Recommendations?

jason1707 · Feb 20, 2008

I'm looking for some advise on upgrades. Havent opened the engine yet cause its been my daily driver but I got another ride and am now ready to make some upgrades. Was thinking of getting a cam and heads - any suggestions? Mods below - the LT's are sittin in the garage, just waiting for time to put them in.

Mac LT (not installed yet)
3.73's
pulleys
BBK CAI
MGW short throw
Magnaflow catback

HGFireHazard · Feb 20, 2008

How much money do you have to spend? What are you specifically looking for?

We can always help best in these types of threads when you give us some long term goals, what the car will be used for (you said it was your DD, will it be a track/DD, autox/DD, still just a DD? etc.), and things of that nature.

You have a good start with the gears, LT's and pullies. Those for a pretty stock car seem to be the best bang for the buck!

A cam and a set of heads would do you good, but you should go the extra mile and throw on an intake too if that's what your looking for.

Like I said, a wallet amount and some details and we'll see what we can do.

jason1707 · Feb 21, 2008

Sorry should have told you that from the start. It was my dd now it is just a toy! Looking to be around a $1000 - suggestions?

jason1707 · Feb 21, 2008

Also what I want out of it. Maybe to the track 1 or 2 times a year - would like to get it up to 300 rwhp. This possible with cam and heads? I have no idea where it is yet - havent even put it on a dyno yet.

HGFireHazard · Feb 21, 2008

With $1k you won't be making 300 rwhp, and you won't be doing it with something like gt40 heads either (assuming you stuck NA).

A nice set of aluminum heads (AFR, TrickFlow, etc.) a custom cam, and a good intake to match should get you to your goal.

Also with 300 rwhp you'd be looking at air/fuel upgrades (bigger injectors, MAF).

If you like used stuff you can always find a good deal if you are patient enough. You should definitely put those LT's on and a mid-pipe/cat-back of your choice to help things flow better yet.

EDIT: I see you have a cat-back, a mid-pipe would be good though!

Your goal is very reasonable and very attainable, just not quite for the amount.

If you're absolutely looking to spend that money now, how about nitrous? Personally I don't care for the 'temporary horsepower' and the filling of the bottle when it gets empty, so I don't have a lot of information on that or good, safe goals.

Black95GTS · Feb 21, 2008

jason1707 said:
I'm looking for some advise on upgrades. Havent opened the engine yet cause its been my daily driver but I got another ride and am now ready to make some upgrades. Was thinking of getting a cam and heads - any suggestions? Mods below - the LT's are sittin in the garage, just waiting for time to put them in.

Mac LT (not installed yet)
3.73's
pulleys
BBK CAI
MGW short throw
Magnaflow catback

For 1000 bucks...

Trick Flow Track Heat - 511
Trick Flow adapter elbow - 90
Full Length Subframes (welded) - 200
Offroad X pipe of your choice - 150
With the remaining 50 bucks... ignition coil, spark plugs, plug wires, whatever...

Adam

SVTtripleblack · Feb 21, 2008

Black95GTS said:
For 1000 bucks...

Trick Flow Track Heat - 511
Trick Flow adapter elbow - 90
Full Length Subframes (welded) - 200
Offroad X pipe of your choice - 150
With the remaining 50 bucks... ignition coil, spark plugs, plug wires, whatever...

Adam

+1
I definately agree. If $1,000 is all you have to spend right now, those above mods will not only help get more power now, but will be a necessity after the heads and cam. You definately need an off-road pipe to compliment the rest of your exhaust, and the intake will help your car breathe after the h/c. I also recommend the subframes. I don't know how much they stiffen up a coupe, but my convertible launches better and doesn't shake over every little bump anymore. You have a good start with what you have already

jason1707 · Feb 21, 2008

Thanks for advice!

No to nitrous - just heard to many bad things.

Sorry I forgot to mention that I already have Kenny Brown super subs welded in and yes they did stiffen the $hit out of the car, so much my wife hates riding in it, but its my toy not hers!

I have the offroad X-pipe to compliment the LT's - just waiting to install both of them.

So should I do intake before heads and cam? What's the install like for the intake?

You guys kick a$$ - thanks for all the help!

