Best $2500 in performance mods

[eric n]

Since I've had recent troubles with JIM BURKE FORD keeping their promises concerning my SHELBY, I'm considering just buying an 05/06 and putting some nice mods on it.

Question is if you were going to put $2500.00 into mods (including labor) what would be the best performance mods that would be

A) Smog legal in CA
B) Reliable

I was thinking of starting with lowering springs, 410 gears, diablo sport predator, cai, cat back......

What do you guys think of this as a start to having a spiffy little pony with reasonable street spunk. Further what do you think/know from experience these mods would run me?

I'm considering upping the budget and having grc or some shop install a blower running modest boost to see what 400 rwhp feels like in this thing, but I'm some concerned with the piston/ring set up that many are making noise about. DON'T WANT A REBUILD anytime soon.

 

[2L8IWON]

Eric,
I don't see how your dealership is having problems keeping promises on the Shelby since there is no info out on them yet and no program established by FORD yet to reserving such a car.

Anywho, I am going through the same situation right now. I think that I'm gonna keep this car n/a after talking with the boys at Blow By Racing and because I don't want 2 blower cars. BBR expects to be at almost 400rwhp with some simple mods; CAI, LT Headers, Cams, P&P Heads. They said that the 05 reacts very well to mods.

I have debated on the blower for a while, but for the money you are going to spend on one you could damn near build a complete n/a car almost including wheels.

good luck on whatever you choose to do, but I think that the n/a route is something to look at, imagine pulling up to a light with an 05 just loping put and everyone staring.

Good Luck
- Jess

 

[bigcat]

Eric,
I don't see how your dealership is having problems keeping promises on the Shelby since there is no info out on them yet and no program established by FORD yet to reserving such a car.

Anywho, I am going through the same situation right now. I think that I'm gonna keep this car n/a after talking with the boys at Blow By Racing and because I don't want 2 blower cars. BBR expects to be at almost 400rwhp with some simple mods; CAI, LT Headers, Cams, P&P Heads. They said that the 05 reacts very well to mods.

I have debated on the blower for a while, but for the money you are going to spend on one you could damn near build a complete n/a car almost including wheels.

good luck on whatever you choose to do, but I think that the n/a route is something to look at, imagine pulling up to a light with an 05 just loping put and everyone staring.

Good Luck
- Jess

yeah, but BBR has been talking about those cams for months. "dyno in a few days", "dyno next week" "waiting for SCT or Diablo", excuses, excuses, excuses. NO PRODUCT!!!

 

[eric n]

Eric,
I don't see how your dealership is having problems keeping promises on the Shelby since there is no info out on them yet and no program established by FORD yet to reserving such a car.


Good Luck
- Jess

Hey Jess,

Well Ford has no program, but my dealership had no problem accepting a deposit (right after the NY auto show)and promising me the first one to come to town at msrp. Recently they called, returned my check and told me there is not going to be a list.

As per thrill of getting 400 hp out of a na 05 stang, gotta agree that it sounds cool as hell. I'm inclined to agree with you about how fun that would be. Still until cam, heads, more aggressive induction... become available. I'm still interested in how those educated by experience would spend their first 2.5k in performance mods.

Thanks for the input.

 

[scrming]

Since I've had recent troubles with JIM BURKE FORD keeping their promises concerning my SHELBY, I'm considering just buying an 05/06 and putting some nice mods on it.

Question is if you were going to put $2500.00 into mods (including labor) what would be the best performance mods that would be

A) Smog legal in CA
B) Reliable

I was thinking of starting with lowering springs, 410 gears, diablo sport predator, cai, cat back......

What do you guys think of this as a start to having a spiffy little pony with reasonable street spunk. Further what do you think/know from experience these mods would run me?

I'm considering upping the budget and having grc or some shop install a blower running modest boost to see what 400 rwhp feels like in this thing, but I'm some concerned with the piston/ring set up that many are making noise about. DON'T WANT A REBUILD anytime soon.

Lidio from Alternative Auto is running a Vortech blower and putting down about 400RWHP... He takes it to the track regularly...

http://www.alternativeauto.com/waterbox/waterbox_main.html#05gtupdate

Couple of weeks ago he ran an 11.99@111MPH... (fixed a typo...)

AFAIK, he has done nothing to the internals and his motor is running just fine....

 

[mk2001c]

Since I've had recent troubles with JIM BURKE FORD keeping their promises concerning my SHELBY, I'm considering just buying an 05/06 and putting some nice mods on it.

