Steps to go from Stock 2 Stacked?

[JerryP2375]

I just bought my stock '01 GT A/T about 2 months ago & am looking to increase its performance. However, I am on a budget so I need to start slow (No blower...YET). Aside from the obvious (CAI & exhaust), what should be my next moves? I am fairly mechanically inclined & with instructions for more difficult projects can do bolt-ons, plug-ins & such myself. Tuning & timing, I'll leave for the pros later. Should I be looking at throwing in a new TB, changing out the gears, etc.? Keep in mind I don't plan on taking her to the track anytime soon.

Thanks for any input...

 

[Tim2002GT]

If you are for sure going to supercharge it, then I would go with a set of 3.73 gears. If no forced induction is in the future plans, 4.10's would be even better than the 3.73's.

IMO, gears are the best bang for the buck mod you can do to these cars. It should cost anywhere from $300-600 for parts and labor. Call around and find a good reputable shop that isn't going to rape you on the labor costs.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

CAI is worthless. get gears and a programmer first

 

[Scorcher2005]

K&N air filter, Tranny cooler, 3.73s, SCT tuner, mid pipe + cat back, plenum and throttle body...mostly in that order.

 

[04YELLOWGT]

As for gears it depends what kind of blower your going to put on. If you do a centri go 4.10s if you do a roots/twinscrew go 3.73s. Full exhaust helps the car out NA and even more so with a blower. I couldn't belive how much just the headers helped my car out. From there TB/Plenum and then just start saving up for a built motor youll want/need one sooner or later.

 

[JerryP2375]

how's the traction with 4.10s?

 

[BurningRubber]

So/so for me, even with 315/35/17 Sumitumos out back. 1st is a waste IF you dont launch right, 2nd can be spun to redline on a hard quick shift.

A buddy of mine has 4.10's on his Vortech GT and loves it.

 

[Tim2002GT]

Traction isn't really that bad with a good set of tires. The aforementioned Sumitumo's are not a good performance tire. I had Fuzion ZRI's before I bought the Nitto DR's and they were pretty tacky. If you really want to have fun tho, buy the Nitto drag radials. They are awesome on the street! 1st gear will hardly spin at all if I leave a light just off idle.

 

[04YELLOWGT]

Traction wasnt that bad with them when the car was other wise stock. The more mods I added the worst traction got even with the Nitto DRs. Now with all the mods I have I can spin my MT DRs at a 40mph roll and when I had my Nittos on before my last set of mods it would spin the tires at a 65 mph roll. I think that had more to do with the supercharger though. LOL

 

[BigDave06]

Are DR's safe on the street ?

 

[Tim2002GT]

Are DR's safe on the street ?

I drive about 45 miles a day on them, rain or shine. They actually have better grip than my front tires in the rain. However, I don't suggest you go speeding around in the rain on any tires!

 

[JerryP2375]

Tim2002GT...A/T or Manual?...Nice color choice by the way. Everytime my 5yr old sees your sig, he thinks its my car.

Anyway, here is what I am looking for. I don't think I will ever take her out to the track. I just wanna satisfy my own needs for performance & blow the doors off that little punk in the dropped import that'll pull up beside you at a light with his girlfriend in the passenger seat & rev his T/C lawn mower, that sounds like a trombone or tuba (God, I hate those PITA's).

I want her to rumble & I love the old school sound from the exhausts of the late 60's, early 70's (I like the new cherrybomb sound...I know, its not for everyone). I want her fast enough to beat stock & NA american muscle & modded imports that come across my path. Funny the more I talk about it, the more I think I want her blown with 3.73s & a cherrybomb catback out back. Performance of today, look & sound of yesteryear...thats my goal!

 

[Tim2002GT]

Mine is a manual. If you don't have any future plans of supercharging your car, then by all means go with the 4.10's. Just use a good sticky tire and you won't spin too bad! @ 70mph I am running just under 2400rpm with 275/45/17 tire size.

 

[the98stang]

I want her to rumble & I love the old school sound from the exhausts of the late 60's, early 70's (I like the new cherrybomb sound...I know, its not for everyone). I want her fast enough to beat stock & NA american muscle & modded imports that come across my path. Funny the more I talk about it, the more I think I want her blown with 3.73s & a cherrybomb catback out back. Performance of today, look & sound of yesteryear...thats my goal!

Then you want a H pipe, and cam's. Of course cam's wouldn't be inexpensive. Just hold off on all of the ****ty bolt ons, and save up for the blower. I wish I had done that right off the bat!!

 

[cooper]

I got real nice power gains with frpp 70mm tb ,c-n-l plenum, ud pullies , mac pro chamber pipe , and a bbk cai . It put bout 279 hp on murillos dyno (288 after tune) factory freak i guess? I felt the most from tb- plenum combo.

 

[RHstang02]

4.10s with the automatic... no doubt, then midpipe/catback combo and from there just save for a blower