Hi All! New Pony Owner! First-Time Poster... Need Some Suggestions.

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

227

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Sammamish, WA

Aug 6, 2004

#1

• Aug 6, 2004

• #1

Hi Gang,
Nice to stumble across these boards--looks like I fell into the right place regarding Mustang-talk.

After nearly 20-years of wanting a Mustang, my wife finally gave in and let me get one. A 2002 GT--which you can see in the picture I have in my sig. Basically, I've owned it for a few months now, and pretty much nailed the cosmetics to my liking. I'm not planning to do anything more in the looks department, however, I'm now fighting the urge / NEED for more horsepower. (Needless to say, it's a fight I don't really want to win.) LOL

So, there you have it in a nutshell. I'm a complete newbie, and have come to you guys / gals for help. I need to start upgrading the performance on my ponycar and have no idea where to begin. My goal is to get around 300 - 325hp and hopefully this will satisfy me.

Questions (and I welcome differing opinions) I have:

1.) What should I do first?
2.) What are the costs associated? (It is a concern as my wife wasn't too happy with all of the stuff I've been getting in the mail the past couple of months.)
3.) What manufacturers do I need to go after?

I'm into the old-school throaty sounding Stangs, with a look to match, if that helps at all. I just would like to get some more horses under the hood, with good-quality parts, on a decent budget, spanning over the next few months / years.

Thanks again, and apologize for being verbose. - Mega

 

DBMSTNG

I fantasize about it being BIG!

Founding Member

Apr 23, 2002

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not quite here

Aug 6, 2004

#2

• Aug 6, 2004

• #2

Mega-Man said:

I'm not planning to do anything more in the looks department, however, I'm now fighting the urge / NEED for more horsepower. (Needless to say, it's a fight I don't really want to win.) LOL

So, there you have it in a nutshell. I'm a complete newbie, and have come to you guys / gals for help. I need to start upgrading the performance on my ponycar and have no idea where to begin. My goal is to get around 300 - 325hp and hopefully this will satisfy me.

Click to expand...

i once said the same thing. take a look at the link in my sig. once it starts, it's very very hard to stop.

Mega-Man said:

1.) What should I do first?

Click to expand...

i suggest you start with the exhaust, then go from there.

Mega-Man said:

2.) What are the costs associated? (It is a concern as my wife wasn't too happy with all of the stuff I've been getting in the mail the past couple of months.)

Click to expand...

depends on what type of exhaust you want. anywhere from $1000 to $1600 for a full exhaust. go to www.mustangexhaust.com to hear sound clips of different exhaust combos.

Mega-Man said:

3.) What manufacturers do I need to go after?

Click to expand...

Magnaflow, SLP, Flowmaster. whatever you like.

get the exhaust, then come back and ask what to do next. take it one step at a time.

 

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

227

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0

Sammamish, WA

Aug 6, 2004

#3

• Aug 6, 2004

• #3

LOL Will do--and good advice! Thanks much for the help as it's always nice to know others have been where you are now. I'll start with the exhaust. Would you recommend having it professionally installed? I have no access to a lift, ramps, and my driveway is a small hill.. I'm also not super confident in my mechanical skills, yet. (I guess I just answered my own question there, huh?) - Mega

 

twogts4us

15 Year Member

Apr 1, 2004

4,188

12

79

Dunedin, FL

Aug 6, 2004

#4

• Aug 6, 2004

• #4

Nice ride - love the old school rear window louvers. Fav first mods are cat back, shifter, gears, mid pipe. These have good bang for the buck. For gears, besides their cost and the labor to have them installed (typically about $425 total), you'll need a speed cal, a chip, or a handheld computer, to correct the speedo.
Best of Luck and Welcome to StangNet!!!

 

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

227

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Sammamish, WA

Aug 6, 2004

#5

• Aug 6, 2004

• #5

Thanks much! Yup, I absolutely love the louvers--took me a while to find a place who made / had'em. Installing wasn't too fun, but definitely worth it.

Thanks again, nice to be aboard and thanks for the info! - Mega

 

Cobra Jay

Member

Apr 7, 2004

889

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16

Motor City

Aug 6, 2004

#6

• Aug 6, 2004

• #6

Gears! 4.10's or 4.30's if you don't plan on putting a S/C on your car. 4.10's if you do any long distance highway driving. 3.73's if you do plan on installing a S/C. Welcome aboard and enjoy your new toy.

 

P

PEWTERPONY

Founding Member

May 22, 2002

829

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NE Atlanta

Aug 6, 2004

#7

• Aug 6, 2004

• #7

GREAT COLOR :d

UM......Get rid of those altezzas. I'm totally digging the luvers but the tezzas gota go. They look like krap with that color. If you really got have tezzas, get the carbon fiber trim ones. Those tezzas take the tuff....outa mustang

WELCOME

 

B

brando

New Member

Sep 22, 2003

28

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0

Alabama

Aug 6, 2004

#8

• Aug 6, 2004

• #8

Free up the air intake and the exhaust (lose the restrictive stock H-pipe), then gears and pullies.

 

scalder

Member

Aug 1, 2003

375

0

16

Dallas/Plano TX

Aug 6, 2004

#9

• Aug 6, 2004

• #9

Can I say it first this time???

