[reldridge]

NikiterZTS,Nov 24 2006, 03:50 AM Wrote:another buddy at work tells me to buy a Mustang like '89......for about $6k....put exhaust on it , gears,headers   and he said i should be good to go
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Gears, headers, and exhaust will only get you so far on a 5.0. That might put you in the 14's with about 210 hp at the wheels.

If you go the 5.0 route, do a complete head/intake/cam system (Trick Flow, Edelbrock Performer, Holley Systemax), chassis stiffening (k member, subframe connectors, rear upper and lower control arms), gears (3.73's or 4.10's) and a full exhaust. Now your in the 12's and around 325 hp.

Then add a power adder of your choice... 500 hp, here you come... :headbang:

Keep in mind, going to a 5.0 brings the 5.0 problems. Chassis from 1979, V-8 fuel mileage, rough ride from a built chassis, next-to-no back seat, no luggage room, and the list goes on.

If you want to build a fun car with some power, and FI is your thing, keep the Focus and find a 1985-89 Merkur XR4TI. You can find them usually around the $2500 mark, and can make a reliable 300 hp out of the 2.3L. And you can blow your wad on upgrades, make it handle and stop amazingly, and still have a 4-door family sedan to drive Monday-Friday. That is my plan in the next year or so... B)

Oh, and I remember when the SRT-4 came out... Car & Driver only had two complaints. Rough ride, and it was a Neon. :lol: They pitted it against a WRX and an Evo, and it beat them both around the track, but couldn't do it in the day to day driving.

Ryan