Short block swap; advise?

[ArabMoFo]

After finishing the modifications on the cobra, it went on the dyno. Unfortunately the stock clutch after 45k miles could only hold so much. A conservative 405rwhp/395tq. After putting in a Ram power grip it was strapped back onto the dyno and during the first run at 4,000rpms (Revs up to 6,500), the motor blew followed by chattering of metal. Was climbing quickly to 420rwhp before shutting the motor off so I am very curious as to how much further that number would have gone.

The plan is to order a Dart 331 or 347 with forged internals, molly rings, dished pistons. I am trying to decide between forged crank or steel. Then applying my heads, cam, intake, injection system, supercharger and so forth onto the new short block.

My concern being that I know I'm making very well over 500hp to the crank as of now. After the short block I would LIKE to swap out my supercharger pulley for added boost. ISSUE BEING - Will the transmission be able to hold up to the increase in power? This is a daily driven car and I am a college student. I will barely be able to afford the debt I put myself in by buying the short block, and I wouldn't be able to take on the addition of a TKO600. Suggestions?

Advise?

 

[Venom351R]

If your not romping on it then it will be fine. If you just drive it under normal driving the tranny will be fine. If you were going to the strip then I would be concerned. All depends on how aggressive your driving is

 

[ivan12]

I'm surprised your tranny has held so far, they usually go at around 400 hp

 

[wannaboost94gt]

They are only rated to 300hp, what do you think? You're playing with fire, if you baby it it'll last but for how long? If you plan on racing it maybe you should buy a tranny instead of the shortblock?

.02

 

[Venom351R]

Your not going to be driving down the street and just have it explode on you. If your living in the red line of the tach then thats different.

 

[ArabMoFo]

I don't push it, For the most part it takes be 5 miles to school, 5 miles to work, and to run around in my free time. Drive it 7 days a week conservatively to conserve gas (whopping 10mpg). Even while racing I shift at 4,500. Don't do burnouts because I can't afford tires. Its a 1995 with hardly 43,000 miles on it. Just need the tranny to hold up 1-2 years till I can afford TKO. Am I pushing my luck with the tranny buying a short block for my daily driver?

 

[wannaboost94gt]

If you treat it like a DD you'll be fine like venom said. You don't do burnouts cause you can't afford tires... I don't buy that, not that you don't do burnouts just the part that you can't afford them and are buying a dart shortblock.

 

[ArabMoFo]

Had to sell my 1966 Ford Fairlane500 to put enough money in the bank before making the choice to either buy daily driver, or buy short block for my cobra. Like I said, 19yo college student with a part time job Lol

 

[wannaboost94gt]

I feel ya man, 22 year college student full time worker, I bought a 347 with my tax return, it's getting put in right now. But on the flip side I have 3 other vehicles and can afford tires. Do you really need the block if yours only has 45,000 miles on it? Would you rather get 30 miles to the gallon then replace something thats not broken? Why do you need a stroker if you don't get on it or race it? What happens when your cobra breaks downs if you don't have something else to drive? With all the money you save on gas you could buy tires! LMAO, do what ever you want and have fun man just my opinion. :icon_salut:

 

[wannaboost94gt]

Forged crank BTW :thumbsup:

 

[ArabMoFo]

Lol The block and internals were blown during the dyno pull. So it's not a matter of fixing something that isn't broken. Its more so a matter of fixing my daily driver with parts that I wont have to worry about breaking.

 

[ArabMoFo]

If I wanted to be cheap I could just get a sportsman block, and get a new rotating assembly. But eventually Im going to want to increase boost and make more power so why not upgrade to a bulletproof block with forged internals. Its going to cost the same to install regardless.

 

[wannaboost94gt]

That makes more sense, fix the Cobra for sure and keep the t5 alive! I missed that little detail :drunken_smilie: . How much power are you lookin for 700hp DD...

 

[ArabMoFo]

Haha. Well the way I see it, if you have enough power, you can still will a street race without launching hard, without power shifting, without touching that red line.
Like I said before, even when I am racing, I shift at 4,500, and I have yet to need to push it past that to win any race.

 

[modo]

i would be more concerned with the fact the motor blew the first time. sounds like the tune was bad and if it was being tuned at the time the tuner didn't know much about tuning...

.02

sportsman block is no stronger then a stock block so keep that in mind. buy the boss block, it will save you money as it is cheaper and imo it is a better choice then the dart

 

[wannaboost94gt]

I would also question the tune.

Haha. Well the way I see it, if you have enough power, you can still will a street race without launching hard, without power shifting, without touching that red line.
Like I said before, even when I am racing, I shift at 4,500, and I have yet to need to push it past that to win any race.

Must not have much competition, go to the drag strip if you really want to race it's safer, and I guarntee you'll have someone to compete with. Street racing is not safe PERIOD. Whats the fun of saying my 500hp mustang can smoke your 200hp honda at half throttle granny shifting, competeting is the funnest part IMO. Race a car that has 500hp and a decent driver and then tell me you don't have to do any of those 3 things to win, good luck, besides that it'd be alot more fun for you.

 

[wannaboost94gt]

Sweet Ride BTW :headbang:

 

[wannaboost94gt]

If your racing with a stroker and more boost you better start diggin a grave for your T5. :sad5:

 

[wannaboost94gt]

And your rearend.... :angel4:

 

[Spd0lit]

Honestly i would recommend a daily driver. With 500+hp it is bound to be a maintainace and fix it monger. Because once you fix the block your trans will be on borrowed time, your fuel system will be strained and things will snowball. I was in the same position and chose to get a cheap little zx2. gets me where I'm going reliably and gets 36mpg to boot.