new mustang owner, what works?

03RdMstngGT · Jun 27, 2008

hey fellas, new mustang owner, new to the site ( of course )

long time GM mod/tuner

my wife talked me into buying her an 03 Mustang GT 5 speed coupe.

I have used the search option, did some research, but didnt quite find the answers im looking for.

I was searching the web looking up parts, and theres just a huge market for bolt-ons for these cars. Its a blast to drive, and it gets alot better mileage than my truck. Ive spent some time and money getting the car back to where i think it should be, new tires, new headlights, new stereo system, fixed my spoiler, allignment, the list goes on and on, the previous owner did not know ANYTHING about maintenance.

So my question is, in this huge array of aftermarket parts, what out there works?

as of right now, im staying N/A, but as far as cai, TB, spacer? headers, exhaust, programmers, pulleys, gears, clutch

what mods have yall used, that really work for the money?

the car is completely stock right now, give me some direction guys.

as far as exhaust, the louder, the meaner, the better!

like i said, im not anywhere near NEW to performance mod's, im a former mechanic, and still a gear head. Im just new to ford, modular engines, hell mustang in general, but its a sweet ride, i dont know why i didnt buy one sooner!

i appreciate yalls input!

Jared

GettinThere · Jun 27, 2008

Welcome to Stangnet.

If I had to do it all over again, I would do this in this order:

1. Aftermarket shifter. Not too expensive, easy to install, a major improvement over stock, and something you will benefit from and enjoy every time you drive your car.

2. Subframe connectors.

3. A tuner/flasher/programmer, closely followed by...

4. Gears. 4.10:1 unless you drive a LOT of hiqhway miles.

5. Exhaust. Something you just gotta do.

Stark77 · Jun 27, 2008

If it's for your wife - and she won't be dragging it at the strip, subframe connectors plus the labor for install wouldn't be worth your money. Gears, CAI, Handheld Tuner can all be had for under $1000.00. TB Spacers are pretty useless. TB + Plenum would be next on the list followed by midpipe back exhaust.

isjoining · Jun 27, 2008

a CAI is a waste of money too.

gears, short shifter and exhaust are good starting points. Suspension mods are worth it as well.

Dragstr05 · Jun 27, 2008

Shifter, midpipe, pullies, TB + plenum, and your choice of catback are the easy ones.

Gears are an excellent bang for the buck also, but can get a little expensive after buying the gears, tuner/speed cal and install. I spent $700 to do my 4.10's the right way...FRPP gears, rebuild kit, programmer (recallibrate speedo), and paid $50 to have a friend help me out.

Longtube headers and cams are the last of the good N/A mods so to speak. All mods listed, with some good tires will put the car deep into the 13's and sometimes high 12's just to give you an idea of the kind of power you will have.

04YELLOWGT · Jun 27, 2008

1) 4.10 Gears and tuner
2) Shifter
3) Midpipe and Catback
4) TB/Plenum
5) UD Pullies

Thats all I would really do NA. If you want more power than that the money you would be spending to get it would be as much as a blower or nitrous and with less gains.

mrmustangman357 · Jun 27, 2008

on gears I am going to disagree. Use 3.73s. They aren't very "racy" and give the best overall performance IMO. You can do a handheld tuner, get a short throw shifter, and a cold air intake and catback exhaust. You'll be good to go

eliteJAE · Jun 27, 2008

as far as brands go, for a short throw shifter, get yourself an MGW short shifter, people SWEAR by them for our cars if youre going to do full exhaust, make sure you go with long tubes as theyre said to be the best bang for the buck on ou cars, even N/A. theres plenty of more to be said, and im sure people will chime in. Theres also a good amount of visual mods that we like to do on these cars, but im not too sure your asking for that finally, check out american muscle for alot of this stuff, they got good deals and give us forum members a bit of a discount good luck man Posted via Mobile Device

TrueBlue03 · Jun 28, 2008

I want to clarify something: If you're looking for power and are only going to do a few mods in the beginning, a CAI, handheld tuner or shifter are probably the worst way to spend your money for the car's first mods.

First off, a CAI will do virtually nothing without an aftermarket TB and plenum (and even then, it still doesnt really do anything). Secondly, a handheld tuner costs around 400 and will do nearly nothing on an unmodded car. And finally, and as for the shifter....why is everyone saying shifter?? the wife's probably not going to be bangin through the gears that hard. i've had the stock shifter for 5 years and have dont think i've missed 3rd once in a race or at the strip

Basic mods that will show a noticable improvement ... and make you grin everytime you take her for a spin:

- Open up the intake with an aftermarket Throttle Body and Plenum.... This yields a very noticable gain in comparison to the previously mentioned mods... Then go for the CAI if you want to spend ~$150 on 1 or 2 rwhp

- Open up the exhaust with a catback and midpipe....throw on some longtube headers down the road if you have the money.

- Gears

96SCstang · Jun 28, 2008

1. gears 4:10 for N/A
2. full header back exhaust. (bassani, magnaflow, borla, mac are a few good names)
3. tb/plenum (70mm is plenty if staying N/A)
4. pullies
5. drop in a K&N filter and save your money...cai are a waste of money!!!
6. then get a tuner and tune it up

03RdMstngGT · Jun 28, 2008

hey fellas, i appreciate all of your input! It is my wifes car, but i drive it for the fun of it ALOT.

