Budget 2v Project

Velsomnia

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Any updates on the project? Need more 2v build threads in my life!


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Going to be seeing one from me here in about 7 months or so, i'm trying to grab a 99-04 GT at tax season and I plan on doing all the mods myself. I have to sit down sometime and make a list of each mod that I need to buy and install and in what order, for instance I wanted to drop in Stage 3 Cams as soon as I buy it and then found out that the car needs a bunch of other stuff before I touch the cams. It's probably going to be hilarious to watch for some people because not only will this be my first car but I also have basically no mechanical experience, still 2v's are cheap and so are most of the parts so I figure its a good car to learn on. I really like the sharper edges on the SN 197's and the dash looks a lot nicer but the SN 195's have been running strong for basically 20 years and that sounds like a car thats built to last.
 

Turkey_Lurker03

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I've owned my 03 gt vert for almost 15 years now. It's been a great car despite being severely neglected over the last 8 years. (mortgages, marriage, kids, life etc etc)

Last 3 years it's been sitting in the garage begging to be built, but there's no surplus of money or time at the moment LOL. I believe your budget holds the key as to what order you perform your mods. Stage 3 cams would sound sick, but I'm pretty sure you'll need your pistons notched for PTV clearance and upgraded valve springs?

I hear you on the "other stuff" needing fixed first. I'm on borrowed time with my original (105k) clutch, Stock struts/shocks (H&R SS springs) and rear diff rebuild (howling) from years of burnouts, powerslides & power shifts on heavy 295/35/18 Conti DWS tires with 4:10's. Vert top motor is shot and I have about 2k in bodywork looming over my head as well. (rear quarter damage)

Either way good luck with your build! Looking forward to seeing it progress!
 

Velsomnia

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I've owned my 03 gt vert for almost 15 years now. It's been a great car despite being severely neglected over the last 8 years. (mortgages, marriage, kids, life etc etc)

Last 3 years it's been sitting in the garage begging to be built, but there's no surplus of money or time at the moment LOL. I believe your budget holds the key as to what order you perform your mods. Stage 3 cams would sound sick, but I'm pretty sure you'll need your pistons notched for PTV clearance and upgraded valve springs?

I hear you on the "other stuff" needing fixed first. I'm on borrowed time with my original (105k) clutch, Stock struts/shocks (H&R SS springs) and rear diff rebuild (howling) from years of burnouts, powerslides & power shifts on heavy 295/35/18 Conti DWS tires with 4:10's. Vert top motor is shot and I have about 2k in bodywork looming over my head as well. (rear quarter damage)

Either way good luck with your build! Looking forward to seeing it progress!


Its going to be an adventure, i'm aiming to break 800HP at the end of it all so its going to take a long time to buy everything. And yeah stage 3 cams mean a mandatory upgrade on the springs, pistons, and a few other things simply due to the much longer travel length on everything. So just to change the cam I would need another $1,500-$2,000 minimum in parts to do it, plus if I have to strip the block down that far for just the cam then there is no way that i'm going to miss the chance to swap out the shortblock with a much better one so that I dont have to do it later.
 

Velsomnia

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If 800hp is the goal it will be VERY expensive.

Thats what I meant by it taking a very long time, especially since I have to upgrade a lot of things at the same time. The goal started as 1,000HP but i'm afraid that that much HP will be surpassing my ability to drive it daily. I'm not looking for a car that sounds and handles like this one at wide open throttle:
I'm not a fan of the engines that scream so loud that you cant even tell when they have shifted gears.
 

Sluggie24

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I'm going to have my teksid block built soon with a used terminator crank and rods with new diamond pistons. Should be good to hold 800hp and I think it was the cheapest way I could do it. My goal will only be 500 rwhp though.

You might want to look into doing something similar and save some $. Used terminator engine parts can be found online here and there.
 

Velsomnia

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I'm going to have my teksid block built soon with a used terminator crank and rods with new diamond pistons. Should be good to hold 800hp and I think it was the cheapest way I could do it. My goal will only be 500 rwhp though.

You might want to look into doing something similar and save some $. Used terminator engine parts can be found online here and there.


Thats part of why I wanted to join a forum like this before I bought the car, everyone on here will have better ideas for how to do this stuff than I will. At this point I was just looking to throw in a Ford Performance crate engine but that will run me thousands of dollars and will still need to be machined.
 

Sluggie24

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What you need to start with is a budget. How much are you willing to spend total? That will decide how much power you can build reliably.

