Increasing power?

DKVL · Oct 18, 2008

From my understanding a 2002 Mustang GT comes stock with 260 horse power. I was wondering what is the most effective way to increase the horse power to at least 300 or more without having to put in a supercharger or NO?

What will it cost?

Also, I have been doing a lot of research on Mustangs and what do you guys mean when you guys talk about CAMS? What does it do for the mustang?

Winters98GT · Oct 18, 2008

PI swap

use the search tab, it's your friend.

98COBRA281 · Oct 18, 2008

Winters98GT said:
PI swap

use the search tab, it's your friend.

he has an 02.......

COramprat · Oct 18, 2008

Cams are the camshafts...located in the heads. Single Overhead Cam, one over each head (SOHC) are in the GT and Dual Overhead Cams (DOHC) in the Cobra. Simply put different grinds will increase lift and duration for a bump in HP. Unless you have money to burn the install is expensive unless you do it yourself. 260 HP is at teh crank so the rear wheel HP on your car is around 240. Most people give the RWHP when stating numbers. To get to 300 at the crank you can go full bolt on and might achieve what you seek.

Look in this section at the top for the stickied links. Much info on what works and what is a waste there.

98COBRA281 · Oct 18, 2008

COramprat said:
so the rear wheel HP on your car is around 240

240rwhp stock pi? i think its more like 225-230 rwhp for a stock pi......

COramprat · Oct 18, 2008

98COBRA281 said:
240rwhp stock pi? i think its more like 225-230 rwhp for a stock pi......

It was an educated guess.

To the original poster, what are your goals? You just want power on tap or do you hit the track? Straight line or twisty?

A lot of thought and planning can go into your car depending on your goals.

juecke98gt · Oct 18, 2008

2002 has pi heads guess winters doesnt know everything, but Im sure he just miss read the thread seems like he knows his stuff.

02nightmaregt · Oct 18, 2008

COramprat said:
To the original poster, what are your goals? You just want power on tap or do you hit the track? Straight line or twisty?

A lot of thought and planning can go into your car depending on your goals.

+1 that was what i was gonna say. Good thing i read the other posts first.
If you DD the car and don't really go to the track a lot than besides throwing all the go fast parts on it that you can, you should look into upping the suspension first so you'll be getting the power you already have to the ground. You'll definately want to do a gear swap.

Winters98GT · Oct 18, 2008

yep, I misread.

d98gt · Oct 18, 2008

260 horsepower at the crank is the rating, you aren't getting all of that power to the tires, however you are capable of achieving 300 to the crank if you go with alot of bolt-ons. The small horsepower gains add up, however as does the price tag when doing all of the misc. bolt on parts.

To make the car more fun to drive (not extra horsepower however) is to install some gears. Do you have an automatic or standard?

DKVL · Oct 19, 2008

First of all, thank you to all whom have responded. Yes, search button is my friend and I have come to use it more often now. Nevertheless, sometimes what I read do not really make sense to me. Sorry, but I am mustang naive....please be patient with me and thank you.

To answer some questions:

I have a manual, 5 gear transmission.

I really don't plan on taking my mustang to the tracks. I really just it so that I have the horse power when I need it. Other than that, I enjoy joy riding and great handling. I like it when I know my mustang can speed up and cut corners when I need it to do so.

I have a few more questions....

1. What is a PI?

2. When you say full bolt on, what do you mean? What does "full bolt on" entails me doing?

3. Gear swap? Which gear and what do you recommend? I have searched on this, but the numbers are foreign to me. I am assuming higher gear ratio is better, but for a 2002 mustang gt, which will I most benefit from?

4. I am planning on changing my shocks soon. I am debating on KYB or Tokico. Not sure which yet.

5. Should I even consider the Tokico D Specs or the KYB AGX Shocks at all if i don't plan on taking it to the tracks? Will the Tokico HP or the KYB GR2's be good enough?

Thank you all for much help!

~DVKL

98COBRA281 · Oct 19, 2008

DKVL said:
First of all, thank you to all whom have responded. Yes, search button is my friend and I have come to use it more often now. Nevertheless, sometimes what I read do not really make sense to me. Sorry, but I am mustang naive....please be patient with me and thank you.

To answer some questions:

I have a manual, 5 gear transmission.

I really don't plan on taking my mustang to the tracks. I really just it so that I have the horse power when I need it. Other than that, I enjoy joy riding and great handling. I like it when I know my mustang can speed up and cut corners when I need it to do so.

I have a few more questions....

1. What is a PI?

2. When you say full bolt on, what do you mean? What does "full bolt on" entails me doing?

3. Gear swap? Which gear and what do you recommend? I have searched on this, but the numbers are foreign to me. I am assuming higher gear ratio is better, but for a 2002 mustang gt, which will I most benefit from?

4. I am planning on changing my shocks soon. I am debating on KYB or Tokico. Not sure which yet.

5. Should I even consider the Tokico D Specs or the KYB AGX Shocks at all if i don't plan on taking it to the tracks? Will the Tokico HP or the KYB GR2's be good enough?

Thank you all for much help!

~DVKL

1. performance improved, you car HAS pi heads.....
2. bolt ons such as: throttle body, udp's, o/r mid pipe, ect...
3. 3:73's or 4:10's

Stark77 · Oct 19, 2008

If you're going to change the shocks - go ahead any buy the Bullit / Mach 1 handling upgrade package.

