a couple little tech q's

[SpitfireMk24]

so i am getting ready to get some work done on my car this summer, and I had a few questions.

first of all- my clutch. I heard from a respected opinion that stock gt clutches are less then stelar, and you will end up replacing it within no time. now my clutch works perfectly fine, except that it just doesnt bite like it used to. I used to be able to spin second and chirp third, depending on conditions, now i have to try if i want to chirp second. so i was thinking about dropping my tranny at my friends garage and installing a centerforce clutch. anyone have any experience with these? any advice on where to buy them and whatnot would be appreciated.

next is side scoops- i wanted to get the bulitt ones, but i was checking out my car today, and the scoops dont seem very accesible, unless you just pry em out. so if anyone has experience with side scoop installs, id appreciate the know how, because as of right now i have no idea how to install scoops.

third, is an intake question. I have a mac straightshot w/ 80mm maf, and I obviously didnt notice any performance gains. a buddy of mine says im not getting the full benefit of my intake unless i get a throttle body and/or plenum as well. so correct me if im wrong, but a tb and plenum is at least 500 bucks in parts, and even after i get a good tune, i dont think ill see any more power... or will i?

thanks for your help!

 

[SpitfireMk24]

... these arent exactly hard questions, are they?

 

[Dark Knight GT]

so i am getting ready to get some work done on my car this summer, and I had a few questions.

first of all- my clutch. I heard from a respected opinion that stock gt clutches are less then stelar, and you will end up replacing it within no time. now my clutch works perfectly fine, except that it just doesnt bite like it used to. I used to be able to spin second and chirp third, depending on conditions, now i have to try if i want to chirp second. so i was thinking about dropping my tranny at my friends garage and installing a centerforce clutch. anyone have any experience with these? any advice on where to buy them and whatnot would be appreciated.

next is side scoops- i wanted to get the bulitt ones, but i was checking out my car today, and the scoops dont seem very accesible, unless you just pry em out. so if anyone has experience with side scoop installs, id appreciate the know how, because as of right now i have no idea how to install scoops.

third, is an intake question. I have a mac straightshot w/ 80mm maf, and I obviously didnt notice any performance gains. a buddy of mine says im not getting the full benefit of my intake unless i get a throttle body and/or plenum as well. so correct me if im wrong, but a tb and plenum is at least 500 bucks in parts, and even after i get a good tune, i dont think ill see any more power... or will i?

thanks for your help!

The first two questions I really can't help you with. However, I think you are right and I do believe the side scoops have to be pried off, but not 100 percent sure.

As for the third question, I think I can help out there. First of all, when you say the "Mac straight shot", I take it you're reffering to one of their cold air systems, correct ? If so, then thats probably bad news as the Mac "cold air" systems are made of metal and tend to run hot. I know by experience metal cold air systems are crap. I had a BBK one on my car once but took it off and sold it. I now have the K&N FIPK system and its much better in my opinion. As for the 80mm maf, that piece really isn't needed. Anytime you put a larger MAF meter on your car than stock, you have to get it calibrated for your cars a/f ratio curve. If I'm not mistaken, aren't the MAF meters on the 04 GT's 80mm anyways ? Anyways, if not, I'm sure if you go get a tune, they can do that calibration for you there. As for the plenum and throttle body combo, yes, your friend is correct. Without changing the plenum and throttle body(namely the plenum more than the throttle body), you're not going to see maximum results of any cold air intake or MAF meter.

 

[RedBullitt]

i got ya. no the clutchs are not that great, but really, unless your are putting down some major hp, or are just going to be working around in the tranny, there is really no "need" to. I might add, it cant hurt and can make your car more enjoyable. Also, stear clear of the spec clutches, i have had one, removed it due to chatter. I have a centerforce and i love it, works great and no chatter. Not bad pedal effort, but great holding power. as to that mac intake, its mostly bling, and detrimental, heat conducting metal bling. Dont get me wrong, cai s are not much of a power adder on NA cars, but you can do better i think. I have heard good things about the JLT kit, but i have never used it. I had a mac kit, the older one and i replaced it with a demolet (densecharger) kit. they are top notch and they are plastic. They dont get nearly as hot as the metal ones. you really do not need to pick up another MAF, yet, until you get some serious power going on, however, the throttle body and plenum are definately good things to check out. I have an accufab 70 mm tb and plenum, They are awesome and i would definatley recomend them to anyone. Good stuff, pricy, but worth it especially later after more modification. ok, the side scoops are not hard to get off, but you have to be careful of your paint. You need a long, thin, flat head screw driver or something similar. Just wiggle it in under the scoop. There are 5 or so (about, been a while) maybe less black pins. If you put pressure on the release and pop them out they come loose fairly easily. (use two screwdrivers like i described) That should be about it, not a bad job really. Look into the saleen side scoops, they are really nice.

