# Most cost effective setup for 65' stang? **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [May 30, 2008, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734 "2008-05-30T06:03:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ssdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@ssdragon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ssdragon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/1 "2008-05-30T06:03:47Z")
The car needs redone totally. I have 2 different setups im thinking about and wanna see which would be more effective with money, reliability and performance. I know all those things dont always go hand in hand but i wanna get close. I would like to get at least 400hp from the engine. Right now the car has a 289 that needs torn apart and redone if i keep that engine. Setup I really like: Ford 351 engine Fuel injection setup Electronic ignition Convert drums (which are front and back) to disk front and back transmission to handle over 400hp headers and dual exhaust since right now its a single exhaust this should be over 400hp at the engne Other setup possibility but might be more expensive: keep the 289 and have it taken apart and cleaner and machined to a 302 supercharge it add electronic ignition same brake setup as above rebuild or purchase new tranny depending on whats cheaper dual exhaust and headers also Which one would you go for? Different more effective setup with daily driving reliability? Also need to find a shop thats knows what they are doing in building this cars engine and tuning it. ---
**Author:** ![bgblockelcamino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bgblockelcamino/32/5997_2.png) [@bgblockelcamino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bgblockelcamino)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/2 "2008-05-30T06:21:54Z")
what trans is in the car right now? c4 or c6? what are you looking ot mainly do with this car? cruise it? race it? little of both? i like the idea of just buying a dropout out of foxbody and put it in. tat way you get all the modern features and maintain power and driveablility on budget. just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![PoisonousBeef](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/poisonousbeef/32/6007_2.png) [@PoisonousBeef](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PoisonousBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/3 "2008-05-30T06:25:30Z")
Just my opinion, but **generally speaking** , anything with forced induction is probably going to be less reliable than an N/A motor. Since you are basically starting from scratch, why bother with a S/C when you can just pick the displacement you need? It sounds like the 351 is the way to go, and 400hp shouldn’t be too hard as a lot of places even sell 400+ hp 351W crate motors. ---
**Author:** ![ssdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@ssdragon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ssdragon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/4 "2008-05-30T06:35:51Z")
its got the factory automatic in it now. the car will mostly be a cruiser and might race at the track once a year for fun. I like the 351 the best too but its on a budget and i wasnt sure of the cheapest way to make respectable power from it. Im figuring the 351 setup to cost $11,000.00 and thats pushing it for us. ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/5 "2008-05-30T07:37:30Z")
> [@ssdragon"](#): > > its got the factory automatic in it now. the car will mostly be a cruiser and might race at the track once a year for fun. I like the 351 the best too but its on a budget and i wasnt sure of the cheapest way to make respectable power from it. Im figuring the 351 setup to cost $11,000.00 and thats pushing it for us. 11k for a 400hp 351 is insane. A good 351 with good heads ~$2000 and headers, cam, etc… would be over 400hp. I would say $5000 would get you more power than you are shooting for with a 351, and that includes buying an engine. My dad just got one for free out of a 91 crown vic police car. Stick with a carb. Keep it simple. The factory auto is probably a c4, which is a very good tranny and can be built up pretty cheaply to handle over 400hp reliably. or, put a 390FE in it - I am trying to sell mine ❌ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ssdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@ssdragon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ssdragon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 8:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/6 "2008-05-30T08:21:45Z")
the 11k includes 400hp 415tq crate motor,tranny,headers,ignition,fuel injection,disc brakes, and pulleys. That should be about right shouldnt it? Might see how much a tranny rebuild with stronger parts would be if its cheaper than buying new. ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 9:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/7 "2008-05-30T09:46:24Z")
> [@Dane Cook](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/dane-cook/36581/2): > > the 11k includes 400hp 415tq crate motor,tranny,headers,ignition,fuel injection,disc brakes, and pulleys. That should be about right shouldnt it? > > Might see how much a tranny rebuild with stronger parts would be if its cheaper than buying new. are you building a show car? Why spend the money on a crate motor? Crate motors suck, you can build your own with better parts for less money. where on the motor do the “disc brakes” go? ---
**Author:** ![SoLow](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/solow/32/6001_2.png) [@SoLow](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SoLow)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 10:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/8 "2008-05-30T10:05:08Z")
> [@77rednecktruck"](#): > > where on the motor do the “disc brakes” go? duhh right by turn signal Fluid bottle ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/9 "2008-05-30T10:09:18Z")
