Tuning - Do I need it? Which approach?

Frankwhite17 · Jan 5, 2025

I just bought a project. 1987 Mustang LX 5.0 manual. Car has GT40 intake GT40 heads and the E303 cam… shorty BBK headers. Car seems to run good but feel as if I could do something to it to make it run better. Recently had a problem where the car jerked on me or you can say it would buck on me and I replaced the coolant sensor and problem fixed but just seems like it can do a little better unless it’s just me being spoiled with newer and fastercars I had before. So would you guys think I need to tune this thing and if so what tuner you guys recommend so I can try to do this myself.

Jimmer009 · Jan 8, 2025

Sounds like a nice project. A coolant temp sensor could of made run rich maybe. I'd recommend a tune up new plugs wires and even coil.

As far as tuning I don't think you would need it for that build. Being speed density it really runs off air, temp and pressure in the intake manifold. A chip or aftermarket ECU wouldn't hurt anything. And give you lots of grow.

I really like my mega squirt. Tuner studio is easy to use. But I never really tried other brands.

AeroCoupe · Jan 8, 2025

You do not have enough mods to really warrant a chip or aftermarket ECU. If anything you could convert the car to mass air for better idle and part throttle driving but I doubt you will see a power increase. Keep the sensors in good working condition and you should be good to go. If you want to you can pull codes and see if you have any that need to be addressed.

Frankwhite17 · Jan 8, 2025

Not a bad little project I might say thanks man.. I’ll change the wires and coil since I just changed the plugs and see what happens but I was surprised about the coolant sensor how it fixed the problem, would’ve never thought that sensor would cause such a thing. I searched all over the place and found a guy on YouTube with the same issue I was having and his was the coolant sensor as well so I said let me try and wam bam thank you maam it was the trick.

Frankwhite17 · Jan 8, 2025

AeroCoupe said:
You do not have enough mods to really warrant a chip or aftermarket ECU. If anything you could convert the car to mass air for better idle and part throttle driving but I doubt you will see a power increase. Keep the sensors in good working condition and you should be good to go. If you want to you can pull codes and see if you have any that need to be addressed.

Thanks bud one less thing to worry about..

gkomo · Jan 8, 2025

Whats the consensus on Coil brands to use? I'm also getting ready to do the '10 minute tune-up' and maybe a new coil would be good for me as well.

Noobz347 · Jan 8, 2025

gkomo said:
Whats the consensus on Coil brands to use? I'm also getting ready to do the '10 minute tune-up' and maybe a new coil would be good for me as well.

Motorcraft

AeroCoupe · Jan 8, 2025

Standard Ignition Blue Streak

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/blue-streak/ignition---tune-up/ignition-coil/ignition-coil/90c5da72ae86/standard-blue-streak-ignition-coil/std2/fd478/v/a/5471/automotive-car-1993-ford-mustang?q=ignition+coil&pos=0

AeroCoupe · Jan 8, 2025

You still need to check for codes. 87/88 cars do not have a check engine light and my guess is you had a code present for the ECT sensor.

TOOLOW91 · Jan 8, 2025

Noobz347 said:
Motorcraft

I second this.

Noobz347 · Jan 9, 2025

Frankwhite17 said:
I just bought a project. 1987 Mustang LX 5.0 manual. Car has GT40 intake GT40 heads and the E303 cam… shorty BBK headers. Car seems to run good but feel as if I could do something to it to make it run better. Recently had a problem where the car jerked on me or you can say it would buck on me and I replaced the coolant sensor and problem fixed but just seems like it can do a little better unless it’s just me being spoiled with newer and fastercars I had before. So would you guys think I need to tune this thing and if so what tuner you guys recommend so I can try to do this myself.

Is this a speed density car or mass air car?

If it's speed density then this:

AeroCoupe said:
If anything you could convert the car to mass air for better idle and part throttle driving but I doubt you will see a power increase.

will solve your issues. I can tell you first hand, that the E-cam and the OEM SD are [not] buddies.

Cheapskate207 · Jan 10, 2025

Yup. The factory SD won’t tolerate most cams. I would say maf swap but since the cost of a9l/a9p is so expensive nowadays a standalone is probably a better option. Or a cam swap lol.

AeroCoupe · Jan 10, 2025

You can still find an A9L and A9P for $200 (you have to be actively hunting online) and sending it off for a repair is $125 so if you are not going require a tune or anything like that its still cheaper than the stand alone.

Tuning - Do I need it? Which approach?

Frankwhite17

New Member

Jimmer009

Member

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Frankwhite17

New Member

Frankwhite17

New Member

gkomo

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Cheapskate207

The left one hangs a little lower

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Similar threads

Tuning - Do I need it? Which approach?

New Member

Member

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

New Member

New Member

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

The left one hangs a little lower

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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