where do i start??

302ponygt · Aug 26, 2009

hello everyone. I lve mustangs just don't really know much on where to start to get more HP out of them. I just bought a 94 mustang gt 5.0 5sp for 2200. its going to be my daily driver but want to have fun at the same time. can you al give me some pointers?

302GTS · Aug 26, 2009

Full exhaust, gears, good tires, heads/intake, spray, tune.

rj95svt · Aug 26, 2009

Ya gotta start somewhere. I would start with a full tune up. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor button, air filter, and fuel filter. Bump the timing to about 12-14 degrees and possibly buy a CAI. I bought a cheap ebay CAI after buying my car, I don't know if it helped all that much really but for 35 dollars it was worth a try. I would also clean the maf with some mass air sensor cleaner.

Does the car have anything done to it or is it all stock?

xr8d302 · Aug 26, 2009

I answered this on your other thread in tuning....but I'll reiterate

Cheap and easy route to more power:

GT40 heads, aluminum if possible. Use the Classifieds.

Cobra or GT40 intake. Again, Classifieds.

E-303 Cam Ford Racing will have those, as well as 47482 other companies.

Gears. 4.10's. Don't fear the gear. Motive makes decent ones.

Exhaust, get a good midpipe and some headers. Lots of company's make them. For a cat back, flowmasters are your budget's best friend.

As well, lower the damn car. You'll enjoy that both visually and in how the car handles. Eibach and H&R make good kits.

Get some cheap subframe connectors. They're cheap and will make you feel like you're no longer driving a shopping cart.

As others have said, a good tune up can't hurt you at all either.

/end lesson

302ponygt · Aug 26, 2009

the car is stock

302ponygt · Aug 26, 2009

thanks a lot for the pointers everyone

final5-0 · Aug 26, 2009

373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's
373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's 373's

Grady

xr8d302 · Aug 26, 2009

Grady.....you shouldn't lead the boy astray! 4.10's or bust!

Husky44 · Aug 27, 2009

xr8d302 said:
Grady.....you shouldn't lead the boy astray! 4.10's or bust!

Man, the guy just got here, why do you want to screw with him so early?

302ponygt: Welcome. Listen to Grady. Everyone else on here are clowns.

yukisho · Aug 27, 2009

Husky44 said:
Man, the guy just got here, why do you want to screw with him so early?

302ponygt: Welcome. Listen to Grady. Everyone else on here are clowns.

View attachment 247564

Uh Oh! I Think He Is Talking About Us!!

Husky44 · Aug 27, 2009

I guess I ought to take a stab at your question too.

If you want a big block, fire-breathing, cam-loping monster, I'm not the right guy to ask.

If you want a driver you can have fun with, without breaking the bank or any major parts, I've got a few ideas:

1) Basic tuneup. You need to do it anyway as part of regular PM, might as well get some performance out of it too.

2) Clean the MAF like others have said (do a search, it's on here. Super easy. No high $$ cleaners necessary, Qtip and rubbing alcohol will do the trick).

3) Acceleration: Far and away best bang-for-the-buck is new gears. I recommend 3.73s. I've driven both. 4.10s would be acceptable for a weekend car; 3.73s are what I have in my DD and they're just right IMHO. No other single mod (short of forced induction) will give you the SOTP improvement that gears will. And they're waaaayyyy cheaper and easier than forced induction.

4) Handling: Good lowering kit (I can only recommend eibachs, cuz that's all I've had, but I'm sure others are good. Don't go too low! Go ahead and do the CC kit while you're in there to get the best alignment you can.

5) Wheels and tires. Improves handling, and personalizes your car. Really helps finish the look with #4

6) Weight loss program--if you can. Dump the A/C, smog, etc.

From here on, it's either tiny improvements for little $$ (underdrive pulleys, CAI), or bigger improvements for big dollars (H/C/I, forced induction, engine swaps, stroker kits...)

Have fun, and don't let the mod bug break your bank. There will always be someone faster than you, no matter how much you spend. Start with a plan to get to what you need to have fun with your car the way you want to!

Husky44 · Aug 27, 2009

yukisho said:
View attachment 247563

Uh Oh! I Think He Is Talking About Us!!

Dude, I'm scared to go to bed now...