5.0beast · Feb 21, 2008

intake is super simple, just go to a junkyard and find an explorer motor and pull the upper and lower off of it. you could even posstbly use the heads if you really wanna save a few bucks but that will defonatley not get you to your goal of 300 whp. but the upper and lower should just bolt right on in place. atleast they did on my car if you want to compliment the intake put on the bbk elbow and fender well style cold air kit.

Black95GTS · Feb 21, 2008

jason1707 said:
Thanks for advice!

No to nitrous - just heard to many bad things.

Sorry I forgot to mention that I already have Kenny Brown super subs welded in and yes they did stiffen the $hit out of the car, so much my wife hates riding in it, but its my toy not hers!

I have the offroad X-pipe to compliment the LT's - just waiting to install both of them.

So should I do intake before heads and cam? What's the install like for the intake?

You guys kick a$$ - thanks for all the help!

Installation for the intake will take a solid day if you've never done it before. It is much simpler then heads and cam, you take the new one off and put the new one on. I would consider it a bolt on part.

IMO... there is no point in installing a cam if you don't do the heads. You'll spend a ton of loot on misc gaskets, tapes, goops, greases, tools, etc you never thought of before only to have to do it again when you put the heads on. You could always retard the stock camshaft 4 degrees while you are saving up for the heads and intake.

The 4 most restrictive parts on a stock sn95 are the intake, mid pipe, tune, and gearing. You have 2 of the 4 taken care of, and you don't NEED the tune until you do the full heads / cam / intake. Might want to think about upgrading the throttle body to match the intake then, so in your case that would be a 75mm to match the trickflow, or a 70mm if you go the edelbrock route.

Adam

jason1707 · Feb 21, 2008

So which do you think I should do first? Cam and heads or Intake with new throttle body?

DDSTANG94 · Feb 21, 2008

save another 2 g and get the trickflow kit and supporting fuel mods...

Black95GTS · Feb 22, 2008

jason1707 said:
So which do you think I should do first? Cam and heads or Intake with new throttle body?

Well a camshaft and heads will cost you...

$1400 for AFRs
$325 for custom grind
about 500 for misc parts / gaskets / tools etc

The car will also be down for a couple days. Doing these two modifications without the intake IMO is an exercise in futility. You can spend less for an HCI but this is what I would do.

The intake will cost you...

600 for track heat and elbow
250 for 75mm throttle body and gasket
100 for misc parts / gaskets / tools. All you need for tools is a ratchet set and you will need some fittings for vacuum hose. You'll probably also want to replace some of the vacuum hose that you'll find in there.

The car will be down for 1 day. You can "grow into" these parts when you get the cash to finish the rest of the swap. This is what I would do if I were you and that money was burning a hole in my pocket.

Adam

final5-0 · Feb 22, 2008

Hey Jason

My 94-95 Friends have given you some good advise so far

If you wanna go for around 300 to the wheels with a NA flavoring

You are gonna have to see the complete picture

Don't forget ... You gotta add to all that extra airflow some fuel as well :Word:

But ... I'm getting ahead of myself with what I believe should be priority #1

You said the Stang is no longer your dd

That my friend ... Now allows you M A N Y different options

I'll share one with you that I think makes sense with a Weekend Toy

Go a bit more aggressive with your combo

Aftermarket parts like ....
Aluminum heads
Intake
Cam ... more aggressive than the typical street cam

You can easily go a good bit over 300 to the wheels with such a method

The down sides to a plan such as this is
the cam lope at idle will be very noticeable
and a custom tune ... Well ... It will be a must

Of course ... You'll have to add a bit to the 1 Grand you now got

Anyway ... Just something to think about before you get committed

Weekend Toy ... Its my favorite way to go :Word:

btw ... if you think you might pursue such madness

You can always do it in steps
but
You wanna do them in such a fashion that you don't

Spend money twice ... or ... Do double work

Grady

earleys94gt · Feb 22, 2008

You have a good start with the bolt on's already.

If you have your heart set on the engine mods, but you can't swing for the full
HCI right now I would do the heads and cam. There's no point to only do heads or cam. You would save yourself alot of trouble by doing both while you were in there. A full roller timing chain and valve train upgrades would be nice too.

Another thing to consider, 300 RWHP is alot more than stock and the suspension is set up for a stock Mustang. Some lower control arms and subframes would be a good thing as well. Alot of racers build from the ground up, so there is a sturdy platform to build upon. Just my 0.02

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