What order of MODS would you do?

[BetterBaGT]

My 02 GT is basically stock right now, minus flowmasters. I want to start upgrading with: headers, intake, gears, cams, shocks/struts, etc. Keep in mind, I don't plan on supercharging, adding a turbo, or adding NOS. Just want to increase HP but don't want a race car.

My question is, ideally what order would you do these all in? I want to hear the different opinions.

 

[slayerripkdc]

First and foremost if you are adding more power and more traction you will definetly want to add full length subframe connectors. Next if you already have mufflers you will want to add an off road x or h pipe.

 

[Kornnut]

First I would give the car all the basic upkeep it needs. Then I would go through the suspension replacing wore out dampeners and busings. After that just don't spend money twice. If you're going to buy a mid pipe get long tubes at the same time.

 

[Deleted member 38176]

1. gears (best bang for the buck)
2. off-road midpipe (stock midpipe is EXTREMELY restrictive)
3. programmer (ex. SCT, Diablo, etc...)
4. cams (even with stock manifolds, cams will yield a good amount of power)
5. CAI, TB, plenum (with the increased flow from cams, these intake mods will see some nice gains)
6. longtube headers (priciest of the mods but worth it once you have all the other bolt-ons)
7. good dyno-tune

 

[scupking]

1. gears (best bang for the buck)
2. off-road midpipe (stock midpipe is EXTREMELY restrictive)
3. programmer (ex. SCT, Diablo, etc...)
4. cams (even with stock manifolds, cams will yield a good amount of power)
5. CAI, TB, plenum (with the increased flow from cams, these intake mods will see some nice gains)
6. longtube headers (priciest of the mods but worth it once you have all the other bolt-ons)
7. good dyno-tune

+1

 

[BetterBaGT]

1. gears (best bang for the buck)
2. off-road midpipe (stock midpipe is EXTREMELY restrictive)
3. programmer (ex. SCT, Diablo, etc...)
4. cams (even with stock manifolds, cams will yield a good amount of power)
5. CAI, TB, plenum (with the increased flow from cams, these intake mods will see some nice gains)
6. longtube headers (priciest of the mods but worth it once you have all the other bolt-ons)
7. good dyno-tune

Dumb question, what exactly do the diff. gears do?

 

[mustangman9812]

1. gears (best bang for the buck)
2. off-road midpipe (stock midpipe is EXTREMELY restrictive)
3. programmer (ex. SCT, Diablo, etc...)
4. cams (even with stock manifolds, cams will yield a good amount of power)
5. CAI, TB, plenum (with the increased flow from cams, these intake mods will see some nice gains)
6. longtube headers (priciest of the mods but worth it once you have all the other bolt-ons)
7. good dyno-tune

+10000

 

[LaserSVT]

I am one of the people that say the Mustangs suspension and chasis are barley adequate for the stock power levels. If it were me what I would do, and have done several times, is work on those areas first.

1. Subframes. One of the single greatest mods on a Mustang.
2. Suspension. The complete Eibach Pro kit with the springs, struts, shocks and sway bars is a great inexpensive complete kit that will make the car sit nicer, hook better, ride better and corner better. Just one example as there are thousands of ways to do a Stang suspension based on budget and prefrence.
3. Brakes. Did an EBC rotor and pad upgrade on my friends 2004 GT (he did it I should say) and took it to Harris Hill (look it up) and proceeded to beat the hell out of the car and he said he has never been so impressed with a simple upgrade like that in his life. Said car had less fade then the 2000 Cobra R he used to race. This guy mods GT500's, KR's, SUper Snakes, Teralingua, Ford GT Supercars etc etc so if he was impressed then ya know its a worthwhle upgrade.
4. Camber Caster plates as the car will need them and also a bumpsteer kit.


Now the car is ready for some power!
5. Off Road H-pipe. My favorite because it will give you a deep tone and substantial HP gain. A X-pipe will give maybe 1-2 more peak HP but sound raspy IMHO. Pro-Chambe has the best tone and has the power of a X-pipe but they are costly
6. GEARS!! Personally I like 3.73 but if you dont do a crap ton of highway driving then 4.10 is ok.
7. Plenum elbow. They are cheap and really work. I have seen only 2 dyno runs with them but both cases picked up 8hp and 11hp.
8. Tune. Real tune. Yeah it costs more but all can tunes will either leave power on the table or run the car dangerously lean.

Headers and cams do provide a power increase but to me they are too expensive for the gains offered. If I bought another 2v Stang then I would do TF heads and perform the header and cam upgrade at that time to save on labor.

Hope it helps.

 

[02nightmaregt]

I am always with Laser on this topic. I would definately start with suspension, and FLSFC's. Then gears, and a free flowing exhaust(including LT's). From what I understand Cold air intake are useless on our cars so you could probably hold off on that for a while. TB and Plenum are next and then a tuner to top it all off. Don't froget you'll also want good tires.

 

[Dark04GT]

I put the list in a new order:
1. Full length subframes (MM or steeda)
2. Eibach suspension kit / equivalent
3. longtube headers / shorty mid-pipe
4. programmer (ex. SCT, Diablo, etc...)
5. Wheels / Tires
6. Brake upgrade
7. Gears
8. cams
9. CAI, TB, plenum
10. good dyno-tune

That should about round out most of the boltons you would want

 

[Deleted member 38176]

Dumb question, what exactly do the diff. gears do?

Alters your driveshaft to axle rotation ratio. For example, 4.10 gears mean that the driveshaft spins 4.1 times for every 1 rotation the rear axle spins.

With shallower gears (like 4.10's), the engine is able to climb through the RPM range quicker which allows it to reach it's "sweet spot" RPM range sooner thus creating faster acceleration.

 

[1991notchbackLX]

1. fuzzy dice
2. underbody neons
3. Cobra R wing
4. spinner hubcaps
5. madd tyte stickers of all ur sponsors
6. Bride racing seats that cost more than the car itself
7. 300 shot of NOSSSSSSSSSS

 

[sick2v]

1. fuzzy dice
2. underbody neons
3. Cobra R wing
4. spinner hubcaps
5. madd tyte stickers of all ur sponsors
6. Bride racing seats that cost more than the car itself
7. 300 shot of NOSSSSSSSSSS

may I add....8. an autozone blower scoop for the hood. its non functional but its shiny chrome plastic looks hella dope....yeah hella...

 

[32ValveRom]

1. fuzzy dice
2. underbody neons
3. Cobra R wing
4. spinner hubcaps
5. madd tyte stickers of all ur sponsors
6. Bride racing seats that cost more than the car itself
7. 300 shot of NOSSSSSSSSSS

He said no Nos

 

[Rickyll7]

He said no Nos

Better make it Nawz, then.