan custom ground cams. But I'll take the advice and skip the cams for now.
 

GodStang

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Don't skimp on the fuel system, do it once and correct and be done with it. That's ~2.5k (hat, pumps, rails, injectors, filter, wiring, lines)

...Cams run you ~2.5k in just parts. $1400 cams, $400 springs, $100 valve seals, $250 lash adjusters, then you need timing gears to set the cam timing. Main reason for cams is the sound. They can be added after.

The main thing you forgot to add is the install for cams can run you around $2000-$2500 to go with the $1400 in parts.
 

Bdubbs

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Good call on skipping cams. I gained very little hp adding headers. Sounds good, but not worth the money I paid to purchase and have installed.

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