VAEM's SN95 264ci 4.3L V6 Mustang Build
 

So, as most of you know I'm in the process of building a V6 Mustang with my daughter and I thought I'd start a thread so we can share the progress of her Mustang with you. She'll be registering her account with CMOC soon so look out for a new member (98_SALEEN_3.8)!

Her Mustang is back from the shop and I thought I'd share some photo's. So far, her Mustang has been fitted with a Saleen front bumper, Harwood Formula Hood (lucky girl), 4 piece Saleen side panels and a Saleen SR spoiler - just like mine! We just ordered a new Saleen rear bumper from Stage 3 Motorsports so her car will be back at the shop in a few weeks for the installation (I'm not great with bodywork so well leave it to the professionals). Next will be paint (either flat black or "mollypop" pink) (thanks for the name 1LOW03GT) and FINALLY we can start the fun stuff - engine and suspension mods! That stuff were going to do together.

I've attached a few pics of what her car looks like (taken just today) (exterior and engine) and of the mollypop color shes interested in.

Hope you guys enjoy following our progress.

Wow now that is really neat especially with a daughter.

Looking forward to watching this threaaad/build!!:tup

Thanks SNAKEBITE. It's going to be a fun project and I'm going to love spending some quality time with my girl. Only one thing - I have 2 daughters. LOL ... So, e v e n t u a l l y there will have to be yet another Mustang project - 3 Mustangs in the driveway! Have I died and gone to heaven?

sounds pretty sweet bud :tup i think u have quite the road ahead

No sons- Ah if not I guess the daughters being into Mustangs is just as good:tup:lol

Oh i hear you on that.But i have 3 LOL!Well the twins,son,and daughter,and my oldest a daughter.I will need to get a home out in the country just to make room,and have a bigger garage!!Time will tell.LOL

3 children! You'd better invest in a dealership my friend!

That's what scares me :banghead: LOL!

So we spent a few hours this afternoon removing the rear bumper from the car in preperation for our new Saleen bumper from Stage 3. Not a hard job at all but man, THANK GOD for my trusty Haynes Manual (and my daughter for that matter) - It would have taken me HOURS to find those 2 sneeky little bolts.

I'll tell you, girls are great. In the time I was using staring at the bumper in a state of confusion, ratchet in hand, trying to figure out why it wouldn't just come off my daughter had already gotten the manual, looked up body panel removal and pointed out exactly where the problem was (more specifically where those 2 sneeky bolts were hiding). I haden't even reached a state of frustration. I would imagine sons are fun too (not having one I don't trully know), but I do think that had I been in the same situation with a son, rather than writing this thread we would have bypassed the Haynes Manual completly and right now would be devising a plan to remove the bumper with a pry bar / chain saw combo.

Were only at the begining and I can already tell this project is going to be fun.

Well the car is REALLY cool....

BUT.....

I wanna know about the daughters....????????

Well, look, this site needs a dirty old man..... I'm right here.... :D

LOL .... You do realize I'm their father right? Stay away from my daughters .... ESPECIALLY online.

Ah come on... be a pal, and yes I do...

Oh all right if you insist. :P

Ok, so the car is at the shop getting it's new rear facia / bumper cover installed. (I'll post some pics when it comes back).

So, what to do next? There is about $4,000.00 left in the budget for the Mustang build this summer. I am debating between 3 options:

a) Have the car painted this year (we've decided on mat black) and get a new set of black chrome Saleen style rims (18 x 9 in the front and 18 x 10 in the rear) and drag radial tires. (see pics)

b) Order a Procharger Supercharger with Intercooler. (see pic)

c) Order a Stage 3 Power Pack from Super Six Motorsports which comes with a new ported upper intake, ported lower intake, Stage 3 Super Heads with 1.94 / 1.56 stainless steel valves, SSM custom ground Comp Cams billet cam as well as forged internal pistons and rods. (see pic)

So my dilema is this - I won't be able to have anything done until about August. I don't really want to have the car painted this year, just in time to store it for the fall / winter. That seems like a waste to me. I don't want to install the Procharger without completing the work outlined in (c) - I want to make sure the V6 will be able to adequately handle the power of 11 psi. Also, I don't think I can install the stuff outlined in (c) without the Procharger because SSM has designed the Power Pack to work with a supercharger. So, if I order (b) or (c) they will pretty much just sit on a shelf in the basement until I have both of them. All of the above options total roughly $4,000.00 - my whole budget.

i dont see any reason why you can't go with the power pack and go without the blower for a bit... now the cam you have picked out i'm guessing is a centri blower spec camshaft, but it's not going to ruin the rest of the power pack or the bottom end if you go forged. just all depends on your tune that you get done. plus you'll get decent gains from just the power pack while you wait on the blower :tup

