Re: Easiest(cheapest) OBD-2 car to get to 400hp?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TX_M10BA_Dave</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I don't personally build them, but the 03/04 Cobra option is also an excellent suggestion.
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+1 probably still the best bang for the buck out there. You can pick up a low miles car for under $20K, they get about 25MPG highway factory and with mods and a good tune can go over 30MPG.
They are rated 390 crank stock but are extremely underated. My 03 I bought 100% stock made 394 at the tires and with just a catback and intake made 430 then from there I built it like crazy. My 04 I bought with X pipe, catback, and intake and it made 440WHP, then I did a pulley and tune and it made 470WHP. So for less than $1000 in parts you can have a 470whp car. If you want more your only about $5K away from 600+ RWHP. $3000 gets you a lightly used whipple or KB with throttlebody, $350 for a set of injectors, $200 for a boost a pump, $200 for a MAF, $500 for a clutch and resurface the stock flywheel, and a couple other things and you can 100% reliably make 600-640WHP on pump gas of 700-800WHP on E85 or race gas. E-85 would require a little more fuel system since it requires 30% more fuel but it's 104 octane so it's worth it. There is also E98 ethanol though it's harder to get that is over 120 octane.
They are great cars, my current 04 has been making 620WHP 600WTQ on pump gas more than 3 years now and I beat the crap out of the car. The engines will hold 800WHP no problem since they are built with a very solid forged crank, Manley forged H-beam rods and Mahle 8:5.1 17CC dished pistons. The T56 trans is also very strong but if you try to launch it at the track a lot with 600+WHP it will likely snap the input shaft, but the 26 spline liberty upgrade is only $250 and is pretty easy to install. The alluminum DS will never need to be replaced, and the IRS is pretty solid aswell. With just a billetflow IRS brace you will likely never have a problem but the stock halfshafts can snap if you let it wheelhop. Bushings and a few other mods to prevent wheelhop are pretty cheap and simple to install, and level 5 halfshafts that will support 1000HP are available for about $2000.
If you have a little more dough to spend the 2007-2011 GT500 are just as easy to mod, and their whole drivetrain down to the clutch will hold 800HP. You can find used 07's with low miles for under $30K no problem. Another great option is the C6 Z06, they're 505HP stock and only 2900 lbs. With basic bolt ons and a cam it will make 600+ and will be as fast as a 03/04 cobra or GT500 on high boost and race gas. Just stay away from the 2006 model and get a 2007 or newer because the 06's has problems with the oil system.
The 03/04's with blower swap on pump gas will run mid 10's, and GT500's will do the same. C6Z's have run high 10's 100% stock on the factory runflats, and will run high 10's with a decent set of drag radials no problem. With cam and full bolt ons if you can get it to hook it won't have any problem running 9's. The best part is any of these cars will get 30+ MPG highway making this power and be as driveable as stock but be able to unleash all of hells fury on somebody if you feel the need. I got to the point with my cobra's nobody except high HP supra's and such would race me so I started racing bikes. There's no 600 out there I couldn't destroy and most 750's went down aswell as older liter bikes. Theres nothing like cruising late at night, having a pack of unsuspecting bikes run up on you and leaving half of the pack and staying right there with the modded 1000's.
My buddies supra is a whole nother story, he's putting down around 1200WHP now and you name it he beats it. Turbo busa's, built ZX14's, no bike has yet to beat his new setup.
