98 Mark SC Build

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mlschultz

Registered
Thought I would start a thread for the super charger I am having installed in the Mark. I will post updates as the build progresses. I am having the entire build done by professionals, and have given them the freedom to do as they wish to achieve the goals I have for the car, within reason ;) .

Goal:
I want to keep the stock bottom end, and install a Vortech super charger that will produce the max amount of hp, 400-450hp, the motor, and the rest of the drive train can handle. I will use the car as a daily driver, long interstate trips, and it will see the drag strip. It must be well mannered. No drama :)

I will start with the current list of mods already done to the car, that will not change, and will be there when the SC install is complete:

SCT Xcal2 Flash tool
2 1/2" Custom mandrel bend SS exhaust
PI Single disc torque converter
Dynotech Metal Matrix Drive shaft
Ford Racing deep well trans fluid pan
Ford Racing 410 gears
Ford Racing Trak-Lok Diff
Raxle SC T-Bird rear half shafts

I dropped the car off today to have the transmission rebuilt to handle 500 hp+, install a transmission cooler, and to have the PI torque converter sent back to PI to have it re-stalled for the Vortech.

The trans builder, Steve, said he is going to replace, and also add some additional plates made out of a much better friction material, and who knows what else he is going to do. He said I will not have to worry about the transmission when he is done with it.

I am still working on who is going to do the SC install, and should be able to decide tomorrow.
 
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logres

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
I want to keep the stock bottom end, and install a Vortech super charger that will produce the max amount of hp, 400-450hp, the motor, and the rest of the drive train can handle.
[/div]

I've been told by a couple guys on this board that the stock engine can handle up to 450 rwhp...hopefully some of them will chime in. I'm guessing that this is 550-600 HP at the flywheel.

I myself am installing a turbo this year that will make that much on a stock motor, though I am also told that you can get more 'safe' power from a turbo rather than an SC.

Crank up that boost man!
 
M

maxmk8

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

Mike I would scale back the gears to 3.55 if I were you. You will most likely have no traction with the 4.10s and the blower. Plus with the power you will be making it doesn't make much sense to run high gears.
 
Mad1stGen

Mad1stGen

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
Mike I would scale back the gears to 3.55 if I were you. You will most likely have no traction with the 4.10s and the blower. Plus with the power you will be making it doesn't make much sense to run high gears.
[/div]

This doesn't apply to vortech blowers. High stall + as much gear as possible is the only way you can REALLY enjoy centri blowers IMHO.
 
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logres

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]Mike I would scale back the gears to 3.55 if I were you. You will most likely have no traction with the 4.10s and the blower. Plus with the power you will be making it doesn't make much sense to run high gears.[/div]This doesn't apply to vortech blowers. High stall + as much gear as possible is the only way you can REALLY enjoy centri blowers IMHO.
[/div]

I would second that. Those blowers have nothing down low.
 
M

mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

Yep, the drivetrain is set-up for a Vortech now. I had the Vortech in mind when the mods started last year. :)
 
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Neilster

Guest
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

I just happened to find this car on Cardomain - blown '97 Mark 8. Too much to list here, so follow the link. I haven't met him yet and will see what I can do to entice him to come over here. Turns out he probably lives less than 10 minutes away.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2449286
;)
 
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mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

Update on the Mark. I stopped by and talked to Steve today on how the trans build was going. The trans was in a million pieces on his work bench. He said there is expected wear for a trans with over 100k miles on it, but as far as I could tell, nothing was actually broke this time around. I had a broken 1-2 spring and a bad accumulator piston the last time he had the trans out to install the PI TC and shift mods.

He said that the tail shaft is going to be replaced, and showed me a possible cause of my vibration under acceleration at interstate speed since I had the 410 gears installed, even with my Dynotech metal matrix drive shaft.

The tail shaft bushing wear pattern indicates that only half the bushing had contact with the drive shaft. He has told me before, that I do not need the forced lube mod, but I am going to talk to him again about it. This vibration happened directly after Scott installed the 410's, as I noticed it on interstate drive home after the install.

Somehow after the gear install and the tc/trans work, whatever "play" was in the tail shaft and rear end after all those miles that suppressed the vibration, must have been tightened, and in turn exploited the vibration once again.

