What's your Biggest Bang for your Buck Mod ???

Jon350 · Jun 27, 2008

Like the title suggests, I would like to see if I could gather together a general consensus on what your biggest bang for the buck modification has been on your S-197. It would be awesome if you guys could shout out your favorite mod thus far.

My only exception is power adders. Power adders will always be great modifications and will always add power. So let’s just assume in this case that blowers and turbos are excluded.

What modifications have you done to your S-197 thus far that have yielded the greatest results???

Let’s hear them!!

'06 stang · Jun 27, 2008

Dougs 91 race tune XCal2 with CAI from Bama Chips Tuning.

timeless2 · Jun 27, 2008

Gears.

kooldawg6 · Jun 27, 2008

Here are three of mine:
1. WMS CAI with ram air tray/SCT X-Cal 2(tunes from Brenspeed)-$750
Made the car so much more fun to drive(more power, better throttle response and the auto trans responds much better).

2. StangSuspension.com's Series II lowering springs-$190
(1.75" Front/1.5" Rear)Even while retaining OEM struts/shocks, greatly improved road feel, handling and looks. This was done after my current tire/wheel combo so the improvements can't be attributed to them.

3. Classic Design Concepts hood struts-$100
To be able to pop the hood and have it open nearly to the physical limits of the factory hinges and not have a prop rod in your way to me is worth two to three times the $$$

My worst purchase:
Steeda adjustable panhard bar-$160
Although it works great once adjusted, it is a pain to get it adjusted as the adjustments are made all the way at both ends of the bar. This is fine for the driver side as the lock nut is out in the open, but the passenger side lock nut is blocked by the bracket where the bar mounts and you can't both get a wrench on it AND turn it! This means you have to loosen both bolts that hold it, drop one side, twist to adjust it, put it back up, install the bolt, put the car back on the ground, measure and possibly have it not right and have to do that process all over again In a hurry back in April, it was off slightly so I adjusted it the day before I went drag racing and didn't use locktite and hoped it would hold Well a few days later I had a rattle going on and found one of the lock nuts had worked its way loose enough to cause the rattle. It has locktite now and is holding up fine, but I will be getting a BMR adjustable in the future.

Jon350 · Jun 27, 2008

Iiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnntersting.......Keep'em coming!

oh Timeless2, what gear ratio did you go with? And are you running a manual trans?

dc06gt · Jun 27, 2008

I'd say
Short throw shifter
CAI
Tune

not in any particular order

steedman07 · Jun 27, 2008

Gears, gears gears..CAI/custom dyno tune combo..period..Oh, and did I say gears? The weight of our cars deperately needs some gear

timeless2 · Jun 27, 2008

Jon350 said:
oh Timeless2, what gear ratio did you go with? And are you running a manual trans?

Go with 4.10s or better.

shooterm1 · Jun 27, 2008

GT or V6

walter · Jun 27, 2008

Driving: Ford Mustang GT = 300HP for little over $20K need I say more?

Feel: Shifter $120 = Precise shifting and positive feel.

Speed: Cold Air Intake + Tuner $550 +30-40HP depending on application and no lag.

Handling: Fays2 Engineering Watts Linkage $600 = you drive car not road drives your car.

Looks: Roush Rear springs $95 = evens the car out and you'll hear less 4x4 suspension jokes.

Jon350 · Jun 27, 2008

shooterm1 said:
GT or V6

Wellllllllll I hope I'm not alienating anyone here, but my original question was aimed at V8 models: GT, Bullitt, GT-500.

You know guys, the one thing I haven't heard yet is clutch. ALTHOUGH I consider myself a bleed-blue ford guy , I also have an S2000. And I've got to say, after 3 hot laps down the 1320, the clutch disc's traction was never as crisp.....Does this at all ring true for the S-197?

Has anyone switched to a different clutch setup with satisfying results? Or is the stock clutch a great setup from the get-go?

bigcat · Jun 27, 2008

timeless2 said:
Go with 4.10s or better.

4.30s ftw

however, you will need a tuner to reset the gear ratio with S197s.

Hoboattacker · Jun 28, 2008

Supercharger and 3.73's. I have 4.10's and while it's nice off the line, i wish I had 3.73's for a little more top end

I would say if you stay NA get a CAI/Tune, Gears, Full exhaust, UDP's, CMCV delete plates, and maybe a bigger TB.

Looks wise get Eibach sportlines and 18" wheels/tires

Get a short throw of your choice.

bluecar · Jun 28, 2008

If I had to say just one, it would be the Bama Tuner.

whyask · Jun 28, 2008

4:10s or better
CAI w/ tune Bamachips or brenspeed

'06 stang · Jun 28, 2008

I got my FRPP 3.73's installed today and I wish I would have done it sooner. Besides a CAI/tune gears are the next best bang for the buck. No more need to turn my OD off in traffic anymore.

killrb · Jun 28, 2008

Posted via Mobile DeviceMy Brenspeed tuner and C@L cold air were the best thing I put on my '08 automatic GT. Amazing difference.

Brandon

chad9350 · Jun 28, 2008

CAI, tune, gears, and drag radials...

CAI, tune, gears, and drag radials...

MANY other mods out there, but besides nitrous or FI, these 4 will be the only ones your ass dyno will really feel; and they will yield lower et's more than a couple tenths.

Once there, make sure you are set on your future

EXAMPLE:

If you KNOW you are going with sc or turbo, do NOT spend $$$ on exhaust unless you are positive it works to your favor i.e. Long tubes and a high flow system will usually yield 2lbs of boost lower. FI needs sum back pressure.... UNLESS you are going with huge boost. Now, thats a whole new story...

NastyStang113 · Jun 29, 2008

I guess I'd have to say ... Tune & CAI. Followed closely by the MGW shifter.

blacksheep06 · Jun 30, 2008

FRPP 4.10/aluminum driveshaft - $1100 installed

What's your Biggest Bang for your Buck Mod ???

Jon350

'06 stang

New Member

timeless2

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici

kooldawg6

mine works really well and can take a fair amount

Jon350

dc06gt

New Member

steedman07

Member

timeless2

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici

shooterm1

New Member

walter

Jon350

bigcat

start with the upper hole, and if more traction is

Hoboattacker

New Member

bluecar

Member

whyask

New Member

'06 stang

New Member

killrb

chad9350

New Member

NastyStang113

New Member

blacksheep06

New Member

Similar threads

What's your Biggest Bang for your Buck Mod ???

New Member

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici

mine works really well and can take a fair amount

New Member

Member

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici

New Member

start with the upper hole, and if more traction is

New Member

Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency