[RadzStang]

Hello fellow Stangers. I'm fairly new to the Mustang World. I bought a new 2004 silver Mustang GT convertible with an auto trans about 1 and 1/2 years ago and I am now in a position to start modifying it. The only mods done to my car so far are a MagnaFlow catback exhaust that was installed by the dealer and a K&N air filter that I installed. I also ripped out that rubber air silencer. My car has about 12,000 miles on it and I drive it back and forth to work with the occasional weekend cruise. Since this is my first Mustang and I have never modded one before, I have lots of questions for all of you.

So here is my dilemma, I took my stang to a Mustang specialist in Orlando a few weeks ago and he recommended that I do not put a supercharger on my stang for two reasons: 1) it has an auto trans and they eventually blow with a supercharger, and 2) the 4.6 2V engine can't take the stress from a supercharger for very long. He said rebuilding the auto trans is a pain and I am better off getting a COBRA because those engines can handle the stress from a supercharger. He said if I want to keep my car and get a supercharger I should convert my trans from an auto to manual (which will cost around $2,500 to $3,000) and I need to upgrade the internals on my engine. Well I tried selling my car several times and I have not had one call. So if I want a supercharger I may have to do the above if I don't want to blow my engine or tranny. I can't afford the cost of replacing the engine and the cost of supercharging it.

I told my dad (who has owned several Mustangs) about this and he did not believe me so he called a Mustang specialist in Tampa. The gentleman there told him the same thing I was told. So now this is two specialists who have recommended not supercharging a 4.6 2V with an auto trans.

In addition, the Orlando Mustang specialist recommended I only go with 4.10 gears and a SCT tuner to wake up my auto. He was against me installing underdrive pulleys because we live in Florida and the extreme heat will overwork my a/c unit. He also was against me getting a cold air intake, throttle body, and plenum because he said the money spent on those was not worth the small increase in horsepower. But he said it is your money and you can do what you want with it.

So guys, what do I do? Do I just do the normal bolt ons? I can't afford to blow my engine and tranny. Is it true that a supercharger will blow an auto tranny or the 4.6 2V, or is that only for Fords and certain year Mustangs? I don't know what to do? I've been unable to sell my car. I have to do something to get my car faster because I was almost beat by a Blazer the other day. HELP!!!

[carguy1985]

the 4.6 can handle with intercooler just about 400rwhp.... I got a 70mm TB and Plenum and the difference in throttle reponse and bottom end is way better... i would go with the 410s with the auto and a sct or diablo tuner. auto trannies are weaker...... but if you want a blower and dont wanna go too much just run it at a lower boost....6 vs 8 maybe do about 355rwhp.. i am thinking about running Underdrives but unsure... if i can get a cheap set then i will.

[RadzStang]

Thanks for the advice carguy1985. I appreciate the response. I really would like the s/c but I'm afraid of blowing the engine and tranny. I have some money but not enough to replace everything. I'm kind of bummed I got the auto. My wife is actually telling me to get the tranny conversion from the auto to manual, but that is a lot of money to spend on the conversion when I could use that money for other mods. She said I'll have more fun and then I can get the s/c one day. Maybe I'll get the 4.10 gears and SCT tuner for now and see if I am happy. I may still go with the CAI, t/b, plenum, and udp's. I'll see what most people recommend for mods.

[TK421DS]

THOSE GUYS ARE RETARTED!!!

Vortech AND others sell S/C's for your car.....thetyare designed "not to blow it up at all"........That issue is with the tuner and bosst pulley you choose.....

Those guys are wrong.
Do IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FunkyBoss]

How much more power do you want? All the bolt-ons aren't going to add up to much hp gains, but it will feel alot quicker with the 4.10's. Go the supercharger route and be conservitive if you are really worried about it. Be sure to get it tuned by someone with alot of experience, and if the tranny blows, its a perfectly good reason to do the conversion.

