3.8L Ideas and tips

ZumStang6 · Jul 15, 2007

I have a 2001 3.8L Mustang and I dream of the mods I can/will do to it.

So far I have a CAI.

Within the week I'll be putting on some MAC 1 5/8 Longtube headers to an X pipe and some Magnaflow mufflers making a tru-dual custom made by a shop locally.

I'm looking at a short shifter, throttle body, throttle body spacer, 3.73 gearing and maybe a T-Lock.

Then will be some spark plugs and spark plug wires.

Any suggestions or input on what I already have or what I should include let me know I'm dying to hear some more ideas.

Oh and for most of my ideas i usually visit www.rpmoutlet.com or www.americanmuscle.com or www.v6mustangstuff.com

raz54 · Jul 15, 2007

Most of your plans sound good but forget the TB and TB spacer. The spacer is a waste of money and won't give you any hp or tq. A larger TB won't do much either without some motor mods first, like a cam, better flowing heads, higher flowing injectors, etc, etc. You can install a intake spacer (between the plenum and lower intake) which helps low to mid range tq. The T-Lock is a great mod and will really help and if you don't mind losing a little mpg so is the gear swap. I have not used RPM Outlet but I have heard nothing but complaints about them (bad customer service).

ZumStang6 · Jul 16, 2007

I like going to them for ideas and pricing, I have yet to buy anything from them yet, I usually find what I like and then buy it somewhere else.

One thing I've ran into, Which short shifter is preferable for the T5 trans?

I've seen so many all claiming the same things but all priced differently.... any suggestions?

Hurst, Steeda, B&M ripper, Pro 5.0... ?

Oh and I'm probably going to slap on a 25% reduction crank pulley after the exhaust.

One thing on the headers... I found the Long tube and I've heard they produce just as good sound and improve torque..... but I asked the admin on Macperformance and he said it isnt emissions legal?

Is shorty the only way to go?... How much performance would I be sacrificing if any?

(btw for emissions info I live in Washington state.)

5-SpeedStallion · Jul 16, 2007

ZumStang6 said:
I like going to them for ideas and pricing, I have yet to buy anything from them yet, I usually find what I like and then buy it somewhere else.

One thing I've ran into, Which short shifter is preferable for the T5 trans?

I've seen so many all claiming the same things but all priced differently.... any suggestions?

Hurst, Steeda, B&M ripper, Pro 5.0... ?

Oh and I'm probably going to slap on a 25% reduction crank pulley after the exhaust.

One thing on the headers... I found the Long tube and I've heard they produce just as good sound and improve torque..... but I asked the admin on Macperformance and he said it isnt emissions legal?

Is shorty the only way to go?... How much performance would I be sacrificing if any?

(btw for emissions info I live in Washington state.)

I don't know anything about emissions, but I'd say save your money to go towards something like gears/t-loc or something else rather than spend money on the shorty headers. The gains from shorties are generally pretty minimal.

Also, with regard to shifters, the majority of Mustang owners swear by the Steeda Tri-Ax or the MGW. I've got the Tri-Ax on both of my T5's, and they're cheap to pick up used, so that's what I've used. A lot of people who have switched to the MGW's seem to like them even more, but you tend to pay more for them. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

ZumStang6 · Jul 16, 2007

Thanks I've heard the Tri Ax is a decent shifter.

And I'm putting on the shorties because I have a minor exhaust leak and I honestly hate the stock exhaust manifolds with a passion so when i put in the tru dual with an X and magnaflow mufflers the shop'll slap on the shorty headers to solve the problem.

The only thing I hate more than that exhaust manifold is the interior of my mustang...

Mainly the off-charcoaly grey dash and console.

Any way to change that to a black so I could buy one of those trim kits in a true RED?

I LOVE a black/red stang... 2nd best to a Yellow and black in my opinion.

Anyways off topic, ... I had my eye on a red/black seat kit but it looks clumsy next to the stock dash..

Any way I can change the interior to be black?

I've seen black/red interiors on 2000 era show-stangs and realize thats super $$$ but figured someone has to know how to do it for minimal $

narbawlz · Jul 17, 2007

A buddy and I went over to the Nopi Nationals over in Maryland back in May. There were some 2003-2004 Mustangs over there for the car show. I checked out the mods that they did on the interior of the Mustangs and the audio mods and such. The ash actually looks pretty good with most the inserts painted to your desired color. I came home after that and painted all my inserts the same as the outside color of my car and it looks damn good. Im actually thinking of painting the rest of the dash and other parts a pearl white color to match the red. I have a 2004 v6 Mustang 3.9L 40th Anniversary. Ive added on a K & N Cold Air Intake and a Flowmaster Dual Exhaust. Like alot of people Im new to the whole "Modding" Scene. Any help on what I can do next will be great to know. Ive been thinking of the 4.10 gears and such. Any ideas for me?

Lankolf · Jul 25, 2007

I'll try to get pictures of my custom interior. I did it myself with fabric dyes, which only cost about $8 a can, so in the end I only spent about 200 dollars and labor to make my interior black and silver. I really like my interior.

slvr2001 · Jul 27, 2007

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