i always wondered if muscle cars are like tuner cars where u can put a couple g's into the engine and make it very fast or are they the type of cars were u would have to spend like 12 grand on a supercharger to make it fast..anyone no how engine modding for muscle cars work?

 

Very vague and broad. Forced induction, nitrous, etc. work pretty much the same across all platforms. Starting with a quality motor (small block Chevy, small block Ford, etc.), a muscle car will be as affordable as anything out there to make good power.

 

Lid, cat-back, and a mild tune my 99 Z28 goes 12.7's(traction limited)

Modern muscle is easy to get moving especially with how easy some of the aftermarket tuning software is to use. I added a full mph of trap speed in my Camaro with the first tune I ever did.

-Tim

 

If you are talking about old school muscle cars (i.e. carbed not f.i.), then it's not as easy as today's flash the computer and add power.

To get power from the old days it's a little more involved than simply adding an exhaust, etc. You have to start looking at cams, forced induction, etc.

But if you are talking about modern muscle, the same prinicples apply to them as any 4 banger.

 

Yes, if you are talking 60's muscle cars it is still pretty inexpensive. I have a few (70 LS5 Chevelle, 70 Boss 302, 66 vett, 71 Z28) all original except the Z. You can do heads, cam, exhaust and add a lot of HP and loose a lot of weight at the same time.

Vince

 

Sometimes a few improvements to intake,carbs,ignition and exhaust wake up Detroit's detuned offerings pretty well.
But,in the end there is still no substitute for cubic inches!

 

Making power is easy, it's having a supporting drivetrain that's the problem.

 

Ford's top loader 4 speed and 9 in. rear will support more power than most drivers can handle.A bigger issue is getting that power to the ground.But,there are ways to handle that as well.

 

I would say classic or modern the ways that we make "a little extra" power really have changed much. We are still just messing with ways to let a little more air in and out and put a better timing curve to it. The only thing that has fundamentally changed is that we can do so many things with a lap top that we used to do with a wrench/ratchet and a screwdriver.

-Tim

 

Cubic inches not always the answer if you want to stop or go around a corner. Look at any Mopar. Weight is the enemy, to much over the front wheels and you have problems. Some of the small blocks of the day put out a lot of h.p for the size and weight of the motor. The chevy 327 comes to mind 360 hp for a little 327in motor is pretty good without all the weight of a big block. All and all getting it to the ground with the old tech. is the issue if you want to keep the car somewhat stock.

Vince

 

I buy a car with an eye to how little aftermarket stuff it will take to please me. I bought a '05 GTO for that reason. I could pick up another 100hp & keep it reliable and comfortable. I like a nice sound system, so those get changed out quickly. The new 5.0 Mustang looks interesting to me for the same reason.