Wow, I didn't mean to sound such a butthead. Reading my last post.
I'm going through the same stuff you are, finding the cheapest way to get there. Well not cheapest way to get blown, but cheapest and most reliable way to 450-500 rwhp.
So far, nobody wants to answer my questions. And surely, the more I read the more answers I find. The reason nobody wants to answer questions is because they've done it so many times. Not on one particular deal, like we could use, but here and there, and they're sick of talking about it and explaining it.
What I've learned so far is a few prices. And 2,400 for a stock cobra motor, if it includes heads, would be worth it. If heads aren't included you're better off putting your own shortblock together for peace of mind in my opinion.
Machine work is looking to be around 150 for a bore job, .20 over. I plan to assemble my own motor using my sean hyland 4.6 book that is in texas right now, no use to me for the moment!
A teksid block like we have in our marks, which is the strongest of the 4.6 blocks is running around 200, sometimes even after a fresh bore if you find a guy that changed plans after he got started you can find one for 250 or so. Of course you could go super cheap and just find the cheapest mark viii engine possible ($100 prob if not free) and tear it down yourself to save some coin.
A cobra forged crank, (99-01 or 03-04 both are satisfactory for more horsepower than we'll need) runs from 200-350 used, the high end being polished ones. Which I would rather find one un-polished so I know something's not being hidden before my machinest gets out the micrometer, and just pay a machinest to re-grind it or polish it if it's in good enough shape for just a polish. New cranks, there's 2 of them, one retails for around 350 and the other is around 600-ish. I don't know the difference, and being lazy, I just figure I'll pick up a used one that I know is proven and save some cash.
The rods, I plan on using stock 03-04 termi rods. Some guys throw out the money for some manley H-beams, but that's what the termi rods are anyways, they were even manufactured for ford by manley. The real serious players are paying for forged I beam rods, we don't need those unless we're looking at close to or over 1000 hp.
Alot of guys are using either the DIAMOND or CP? pistons for their forged builds. I'll take thier word for it, the way they drive their cars with the big blowers, yeah, they're nuts and their stuff doesn't fall apart so that's good enough for me, I won't ask further questions. I haven't looked at the prices for a set of those though, I just assume a grand.
And that's about as far as I am for right now as far as putting things in writing. I'm going to look for a set of used C heads from either a 99-01 or 03-04 cobra. We do need the C heads in order toget into a positive displacement or roots type blower.
You also have the choice of going with a centrifugal set up like most mark viii guys do since it's the easiest and probably $cheapest.
No matter what you do you'll want to use your factory harness, unless you want to change out gauges, dash harness, and every other freaking wire in the car pretty much. The cobra ECU won't work in our cars unless you swap that stuff out.
I can add to this as I go if you're interested. But realize I'm probably looking at a $10k build (which I'm sure some will laugh at because that is probably considered cheap), but I'm going to be purchasing a 2.3 whipple brand new which is just over 3 grand of that 10.