> [@WTF. Ryan?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtf-ryan/36631/4): > > duhh right by turn signal Fluid bottle is that what that is? It’s kinda close to the horn coolant reservoir right? ---
**Author:** ![Pewter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pewter/32/5936_2.png) [@Pewter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pewter)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 10:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/10 "2008-05-30T10:44:28Z")
lsx drop out ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/11 "2008-05-30T11:32:27Z")
> [@Swapped out to some new wheels...](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/swapped-out-to-some-new-wheels/36628/9): > > lsx drop out why fuck up a perfectly good mustang with a shitty ass gm motor. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blackbelt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blackbelt/32/5998_2.png) [@Blackbelt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blackbelt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/12 "2008-05-30T12:05:09Z")
I’m with 77 on this one. A 351 OR 390 would be a good choice. You could easily build a 400+ HP carb’ed one for under 5K. If you can snag a cheap C6, that’s great, but the C4 is a good tranny and as has been said, can easily be beefed up. I had a 66 Merc Comet when i was 20…built the 289 to around 300HP, left the C4 stock except for a shift kit and it held up fine. Ran a Holley 600CFM vac secondary carb and got 21 MPG(highway) with 3:50 gears. Got 12 around town, but i pretty much lived in the secondaries…LOL Of course, one of these would be cool [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-428-450HP-CRATE-ENGINE-BY-TUFF-DAWG-ENGINES\_W0QQitemZ350065373356QQihZ022QQcategoryZ33615QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-428-450HP-CRATE-ENGINE-BY-TUFF-DAWG-ENGINES_W0QQitemZ350065373356QQihZ022QQcategoryZ33615QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) ---
**Author:** ![vw16vcabby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vw16vcabby/32/5943_2.png) [@vw16vcabby](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vw16vcabby)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/13 "2008-06-01T18:22:39Z")
foxbody dropout and spray. ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/14 "2008-06-02T05:10:52Z")
you need the sound of a big block, buy my 390 and you’re good to go. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ssdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@ssdragon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ssdragon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/15 "2008-06-04T20:39:56Z")
do 351’s drop right in pretty easily? Not building a show car but i want it it to be clean as possible. What parts can be put into the C4 tranny to beef it up? its slipping right now and sometimes doesnt want to go into gear. ---
**Author:** ![Nothingface5384](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@Nothingface5384](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nothingface5384)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/16 "2008-06-21T22:04:24Z")
get a die grinder and hog out the cylinder bores cheapest/best way to get youre power then do the typical bolts-ons with a cam and oversized valves my buddy built a buick 350…stock everything minus a ta212 cam, stock 8.5 cr and did a homeport and made 398hp and 425 tq with a 1000cfm demon carb pretty sure it’ll use the same framepads as its just a taller deckheight version of the 289/302 ---
**Author:** ![99345hp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/34f0e0/32.png) [@99345hp](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/99345hp)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/17 "2008-06-22T18:28:13Z")
> [@WTF. Ryan?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtf-ryan/36631/15): > > why fuck up a perfectly good mustang with a shitty ass gm motor. > > 😃 A shitty ass gm motor? your joking right? Ford is yet to build a N/A motor in the mustang that can even come close to the lsx. ---
**Author:** ![Shaggy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/shaggy/32/5945_2.png) [@Shaggy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shaggy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/18 "2008-06-22T18:43:08Z")
> [@Caparo T1](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/caparo-t1/33668/41): > > A shitty ass gm motor? your joking right? Ford is yet to build a N/A motor in the mustang that can even come close to the lsx. 🤣 we been through this before 5 times. you will never win with the redneck. even the though the lsx is superior ---
**Author:** ![99345hp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/34f0e0/32.png) [@99345hp](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/99345hp)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/19 "2008-06-22T18:51:02Z")
yeah, I guess he hasn’t got owned by enough lsx’s to realize it yet. LOL ---
**Author:** ![Shaggy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/shaggy/32/5945_2.png) [@Shaggy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shaggy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734/20 "2008-06-22T19:43:16Z")
> [@A Day Crew Love Story...](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-day-crew-love-story/36902/22): > > yeah, I guess he hasn’t got owned by enough lsx’s to realize it yet. LOL he just doesn’t care :bowrofl: [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/most-cost-effective-setup-for-65-stang/197734.md?page=2)