 

[streetstang03]

seems like TB/MAF/CAI is taken care of.....


sidescoops:
http://mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/scoops.htm

 

[RedBullitt]

oh, those pins in the side scoops, they are similar to the pins that hold the bumper on and grill etc. They can take a little punishment, so just find that little latch and have at them. Also, if you snap one, you should be able to get ahold of something similar at autozone, or even better the exact thing from ford dealer.

 

[SpitfireMk24]

great! thanks for all your help.

concerning the mac straight shot, i think its 80mm, maybe 85, im not sure, ill measure it next time im bored. however, i dont think that the material, and temperature of the intake piping makes a difference, as the air thats flowing through has not nearly enough time to be impacted by the temperature of the intake pipe. theres simply not enough time for the air to heat up from the metal.. and if i was really concerned about it, i would wrap the intake in radiant heat deflecting tape, so it would stay colder than a plastic one would.

 

[SpitfireMk24]

i got ya. no the clutchs are not that great, but really, unless your are putting down some major hp, or are just going to be working around in the tranny, there is really no "need" to. I might add, it cant hurt and can make your car more enjoyable. Also, stear clear of the spec clutches, i have had one, removed it due to chatter. I have a centerforce and i love it, works great and no chatter. Not bad pedal effort, but great holding power. as to that mac intake, its mostly bling, and detrimental, heat conducting metal bling. Dont get me wrong, cai s are not much of a power adder on NA cars, but you can do better i think. I have heard good things about the JLT kit, but i have never used it. I had a mac kit, the older one and i replaced it with a demolet (densecharger) kit. they are top notch and they are plastic. They dont get nearly as hot as the metal ones. you really do not need to pick up another MAF, yet, until you get some serious power going on, however, the throttle body and plenum are definately good things to check out. I have an accufab 70 mm tb and plenum, They are awesome and i would definatley recomend them to anyone. Good stuff, pricy, but worth it especially later after more modification. ok, the side scoops are not hard to get off, but you have to be careful of your paint. You need a long, thin, flat head screw driver or something similar. Just wiggle it in under the scoop. There are 5 or so (about, been a while) maybe less black pins. If you put pressure on the release and pop them out they come loose fairly easily. (use two screwdrivers like i described) That should be about it, not a bad job really. Look into the saleen side scoops, they are really nice.

thanks for the tip on the spec clutches, ive heard several people say that about them. did you feel any performance gains from your tb and plenum?

thanks again!

 

[try2catchmy99]

i got ya. no the clutchs are not that great, but really, unless your are putting down some major hp, or are just going to be working around in the tranny, there is really no "need" to. I might add, it cant hurt and can make your car more enjoyable. Also, stear clear of the spec clutches, i have had one, removed it due to chatter. I have a centerforce and i love it, works great and no chatter. Not bad pedal effort, but great holding power. .

I have a spec II and it works great and grabs hard, the chatter comes from the spec TOB which for some reason they decided to make half of it out of plastic .
What i did was use OEM TOB(all metal) from ford and doesnt make a sound.

Great grab no noise

But it looks like your getting a centerforce anyway which also is also a great clutch.

I have no faith in Cold air induction systems. Not worth the money, learned that the hard way, bought the densecharger system, good for a few horses im sure though. But it does sound bad ass like a turbo blowing off

i know alot of people swear by the tb and plenum but i dont see myself buying one anytime soon. Not enough gains

your saying the combo cost 500, i would rather buy some stage 1 cams for 500 or for alittle more some stage IIs and spring upgrade.

I know that doesent include installation but it can be done yourself.

I promise you will get some more air in the engine with the cams then that TB/plenum combo.

Just another option