My bottom end is going to cost about $3300 which includes the cost of the block that I purchased about 2 years ago, used and new internals, machine work, fasteners and assembly by a good engine builder. That won't include oil pump, gaskets, fluids, head studs, etc.

Costs climb really quickly with these cars. I've been saving $ for a year now just to build the engine and get that done. Then more saving will be involved to get the rest of what I will need to finish the build. Thankfully the rest of the car is built already.
 

Velsomnia

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I dont really have a budget, all I have is the power goal. The idea is that I sit down and figure total costs minus any labor I might need to pay for things that I just cant do on my own and then i'm just going to save and then buy a part and then save some more until I buy another part and eventually the car should be done. It might take a few years but if I just set goals as I go I should be able to do it. I mean heck from the looks of it even an ebay twin turbo kit that I have been looking at costs more than what New Edge GT's sell for around my area and thats on ebay, I know that im probably going to end paying even more than that to go with the better kit that I really want which is a Hellion kit.And yeah the Hellion Twin Turbo kit is about 7 grand, im going to be on this project for a long time.
 
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Sluggie24

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Just remember, whatever you do to the car, you will be lucky to get back $0.25 on the dollar if you eventually sell the car.

I bought my 04 3 years ago and it came with about $8.5k in aftermarket parts installed including a vortech and I only paid $8900.
 

Velsomnia

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Just remember, whatever you do to the car, you will be lucky to get back $0.25 on the dollar if you eventually sell the car.

I bought my 04 3 years ago and it came with about $8.5k in aftermarket parts installed including a vortech and I only paid $8900.


Thats not a bad deal and i'm not worried about depreciation, I just want to be able to have fun with it for a few years. Eventually I will move into something a bit more expensive and modern. Besides I enjoy putting things together with my own hands so this is more of a get out of the house and meet people kind of thing.
 

Sluggie24

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Well you know your goal. Time to start making a list of the parts you will need to get there. Obviously time to start saving up $ as well. Also start looking around in your area and talking to people. Find out about good local tuners, performance shops and engine builders. You will eventually need them for the things you won't be able to do yourself. Talk to those people and let them know your goal. If there is future business in it for them they should be more than willing to give advice on possible ways to go. They might even know about good used parts you can buy which can save you $.
 

Velsomnia

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Well you know your goal. Time to start making a list of the parts you will need to get there. Obviously time to start saving up $ as well. Also start looking around in your area and talking to people. Find out about good local tuners, performance shops and engine builders. You will eventually need them for the things you won't be able to do yourself. Talk to those people and let them know your goal. If there is future business in it for them they should be more than willing to give advice on possible ways to go. They might even know about good used parts you can buy which can save you $.

I lucked out there, I live within walking distance of Monster Transmission and I have been talking to them on Facebook about the HP I want and they offered to let me tour the facility and sit down with them to build a trans to handle the power once I get to that point. Now I just need to find someone to do the machine work on the pistons and block if need be.
 

Sluggie24

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I built the 4r70w in my car using one of their kits, some other stronger aftermarket internals and cryo hardening all internals. Great kit they sell. If they build your trans you shouldn't have any problems. Just a hint....they have great sales for black friday.
 

Velsomnia

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I built the 4r70w in my car using one of their kits, some other stronger aftermarket internals and cryo hardening all internals. Great kit they sell. If they build your trans you shouldn't have any problems. Just a hint....they have great sales for black friday.

Yeah I have awhile to watch the sales and buy when they offer a good deal, plus I think I can knock a couple hundred dollars off by being able to pick up the trans in person instead of shipping it.
 

Stage 4.6

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If you spray a 2V you better pray. The plastic manifold will become a projectile.

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My wife and i have owned ours for 20 years, 99GT w/basic bolt on's (100 shot Diablo Tune) sprayed it for 5 years straight and still running strong, no longer race it its more of a summer daily. The 2Vs dont get much love but taken care of they are really durable motors. Mine has never been rebuilt, been through 1 alternator, 2 batteries, and 3 clutches. I was debating on Coyote swap but its kind of costly.
 

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StrayBullitt

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Small update... Clearly this car needed some help in the looks dept, wheels, lip and upgrade to the newer style wing is what I wanted at least. But a buddy came across a guy local parting out a wrecked Saleen look alike...

So I picked up the front and rear bumpers, a trufiber hood and Saleen style wheels. The side skirts ect were either trashed or he sold them.. hope it doesn't look off when I get the bumpers on. I Will definitely get a reproduction Saleen wing and hopefully that will help. Stoked to finally have some direction on this thing !

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