I do not suspect that the 410's caused the uneven wear, because this bushing had over 50k miles of vibration with the stock drive shaft before I had the Dynotech MMDS installed. The vibes were gone the day I had the MMDS installed.

There are some trans parts that have rounded corners, that should have sharp 90* angles, and a bunch of other parts that he has to inspect and decide what needs to be replaced.

He said that at the hp level he is building this trans, there is something he can do to the plates that makes the 4-2 shift feel like B A M!!! A VERY hard shift. He has done this to his Mustang race car, and regrets doing it. With that said, I told him not to do it.

The TC is on it's way back to PI, and will be re-stalled between 3600 and 3800 rpm. Trans should be all done sometime next week.

For the super charger portion, I am still working on who is going to do the install, and what kind of FI will be used. If I can't make a deal here in Atlanta, the Mark will be on a road trip to Florida asap. :)
 
46callaway

46callaway

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

Have you decided on what blower to use yet? Ask your tranny guy how your stock torque converter looks after revving it to 7K...
 
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mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

That is a complicated question as to what type of blower to use. I have been back and forth between the KB and Vortech, and I think it will come down to what the person doing the install want's to do. I really do not lean towards one or the other.

I will say that if I do not make a deal very soon with someone here in Atlanta, there will be a Vortech with a air to air installed by Dennis in Florida within the next couple weeks. Steve is not going to install the trans cooler until all this stuff is decided, and done.

I have found many people that are willing to talk about this stuff all day long, but will not step up to the plate and get it done. Mostly because there is not a complete kit for the Mark, and there is some minor fab work that needs to be done.

Not going on a rant about it, and I am not really bothered, but I have tried to steer business to some people, and this build might be more than what they can chew right now.

This is what happens when you "network" and have your car worked on by a bunch of great wrenches :)

The stock converter has been long gone since last year, but I will ask Steve how the PI held-up. I will also ask him if that trans snap ring was in place or not. BTW, he will not be using snap rings on the built trans, but some other type of fastener that will not expand and pop off under high rpm's like the snap ring does.
 
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mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

Update on the Mark... I just need to make it offical, but it looks like both Aric, and Big Scott - (Dr. FrankenCougie on TCCoA), are going to do the SC build on my Mark }( . Still, more talking needs to be done, like what FI will be used, but I think we can iron everything out very soon.

Plan is to start ordering stuff once decided how to do the build, and then hand the keys over to them when the parts arrive :) .
 
M

mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

Aric called yesterday, and is working on a couple ideas regarding the build. One is, Vortech or Paxton, second is water to air or air to air. He also said Big Scott is looking into something too.

I have seen a couple cars with the 99 Cobra Vortech SC with water to air aftercooler, and it looks nice. But that is all I know. Anyone care to comment about the pros and cons?

Also, not too many people talk about intercooler and aftercoolers installed on their Marks, but from all the reading I have done beyond the Mark VIII community, water to air aftercoolers seem to be the way to go now. Any opinions on this?

Steve should be calling me soon to tell me he is done with the trans work, so I need to get the ball rolling again :)
 
M

mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

I spoke to Steve a few minutes ago, and the trans is built and ready to install. Just waiting for the TC to be shipped back from PI. He went with a 3600 stall this time.

I had a little Q&A with him regarding the trans build, and he said that he replaced just about everything, including the transmission mounts. A couple of points made were the overdrive band and steels had burns, rounding of some sharp corners, and the torque converter anti-drainback on the valve body was not working.

He replaced the valve body with a 1999 4R70W valve body. I did not ask him what car it is actually for, but he did say it is much better than the 1998 Mark VIII valve body.

He said that it is going to be much different shifting than with the stock trans, and is good to 500rwhp. He said I will need to have Aric tune the trans again, as the trans fluid flow and new 3600 stall are really going make the car run like a pig until the super charger is installed.
 
M

mlschultz

Registered
RE: 98 Mark SC Build

LOL Jeremi :) I hear that. They move a little slower here in the south. I was ready since last fall after SSHS6. How about I fly you down here for a couple weeks and get it done ;)
 
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