Looking for some opinions

Right now I just have a 3.8L V6 in my 2002 Mustang. I am looking at spending around $5,000 on the car. I am looking for some opinions on what to get. Should I just get a whole new motor and if so what would you recommend? Or should I fix the 3.8 up and if so what would you recommend? Sorry that I am not really going into any detail, but I just want some raw opinions.
Thanks in advance.

I think you should take the 5,000 and your old car and trade it for a new 4.6 I think that is the only way you will be happy. you will spend twice that much trying to get it to run like a V-8. but that's just my opinion

If in fact you do want to give the 3.8 performance, vortech makes a supercharger for it. There are some other things that you will need to upgrade if you go that route, like injecotrs, throttle body, and MAF for starters... The kit retails for under 3000.00. ProCharger makes a little bigger blower for it, but it's also a little more expensive.

For your car, the cheapest way to get the hp you want is to juice it (nitrous oxide) There are several kits out there for under 1000.00, they should yeild you anywhere from 50-150 hp or more... If the engine is set up right for juice, then you shouldn't have reliability problmes. Most blow ups occur, because nitrous get put on a car and nothing else.

Advise, find some guys in your area that have tackled this, start looking for a stang club and join up and start looking for 3.8 modifiers. Learn from them and make your decision.

Later.
Ben

yes, the 3.8 can be pretty quick if it's lightly modified.
best bang for the buck EVER is new rear end gears.
stepping up to 3.73 or 4.10 will give you EXCELLENT acceleration. maybe add a stall converter if it's auto or a new shifter (Pro 5.0 makes a good one) if it's a stick.
I agree about the nitrous, and if you bump the timing back a few degrees it will give you no problems.

I agree with lilmustangmoody I would trade in your v6 and buy a V8. I am a little more partial to the 5.0 versus the 4.6 simply because theres more of a market for the 5.0 However either choice is better than swaping or trying to crank more power out of the V6. In my opinion its not worth the time or trouble.

Your best money spent if you want more speed is to trade-in and use ya 5G's to get a V8 Stang because a S/C or juice will only put you on par with stock V8 for the most part.

But if your in love with the V6 I understand. First thing would definetly be to get a set of 3.73 then S/C would be next. V6 can be fast but your always going to be playing from behind the 8ball

Not knowing your mileage I'd also say to trade in. Pumping it with some life without looking at suspension or tires would quickly add up to $5k and I am not sure you would be happy then..