NEED GOOD ADVISE

I have an 89GT that is bone stock besides the bbk shorty headers and flowmaster exhaust the rest of the way back. I am looking to up my power but have never done any high performance work to a car. I wanna start with the engine and tranny. I am looking to make 450-475 horse and dont know what my best route would be. I dont know if a crate motor would suit me or the satisfaction of taken on the job myself would satisfy me more. Anyways I was just wondering if anyone had any advise of what it would take to make my car push out them kind of ponies. The next problem is i dont know if i should go with an aftermarket tranny or just have my stock t-5 rebuilt. Immediate response needed thank any one for any advise they can give.  

If you've never done any high-performance work to a car, I would recommened a crate engine from any number of vendors, and if you're talking 450-475 rear wheel horsepower, you'll most likely need a supercharger, turbo, or nitrous. You will need to beef-up the tranny for sure, or add a Tremec TKO transmission.  
Michael Johnson
Associate Editor
5.0 Mustang and Super Fords

what kinda budget are we dealing with?

Have you seen my '89 project?

P1- http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0812_1989_ford_mustang_lx/index.html

P2- http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/m5lp_0910_1989_mustang_lx_upgraded/index.html  
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Sharad Raldiris - 1989 LX 5.0

Thanks for the information could you tell me what would be the best combination for what i am looking for. I am gonna get a crate engine for sure i just dont know if i should go 331 or 347 and if i put a power booster on it what to go with. I dont know whether or not a supercharger,nitrous, or a turbo would suit me best. I am young and plan on keeping this car for years and years to come and want a solid built car. Right now its the standard 4 bolt pattern and stock rearend and i was wondering if for the money its worth jumping up to the five lug and a 9 inch rearend. I already plan on getting gears but i dont know whether to go with 373 or 410 for my weekend warrior. To much stuff i want done but there is just so many variations so anything you can tell me will be much appreciated. Thanks  

I would do a 331 with a Paxton Novi 2000. Check out our Tech Editor KJ Jones' T-Top coupe. I know most of the build-up stories are on this Web site. The Novi 2000 is a supercharger you can grow with.
As for your other questions, you don't really need a 9-inch rear, an 8.8 can be built to handle a lot of power with the right upgrades like axles, better differential, and stout gears. Speaking of which, if you plan on going the supercharger route, even 3.73 gears might be too much. The most you would want to install is a 3.55.
And yes, the 5-lug swap is a good idea if for no other reason but to widen your choice of wheels. Take a good look at KJ's car, his car has gone through a lot of what you have planned. Check it out.  
Michael Johnson
Associate Editor
5.0 Mustang and Super Fords

I'd recommend a crate motor vs. building one, because they ALWAYS take twice as long and twice as much $$ to build them yourself. I like this CHP 347 for the money: http://www.coasthigh.com/product-p/10668-sf-f347-tbv.htm

IMO, nitrous runs out too easily and turbo is more complication than you need, so I'd go blower. Vortech S-trim kits are cheap and easy, but I'm partial to ATI Procharger. So I'd do an ATI P1SC. Something like this: http://www.procharger.com/FORD/ford_auto.shtml

Swapping to five lug isn't necessary, but it opens up your wheel choices. I put a 9" in mine, but that's to support more than 1000hp. There are 8 second cars still running 8.8s, so I'd stick with that.

For a 347 with a P1SC on a five speed I'd go 4.10. But know this, it's gonna spin A BUNCH on regular street tires.

Let me know if you need any other help.

-rad  
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Sharad Raldiris - 1989 LX 5.0

Hey thanks for the input! I have had my car for about a year and now I need more power so any information will help.  

if you're jonesing for power that hard, buy the blower first. Mine went 11.36@122 on the stock motor, with just an intercooled ProCharger. Talk about a rush. And after about a year of service with that ProCharger, that same stock 302 is now happily living in my other mustang while I'm swapping the new stroker into the '89.  
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Sharad Raldiris - 1989 LX 5.0

Definitely avoid the T-5 if you're planning to build or buy a motor with 400+ horsepower. I have a friend whose raced 5.0's for years and after blowing up 5 T-5's he went with a C-4 and its been smooth sailing ever since  

T-5s don't usually blow up if you don't miss gears. I've been 10.17@132 on a pro-shifted T-5 with a STOCK gearset and 11.36@122 on a completely stock T-5. No problems out of either of them.

Now, if you're making 700+hp and planting it to the tune of 1.20s sixty foot times, you can destroy the factory gearset, but that G-Force stuff is MORE than strong enough to handle a 450hp street car.  
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Sharad Raldiris - 1989 LX 5.0

Just an update i sold my 89 gt i had a deal that i couldnt pass up. On the bright side i found another 89 fox that is very clean inside and out with a 347 that has 25000 miles on it. They only downfall is that it has an automatic and i was wondering what a stahl and shift kit would do for it, or how hard is it to switch back over to a five speed.