My next mods?

[Hunter26]

I have about $2500 that I would like to use for mods on my stang. I'm having the hardest time deciding what parts to get and was wondering what my fellow stangers would do with the cash. I have a 1990 GT, 5-speed with exactly 100,000 miles on it as of today. It's my daily driver and I take long trips a couple times a month. I like to drag race, cruise, autocross, and would like to get into some road course action too. I do NOT want this to be a straight line car. My current mods are 17 x 8 ROH Snyper's with 245/45 Kumho 712's, Pro 5.0 Shifter, MM Full Length Subframes, 3.55 gears, C&L 73mm MAF, BBK Off Road H-Pipe, Magnaflow Catback, Cobra grill insert, cobra tail lights, and Cobra rear bumper. Everything else is untouched and stock. I would like your ideas on what I should do next.

I was thinking H/C/I and I really want to be naturally aspirated. I don't want to put all that money in the engine and have stock brakes and suspension though. So now, I'm thinking heads/intake, headers, MM brake upgrade package, and struts/shocks/springs/CC plates. I'm not exactly sure who makes good suspension compenents though. For the heads I would like to get AFR 165's, intake would either be a cobra with ported lower or edelbrock performer. Then once I get more cash in the future I'll get a cam. I think the BBK unequal ceramic shorties will be ok for the headers.

Do you think this is a good plan? Any input, constructive criticism, or any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[srothfuss]

I would like your ideas on what I should do next.

So now, I'm thinking heads/intake, headers, MM brake upgrade package, and struts/shocks/springs/CC plates. I'm not exactly sure who makes good suspension compenents though.

Don't worry about the big stuff. If you are not ready to throw all your money in one spot you can still do a lot of little things to get more enjoyment out of your ride.

MM probably has the best suspension stuff / Steeda also
You can advance your timing from the stock 10 degrees (free power there)
Headers (Bassani / FRPP/ BBK are all good choices)
I think I saw gears in your setup, if you don't have them... get them
Electric fan / 3G alternator
Doing all of the small things first will allow you to enjoy the bigger investments later.

I have a list of the first mod's that should be made before moving on to bigger ticket items. If you haven't seen it, let me know and I can post it up.

 

[Nopantz]

srothfuss can you post your list up I am also interested in all of the first mods to do.

 

[srothfuss]

srothfuss can you post your list up I am also interested in all of the first mods to do.

First mods should be as follows (my take):

In order of Priority
1) Subframe connectors (SFC's) full length ones are prefered for a stiff chasis
2) Gears: 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 seem to be the popular choices
3) Full Exhuast (headers, hi-flo cats, catback +mufflers)
4) Buy a K&N panel filter (no CAI kit required) and put it in the stock box
5) Bumped timing to 12 - 14 degrees (free mod) 10 Degrees is stock.
6) Larger MAF, TB (MAF cars from 1988 california only, 1989-1993)
7) 3G alternator upgrade / electric fan
8) Fix the weak brakes

Optional MODs:

9) Strut tower brace (necessary on Convertibles IMO)
10) Underdrive pullies (they can't be used on S/C motors and cause charging problems)
11) Weight reduction out of the nose of the car
12) Shocks/Struts and lowering springs
13) C/C plates if you lower the car

After those (the basics), it's pretty much up to you. There are plenty of Super Chargers or Heads, Cam and Intake packages to choose from.

Also, don't forget about the basic tune up
1) Changing all of the fluids (oil, coolant, trans, rear end, brake and some of the power steering)
2) Plugs: (non-platnum type) Autolite or Motorcraft are prefered
3) Oil filter: Motorcraft or equivalent (not FRAM)
4) Air filter: see first mods item #4
5) Plug wires: Ford Motorsport (FRPP) 9mm units are great
6) Cap / Rotor
7) Oxygen sensors

 

[legalize420]

if you do go the route of getting heads and intake, do the cam at the same time.

 

[Busted07]

If I was on your budget, Id go with the trickflow kit. (see summitracing.com part number: TFS-K514-350-370)

with a 306 flat top motor, they made 350 horse, and 370 torque, and the entire kit is $2149.95. i know you didnt want to spend it all on the motor, but it would take care of alot of upgrades at one time to where you wouldnt be doing double work when you add future parts

 

[Hunter26]

I've done ALL the basic tune up stuff and have bumped the timing. It's not that I don't want to have the H/C/I. It's that I don't want all the freaking power on my stock suspension and brakes. I have a hard enough time getting traction and keeping myself out of trouble. My entire budget would go into the motor and I wouldn't have any money for anything else. I also already know what H/C/I I'm going with. I don't race enough to justify spending all my money on the engine.

I finally have a nice chunk of change to buy some big parts. I'm starting school in 3 days and will be a poor college student once this money is spent. I can add the little stuff whenever, but saving up $1300 for some heads would be mighty hard in college. I'd like to get some big mods out of the way. All the advice that I have gotten in the past has been about NOT buying all the little things and save up and get the big upgrades out of the way.

Does anyone have any specific suspension upgrades? Are the Bilstein shocks/stuts good or Tokico's or another brand? Is a strut tower brace worth it on a daily driver?

 

[frcefedlx]

The stock brakes do suck however if kept in good shape they do work and even with the H\C\I kit should serve there purpose if you dont drive like a madman all the time. I still have stock brakes and continually adjust the back due to going out of adjustment(stupid auto adjusters never work). I would say make a solid plan on what you want and the order you would like to do it in and stick to it. My quest was 400 rwhp and now my next big mod will be better brakes, but I still find my car very drivable and stops well but not great.

 

[srothfuss]

Does anyone have any specific suspension upgrades? Are the Bilstein shocks/stuts good or Tokico's or another brand? Is a strut tower brace worth it on a daily driver?

The best place to start is by replacing all of the bushings in your F/R LCA's and the UCA's in the back. Over the years of driving, the rubber deteriorates into nothing. Or if you don't like the factory pieces, you can upgrade all of those parts (they'll come with new bushings)

For shocks / struts: everyone will have a different opinion on what brand to buy, but we all agree that new parts will help the ride 100%. I personally chose stock repots because I like some give in my car. Do lot's of research, you can even do a poll on who run's what. Just be sure you state the intentions you have with the car in the poll.

Strut tower braces are not as necessary on hardtop cars as they are on convertibles. Cutting the top off of the Fox platform turns the Mustang into a limp noodle. I cracked my windshield last summer by making a hard turn, so now I am in search of a MM strut tower brace sometime this spring.