Suggestions for Complete Upgrade:V6

Hey All. New to forums, so please go easy. Bought a 2000 V6, completely stock. Rims and kit to be added mid-March. Can an SVT or Saleen engine switch out into a 2000 V6 chasis? Don't think so. Would consider buying better engine before mods, but that is what I am doing right now, asking advice.
If stock V6 is kept, what mods have you found pump out the most HP overall? Right now my stock is pushing 230hp, which I would like to get up to 300hp if at all possible. Exhaust to fit my kit is probably next after that, perhaps borlas, but I have heard good things about the flowmasters, and use to sell them as well.
Let me know what you all think. Open to any suggestions. Gonna mod the hell out of it so I can always dust my brother who believes his acuras/hondas are the way to go.
-Blackscorpion

The best way I've seen to achive hell a power out of a V6 is a nice turbo kit. It's gonna cost you a good $4K, but you'd be happy with it. As far as the Cobra swapover goes I'm pretty sure its a bolt-in deal, but then you'll have to upgrade other things as well to handle the V8. Either way your talking some big $.

swap the 6banger out for a stroked modular. you'll smoke any ricer than you come across =). a supercharger will cost you a little less than a turbo actually, i think you can get a good centrifugal for about 3k.

keep in mind that modulars have goofy torque curves, i personally prefer the good old pushrod smallblocks. of course, that's huge dollars for any sort of new motor or even just a stroker kit for a mod. it's up to you, kind depends on A) your patience and B) the depth of your pocketbook.

one question, stock 200 v6 pushing 230hp, how is that, isn't it supposed to be 195 if it is "stock"??
Not trying to be a d*ck, but just saying

What's up Joseph? I am far from a car expert, and I know you are not being a you know what, I would ask the same thing if I thought different. Anyways, as far as I know, and I just checked right now, my stock 2000 V6 should be doing 232hp, while the V8 is like 281hp. I use to work at an auto parts store, all I did was look up stuff for my car, so I am pretty sure I am right. I think the only difference perhaps from like the 98 is that I might have smaller headers, but overall pump out some more hp. I know it is over 200 at min, how much over, can't say for sure. Pretty darn sure it is 232hp though. Correct me if I am wrong. Got any ideas for what to upgrade next, perhaps on the exhaust matter?
-Blackscorpion

Thanks for all you guys have posted so far. I have been looking at the superchargers and turbos since I got your replies. Some questions though:
What is difference between intercooled, or not intercooled, and which is better?
Is a lower psi, like 7-8, or a higher psi like 11 better, and with or without intercooling?
When they say more hp to the wheels, that is opposed to what?
Is the difference in cost and hp worth getting the turbo, as it seems the supercharger looks like more work and needs alot more mods to get it all setup?
Thanks guys. Let me know.
-Blackscorpion

I'm not trying to make you look stupid here, but the 2000 V6 is rated at 190hp. 232 is the dissplacment of the V6 motor, 232 cubic inches. 281 cubic inches for the V8 4.6L motor which is rated at 260 hp.

Thanks for all you guys have posted so far. I have been looking at the superchargers and turbos since I got your replies. Some questions though:
What is difference between intercooled, or not intercooled, and which is better?
Is a lower psi, like 7-8, or a higher psi like 11 better, and with or without intercooling?
When they say more hp to the wheels, that is opposed to what?
Is the difference in cost and hp worth getting the turbo, as it seems the supercharger looks like more work and needs alot more mods to get it all setup?
Thanks guys. Let me know.
-Blackscorpion


After coolers/intercoolers are only needed if you are pushing hi psi (14-23+). the reasoning I am told is that Your timing and stuff has to be adjusted a bit more and you actually loose hp. but gain it back with the cooler air. But at lower psi the after cooler takes too much hp away.
You can run Hi psi in that v6 if you get new pistons, heads and an intake.

:smokin:Now you other option (1500$) is the Nozzle system that will get you 100-200 hp gain with nitros injected directly to each cylinder and controlled. It can be set to only "go on" at specific high rpm's so you get a huge boost in weach gear at a pre set rpm. With this system you can probabbly reach 300 hp just with new moded engine parts and another 100-150 hp with the Nozzle......??350-400 hp??

