Initial Mods - Opinions Wanted!

[Rush1204]

Hey everyone. I recently purchased a 2008 GT, and I'm itching to get started. This is my first mustang, and I've been trying to learn about the different components and brands on the fly. The following is a list of the mods I've decided on, and I'd love your opinion with regard to the choices I've made, important initial mods you think I may be missing, etc.

Exhaust
Here, I'm going to go with a Borla Stinger aggressive catback exhaust system with matching X-pipe. I'm primarily concerned with an decent increase of sound, the deep throaty tone, performance, and quality. It seems like this combination will be able to satisfy all of those variables. Plus, from what I've heard, it's important to take care of the entire system if you're looking at forced induction. I also looked at Corsa, but it's somewhere around $700 for just the axelback. A little too rich for my blood.

CAI/Tuner
C&L CAI with Predator tuner. It seems like everyone is on the same page with these, and they're pretty much a standard choice.

Supercharger
Here, I definitely need some help . I've heard some great things about Kenne Bell, Edelbrock, Vortech, Paxton, etc. Honestly, I'm not sure whether a roots or centrifugal style supercharger would be more fitting. It's not a daily driver, though, and I'm planning on making many more performance upgrades in the future.

Aesthetics
I love the look of Cervini's C-series, especially the power-bulge hood, duckwing spoiler, and window panels. Also billet grills of some sort.

Interior
Short-throw shifter of some sort. Not sure the make. Thoughts?

Again, I'd appreciate any and all opinions. Gears? Cams? Cylinder heads? Help!

Also, I live in King of Prussia, PA (just outside of Philadelphia) and I'm looking for a shop that would help with installation, advice, etc. Any ideas on how to go about finding a decent one?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[garbledwords]

Before the SC, I would upgrade the suspension. With the extra power from a SC, you definitely want to get it to the road and have the car handle with it.

 

[o0Dan0o]

If you're planning on going FI, there is only one supercharger I know of where a CAI may fit, the Saleen. Everything else has a different TB position, so the C&L will be worthless to you.

Exhaust looks fine. You could do longtubes as well, they have shown some very good gains on FI cars. ARH and Kooks are considered the best, but are also the most expensive.

For the FI, you have to decide between turbo, centrifugal and twin screw (or roots, but thats either the Roushcharger or the Roush TVS unit). My personal preference is a good TS blower (KB, Saleen, Whipple, Magnacharger, Eddlebrock or Techco), more fun to drive with all the low end torque! Keep in mind that unless you get a built short block you might pop an engine, I've heard of people running as low as 450 RWHP blowing a rod out the side of their blocks.

I have no opinion on exterior mods, unless they make the car go faster

MGW short throw is commonly considered the best.
Dan

EDIT: Like garbledwords said. Tires and LCAs would be very helpful if you go FI, and you could do much more in the way of suspension.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

Every supercharger on the market is a good choice. As noted above, don't waste money on a CAI if a blower is going on the car soon. Predator or SCT tuner is the way to go. You'll definitely need traction, so wider/stickier tires are a must. If you'll being going with a blower soon, you can keep the factory gears, IMO, unless you get a centrifugal blower which can stand more gearing (3.73's or 4.10's). Suspension & exhaust mods are great, but not necessary. Better brakes are seriously needed, though.

Before you spend any money, you should decide how fast you want the car to be. Quantify what you want. If you're just looking for an easy 12 second 1/4 miler, than any blower will get you there with no other mods (other than sticky tires and custom dyno tuning). You can hit mid to high-12's with just bolt on's. If you want a 10 or 11 second monster, then a blower with supporting mods (especially exhaust, cams, headwork, etc.) will be needed.

I've made very good #'s with very minimal effort. I run 12.30's @ 111+ in the 1/4 mile with my heavy, well-optioned 2007 Mustang GT Automatic. And the only mods are a basic (non-intercooled) Vortech V2 blower, stall converter, 4.10 gears, and drag radials. Everything else is 100% factory stock (exhaust, suspension, motor, etc.). I could easily run 11's by just changing the exhaust (long tube headers, hi-flow x-pipe, and any axle-back system on the market) or by pulleying the blower for more boost. Doesn't take much to make these cars scary fast once you supercharge them.