The electric fan on her shattered on me, so i had to replace that, and the headlights can barely shine through, so i ordered some black euro headlights.

but as far as im reading from you guys, im getting that i really should basically upgrade the intake with a TB, Plenum, maybe a cai, mostly for the looks..., what about a 70mm MAF sensor? and then a midpipe, with a cat back?

what midpipe does well on these cars, i knows theres a debate between x and h.

anyone have any good experience with a certain midpipe-catback combo?

i plan on doing pulleys, but theres the steeda steel, and the aluminums.
Im probobaly going with the steeda pulleys from american muscle.

as far as a shifter, i dont really have an issue with the stock shifter for daily driving, that would probobaly be one of my last mods,

and gears, i would love to do gears, i just dont have anyone i can trust around here to give me a hand with them, i know the process, i know what to do, i just dont fully trust myself, i wish there was a write up step by step on gear swaps! lol

jared

03RdMstngGT · Jun 28, 2008

and as far as cai kits, wich would yall recommend, the fender mounted design, or the stock location??

any brand/style recommendations

i trust yalls opinions and judgements...

jared

Stark77 · Jun 28, 2008

WMS Racing makes a CAI that includes an 80 or 85mm MAF - really really nice looking - but it's close to $500 dollars. They advertise in Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords and claim "+25 HP" for 99-04 GT's. I don't know if anyone here has substantiated that claim, probably not. But it looks super sleak and has the MAF with it.

COramprat · Jun 28, 2008

Each bolt-on by itself may not net much but one thing that will never change in any car. Getting the air in and getting it out is a good thing. A fenderwell CAI or something like the JLT is a good start followed by a throttle body/plenum combo. Stick with a 70mm TB. A bigger MAF is a waste unless you are bumping the HP above 350.

It really depends on your preference as far as midpipes go. I have a Mac Prochamber and it is a good piece. I've also had a Mac H and the sound is a little different. The Prochamber is just a little higher in pitch than the H so for that deep growl you can go with the H. I've heard X-pipes and they are just a bit too raspy for me but they are louder than anything else. Catbacks are preference of the owner. I have the stock muffs on mine.

Underdrive pullies I'll leave for the owner to decide. I don't care for them in a daily driver but if you are looking for that extra bump of HP to get you from 13 flat to 12.9 at the track then go for it. If you do get a set stick with the ones that replace the crank and not the piggyback style. Something else to think about is a timing adjuster. Hand held tuner or a dyno tune negates the want of this but if you don't have a tune then that will net some good HP too.

Going a little further would be gears. I have 4:10's in my car and drive 150 RT a day hwy. If I stay at 70 my RPM's are about 2800. 3:73's would be another good choice. The gas mileage is really not that much different from stock gears...may a mile per gallon or 2.

One more step would be cams...a mild one would be my choice in a daily driver. If you can do any of the work above then a cam swap is in your reach. All of the mods in my signature were done under my carport with help from friends except the gear swap.

BennyBlown2v · Jun 28, 2008

There is no reason to upgrade the maf on a mild bolt on NA car. Most of the "plug and play" maf kits just "trick" the car into running leaner.

Best bang for your buck mods are gonna be:

1. longtubes with matching offroad or high flow cat mid pipe
2. catback
3.intake plenum/tb
4.K&N drop in filter
5.Trim or remove the intake snorke. on the stock airbox

twogts4us · Jun 28, 2008

mrmustangman357 said:
on gears I am going to disagree. Use 3.73s. They aren't very "racy" and give the best overall performance IMO. You can do a handheld tuner, get a short throw shifter, and a cold air intake and catback exhaust. You'll be good to go

I disagree. I had a 2001 with 4.10s and a 2002 with 3.73s. A huge difference. It was honestly hard to tell the new 3.73 gears had been installed. Yeah, the 3.73s are nice, helpful...but 4.10s are the bomb.
I'm not kid looking for a screamer either - The 2001 GT was my wife's, and I was stuck with my 3.73s in my 2002 GT. (What a mistake) But, as stated, I'm no kid...40 plus years young. (Maybe a kid at heart...?)

Gears will give you the biggest bang for the buck - period.

And I disagree with the guy who said subframe connectors are not worth it. Are you kidding? The super flexible unibody NEEDS usbframe connectors - badly.

Stark77 · Jun 28, 2008

I like how so many people are forgetting to add in underdrive pulleys to their list. The Steedas are a dyno proven 8RWPH for $150 bucks. That can't be beat and should not be overlooked. It also helps out gas mileage.

deftsound · Jun 28, 2008

TrueBlue03 said:
And finally, and as for the shifter....why is everyone saying shifter?? the wife's probably not going to be bangin through the gears that hard. i've had the stock shifter for 5 years and have dont think i've missed 3rd once in a race or at the strip

words spoken from someone who has never felt the difference an aftermarket shifter makes...get an mgw and you will understand what everyone is talking about

Stark77 · Jun 28, 2008

that's what SHE said

03RdMstngGT · Jun 28, 2008

well fellas i appreciate the input, and the different opinions. looks like ive got some deciding to do. atleast i have a direction in this car to go now. Getting the dang thing back to good running condition, and reliable has been a pain, and im still working on it!

today i cleaned the maf sensor, seafoamed the intake/combustion/fuel, and cleaned up the k&n drop in, i have alot of work to go on this car to get it to where i want it to be, and not alot of time, and my wife has NO PATIENCE.

i appreciate it guys, i will keep reading this post to see if anyone else chimes in for me!

jared

new mustang owner, what works?

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