Drivetrain Basic Mod Questions

forget those plugs instead invest in a MSD..13 degrees would be ok but not more...the stock paper filter flows more when new than the k/n...i'm shocked that the air silencer is still on it....i would get a better shift kit...no tune is required...

Don't waste your money on gimmick plugs and ignition. Stick with Autolite coppers. Taylor makes great wires but in general you will do better just to buy the stock replacement FOMOCO cap and rotor. Your stock coil, TFI, and ignition are better than 99% of the aftermarket and are good well into 400hp. You'll need to check for pinging with only 89 octane. The k&n is an easy and proven pickup of 5 hp. Forget any tune. You don't need it.

The first thing you should do are some of the cheap and easy upgrades that will free up HP- 3G alternator and E fan, remove the silencer, 70 MM MAF from a 94-95 GT, 65 MM TB from an Explorer. Next I would say gears, then exhaust. Then look at the AOD. Putting a shift kit or VB in with the stock gears is backwards IMO.

A good shift kit will actually help your AOD in that it will firm up the shifts and stop slippage between gears. Just know the AOD stock is already a weak transmission, and once you start doing the 1-d-1 shuffle or adding any stress to it, the OD band and other parts will go. Your best bet is to first add an auxiliary trans cooler as heat is the worst enemy of a trans. If you can save up, it would be better to wait until you can buy a new valve body that will make your transmission perform much better, and keeps constant pressure on the valve body so you don't have to rely on the TV cable. Dan at Silverfox is a great guy who can tell you exactly which way to go, as it will depend on your gears, stall speed and other variables as to how to modify your transmission for optimal performance and longevity.

^^^^what mike said, ....and for pete sake STAY AWAY from MSD, luckily my msd coil hasn't went out yet. google why msd sucks, ramped failers EVERYWHERE!!!

I've been running a mallory TFI stocker for a while with no issues. MSD coil tho.

I like mallorys cap and rotor design. Looks a lot more bulletproof than the stock distributor.

jdemolet said:

is the motorcraft filter just as good as the k&N

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For the oil., FL1A is about as good as you can get. I've been running them for decades. WIX another good choice. Avoid Fram. You'd be surprised if you cut each open and see what is inside. Huge difference in the filter material and quality.

For the air filter, a good paper filter will flow just about as well as a K&N and is a lot cheaper. You will maybe see 5 hp more with the K&N. I've run them and they are a good filter and will last forerever, but you have to be careful not to over oil them or it will mess with your MAF.

can't beat an FL1a

Mustang5L5 said:

You don't need an aftermarket ignition on a stock car.

OEM copper plugs, quality wires cap and rotor and call it a day. Yank the silencer, put a drop in k&n, clean the mAF and replace the fuel filter and that's a good chunk of routine maintainence done. Replace the PVC, clean the EGR, perform the idle reset procedure.

You can bump the timing to 13 degrees but if you get detonation, either run 93 octane or go back to 10.

After all this run the codes, write down what you get, delete the codes, drive a bit and rerun them again. If you have codes the 2nd time...troubleshoot those.

Before you modify, make sure your engine is running 100%

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Very sound advice. Too many times people throw money at "performance" parts that are not needed and then are disapointed when there are no discernable benefits over quality stock repacement parts. Your stock ignition system is solid and good for well into 400hp. Autolite copper plugs, FOMOCO cap & rotor, good wires lke Taylor, Wix fuel and air filter, new PCV valve and call it a day.