 

[SpartaPerformance]

Brian has the right idea, you need to set your final goal as far as power goes and then decide on your mods. You can run 12's with the FRPP base blower kit a set of 3.73 gears and some good tires, so unless we know your final plan we can't give you any specific ideas of what to do. As for the shifter 99.9% of us here say MGW for good reason and once you try you'll understand why. I also agree the Borla stingers are a great choice for mufflers, don't mess with the any other exhaust piece until you nail down your final plans.

 

[NastyStang113]

Magnaflow Magnapacks with a O/R X pipe sounds amazing.

If you're going to get a supercharger than don't waste your time with a cai. Although you will need a tuner for your supercharger. I'd highly recommend a SCT Xcal3 from VMP Tuning. I can guarantee you'll be more than satisfied.

Give the Roush TVS a look. Check out my thread about it ...

http://forums.stangnet.com/778413-nastystang113-just-got-blown.html

The MGW is the best short throw out there bar none.

 

[ufnavy06]

If you want some power and looks, the Saleen Supershaker can't be beat. I'm partial to the Roushcharger which is a great lower power S/C. It'll only put you around 400 rwhp with no other mods and comes with the warranty . However, you won't get much more power than I'd say 450 rwhp with the standard bolt ons with the Roush, which is plenty for a DD but since you said yours won't be, the TS is by far the best power bang for the buck.

You can't go wrong with any of the TS S/C. The Whipple guys will say theirs is the best. Same for the Saleen and the KB guys. If you want S/C power on the cheap, the Vortech and the Paxton can't be beat. Brenspeed has a great Vortech package which gets you close to 500 rwhp if I remember correctly for the price of the normal TS S/C.

Like everyone said, it's all about what kinda of power numbers you want. My buddy had a '03 Cobra with 640 hp. That car sat in a bubble until he sold it to buy his '10 GT500. I mean do you want to take the car to the strip, make it into a nice track car or are you looking for that smile on your face everytime you put your foot on the gas on the street. Also, with big power comes the traction issues. I get sideways with 310 rwhp if I want to. Keeping it under control is just as important or you'll never enjoy it.

As far as cams go, if it's sound you want, the Comp Thumpr or the FRPP Hot Rod cams give that amazing '60s muscle car lopey idle and add about 20 hp or so. But neither of those are exactly 'desirable' on a F/I car.

 

[NastyStang113]

The Saleen can be beat. It can be beat like a red headed step child.

 

[ufnavy06]

If you want the good looks of the shaker and the S/C, there's not much else you can go with unless you heavily modify the CDC Shaker hood. I mean I could be ignorant on this. Very possible that's the case.

 

[DiMora]

Exhaust:

American Racing Longtubes
Borla Stingers

Supercharger:

Roush TVS (Sorry Nasty, but once again I recommend your setup).
Second choice(s) is(are) Kenne Bell then Whipple.
If drag racing is your goal guys love the centrifugals like prochargers.

For the street a Roushcharger, Kenne Bell or Whipple is generally the sheezy since it is quick off the line with no spoolup.

Shifter: MGW or Steeda Tri-Ax - everyone consistently says those are the bomb. I have a Roush short shifter. I like it, but it is notchy. Others say the MGW is MUCH better.

I too love the Cervinis look.

And get some suspension. Springs and shocks/struts at a minimum.

 

[Rush1204]

Thanks so much for all the responses, and for clearing up the whole CAI thing. I'm definitely going FI, so I'll skip it for now. I won't be taking it to the strip too often, and though it's not going to be a daily driver, it will get plenty of "about town" use. In the end, I guess I'm looking for a balance of performance, driveability, and... well... not blowing the engine up!

The speed shop nearby uses SCT tuners most of the time. I'll be adding Roush and Saleen to my list of supercharger possibilities, along with Edelbrock, Kenne Bell (TS as opposed to centrifugal). Sounds like the MGW is definitely a go, but now I know I have to give a little more thought to suspension and traction. I've seen a few mention FRPP and Roush for suspension... tires models, anyone?

 

[300]

Trade it in for a GT500.

 

[NastyStang113]

Check out BMR Fabrication for suspension and chassis modifications.