Question is if you were going to put $2500.00 into mods (including labor) what would be the best performance mods that would be

A) Smog legal in CA
B) Reliable

I was thinking of starting with lowering springs, 410 gears, diablo sport predator, cai, cat back......

What do you guys think of this as a start to having a spiffy little pony with reasonable street spunk. Further what do you think/know from experience these mods would run me?

I'm considering upping the budget and having grc or some shop install a blower running modest boost to see what 400 rwhp feels like in this thing, but I'm some concerned with the piston/ring set up that many are making noise about. DON'T WANT A REBUILD anytime soon.

So far, it sounds like a CAI and tune are the best bang for the buck. Since the '05 uses 87 octane and has VVT, a good tune should produce noticable results. Beyond that, the gains are hard to find without getting expensive. The '05 is well optimized from the factory. The standard bolts ons (headers, exhaust, pullies) have shown minimal gains. If you look at a horsepower/dollar ratio, the blowers are the best deal. Saleen has a blower that only puts out 4 psi and is good for 100 hp if you are concerned (understandably) about long term reliability.

 

[2L8IWON]

Don't forget charge motion plates. They are worth around 17rwhp with a good tune. But so far you are correct, CAI, pullies and Charge motion plates and you should be at or over 300rwhp.

Exhaust has shown minimal PEAK gains, but does help across the band. THe best thing about the exhaust is the sound.

 

[eric n]

I understand that sound is all I would get out of a cat back, but sound is worth a few bucks...

 

[mustangman70]

5.0 did an article where they spent 2500 and had the thing running low to mid 12's, i think it envloved 6 bolt on's

Ill try and dig it up for you but i think they went liek this

CAI
Performance CHIP
Diablo tune of some sort
Slicks
exhaust
Gears

 

[Edbert]

Exhaust has shown minimal PEAK gains, but does help across the band. THe best thing about the exhaust is the sound.

I think you got that backwards, aftermarket makers have small PEAK-HP gains with most having a loss of on the AVERAGE-HP to the stock exhaust. Torque was different, maybe that's what you meant

But like you said, these cars are pretty well optimised from the factory.

Here's the details directly form MM&FF...

Stock aft-axle exhaust
Muffler Weight 16lbs each
Idle noise 68 dbA
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 96 dbA
Max HP/Average HP 289.8 hp/231.7 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 313.8 ft-lb/282.5 ft-lb

Un-muffled
Muffler Weight 0lbs each
Idle noise 73 db
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 99 db
Max HP/Average HP 290.0 hp/227.2 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 311.2 ft-lb

Bassani
Muffler Weight 10lbs each
Idle noise 71 dbA
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 98 dbA
Max HP/Average HP 292.8 hp/226.7 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 315.2 ft-lb/287.5 ft-lb

Ford Racing
Muffler Weight 7.5 lbs each
Idle noise 71 dbA
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 96 dbA
Max HP/Average HP 292.7 hp/223.5 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 314.9 ft-lb/286.4 ft-lb

Flowmaster
Muffler Weight 16lbs each
Idle noise 72 dbA
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 97 dbA
Max HP/Average HP 292.0 hp/225.0 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 315.5 ft-lb/287.8 ft-lb

MagnaFlow
Muffler Weight 14lbs each
Idle noise 66 dbA
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 98 dbA
Max HP/Average HP 290.2 hp/222.4 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 311.8 ft-lb/285.5 ft-lb

JBA
Muffler Weight 12lbs each
Idle noise 71 dbA
Cruse noise @ 2000 rpm 98 dbA
Max HP/Average HP 289.5 hp/218.6 hp
Max TQ/Average TQ 313.0 ft-lb/276.7 ft-lb

 

[tom281]

Don't forget charge motion plates. They are worth around 17rwhp with a good tune. But so far you are correct, CAI, pullies and Charge motion plates and you should be at or over 300rwhp.

Exhaust has shown minimal PEAK gains, but does help across the band. THe best thing about the exhaust is the sound.

Sorry, I'm new here...........What are charge motion plates???

Should be picking up my '06 this weekend, and man I'm excited!!!

 

[Edbert]

CMPs are basically a butterfly valve in the intake runners that keep the mixture speed up during low RPM operation. They "get in the way" of airflow at high RPMs though. By removing them you get more powah at the loss of some low RPM driveability.

 

[tom281]

That's what I thought.........thanks for the info.

Sounds like they're not for me- I don't see how they could add power up high without loosing torque down low......... I like torque!!!

ts