With some great numbers floating around for ported heads, and some cams for the '05 in the works, 400rwhp naturally aspirated should be within reach (combined with long tubes, intake, reflash, etc...). Or you could just bolt on a supercharger and easily hit (or exceed!) the same numbers.

On previous model years, the 400rwhp mark was the "safe" limit for the stock engines getting a blower, but what is actually safer for the engine--SC or NA? With the SC, there will be higher cylinder pressures, greater detonation potential and other related gremlins. What about for the NA engine? Is a 400rwhp NA stock engine with bolt-ons going to be more reliable than a 400rwhp SC stock engine?

 

I am guessing that there will be little difference in reliability if both are installed correctly and most importiantly are tuned properly...

Having a quality tune will probably be the difference....

On the other hand, the chance of leaks is certianly higher with a SC applications simply because there are more things in the system that could potentially leak...

I originally though I wanted a Saleen SC, but I am now leaning tword proted heads, CAI, and custom tune. It might not make 400hp, but 350hp is a reasonable expectation. I feel a little more comfortable with these mods on my automatic trans.

Anyway, these are just my opinions...

 

Yeah, I was dead set on a twin-screw blower after a year or two (*if* my freakin' car ever gets built! ), knowing that about 400rwhp is the limit of what I would take it to. Now, however, this mark is within reach without a blower.

I'm thinking my long term plan will be tune, intake, headers/full exhaust and ported heads--all of which could be transferred to a forged short block with a blower a few years down the road.

 

I don't think 400rwhp is gonna anywhere near easy to get to as you guys think. The cars making 350+ to the wheels are using just about every bolt on with ported heads, cams, etc. Guys have been working on the 96-04 4V engines for a long time and very few of them have reached 400rwhp.....there are several strokers and BB 5.0 motors that have not made 400rwhp. This is by no means a simple proposition. A supercharger is gonna be FAR easier....

 

400 rwhp is a lot to ask for from the 4.6L NA, 400 at the crank may be within reason though. Most SC numbers give you hp at the crank. With a 15% loss, 400 at the wheels is closer to 470 at the crank. If you want 400 at the wheels, you probably want to go SC.

 

I agree I see NA 400 at the crank being attainable by the end of the Summer but NA 400 rwhp is going to be a tough venture and is going to require a lot more money than a SC.

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