Budget 2V

[ldmiller281]

For my car i originally wanted to do a 4V swap but the future bolt-on costs were prohibitive. I found a 50k aviator shortblock for $150 from a friend. I bought a set of PI heads and cams for $300 from ebay. Got a set of pacesetter LT headers for $250. Went to a salvage yard and got a an upper plenum from a crown vic, 70mm TB from a E150, and 24# injectors from a mark viii. I ported the plenum and TB and finished out the motor with a $70 ebay CAI. For the exhaust i went without cats, got a summit racing xpipe, and flowmaster 40s with turndowns. I found a used SCT tuner on CL for $200. To lighten up the car i got a tubular kmember. Also, i have a steeda shifter. Before the tune i ran a [email protected] on crap tires. Since then i've gotten upper and lower control arms, eibach sportlines, and tokico blues. I'll also have new tires soon. Hoping for 13.5sec 1/4 mile on better tires.

Not trying to be a Dbag, but according to an online HP from E.T. calculator i may be pushing over 300hp at the crank. I'd like to dyno it and get some real numbers. Maybe someday...

 

[sweet94GT]

So, what year car, and how much was spent altogether? That's pretty crafty some of the stuff you did.

 

[ldmiller281]

Gaskets, head bolts, timing parts cost more than my shortblock and heads. So far i believe i've spent less than 3k on all my parts. Paid $1700 for the car.

 

[sweet94GT]

Wow... Very nice. What year is it?

 

[D3VST8R96GT]

Nice I wanna do a budget build too ! I have too many projects right now

 

[justinschmidt1]

Could be near 300 crank...might have a bump in compression with the aviator short block...I'm not sure though.


Seems like it runs good

 

[ldmiller281]

It's a 96. With the aviator block and pi heads the compression is almost 13:1, but after taking out the swirl dams it's closer to 12.5:1. I was going to go with a mark vii shortblock but the aviator shortblock was conveinant. Most of the difference is in block design anyway. I love the way it runs. High compression engines can be a lot of fun. This is very good build on a budget. I only suggest not getting a timing set unless you need it. It was a waste of money on mine. The set came with plastic tensioners and guides. One tensioner failed within 6k miles and ruined the guides. I put my used stuff back in and haven't had any trouble since. If you have cast tensioners and steel bodied guides, reuse them. They are the best setup. Also those timing chains last a long time. With the pacesetter headers i had some issues. The primaries weren't spread far enough apart for the steering shaft to go through. With the help of a friend, we spread them enough using a torch and a hydraulic spreader.

 

[03DSGGT]

Nice job, building a 2V on a budget isnt as easy as people think, especially compared to a pushrod. 300 at the crank sounds right, which would be roughly 255-260 at the wheels. Considering your bolt-ons and compression bump, thats probably right. With the suspension set up correctly, and some sticky tires, low 13s should be feasable, and with a gear (Id recommend 4.10s if you dont have gears already), you should be able to hit 12s on your setup....

 

[97FloridaGT]

Did you use an NPI or a PI intake and what gears?

 

[ldmiller281]

I used a pi intake. I also have 3.73 gears.

 

[g36 monkey]

12's is possible at that power level with good suspension and good tires, and ballin driving lol. And some weight reduction.

 

[03DSGGT]

12's is possible at that power level with good suspension and good tires, and ballin driving lol. And some weight reduction.

+1 on the driving part...gonna have to shift like you hate it. Thats the problem that I have...I have a hard time driving it like Im trying to break it...and my E.T.s reflect that lol

 

[ldmiller281]

From the research i've done on package 248A cars, my car should have weighed 3190lbs from the factory. The aviator shortblock weighs 80lbs less than the iron shortlock. The tubular kmember took off about 20lbs. I've also taken out everything in the trunk except for the spare. Also i have lt headers, no cats, and no tailpipes. My car should weigh a little over 3000lbs.

 

[FrankenStang]

correct me if im wrong but for all you spent and did i tpersonally think it would have been cheaper and better todo that 4v you wanted too..I agree bolt on's are pricy but if you woulda just got a decent 4v ( any mark motor ) and while it was out just port the shit out of the heads and throw some either ported manifolds or headers on and freshened up the motor...dont get me wrong , i love how the 2v have soooo many bolt on options for such a price range...BUUUT a 4v is such a nice starting power plant...

 

[EF5.0]

Sounds like a sweet build. What track do you run it at?

 

[ldmiller281]

yeah the 4v i could have put headers on and be were i'm at now. it is more if i go for cams in the future and maintance costs. also the 2v weighs less. this way i have a little bit of a challange. the 4v would be easy. i enjoy taking a motor and figuring out how i can make it more efficient and powerful.

i was living in tulsa so i raced there. now i'll race in wichita. i ran my first car out at mokan because at that time i lived in independence ks.

 

[EF5.0]

i was living in tulsa so i raced there. now i'll race in wichita. i ran my first car out at mokan because at that time i lived in independence ks.

If you decide to come to Mokan again let me know, I'll seek you out. Hope to start going there when it opens back up for the season in Feb. I know its a haul for you, but if you come for the All-Ford day let me know.

 

[BigBore96]

Pretty cool build. I've tossed my mind over and over how I want to build my Gt. But, your compression is not as high as you stated. It's 11:1 with that shortblock and pi heads with no work done.
The 2v to 4v weight differences is minimal if comparing an iron 4.6 to a aluminum 4v like they come factory. In your car it's probably 70 lbs or so.

And get some pictures up in here!

 

[ldmiller281]

you are correct on the comp ratio. i have so many numbers floating around in my head and sometimes the wrong ones come out. it's fun to drive and it accelerates pretty hard. i really want to get it on a dyno. i also need to get it weighed. i'll have picks once i fix some body damage.

 

[ldmiller281]

If you decide to come to Mokan again let me know, I'll seek you out. Hope to start going there when it opens back up for the season in Feb. I know its a haul for you, but if you come for the All-Ford day let me know.

I have a buddy in independence that would maybe want to go so that may be a possibility. When is the all ford meet?