[BlueStreak03]

The 4.6L engines can handle boost quite well. The problems arise when you don't get a good tune. I'm pushing ~485 flywheel horsepower, that's nothing compared to what I'm learning from some guys in this area. The 4.6L block itself can handle 450RWHP as long as it's not completely abused when it comes to startups, cooldowns and routine maintenance. A fluid cooler for an auto is a REQUIREMENT if you want it to last under those power levels. Also, the throttle body, plenum and CAI are good mods. You won't see a lot of power inprovements in these engines until you get under the valve covers and do head porting and cams, unless you go forced induction or Nitrous. They just don't have the displacement to make significant gains N/A otherwise. 4.10's are an excellent gear for an automatic transmission and a tune will do more for an automatic than a 5 speed as it gives you the option to change shift points and firm up the shifts also.

[GT02]

As someone above mentioned, the "experts" that you and your father talked to are retarded! The supercharger setups for a 2 valve are just that, they are engineered for the 2 valve. One manufacturer, I think it was Kenne Bell, ran a stock 2 valve with their base charger through 33 back to back dyno runs with absolutely no problems. In fact, the engine showed no stress whatsoever after all those dyno runs. That's not to say that it's as strong as a 4 valve, it's not, but if you use the proper SC you will likely have great results!
As far as the auto is concerned, the stock 4R70W/4R75W is rated for more HP than the 3650 standard trans. It's a truck auto trans!!! This plus the fact that it can be built up for probably less than a swap for up to 1700hp should be telling you that the auto is not the weak link. The "experts" are the weak link.:thumbsup I remember seeing a post quite a while ago and someone asked about the durability of an auto and this guy said that he had blown every item in the powertrain( engine, rear axle, driveshaft ) and had never blown the auto! The minimum you need to do to the auto is the "Jerry Mod" and a large oil cooler.:thumbsup

[Money]

Originally Posted by GT02

The minimum you need to do to the auto is the "Jerry Mod" and a large oil cooler.:thumbsup

Here's some information regarding the j-mod, if you were curious: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tec...JMOD/index.htm

[johnblazinhot]

RADZSTANG.....ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LIVE BY THIS PHRASE!
YOU HAVE TO PAY THE COST TO BE THE BOSS. I HAD THE SAME MENTALITY A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT MY CAR UNTILL I SPOKE WITH AN OLDTIMER...NOT TRYING TO SOUND LIKE AN ASS BUT ITS TRUE..

[the98stang]

As others have stated, those "experts" you spoke to are retarded. The stock internals on a 2v are perfectly capable of handling a supercharger. You just need to make sure the tune is PERFECT. Many people have supercharged 2v's as daily drivers. A tranny cooler would be a plus though, since you have an auto tranny.

[jjgt06]

hi the heck with all that,, just drop a 428 scj,, and fly

[RadzStang]

Thanks for all of the help guys. I knew you all would help and lead me in the right direction. I thought I read before that a j-mod and tranny oil cooler would make the auto tranny last a long time. I wonder what those so called specialist in Orlando are thinking by recommending I don't s/c a 2V with an auto. Maybe they have seen several blown auto trannies and engines come through their shop? Does anyone know of a good Mustang tuning specialist in the Orlando/Tampa/Jacksonville area?

I think I will start out with the 4.10 gears and tuner and see how happy I am with those. Then I will work my way up to the s/c. You guys are right... you have to have balls if you want to play. I'm just like most other Mustang newbies... we are all scared and nervous at first.

I like your thinking FunkyBoss... if I blow my auto tranny with a s/c then I have the perfect reason to get a manual. Thanks again guys for all the advice. I'll keep you posted and I'm sure I'll have more questions for all of you.

[RadzStang]

Oops, I forgot to mention this. Someone asked how much hp do I want. I think I would be happy with around 400 rwhp. So based on what you guys are telling me, my engine and auto tranny should be perfectly fine with 400 rwhp as long as I get a perfect tune on the s/c for the engine and j-mod & oil cooler for the auto tranny.

[Larry Sergent]

I felt the biggest difference in performance when I took the cats off and put a Mac Pro Chamber on, even more than when I put 373's on, but I don't have to smog my car until I sell it. I think The CAI really helps the engine breath and really adds to the cumulative effect from mods if you don't SC or blow your engine. Don't forget suspension. I understand there's a lot of hidden power in the suspension.

[RadzStang]

Good point Larry. I'll have to work on the suspension also. I read the same thing in some Mustang mags.