What I would like one day is to convert the GT500 into a 302 Boss, shedding some weight (lots of it), and revisiting the brakes, suspension, and tires...

 

Why not just buy a Boss and supercharge it?

 

Because then I'll have to revisit tires, brakes, suspension, etc., cause of the added power... I'd rather not mess with the engine and gearbox, just shave some weight with CF bits, and focus on the handling and braking (those should be easier fixes)...

 

But in your first comment you said

So you're talking about revisiting all that anyways, right?

I would figure if you had to revisit all that anyways, go with the Boss which is $20k cheaper, and upgrade from there. You can probably make Shelby power/performance for the same $20k. If you take the shelby and modify it, you're already starting out $20k ahead and then have to add another $10k to $15k (Total guess here on prices).

 

I need to figure out a way to put all that power to the Tarmac (cup tires?!)... More braking power, better handling, louder exhaust, and less weight... Sort of an RS GT500 hehehe

 

Scott has a point here. My car will out-perform a GT500 of the same model year range in any aspect. Buying a Boss and Supercharging it, even with doing extra work is the way to go. Mine was a stock GT Premium Manual and with all the work done and including the price of the car, its about $10K cheaper than the GT500. Mind you, I haven't touched brakes and when I do, it'll probably be $5K or less away from a GT500 price, its still cheaper than getting the GT500 and modifying.

 

Correct me if I am mistaken but the Gt500 comes with forged internals, some sort of an Inconel exhaust valve to handle the heat of the boost. The Boss, is not forged, does not have the added insurance of the Inconel exhaust valves. When you work it out in the end, with the GT500 you get more displacement and an engine already build for boost. Sure you can boost a Boss and it would probably handle low boost, but the Shelby really wakes up with a tune and intake.

 

I think it would be difficult to tune the Boss up to GT500 levels, at a lower cost, and achieve the GT500 out-of-the-box reliability... It's a bit more than just strapping a super charger to it... I'd rather get the max power the factory has to offer, and modify the rest, as I feel that would be a less complex matter...

 

I guess it's about what you want. The internals in a Boss are gonna handle low boost with no reliability problems. If you want to go higher boost or tune a boss than that's a different story, but that's a lot of power. Mine is aggressive as crap with 8.5 lbs of boost and I've never had a single problem with the supercharger on it's whole life. Maxemus has a Shelby that has life 750 which is 225 more than me and says its insane. So I guess it's about how much you want. I see the GT500 as more reliable to be modified heavily but for a simple low boost twin screw I think the stock motor is fine, IMO of course.

 

alot of car for the money, however, not my cup of tea. 1965-1970 tho are the only ones i would ever own