Intake or Cam?

[Zero Signal]

never looked into this route, but don't some go with different rockers (1.7 or whatever) to get some of the impact of a cam swap (without all of the work). But still I think that comes after intake, TB etc.

Our heads can't flow worth crap with more than stock lift, so upping the rockers ratio won't do much for you. If it's lower valvetrain friction you want, it MIGHT help, but not nearly worth $180+



I would have said gears but since you already have them, the intake is a no brainer as the next biggest mod.

 

[buhjuh16]

what exactally do subframe connectors do

 

[Zero Signal]

They just stiffen the unibody and help absorb the torsional bending associated with acceleration and cornering. But I can't attest to how well they work since I've never tried them. But everyone who has them raves about the difference they make.

 

[GRGT1994]

They just stiffen the unibody and help absorb the torsional bending associated with acceleration and cornering. But I can't attest to how well they work since I've never tried them. But everyone who has them raves about the difference they make.

Since he has a vert, a better description would be that they will convert your Mustang from feeling like it's made from wet noodles into something made of steel. My vert felt like a whole different car with subframes. Much less cowl shake and jitters over bumps. Turns are more predictable. Car handles torque better too.

 

[buhjuh16]

what about injectors though, is that a bad first step??

sorry to keep goin abuot this im just trying to check out ever option

 

[GRGT1994]

what about injectors though, is that a bad first step??

sorry to keep goin abuot this im just trying to check out ever option

Yes. Do injectors when you need them. You won't really need them until you do a power adder (supercharger, turbo, NOS) or heads and cam.

By the time you are into needing injectors you probably have already dumped some serious cash into your motor, and you need to pick up a couple other items too (matching MAF and better fuel pump).

Keep thinking/reading/searching though. You are on the right track to ask a lot of questions and plan out your mods.

 

[fiveo'cobra]

First hand experience tells me don't do a cam unless you want to do headwork (if not new heads) as well! There are decent stock replacement cams out there but you will definitely not get enough performance out of it to justify the money and time you will spend on that project. The stock cam is almost right on anyway. All the stock motor can use is alittle less LSA and more duration.

I say new intake.

yup. An intake will make a quick and nice power difference but if you're interested i will have my fully worked/ported/milled/etc iron GT40 heads for sale for about the same price you're looking to spend. PM me if you're interested.

 

[Black95GTS]

Just for a little background, the four biggest performance bottlenecks for our cars are, in my opinion/experience, in no necessary order: The intake manifold, the 4 catalytic converters on the midpipe, differential gearing, and the computer. Replacing / tuning these 4 items offers an extremely noticeable performance increase. The biggest seat of the pant (SOTP) gain I've ever done is right after doing the exhaust and ditching the cats. Next would be the 4.10s, then the intake.

I say the computer because I've been playing with the TwEECer for several months. Once you "get it down", you can improve the idle, change the a/f ratio, basically improve the performance of your car and its driveability.

just my two cents...

Adam

 

[nmcgrawj]

Just for a little background, the four biggest performance bottlenecks for our cars are, in my opinion/experience, in no necessary order: The intake manifold, the 4 catalytic converters on the midpipe, differential gearing, and the computer. Replacing / tuning these 4 items offers an extremely noticeable performance increase. The biggest seat of the pant (SOTP) gain I've ever done is right after doing the exhaust and ditching the cats. Next would be the 4.10s, then the intake.

I say the computer because I've been playing with the TwEECer for several months. Once you "get it down", you can improve the idle, change the a/f ratio, basically improve the performance of your car and its driveability.

just my two cents...

Adam

But with the computer mods, its not really needed before you have mods. If you still have the stock heads and cam, then there really is no need for a new tune is there? Has anyone ever gotten a chip on a stock motor and felt or saw an increase in power worth the couple hundred bucks it cost to get it?

 

[Black95GTS]

But with the computer mods, its not really needed before you have mods. If you still have the stock heads and cam, then there really is no need for a new tune is there? Has anyone ever gotten a chip on a stock motor and felt or saw an increase in power worth the couple hundred bucks it cost to get it?

Well first off, I'd like to say that I'm anal about the tune. You won't find a bigger tinkerer when it comes to making max power in that regard. (Except Grady!)

I think you can definately improve on the stock tune right out of the box. Things that come to mind right away: increase your timing, pull out some manifold volume, when do your fans come on, pull shift retard, injector slopes, breakpoints, tweak the maf transfer, eliminate stupid altitude based timing tables, cure the hanging idle, delete the rev limiter, I could go on and on.

But generally speaking, you're right. YOu need to start to move more air and make more power before this becomse a big player. But like I said, thats just my exerience talking. Use at your own risk.

Adam

 

[buhjuh16]

i've already got an x-pipe without any cats. would i get more power if i bought an x-pipe with cats?

 

[stprorolla49]

i've already got an x-pipe without any cats. would i get more power if i bought an x-pipe with cats?

nope, the o/r x-pipe youve got now is a definate improvement over any catted midpipe!

i second the shifter idea because it does make such a huge difference....you could probably find both a used shifter and intake manifold, and be at about $500 like you wanna spend... oh, and MGW is the nicest short shifter ive ever used...

 

[buhjuh16]

what about headers? do they make any difference over stock?

 

[legalize420]

what about headers? do they make any difference over stock?

shorties will give you more sound over stock. longtubes will give you a slight power increase.

 

[GRGT1994]

what about headers? do they make any difference over stock?

After you have more significant mods (power adder or HCI), headers might make a bigger performance difference. And it's so easy to do LT headers at the same time as heads - that you should really think hard about doing both at the same time.

 

[buhjuh16]

yeah that makes alot of sence. heads will probably be along time down the road. so right now i'll probably go with the trick flow street upper/lower followed by pullies and bbk 70mm tb. 75mm seams it might be to big. then after that i might just save up for nos. i dont really want to start with heads or more internal parts just yet since i'll be starting college in the fall.

 

[GRGT1994]

75mm seams it might be to big.

Why?

 

[buhjuh16]

haha i dont know. i just thought i'd heard somewhere that if you get to big then you lose power. maybe i'm thinking of something else. will a throttle body give you any noticible power?

 

[LB0193]

intake then save for cam and tfs heads

 

[Black95GTS]

haha i dont know. i just thought i'd heard somewhere that if you get to big then you lose power. maybe i'm thinking of something else. will a throttle body give you any noticible power?

Get a 75mm TB. The trick flow manifold comes stock with 75mm openings. You might as well take advantage, its what the unit was designed for. When my budget allows (I just spent it all on rims and tires ) I will be getting a 75mm unit. My philosophy is to match the parts. Also, my philosophy is that trick flow inc. knows more about engine modification then some guy on a forum, and if they want a 75mm TB, then damnit, they're gonna get one!

Keep the questions coming. It's good to see a new person asking legit questions and planning out their combo!

Adam