New Toys help

[codycat91]

Hey whats goin on guys (and gals)?. I am new to mustangs. I just picked up my first a few weeks ago. Its an 03 Gt Centennial edition 5 speed. So far, its got a flowmaster header-back exhaust (super 44s), bbk cai and throttle intake/plenum, and I just got my H&R supersport lowering springs, hoping to put them on this week. I've heard a bunch of different things on what I should do next... Any suggestions? I'm thinkin 18x9/10's to replace my stock 17x7's, gears (cant decide b/w 3.73's and 4.10's), SCT x3 tuner, and underdrive pullies to start. Let me know if you have any experience on any of these and what you think I should do first. Thanks a lot and I look forward to hearing from ya!!!!!

 

[mfk]

Underdrives is a must, 4:10's r fun to play with. Macs sounds real nice on them i think.

 

[slayerripkdc]

With the lowering springs you will want to also add some shocks and struts. Next get some full length subframe connectors. If you want to stay NA get some cams and valvsprings. You can aslo get some longtubes and a shorty mid pipe along with the cams if they are in your budget.

 

[codycat91]

Do you mind highway driving with the 4.10's? And I've been told I can wait a little while on the shocks/struts seeing as my cars got about 52k miles. I was thinkin of buying the sct tuner and gear set from american muscle for $550. I'd like to get a couple more opinions on gears though. Ive heard so many good and bad from both. How much would the install cost for gears and how much (parts+labor) for the macs? Thanks

 

[codycat91]

One more thing, if anybody knows anybody thats interested in some rims/tires, I got some for sale. If I sell them, I'll order the tuner and gears asap. The link for my craigslist post is here: 20" Ruff Racing Rims *NEW*

 

[03_TrueBlue_GT]

I have 3.73's on my 5 speed and its a big improvement over the 3.27's. Dont get 4.10's cause you will constantly be shifting in city driving and you would be at 2300-2500 rpms at 75mph on the highway... But your car so do as you please.

I would get the SCT if you plan on getting gears that way you can calibrate the speedometer. Then you can start adding more. Good luck and welcome to the hobby.

 

[codycat91]

Thanks. Sounds like you got pretty much the same setup as me so far, minus the gears. What size tires do you have? I wanna upgrade my 17x7's to either 17x9/10 or 18x9/10

 

[03_TrueBlue_GT]

Im running stock tires and rims. Right now Im trying to save up for a SCT Tuner to get my speedometer tuned I learned the hard way that I need to get it tuned to keep my odometer reading correctly.... Then I want to get either FR500 or deep dish bullitt rims with 17x9 up front with 17x10.5 in the back.. But Im a broke college kid trying to get by so that may take some time...

 

[codycat91]

Exactly the same here my man haha. Where you goin? Im at UB. Im savin up for the sct/3.73 combo on AM. After that, im hopin to get the wheels too and those are actually the two types im lookin at too. Good taste. I have 20" rims and tires for sale for 1500, a whelen siren for 200, a rockford fosgate/alpine system that was in my first car for 450, and a diablosport tuner for a crown vic for 200. So once i start sellin some of that i'll be all set. Let me know if you know anyone that would be interested haha. Theyre all listed in the buffalo craigslist.

 

[slayerripkdc]

Your from NY? Mustang Magic in Long Island installs the gears and recal your speedometer for 450$ That includes the gears, installation and speedo recal.

 

[mfk]

Do you mind highway driving with the 4.10's? And I've been told I can wait a little while on the shocks/struts seeing as my cars got about 52k miles. I was thinkin of buying the sct tuner and gear set from american muscle for $550. I'd like to get a couple more opinions on gears though. Ive heard so many good and bad from both. How much would the install cost for gears and how much (parts+labor) for the macs? Thanks

I just ordered a set of 4:10's for my cobra. I didn't want 3:73's but im also gonna make my car run low 10's possible high 9's on the street.

I have always been a big fan of 4:10's you do shift alot in town but its fun to wrap on it from time to time.

you can find Macs off craigslist or ebay pretty reasonable.


