98 Mark SC Build

RE: 98 Mark SC Build

I could always use a vacation. CE is resting in the garage before new motor goes in spring time anyway.
 
Update - Still here in Boca, and should be coming home this weekend. The decision has been made to go with the 99 Cobra Vortech with a water to air aftercooler. I am not a big fan of the battery being relocated to the trunk, but there is no getting around it.

FYI if anyone is in the market for a Vortech, there is a price increase scheduled for 2/28...

This is what the kit will kinda look like when it is installed:

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I picked up the Mark today from Steve. He was correct - I need to have the tune adjusted for the 3600 stall tc. It is a porker... :)

I am not going to mess with the tune until it goes back on the rollers with the sc installed for another dyno tune.

The transmission feels great, and shifts with great purpose and authority now :) What I noticed most of all, are the downshifts when you slow down to a stop light. The downshifting now feels similar to the upshifting - with great purpose and authority.

I spoke with Aric today, and a decision change was made regarding the aftercooler. It is now going to be a 3 core Vortech air to air aftercooler with custom made powder coated pipe. The battery is going to stay in the stock location up front :)

I am glad Aric decided to go this way with the build, as I really want the Mark to have the factory look and feel, and be reliable enough to be a daily driver with at least 400hp at the wheels :) Just waiting for parts to come in now...
 
driller said:
Plus 170 RWHP on stock motor? Or am I missing something?
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Aftercooler is good for up to 100hp alone. SC on a stock motor is usually 30-50% increase from stock hp. SC on a built motor can go 100+% from N/A hp.

Aric, the guy doing the build, is fully aware of my expectations, and will get it as close to the magic number as he can. He has not told me I am dreaming, and like everyone, he believes the stock motor is safe to 450rwhp.

Now with him changing to the air to air aftercooler, it might not be as forgiving as the water to air unit, and he might leave a extra margin of timing on the table to be safe. Who knows... I am just the driver... :)
 
I'm not saying it's impossible, maybe it's just so prohibitively expensive it's historically been improbable and that is why I haven't seen it. Most Mark VIIIs I've seen/heard with numbers like that were running on 'built' motors.

But, I understand, being a Gen2, you guys have that Gen1 envy thing goin' on and have to go all out and play leap frog. That's OK, I understand. :tongue-pink:

Problem I see is you miss all the fun along the way. It's not just the destination that's fun, it's the journey one takes to get there. :wink2-green

Put it all together and bring it to WFC!!!
 
You are correct JP, not many people are willing to drop $ 5 figures into their Mark for mods. I do not think I am missing out on much of a journey after this last session of mods I had done last year. It was alot of fun :)

But now it is time to press the fast forward button. I will be waiting for you and your gen1 at the finish line... :wink:
 
Just returned from Aric's shop. Had to drop off a check to get the ball rolling again. He is going to do a totally custom air to air aftercooler behind the bumper.

Guess he is going to put a 03 Cobra radiator and fan in to make some space.

I want all the aftercooler pipes to be powder coated black, to keep the stock look going. The compressor head unit is going to be highly polished though - bling
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Now I have to wait for the parts to get here from California, before the real fun starts... Stay tuned...
 
How big an aftercooler?

Does the Gen2 lower bumper have lower valance openings like the Gen1?

That would make it possible to have the aftercooler mounted in the lower bumper area without being behind the grille directly in front of the AC condenser/radiator, even if there would need to be modifications to the valance openings or the aftercooler.

Just a thought.
 
driller said:
How big an aftercooler?

Does the Gen2 lower bumper have lower valance openings like the Gen1?

That would make it possible to have the aftercooler mounted in the lower bumper area without being behind the grille directly in front of the AC condenser/radiator, even if there would need to be modifications to the valance openings or the aftercooler.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...


I do not know the size of the aftercooler, but yes, there is a opening below the bumper, that gen2 people usually put a transmission cooler in.

In fact, Steve was going to use that spot for the trans cooler. He has not installed the trans cooler yet, because he wanted to wait for Aric to finish the SC and aftercooler install first. Guess the trans cooler is going to have to be mounted somewhere else.
 
here is how my IC unit mounts. The fan is above the unit and blows down
 

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Looks great, Charles. If you don't mind, I am going to send your pictures to Aric to take a look at them.

I just ordered a SCP Pinion Brace, Poly Diff Bushings, and a SCP Rear Cover Brace from Super Coupe Performance, to help keep the rear diff in place a little better, and to keep wheel hop down. :)

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Mike, we pulled mine out and replaced with stockers as the pinion angle changed due to thickness of the poly's, and I found no issues with wheel hop, but certainly more beef back there couldn't hurt things.
 
Thanks for the heads-up, Charles. I have had a high speed vibration ever since Scott L. had the center section out of the car to install the 410's, even with my MMDS. I have suspected the pinion angle as the culprit, and even more so since Steve R&R the transmission again.

Steve installed a new "modified" transmission mount using parts from a Mustang since Ford no longer stocks a Mark VIII transmission mount. The vibes are still there - slight rear view mirror buzz, but not nearly as bad as before. I hope the poly bushings eliminate the buzz once and for all. :)

Steve recommends the more beef, the better, for our cars. ;)
 
Bill at SCP shipped the parts yesterday. What service :) Scott L called yesterday, and is going to install the pinion brace, poly diff bushings, and the rear cover brace in two weeks, if Aric does not have the car.

Aric called also, and said the blower and all the fuel delivery stuff is on order. The plan is, when the blower arrives, he is going to install it first, and then remove the front bumper and start to fab-up the intercooler.
 
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