Thats a good time. I wasn't bragging about my time, actually on the contrary, my time should have been better. I was happy to find another member who goes up there. I have only went with one other member once. Its generally a nice quick track but street night gets chitty sometimes. I had traction problems but I have since started to address that.
No doubt a 4.6 will have more power potential than a 3.9. That's simple math. So are we comparing stock to stock or not?
Stock to stock, the LS wins. Modified, the Mark has much more potential, at least as far as power and drag strip performance. Not to say the Mark is not nimble- I loved my 94 t-bird handling (intrax springs and kyb shocks), but the LS beats it in this department (especially with the eibach springs). I have over 100,000 miles on each platform. I wanted a Mark VIII for a long time or to slap a dohc cam into my tbird but just starting out, I didnt have the time or money. Then I got out of school and could afford a low milage, LS so I scooped one up and still have it.
Your argument about comparisons was getting pretty particular. This change is allowed but that change wasn't. You went one route, which I understand and respect- gearing, stall, and whatever else you did, "bolt ons". There is also some cost associated with your method that is probably more than going the power adder route. Well, my block is stock and I "bolted on" a nitrous kit.
I went the other direction and added power first. Mostly to see if it was enough to keep me interested in the car, and it was. Both of these cars are slow stock which makes this whole argument kind of idiotic. My method was not any more right or wrong than yours. I simply got the performance gain cheaper and quicker, and I have the "reliability" of a stock vehicle on the remainder of my commute (400miles per week). I do plan on gears after I get a replacement daily driver, and my wheel change with the wider tires, along with the limited slip unit (coincidentally for an 8.8" IRS) waiting to be installed for resolution to the traction problems. 12's should be attainable at that point.
So, a high 12 is a pretty good feat for an LS and I will likely stop at that point. I have seen the awesome videos of the fully built engines for Marks and they pull insane times. That won't happen in an LS without swapping in a different motor and losing its handling characteristics. Anything can be done though with enough money (maybe all aluminum 5.4 supercharged?). You don't have one of those cars. Not to crap on your car, I think its a nice car and quick for what it is.
With all that crap said, I bet we'd have very close race times and would like to try to get more members up there. Maybe even rent the track for a day. Friendly competition?