Its all in prefrence. I like borla exhaust just for the fact not many folks in my area have them and it will sound good.

 

[erichmess_]

Also you'll want to get 4 bolt caster camber plates with your lowering springs and other suspension goodies. I'd get pullies as well. Look at longtubes, a mid-pipe, like an X pipe or Mac Prochambers. It all gives you a nice base to work with.

Also you didn't mention if you have a short throw shifter. Those are definite necessity for manuals.

 

[rispoli_23]

I waited a year on doing my gears because I couldn't make up my mind and finally went with the 410s and couldn't be happier and I drive on the hwy 90% of the time since I live 25 miles from work ... u do shift a lil more in town but I just skip gears ...

 

[codycat91]

Your from NY? Mustang Magic in Long Island installs the gears and recal your speedometer for 450$ That includes the gears, installation and speedo recal.

Ya I'm from buffalo, not the city. And I can get the gears and an sct tuner for 550, and have them installed for 250. The tuner will take care of the speedo.

 

[codycat91]

Also you'll want to get 4 bolt caster camber plates with your lowering springs and other suspension goodies. I'd get pullies as well. Look at longtubes, a mid-pipe, like an X pipe or Mac Prochambers. It all gives you a nice base to work with.

Also you didn't mention if you have a short throw shifter. Those are definite necessity for manuals.

Well as of now, I have a bbk h pipe along with the header back flowmasters. And the shifter will come in due time. Theres an unlimited amount of things to do to my car, my biggest problem is just deciding the order. I think gears will make it more fun than a shifter for the time being until I save up a little more money for the shifter. Any recommendations on short throws? I heard steeda was bad, and hurst is good.

 

[txredgt]

Mgw shifter

 

[erichmess_]

Well as of now, I have a bbk h pipe along with the header back flowmasters. And the shifter will come in due time. Theres an unlimited amount of things to do to my car, my biggest problem is just deciding the order. I think gears will make it more fun than a shifter for the time being until I save up a little more money for the shifter. Any recommendations on short throws? I heard steeda was bad, and hurst is good.

The first mod I did to my first mustang (2001 GT), and the first mod I will be doing to my second mustang (2010 GT), is a short throw shifter. It makes the car so much easier to drive, you have no idea.

IDK who told you Hurst was a good shifter, but wow, no way. I was VP of a Mustang club, 30-40 cars, no one had a Hurst. NO ONE. 75% were Steeda Tri-Ax (including myself), the rest were Pro5.0. The Tri-Ax is an excellent shifter, and I have no problem recommending it for a SN95. Also, I hear MGW makes an excellent shifter as well. I've been so impressed with it's reviews, it's what I ordered for my new 'stang.

 

[LarsD]

Get a set of sub frame connectors, they aren't real expensive, and make a huge difference in how the car will ride/handle.

 

[olred]

Do you mind highway driving with the 4.10's?

My car has 4:10's and it's really not bad. You shift a lot, but after a few trips through town you don't really notice. On the interstate I do 60mph and my car runs about 2100 rpms, at that speed the mpg is about the same as when I drove my old car with stock gears at 80mph. I think they're more fun than annoying.

 

[codycat91]

The first mod I did to my first mustang (2001 GT), and the first mod I will be doing to my second mustang (2010 GT), is a short throw shifter. It makes the car so much easier to drive, you have no idea.

IDK who told you Hurst was a good shifter, but wow, no way. I was VP of a Mustang club, 30-40 cars, no one had a Hurst. NO ONE. 75% were Steeda Tri-Ax (including myself), the rest were Pro5.0. The Tri-Ax is an excellent shifter, and I have no problem recommending it for a SN95. Also, I hear MGW makes an excellent shifter as well. I've been so impressed with it's reviews, it's what I ordered for my new 'stang.

Yes I did also hear good things about the Pro 5.0. Is this all I would need: 2003-2004 Mustang Mach 1 Pro 5.0 T3650 5-Speed Short Throw Shifter - Home for your Ford Mustang I've seen some that come with the linkage underneath too... Should I go with this first or gears? Or wider tires? Or underdrives haha? If I had to pick an order, what would you reccommend?