DON'T FEAR THE GEAR!

Okay sorry...had to do it!

Whew! Now it's outta my system...

 

KAILUAZ

New Member

Jul 15, 2004

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St Pete, FL via Kailua, HI

Aug 6, 2004

#10

• Aug 6, 2004

• #10

Nice Stang!! Welcome to the madness!!

 

Kraw

Nail On The Head El Moderatoro

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

0

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ATL via MSY via MLU via Pitkin, La

Aug 6, 2004

#11

• Aug 6, 2004

• #11

nice
I encourage you to use the search feature, there's TONS of useful information here

like the louv's

 

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

227

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0

Sammamish, WA

Aug 7, 2004

#12

• Aug 7, 2004

• #12

Thanks all! I appreciate the suggestions--it gives me a good start.

Quick question, "tezzas" & "S/C", what are they? It's going to take me a couple of weeks to catch up on all of the lingo. LOL - Mega

 

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

227

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0

Sammamish, WA

Aug 7, 2004

#13

• Aug 7, 2004

• #13

PewterPony,
Are "tezzas" the taillights by chance? I just got them not too long ago and thought they were classy / matched the other chrome on the back-end. I'll wait to hear back if this is what you were referring to. - Mega

 

Ghostface

Member

Jan 11, 2004

226

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17

Aug 7, 2004

#14

• Aug 7, 2004

• #14

tezzas are altezza lights as in those taillights that you have right now. S/C is supercharger. I would totally agree that the altezzas doesn't flow with your car especially with the window louvers, its like a clash between old-school and ghetto-school. I'd say if you want something different, get NiteShades and darken up the stock rear red lights. That would flow well imo.

 

C

CPB00GT

Founding Member

Dec 3, 2001

531

1

18

Florida

Aug 7, 2004

#15

• Aug 7, 2004

• #15

FMS gears (410's) and a quality exhaust first. They both will make you smile. Lose the tailights.

 

streetstang03

unModerator

Dec 27, 2003

0

1

0

the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Aug 7, 2004

#16

• Aug 7, 2004

• #16

Do you plan on adding a supercharger or staying all motor?? Full exhaust (long-tube headers, xpipe, cat-back), cams, under drive pullies, plenum, throttle body, K&N filter, Steeda timing adjuster etc.. should get you to around ~310 ish horsepower.

If you plan on adding a supercharger, just do gears (3.73s), exhaust, and shifter for now. Then, save for a Kenne Bell supercharger. Maybe some suspension work (lowering springs, upper/lower control arms, subframes, shocks/struts) while saving for the blower to help get the power to the ground once the blower goes on.

 

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

227

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0

Sammamish, WA

Aug 7, 2004

#17

• Aug 7, 2004

• #17

Wow, O.K., I'll see if I can return the taillights. The right one was leaking (doubling as a bathtub) and had to get new ones. So, I was trying something different--didn't realize they were "ghetto cool." LOL New term for me.

At any rate, I'd like to stay all-motor with the upgrades. I'm already sold on people's opinions of starting with the exhaust first, then go from there. I didn't even consider changing the gears, so that's now on my wish-list. Any pointers of where to go / search for the best deal? This is a daily driver for me, and not many freeway miles.

Thanks again folks! - Mega

 

GTsleeper

New Member

Nov 26, 2003

179

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0

St.Louis, Missouri

Aug 7, 2004

#18

• Aug 7, 2004

• #18

Not sure on how you can drive but definently GEARS. Gears is probably the biggest improvement for the first mod arranging around $400-$500 including installement. Lose the shifter and pick up a shortie you will need that exspecially if you get 4:10's. I recommend steeda's tri-ax but expect a little noise w/those no big deal. The price $179 but look around on e-bay. And go with speed cal at first its only $100 and saves room to spend money on other mods. Next work on the exhaust, X-Pipe, or H-Pipe with a set of mufflers. Definently wait until you have enough money to get the exhaust and mufflers all in one. Headers can wait since they are pricey. Exhausts vary so shop around if you want the best bang for the buck check out mustangtuning.com there x-pipe is a low price for a good sound. Not sure on quality. And like DBMSTNG said take one step at a time, a lot of people here don't mind giving advice. Also read articles even ones on the web modulardepot has great articles with good ideas.

 

GTsleeper

New Member

Nov 26, 2003

179

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0

St.Louis, Missouri

Aug 7, 2004

#19

• Aug 7, 2004

• #19

Oh yeah before I forget do not make the same mistake I made and get a 85mm MAF or higher stay with the stock air box (air filter). I am taking mine off and putting back on the stock box. Idles high and messed up the air fuel ratio. Until I s/c (supercharge) I don't need it.

 

S

Screaminyellow7

New Member

Jun 13, 2004

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Aug 7, 2004

#20

• Aug 7, 2004

• #20

I would check out www.50resto.com thats where i bought my Bassani O/R x-pipe, and i thought i got a pretty good deal. I just went to a custom exhaust place and they had stage 2 flowmasters there. But def wait till you get it all at once, i put the x-pipe on and it didn't make a difference with stock muffler, then i put on the flowmasters and wow. Lets just say i just got a ticket last week for my exhaust, cop was 1/4 mile away.