Guess I'm leaving the nightlight on.

yukisho · Aug 27, 2009

I know it's creepy. Good thing I'm not afraid of clowns. Got this huge house all to myself for the next day lol.

nmcgrawj · Aug 27, 2009

Do your research. Look at other combos. Figure out what you want exactly...then start saving for it.

To start, i say tune up, subframe connectors, struts/shocks/springs to lower it, shifter (if its a stick) or a shift kit for an automatic, and bump the timing.

I wish i had an idea on where i wanted the car to go years back. Wasted a ton of money buying and selling crap. If possible, do it all once. Dont do gears now unless they are going to compliment your final engine combination that you want to have....because for example, doing a 4.10 now then figuring out u want a turbo....you're gonna have to pay someone again to take the gear out and swap it.

It would be a little different if u were doing the labor, then u wouldnt be paying for labor twice, but you still lose money buying and selling. If its going to take you 5 years, then it might not matter as much. But gears should compliment the engine combo, too many guys (including myself) want an immediate improvement....then end up regretting certain things if they dont compliment what i really want the car to have. The stuff i listed above can change, but for the most part it will build a solid foundation and allow u to enjoy the car.

Take your time, do modifications that dont change according to your engine set up. Try to make a plan with a final setup for the car you think you want, and slowly start moving in that direction. You will appreciate it in the end!

For a minor increase in power and reliability, spending $500 for an old explorer/mountaineer 5.0 motor out of a junk yard is a great option. It doesnt make you invest a ton of money into a direction you dont want to stay in, and you can build a stroker or save for aluminum heads or something. Then you can sell the heads and intake for almost the price of the engine itself.

final5-0 · Aug 27, 2009

Ok ... OK

I'll add just a tad more info

Yes ... I gotta go with those who say to think long term
then again
I did reason out my reply ... with some amount of thought

He is a stick after all
and
Lets face it ... most don't even go full NA with aftermarket h/c/i
much less
Go with a blower or turbo

anyhoo

If I was gonna stay NA with basic bolt on stuff
or even
Some OEM stuff like intake and heads

Well ... none of the above is gonna extend the powerband all that much
therefore
I'd stay with 373's which I believe is the best all around gear for a stick

Now if you went with aftermarket stuff which will move more air
and a cam with some overlap and a mid length runner upper

Well ... your powerband would be extended AND shifted up
therefore
Yes ... 410's would be more suited

AND

They are not gonna act as radical as if you had a mild combo with
it's more narrow powerband :Word:

If we are talking about a dd and a lot of highway driving
Well
70 mph & short tires with 410's will produce more rpm than 373's

As always ... It is ALL ABOUT application

Never the Less

NO MOD ... Will yield more Smiles per Miles as a steep gear set

Grady

drakesdad · Sep 1, 2009

Husky44 said:
Have fun, and don't let the mod bug break your bank. There will always be someone faster than you, no matter how much you spend. Start with a plan to get to what you need to have fun with your car the way you want to!

very true words above..no matter how fast you become, Wes is still out there somewhere.......

and :OT:
Pennywise FTW

1fun281 · Sep 1, 2009

not to steal the thread or anything but i have a 5.0 question that i think OP can use as well, im a big fan of the sound a 4.6 produces with o/r h pipe and a mac catback, the deep throaty muscle sound, but at the same time a smooth one if that makes sense, my question is (sorry if its a stupid one) what are the best exhaust setups to get to make a 5.0 sound pretty deep and throaty as well. i know the o/r h is a must for the deep sound but what catbacks would everyone reccomend?

yukisho · Sep 1, 2009

This is the setup I am getting and have a buddy that has it and it sounds like sexy on wheels.

Shorty headers
Borla catback setup
Off road hpipes
Cold air intake
3.73's
or
4.10's

efladage7152 · Sep 1, 2009

1. tune up (make sure everything is mechanically right)
2. Cold Air intake (around 200$)
3. Exhaust
4. 4.10 gears

final5-0 · Sep 1, 2009

efladage7152 said:
1. tune up (make sure everything is mechanically right)
2. Cold Air intake (around 200$)
3. Exhaust
4. 4.10 gears

Here is a way to make the cash go farther AND get more power

I'd spend 50 bux at the most on item #2 by making it myself

THEN

I'd put the other money in something that would make some hp

Like a set of ud pulleys
or
150-175 bux is a long way toward an intake ... upper/lower

Grady

where do i start??

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