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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
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Upgrades....help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter RLC
  • Start date Start date Jul 7, 2012

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 7, 2012
#1
  • Jul 7, 2012
  • #1
I want to go a lil bit faster. Can you guys help me figure out what to do and where to get it? I am on a budget so it will be a long term project. My long term goal is to keep up with gt mustangs of the same body style as mine (99-03). So, where do i start? I already have a KN filter and exhaust. What's next? I am not very mechanically minded but i do have a few mechanic friends that can help.
So, how do i go about beefing up a v6? Any links would be appreciated too. Thanks!
 

Sharad

ALWAYS choose the V over the P!!! Wait... what?
Jan 5, 2011
1,562
480
94
Fort Myers, Florida
Jul 7, 2012
#2
  • Jul 7, 2012
  • #2
Does your car have an automatic or manual transmission. When you say "keep up with GT mustangs", do you mean drag racing, roll racing, cornering...?

If it's drag racing, suspension & tire upgrades will do it, along with maybe a taller rear gear. If it's roll racing, you'll need more power. If it's cornering, suspension & tire mods alone will get you there.
 

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 7, 2012
#3
  • Jul 7, 2012
  • #3
Its an auto. I just want more get up and go. I never thought of the type of race involved. I just want a car that will surprise people. "THAT was a v6!?"
 

wmburns

SN Certified Technician
Aug 14, 2009
5,892
514
204
Houston Texas
Jul 8, 2012
#4
  • Jul 8, 2012
  • #4
IMO, the best bang for the buck is a service manual. A slower car that runs is faster than a broken fast car. A service manual will give the DIY'er the information needed to actual fix your own car.

Seriously, are you looking to do the work yourself or pay someone to do it for you? I firmly believe that paying for "mod"ing will quickly turn the hobby in to a "rich man's" sport.

signed

Ward Cleaver
 

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 8, 2012
#5
  • Jul 8, 2012
  • #5
I have a haynes manual already. Im not really paying anything except for parts. A friend of mine is a mechanic and helps me with anything as long as i help too. We did lots of work on my old truck. I would've spent thousands in labor if i had it done by a pro. I like learning a bit.
 

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 8, 2012
#6
  • Jul 8, 2012
  • #6
Alright, here's my new idea...it would be a heck of a lot cheaper too.
Since the stang is my daily driver, it doesn't make a lot of sense to tear the whole motor apart to upgrade it. I might as well go get another 3.8 motor and have it built up. It will give me more of a chance to work on it and get it all tuned up right. Once everything is all put together, i can take a few days off work and swap motors. It will be a long term job.
So...this is going to be a big learning experience. I'm not motor-minded at all.
 

Killian Korth

Member
Apr 2, 2012
108
2
18
Nebraska
Jul 10, 2012
#7
  • Jul 10, 2012
  • #7
well by that logic you might as well just go buy a whole other car if the one you have now is your daily driver. You sound like a few friends my brother has.

my only advice is don't wear out your welcome, sometimes it gets annoying when people always want you to help them with their motor and all that good stuff. Good luck!
 

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 10, 2012
#8
  • Jul 10, 2012
  • #8
True...he is easily paid in beer...
 

Killian Korth

Member
Apr 2, 2012
108
2
18
Nebraska
Jul 10, 2012
#9
  • Jul 10, 2012
  • #9
RLC said:
True...he is easily paid in beer...
Click to expand...
lulz, as long as there's enough beer any job seems easy.
 

Sharad

ALWAYS choose the V over the P!!! Wait... what?
Jan 5, 2011
1,562
480
94
Fort Myers, Florida
Jul 10, 2012
#10
  • Jul 10, 2012
  • #10
RLC said:
Alright, here's my new idea...it would be a heck of a lot cheaper too.
Since the stang is my daily driver, it doesn't make a lot of sense to tear the whole motor apart to upgrade it. I might as well go get another 3.8 motor and have it built up. It will give me more of a chance to work on it and get it all tuned up right. Once everything is all put together, i can take a few days off work and swap motors. It will be a long term job.
So...this is going to be a big learning experience. I'm not motor-minded at all.
Click to expand...

I'd consider boost or a motor swap. Either choice offers good gains with relatively minimal down time. Of course, if you significantly increase your hp, you'll want to upgrade your suspension and tires in order to utilize the extra power.
 

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 10, 2012
#11
  • Jul 10, 2012
  • #11
True....or SoCo...
 

RLC

Member
May 25, 2012
51
0
6
Northern Indiana
Jul 10, 2012
#12
  • Jul 10, 2012
  • #12
Right. I'm hoping for about 300 horses in the end. All i think i need to do is have the intake and heads polished and such. Plus i like the idea of the "lumpy" cam on supersix motorsports website. Makes a 3.8 sound meaner. A turbo or supercharger would have to be done all at once though. I'm on a budget.
I thought of just slowly acquiring a new intake and heads and whatnot that are factory spec, then having them bored and polished. Would that be cheaper than buying a new performance set?
 
D

davidbatmanfan

Jul 23, 2012
#13
  • Jul 23, 2012
  • #13
Hey i have been reading your posts and i found in awesome site for you get performance parts.Also i thought about building one awhile ago but im going turbo 4 i love the idea getting 30 mpg.http://mustangworld.com/ourpics/hcar/v6page.htm#v6links
The V8 guys just doesn't know what its like to be different.
 

Dustin Willis

New Member
Jul 28, 2012
2
0
1
Jul 28, 2012
#14
  • Jul 28, 2012
  • #14
If you can hold onto your money then just save a few thousand up and buy a supercharger. Procharger Stage II Intercooled Supercharger. Youll have 300 horses easy from that alone and nobody would expect it.
 
D

davidbatmanfan

Jul 29, 2012
#15
  • Jul 29, 2012
  • #15
Oh i don't own a v6 im going turbo 4 in my little 88 notch.
 
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