02nightmaregt · Oct 19, 2008

DKVL said:
First of all, thank you to all whom have responded. Yes, search button is my friend and I have come to use it more often now. Nevertheless, sometimes what I read do not really make sense to me. Sorry, but I am mustang naive....please be patient with me and thank you.

To answer some questions:

I have a manual, 5 gear transmission.

I really don't plan on taking my mustang to the tracks. I really just it so that I have the horse power when I need it. Other than that, I enjoy joy riding and great handling. I like it when I know my mustang can speed up and cut corners when I need it to do so.

I have a few more questions....

1. What is a PI?

2. When you say full bolt on, what do you mean? What does "full bolt on" entails me doing?

3. Gear swap? Which gear and what do you recommend? I have searched on this, but the numbers are foreign to me. I am assuming higher gear ratio is better, but for a 2002 mustang gt, which will I most benefit from?

4. I am planning on changing my shocks soon. I am debating on KYB or Tokico. Not sure which yet.

5. Should I even consider the Tokico D Specs or the KYB AGX Shocks at all if i don't plan on taking it to the tracks? Will the Tokico HP or the KYB GR2's be good enough?

Thank you all for much help!

~DVKL

ok so you want your pony to handle better. You really don't need the d-specs or agx's. Just throw on some good lowering spring(H&R,Eibach are two examples) and either tokico or KYB are good as is Koni. Bilstiens are another great company. Along with spring/shocks and struts you'll probably want caster/camber plates to ensure proper wheel alignment. I would also invest in subframe connectors. Then you can also upgrade the sway bars if you want. For rear gear you can go with either the 3.73 or 4.10. The 4.10's will give you more torque then the 3.73's but gas mileage is also worse. I have 3.73's and love them.

COramprat · Oct 19, 2008

Check my modifications in my signature below. Pretty much all the bolt-on's except underdrive pullies.

Gears and cams are not considered bolt-ons but if you are looking for a kick in the pants you could opt for 4.10 to 1 ratio gears for the rear end.

98stangv8 · Oct 19, 2008

DKVL said:
From my understanding a 2002 Mustang GT comes stock with 260 horse power. I was wondering what is the most effective way to increase the horse power to at least 300 or more without having to put in a supercharger or NO?

What will it cost?

Also, I have been doing a lot of research on Mustangs and what do you guys mean when you guys talk about CAMS? What does it do for the mustang?

Check my signature and you will see what it takes to get to 300 rwhp.

DKVL · Oct 19, 2008

ok, the gears seems to be one of the first mods that i want to do. So i am guessing higher gear ratio (4.1) would require the engine to run at a higher rpm? What are the drawbacks to that other than not being fuel efficient?

Also, since the car will be running at higher rpm, is it nosier and run not as smooth?

For the lowering springs. I have heard pros and cons about lowering my mustang. With CC plates, good shocks, will ride be rough or much smoother? I have heard lowering mustangs makes the ride very choppy. Is this true?

I am also having trouble with all the acronyms. What is a PI?

What does a subframe connector do for my mustang?

COramprat · Oct 20, 2008

First...most people will go with the higher gear ratio with 3.73's and 4.10's the most popular. If I drive like a normal person I get 21-22 MPG on the highway. I've even cut back to 65 on the Interstate when gas went up and get 24+ MPG. That is with nearly 200k miles on my car. The higher RPM isn't an issue...could be loud if you have and aftermarket exhaust and you stay in the "drone" area of the RPM band. Drone is the consistent noise when driving at a steady pace. Some like the sound, some don't.

With good shocks/struts the ride will be OK. Not as good as stock but not too rough either. If you lower the car more than 1 inch then that is where caster/camber plates come in. It allows additional room for alignment purposes and keeps the tires wearing evenly.

PI means "Performace Improved". It is a term Ford gave to a new head design in 1999 beginning in that year model Mustang (it is in other vehicles also but for comparison we will stick with the Stang). NPI means non-performance improved and is just a name the Mustang community gave the design of the heads in 4.6 engines prior to 99. Your car being an 02 you aready have the new design so you have no issues there.

Subframe connectors improve frame rigidity and a lot of guys who drag their rides will install them to decrease body flex. Most convertable have a version installed already.

GettinThere · Oct 20, 2008

COramprat said:
The higher RPM isn't an issue...could be loud if you have and aftermarket exhaust and you stay in the "drone" area of the RPM band. Drone is the consistent noise when driving at a steady pace. Some like the sound, some don't.

4.10 gears actually moved me out of the "drone zone" on the highway, an unanticipated benefit.

COramprat · Oct 20, 2008

GettinThere said:
4.10 gears actually moved me out of the "drone zone" on the highway, an unanticipated benefit.

I've noticed that when driving a friends 5.0 Stang with 3.73's. Mine isn't nearly as "droney" as his. But his sounds way awesomer.

DKVL...check the http://forums.stangnet.com/246291-modification-survey-thread.html. Has lots of good info there.

Increasing power?

DKVL

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Winters98GT

Whoop...whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop...GANGNAM STYLE!!!

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...I can take it. I think.

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