But If it were me, I would stick with the supercharger........:grinno:

Boost is the amount of air pressure created by the supercharger. Supercharger boost is largely misunderstood, even by some experienced performance enthusiasts.
One important thing to keep in mind with respect to superchargers is that throughout the rpm range, the air ratio of the supercharger is consistent with the engine displacement. Supercharger boost, however, is not totally constant.
This is because at lower blower speeds, the clearances between the blower case and the rotors allows for air "leakage" with some loss of boost efficiency. If your engine is not as free-breathing as it could be (because it has a stock or low performance cam, small valves, restricted ports, etc.) you will typically see the boost readings go up in the higher rpm ranges. This is because the boost the blower is making cannot fully get into the cylinders due to these restrictions, and the boost pressure starts building up in the manifold, which is typically where the boost readings are taken, therefore, artificially high readings will be observed. Interestingly, this means a supercharged engine can make more power with lower reading on the boost gauge.
Boost is a function of three things: the displacement of the engine, the displacement of the blower, and the speed that the blower is turned in relationship to the engine speed. There are a few basics to remember. Assuming a constant speed ratio between the engine and the blower, a larger blower will make more boost than a smaller one on the same size engine. As engine size goes up, boost goes down if the blower speed and blower size remain constant. Conversely, as engine size goes down, boost goes up. On a given size blower and a given size engine, boost can be increased by running the blower faster in relation to the engine's speed (overdriving) or it can be decreased by running it slower (underdriving).

BTW. what parts store did you work at so i will be sure not to go there.

232 Is the size of the 3.8 in cubic inches like the 5.0 is 302 and like the 4.6 is 281

Sorry man the horsepower should be 190 to 19. My 95 Thunderbird 4.6 only puts out 215 no way a 3.8 puts out 232(not from the factory)


P.s. I used to have thunderbird with a 3.8(232) so I looked it up when I had it and it was 190. According to ford motor company (I work at a Ford Dealership)

Thanks all for the suggestions, will keep all that stuff in mind when I mod. I am not mad at any remarks here, I told everyone that I am new to what I am doing, so no hard feelings. As for what store I used to work for, they are doing bad on their own, so I guess we can just leave it that way.
Thanks all, see you all on some more posts when the questions get more specific.
-Blackscorpion

Hey go pic up a copy of this month's MM&FF. They do a cobra motor swap into a V-6 chassis article. Take a look at it give you some idea of time and cost and saves me from writing it out.

Stock 2000 Mustang V6 "232" is roughly.. and I emphasize ROUGHLY!! --> 190 HP.. Thats rated at the flywheel.. Not the rear wheel.

ok the hp of tha car has been covered REPETEDLY, but it would be better money spent to either turbo or SC the v6 tehn to do a swap. a cobra motor and tranny are NOT cheep, and you still need the electrical and rear.

In the very very long run, the cobra motor will be better. He'll make close to as much power with a well built turbo'd or supercharged v6, and spend less money. Although, if he's making close to as much power, most likely he'd need a new tranny and rear end anyways... so the cost really comes down to... is a turbo/supercharger kit cheaper/more expensive than a cobra motor? I mean, if I trusted the guy to rebuild a motor, and I don't, I'd say go buy a cobra block and build a rediculous street monster. You can probably do that for 4-5 grand, and easily get 400hp out of a cobra block. And if you can afford a supercharger or turbo, 600... but I don't think he wants/needs/can handle that much. I think 350fly hp will be plenty.

Oh by the way, you asked why people say wheel hp, as opposed to what? The answer is flywheel or crank HP. This is tested by bolting the motor directly up to a special engine dyno and taking readings. These readings will be higher than at the wheels, since it takes HP to turn the trans, driveshaft, gears in the axle, axle shafts, wheels and tires... Normally losses will be around 40-60hp with an auto, and around 20hp with a manual.

I can see zx2srdotnet likes to be a dip shit on the boards.. Next time, take note.. If I want you to post a smartass remark to me.. I will be sure to message you and let you know that I want one! Thanks!

Newho.. to the swap question. You would have your hands full doing the swap with a Cobra engine. Yes, maybe a supercharger or turbo might run cheaper, but I think you would be happier with the swap in the long run.

-Smiles- <^>

think about it this way, if you switch to a cobra motor, youll have a sleeper v8 advantage and your insurance would still be at the v6 price,im not exactly sure how much power the v6s can handle though. i think if you got deep pockets go with the swap. but deep down its truly your own decicion.