Hi Guys

Just looking for some sound advice on the following situation, please give a detailed response if possible with a good explanation of why.

I'm about to give my FG XR8 Boss 290 a top end freshen up (high km's engine in good condition) by a top motorsport engine builder.

Parts already installed on vehicle
Herrod Cold Air Box
Bosch Iridium Plugs
K&N Oil & Air Filters

Parts ready for Install
Pacemaker Ceramic Coated Headers
Full Exhaust - Pacemaker V8 Ute Race Spec
Melling Oil Pump
Ford Racing Timing Chain Kit

Questions
What other parts do replace at this stage?
Underdrive kit? which one? Part #?
Worth Pulling the heads and honing the bores?
Do i up the compression? I only drive 98 Octane
Cylinder Head Porting required?
Intake Manifold porting required?
Helix spacer?
Valves / Springs / Retainers / Cams, any good value mods available
Injector Upgrade / Cleaning?
Who can tune this beast in Melbourne?

Thanks in advance guys

Cheers Matt

Gday mate.
I have all bolt ons except diff gears.also have cams fitted.. its not bad but if staying N/A go with diff gears. But if you want real power just save for a blower...
I have
Underdrives
Yellaterra plenum
Dual throttle bodies
Oil pump
Exhaust
Tune
Herrod cams
Herrod airbox.

Oh also if you going full exhaust make sure you get 1 & 7/8 headers, so if you go forced induction the headers will suit.


I just need to do diff gears now...

But in my opinion going a kennebell blower straight up would of been the better option. Even though i would of still done engine mods after lol. Nature of the beast. 5.4 are a long stroke motor a suit boost over NA. Even though NA you can get some power out of them with plenty of coin. Or use daron mid sleeves and increase bore size and make it a 5.88L... again mate all coin....

Ive know a guy with a bf boss290 higher comp. Crow gtpx cams some head work made 330rwkw. Good street power. Cost unknown. Blower will make 360 to 380rwkw stock motor safely.

Thanks for the reply mate

Underdrive pully but be careful. oil pumps tends to fail.
Good flowing headers and and dual flowing exhaust. anything that makes over 300hp at the fly really opens up with a 3' system. go with the flowmaster super 40's,44,10 or one of their track mufflers. I find they have better scavenging then the straight through mufflers that came with my engine back system. she pulls hard after replacing to the super 40's. it's loud and it drones but I have low profile resonators just after the x-pipe to deal with it.
Flash tuner X4 SCT module and if you do changes you can mail order a tune to suit.
Increase your air-box volume by modding your intake tube and air-box inlet opening by making one out of fiberglass.
It's been proven you ain't gonna get much gains by using pod filters unless you use a fully seal and enclosed intake system right to the point of entry at the front of the bonnet. look up youtube on how to fab one out of fiberglass or carbon fiber. you can do all that without laying out big bucks for little gains from after market over hyped go fast pits.
You can save heaps without getting carried away.