^^^^ ohh, I thought it would be risky to install the power pack without the supercharger because of the cam. I stand corrected! So, are you voting power pack? ;)

hmmm a power pack that'll put a good 50hp to use.. or a procharger that'll sit on a shelf.... :lol hahah yea go powerpack WITH internals. like i said, just make sure you get a good dyno tune. best bet is play it safe and get a mild blower cam made up for you, don't go too crazy with it :P

Yea, when you put it like that it's a pretty easy decision. The only reason I was even thinking blower now is I heard the Vortech blower is no longer available for the 3.8L - it's apparently been discontinued. I figured I'd grab the Procharger in case they decide to do the same. Has anyone else heard this?

that's interesting info.. i never knew vortech pulled out of that specific market.. i know a lot of people rather go to procharger.. maybe that's why? in the end.. used kits are easy to find :)

Yea, my friend Todd at Steeda told me Vortech kits are no longer available. Its a bit strange casue Vortech is no longer listing the kit on their website but places like Stage 3 Motorsports, Summit Racing and Late Model Restoration Supply are still advertising the kits on theirs. :? So, maybe there still available or maybe it's just left over stock. I just emailed Vortech directly so I guess we'll know for sure in a few days!

in my personal opinion.. i couldn't be bothered with a vortech unless i got a smokin deal on it. procharger's kit yea is a bit harder to install aparently, but it also has an intercooler whereas the vortech's do not

^^^ ... and much more HP to boot! Vortech kit advertises 215 HP after install whereas Procharger advertises 265 HP! (at 11 psi with an intercooler mind you but still). Budget favours the Vortech though as it's almost $1,000.00 cheaper! Procharger does have other perks. I do like not having to relocate A/C unit or tap into the oil pan - both mandatory with the Vortech kit.

How long does it take to install a s/c, most of the day/weekend?

I'm gonna agree with this!!:wink:

i've heard different stories some taking a day, others two. my guess with a centri blower.. two days tops. roots type will be quite a bit more.

The Procharger on my 5.0 only took about 8 hours to install. I would assume the Vortech is a little longer because of tapping the oil pan and relocating the A/C. I'm guessing roots style blowers take about the same or longer.

Well that confirms it - the Vortrech kit is no longer available for SN95 V6's. I guess Procharger it is. I almost want to get it now before it gets discontinued too.

Good hunting

Thanks SNAKEBITE. Vortech confirmed that they no longer manufacture the supercharger and a few major distributors, Stage 3 Motorsports, etc. confirmed they have none in stock. So if 3.8-ers are looking for a supercharger they can (a) get a used Vortech; (b) get a Procharger; or (c) (and the most technically complicated option) go with a split port swap conversiton and get a whipple supercharger like white_lightning.

splitport with m112 cobra eaton FTW! :tup

just my .02 lol

To be honest with you I'm a little apprehensive to undertake a split port swap conversion. My daughter and I are doing all the engine work together and that is quite a project to do without instructions. LOL. The SSM kit as well as the Procharger come with instructions so they shouldn't be too bad. I think a split port swap might even require some custom fabrication. I think it might exceed my technical skill level - it would be neat though.

You are ahead of me tech wise. I changed the oil on my Jeep once and pulled tires/rims off/on a couple of times. Sad I know but when it comes to kleeeening I'm the man. Bwah

No arguement there - I've never seen a car with a mirror finish like Kleen - EVER. It trully is amazing to see.

I did manage to do the research for ya on that :tup the only fab work is the fuel rail. But yea it is still quite the project. I think with the SSM kit and blower, you'll be doing just fine in the power department :)
Also... Didn't you swap a 3.8 for a 5L? That in itself is an epic accomplishment lol

Well I might have to see what you can do with my Si... Hahah I haven't cleaned it lately... Guess I should get on that :shakeit:

This is interesting??Any stuff on this?

I sure did. Did the swap one summer with my best friend, my Dad. He's a little more advanced in the automotive D.I.Y. department! :tup

Some other V6-ers might find this thread interesting when planning their engine builds. It was origionally posted on 3.8mustang.com and was written by a member called maestrosc. A very good read.

Everything you wanted to know about v6 supercharging - 3.8 Mustang Message Board

Yea I've thought of doing the m112 cobra blower when my stang was still running. A guy in the states does a kit for $3000 USD. Only issue I have is they call it a "heaton" for a reason. Ur intake temps go up quite a bit if ur not running meth/water injection. Nobody has produced an intercooler for it yet. Also you MUST have a 3" cowl hood in order to fit the sob ( which is fine by me really.) but I'm only on my iPhone right now so when I decide to stop watching the Vancouver game and grab my laptop I'll post up specs and stuff on the m112 in a new thread. ( I already feel bad for hijacking VAEM's thread lol )

Damn straight:lol

ahh it's only a civic :wiggle: but yea i did another coat of wax this morning while i had some spare time in the shop :tup