I was just wondering what you guys think I should do. I'm looking at getting MSD stuff or headers. I lost to him by like 2-3 car lengths because my car just dies above 4000rpm. any ideas? it sucks that I lost to him. :-( my mods are in the signature. thanks



EDIT: would it be worth pulling off my plenum, and intake and porting them?

 

If you have not already port matched your intake to the SLP the runners, then I think that would be worth it.

Definitly get some good headers, SLP or MAC.

nick

 

Yes, headers will really wake your car up. You might look into trying to make a better air intake. (with a metal tube.) do a search. but first of all you should make sure the car is in good running order. ie. plugs, wires, cap, rotor, timing. etc......
Have you ported your plenum yet? like grind down the EGR walls.
Do you have any info on the must*ng?

 

Trade those pretty runners for some headers and cold air.

 

Accept the fact that a 5.0L is still a real V8 :lala:

 

Headders, no matter how beneficial aren’t going to cure your 4k bog. You need a good old spicy beef injection AKA a real cam and some valve springs.

 

the it is a mcclaren mercury capri. with the 302 with the roller cam specs stock are 260hp and like 235tq. it is an all stock motor too. and I'm friends with this kid. I have respect for 5.0, just first time loosing to a stock one. :-) thakns for the advice, here is wht i"m gonna do next weekend. MSD coil,cap, rotor, CAI, shift kit and port the plenum and base. hopefully that will give me the edge. thanks again for the help

 

...might also wanna yank your subs out before you go racing again.... not a whole helluva lot of weight, but it's still some.

 

ya, I have about 100 pounds worth of stereo stuff, so he had somebody ride with him so it would be fair :-)

 

also he has a 5-speed manual tranny, I have a 700-r4 auto, how much of a difference does an manual have over an auto?

 

The most logical answer to your question would seem to be avoiding a race with that 5.0 again.

Just kidding, I would start with bolton stuff, headers, catback, intake, cam, then you would have a great platform for a good set of good flowing heads.

 

Until you get the engine to breathe better all the ignition mods are going to be wasted money. Port the plenum, port the manifold, get headers and a good free flowing cat and catback. Move the air intake to where it can get a good gulp of cool air, and do not make the duct from metal, metal conducts heat and you want cool air, not warm. Then look into a larger cam, but remember, if you go too much bigger you'll also have to replace the torque converter with a higher stall. Start saving your pennies for a good set of alum heads, they flow much better and because of the good heat rejection char. of alum, you'll be able to run a higher comp raito.
First and foremost is breathing, without it the engine will always die at high RPM.

 

I think the manual might give him a little bit better acceleration because of the closer gear ratios, but I don't think it would make much of a difference after a while. What gears do you have in the rear?

 

I'd never race again, Mustangs suck and I would be embarassed if I lost to one, Hopefuly I don't have that prob with my 92 Z-28!

 

An automatic transmission has the advantage. No user error, shift time is minimal and usually less spin from a dead stop.


Headders Any of you headder gurus actually run a dyno test before after the install? You wouldent be impressed at all.

 

On a bone stock engine they are not a big improvement, but when you start trying to cram more air into the engine they become a must have item, you have to expell that air you took in somehow.

 

i'd recomend buying a stall converter and maybe an edelbrock t.e.s. comparing your car by weight and trans isn't the way to do it, your just plain slower.

 

Think those numbers are a little messed up. McClaren didn't do anything to the engines, so it's a stock 5.0 motor. Depending on the year it will have 160-210HP and 250-300 TQ. '85 was the best year for the pre-EFI stangs with the output of the 5.0 HO getting smaller and smaller in '84 and '83 and so on.


Those early cars are pretty light. SOme of them are right around the 3000 pound mark. The are more "down-low" cars where they have TQ. High end races, usually the 5.7 wins. I find that quick 0-60 stoplight races are where 5.0's shine

 

Id ont' mean to argue, but it has a stock roller cam, I dunno if that is different or not. i don't know alot bout those cars. and is a car is carbed, it is also an 85'. I wasted him off the line too, he just is running more HP than me I guess. and lighter :-)

 

Get gears! 3.73 or higher and you can smoke 5.0's. I smoke them all the time in my 305!

 

Those runners are bad news with your setup. Like some other dude said, either trade em up for an intake and headers or put the stock ones back on.

 

What if I port my plenum and base, and add headers? I know a cam would be the best, but I just am putting bolt on stuff on this motor till I get the new one done.

 

I will say this about exhaust mods....On my 83 LG4 T/A, i gained 9 tenths by doing headers, and 3" all the way back. Im not saying youll get as much of a gain as I did because the LG4 exhaust IMO is the worst thirdgen V8 exhaust ever made...but I guarantee youll see a pretty good improvement. Good luck

 

I 1000% agree!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

U need a better air intake system like, slp cold air intake, i hear the stock air intake on ur car is not very good.
get headers, like slp.
also get an afpr, air foil, and performance chip, for your transmission get a corvette servo for better quicker shifts.

 

Those pretty SLP runners are actually hurting your performance. Slap a 750 carburator on there and watch your ETs drop about a second! LOL

 

oh I have soooo thought about it :-)