Originally Posted by kwiktsi
Man, you guys are brainwashed.
$8-10K? you can get a Vortech head unit (blower itself) for ~$1200-$1500 new (more for the larger ones)- much less used, fab the brackets (easy with the right tools), get the ECU flashed (not for the $1k that Renntech gets either) and run 6-7 psi on the STOCK motor. 10:1 isn't beyond boosting. If you want more boost than that, you can get thicker copper head gaskets made (a few places do this custom) to drop the compression to ~9:1, intercool it and run around 14-16 psi (with the right blower). 10K would put you in the 9's if you do your own work lol.
I drove an SRT6 yesterday,not worth the $45k to me. My car with the 125 shot walked all over it (yes, we had to find out).
It was nice for stock, don't get me wrong- but $45k? I paid $25k for my 04, and $400 for the kit (got it from a buddy used) and I took the SRT by about 2 1/2- 3 cars (straight line). Once I boost it, I will have the same performance all the time, not just on the button. As for internals, I wouldn't use any of the Mercedes stuff if I were to boost it personally, rods and pistons aren't that bad to get custom made and will be much stronger than the Mercedes stuff.
As for paying for an actual motor swap- if I were to go that route, it will have to be an LS1.
I already told the wife, the day this thing nukes is the day I buy an LS1 for it. I thought about the Hemi, but the LS1 is lighter motor and would be better suited for this car. Plus- with the aftermarket for that motor, 700+ hp is just a walk in the park.
Joe
I still with my previous statement. So you hook up your Vortech. Which now is unsafe, you would have to get at least a wideband or aem uego. If it was as easy as just buying a vortech and easily fabricating some brackets, there would be more supercharged base Crossfires. And on 14-16 psi the base crossfire 3.2 can not handle it. Internal swap is a must. And 10k would not put you into the 9's.
The absolutely best you can hope for, is 6-7 psi from the centrifugal, would be 100 whp. Putting you around 270 whp, not worth it to me. All that work for low 13's? Yes you could go with a ls1 swap, which would be cool, but achieving 700 hp is no longer a daily driver.
The LS1 maxes around 350-360 whp, with bolt ons. Cammed they put down around 400 whp. And my friend with a 60-1 turbo on his SS, is putting down 451 whp. on 7 psi.
I would rather spend the extra money for a job well done, then a half priced hack job. And the IHI unit from the AMG car is a great unit.
I just ran into mercedes benz SLK32, we raced from about a 30 roll, and he could not leave me, and nor could I leave him. Dead even. Not bad for a neon with 900 bucks in mods.
My .02
And you beat a SRT-6 that wasn't broken in with your car with 125 shot. Definitely want to see some track times, when you go.