Recipe for quick SD car

[Victor]

Well I'm new here and you guys are supposed to be the SD guys. I've done a search under "speed density" and have read several topics over about 8 pages and 3+ years. I have found a lot of good information and have seen some quick SD cars (Mr. SD, math302, cleanLX,etc). But since these threads are over a wide span of time, I want to just cut to the chase.

What is a good recipe for a quick Sd car (like 12s or preferably mid 12s N/A)? What have you guys learned since these old threads or improved on? If you had to do it again, is there anything you would change?

Here's what I'm working with:
stock shortblock - good condition
stock heads
Holley intake
Crower 15511
MAC 1 5/8 LT headers
O/R H-pipe
Flowmasters
U/D pulleys
3.73

It has an aftermaket TB on it, but I didn't look to see what size. I will obviously changing the intake (no, the Holley is not for sale) because this one is too big. I'm looking for what you guys did in the way of heads and intake. And any other little things I might be missing. I'm big into "attention to detail" so let me hear it.

[86blkconv]

good suspension/weight transfer, tweaking the tune, good set of drag radials, alot of guys have done it on stock heads but i choose the afr165's, straight out of the box and i love them

[Victor]

Wow that car is heavy too. Thanks.

I was looking for something a little more "sleeper" than AFRs. I'd like to stick with an E7 but I'm open to other suggestions.

[budman5.0]

Victor,
I'm looking to do the same thing to my 86 vert. I pretty sure that I'm going to use a set of Thumper heads (the Powerhead E7's have gone up to $850 ++!). I've heard some good things about his heads. I'm sending TMoss my stock lower to have ported and use a 15511 & LT's also.

[2000xp8]

If you are trying to run what an aluminun headed car would run with e7's you are likely going to spend as much as get less.

I've found that any time at the track can be had with almost any combo from 14.0-12.0, but that doesn't exactly make it a fast street car.

The only true way to stay "sleeper" is to keep the e7's heads, and you are likely to run low 13's on them.
Yes others have been quicker, but that doesn't mean everyone's quicker.

IMO, run a gt40x, edlebrock rpm, Twisted wedge or afr head.
With a valve job, bowl cleanup and spring seat pressure adustment.
You will certainly get your moneys worth of any of these. And if you do in fact take them to a headshop, buying used can save you almost the machine shop costs, except you get a better head.

Nobody would think you are setting the world on fire with the gt40x's (not y's), but i've seen them go 11.89 (prepped the way i said above) with an E cam and gt40 intake.
They've also been on ebay, relatively cheap as of recent.

Heads should be a one time purchase, and by investing $600+ in e7's, if you get the bug to make more than 270rwhp you are going to have to sell them (for nearly nothing) and do it all over again, because they will be maxed out. Any of the others listed can be Cnc'ed or handported for more power, and besides you'll already be at 300rwhp to begin with.

[Ryan1986gt]

86blkconv, do you have any Computer tuning done?

[bcsaleen]

use p heads, explorer intake, port lower, get custom cam.

[Victor]

There is always something in the equation that separates the 14.0 guys from the 12.0 guys with the "same" combo. Driving is a factor, but for arguements sake, I'll leave that out of the discussion. There are fine details that are usually left out when 2 guys are comparing their "same" combos. Let's assume whatever power is made I will get to the ground. Who here has either E7s or some kind of GT40s with SD running good and will share their secrets?

Aluminum heads are out for me. This car will ALWAYS be SD. I will hit a brick wall fast on modifications, but that's what I want to do.

[86blkconv]

no computer tuning done, just alot of track time with fuel pressure and timing changes

[sn9550]

SD's not black magic. It's just being familiar with your combination. I'm not knocking Thumpers ported E7's but if you look in the classifieds you can find good deals on a set of aluminum heads. That's where I got mine. Aluminum heads are also 50% lighter. To each his own though, just have fun.

[cjshelby]

Note my sig for my modest sd/iron head build. I have about $800 in my gt40 irons including the cobra RR's. I would like to swap them for a pair of Performers or AFR 165's.

I ran out of season here in upstate NY after only 3 runs on the bottle. My mph matches my friends & 86blkconv's 12.6's so I see that area in my future after installing a line lock.

Jeff

[86blkconv]

my mph was 107.8 naturally aspirated and 116 on the 75 shot

[Swedenstang]

I agree with BCsaleen, GT40P-heads,Exp intake,headers, a good cam
+ fuel pressure reg is an awsome combo for the money.
No major issues with my speed density system and a huge improvement over stock.
I mean , what is your budget ? I good Idea is prolly an overhaul first
if you havent done it already? new rings + bearings, good fuel and oil pump
etc etc.
Olle

[Victor]

I am not really on a budget exactly, but I don't want to sink an obscene amount of money into it. I'm mainly goal oriented. I'll pay extra to keep the sleeper look though. I want it to run run 12s N/A and look like it shouldn't. So AFRs are out. Overhaul is not needed. It's a very, very low mileage factory Ford 5.0 HO and in excellent condition.

[bcsaleen]

well if $$$ is not an issue, get the powerheads and the special porting and spring package for another $300. get a holley systemax 1 lower, extrude hone your upper, do the custom cam. the crower, which i have and runs good, likes a little more compression than stock/powerheads. you will look stone stock, but be into the car about the same as set afrs. i dyno 265 rwhp/300rwt, but i have the crower and the regular powerheads. i do not know if that will get you 12s, but stock ls1s are not a problem for my car.