Where to start to gain hp?

jzhgt19 · Nov 28, 2010

hello i have a 2002 gt i want to add some hp but unsure where to start. im looking for the most hp for the $$$ where should i start let me know thanks

slayerripkdc · Nov 28, 2010

Gears will not give you any more power, but it will give you a great seat of the pants feel and will definetly put a smile on your face. Next purchase an off road mid pipe and underdrive pulleys. Save your money and purchase a used supercharger and get a good tuner to tune it.

trinity_gt · Nov 28, 2010

If a blower is an option, don't bother with pulleys.

fast97gt · Nov 28, 2010

all good answers, but we need more info. like 5spd? DD? how much are you wanting to spend? how much hp are you looking for? once these are answered, youll get better responses

trinity_gt · Nov 28, 2010

The bottom line is that airflow makes power. You can increase efficiency a bit with a tuner by adding a bit of timing and running premium fuel (the 2V is calibrated from the factory to run 87 octane) but more power means moving more air per cycle.

This means freeing the intake and exhaust tracts up. The basics might include things like:

- a decent cold-air intake (that gets air from the fenderwell):

- a 70- or 75-mm throttle body and matching upper plenum:

- long tube headers and a matching midpipe (catback goes without saying...):

(4V shown)

If you want to go deeper into the engine to move air, look into a set of good cams and perhaps a set of Trickflow TW heads and a matching manifold.

Keep in mind that a blower will get you all the HP and torque your shortblock can handle without touching the internals: stock exhaust manifolds, stock cams, stock heads and, if you go centri, the stock intake manifold and even plenum.

Nitrous is a decent way to give quick HP and is probably gives the best bang/buck ratio. But it's not legal in many jurisdictions, can be hard on the motor, can be finicky (re purging, backfires, leaky solenoids etc etc) but if you stay sane on the shot, it might be what you're looking for.

You need to assess your own needs. You want to add "some hp": How much? What are the long term plans for the car? Do you see yourself going forced-induction? Or are you just looking for 10-15HP more? Going to race the car on weekends or is it only a daily driver? Don't start pouring money into the car without some sort of idea of your overall plan. As I noted above: if you get all the bolt ons and then go blower later on, you might have parts you either can't use or are no longer really needed and that's just money wasted.

jzhgt19 · Nov 28, 2010

Its an automatic and i drive it daily. the only thing different on it is flowmaster mufflers. At first i was thinking CAI and TB with a tuner and O/R h-pipe. I read on forums they don't give you as much as they are stated to give you unless you have other parts with them.

46stang · Nov 28, 2010

the best bang for the buck if staying NA is cams, longtube headers, and X-H pipe.-especially if you can install these items yourself.
Now if you plan to super charge or turbo charge your car down the road then think and plan carefully before any purchases.

mrvax · Nov 28, 2010

I'd highly recommend gears as a first mod.

Everett · Nov 28, 2010

gears and a tuner first and foremost...take the silencer off and then go to the exhaust....nitrous is your best bang for buck and you can run 125 on stock internals....whats great about spray is it only runs the engine hard while spraying....you get to keep your gas mileage and your wife and kids wont kill themselves driving it....but a very wise man in this forum told me our cars already make great power but cant plant it on the road so first mod should be suspension...start with sub frame connectors then lca....help keep power on pavement...then start the power mods...ask r3dn3k....he is a mustang guru and anything he says about these cars is gospel....do what he says and you are in business....i am going for 390 gears...i have driven a 5 speed with both 410 and 373s and 410 demolish highway mileage and 373s didnt pull fast enough...but whatever you do be happy doing it....you have a piece of automotive history and that horse emblem is more than just a model of car....happy driving

GDawg · Nov 28, 2010

You've got to get air into that engine to do anything. Our heads suck! Or "don't suck" depending how you look at it. Short of porting and polishing, I would just throw on some nitrous and be done with it. Like Everett said, you can do a 125 shot on stock internals.

If you have the money, do forced induction.

BurningRubber · Nov 28, 2010

trinity_gt said:
Nitrous is a decent way to give quick HP and is probably gives the best bang/buck ratio. But it's not legal in many jurisdictions, can be hard on the motor, can be finicky (re purging, backfires, leaky solenoids etc etc) but if you stay sane on the shot, it might be what you're looking for.

A 100 shot is a good, safe compliment to a 4.6 car. It is risky, but keeping up on solenoid maintenance and running with a WOT switch and window switch help out a lot.

Fit my needs, it's a blast, and I've ruffled some feathers in the process, haha.

jzhgt19 said:
Its an automatic and i drive it daily. the only thing different on it is flowmaster mufflers. At first i was thinking CAI and TB with a tuner and O/R h-pipe. I read on forums they don't give you as much as they are stated to give you unless you have other parts with them.

Another thing on this - manufactures claims of HP gains are almost always inflated. You won't gain 15hp from a cold air intake, 20hp from an x-pipe, etc. They always test parts under "optimal" conditions (as in built motor, other parts already on the car, etc.).

The honest truth is bolt ons, while they do offer gains (although small), are good money wasters except for a select few.

Since your car is an automatic, there's really no better bang for the buck than a gear change (4.10's are the general consensus). If you want more out of it, search for the "j-mod", really a great mod for the auto's in our cars. Even more? Get a higher stall converter and enjoy the fun. Buy accordingly though, it's not a one size fits all deal. Figure out what you want from the car and go from there.

On top of that, switching to a catless h or x pipe will compliment the sound of your Flowmasters, and will uncork the engine a little bit.

With more air going out, an air intake will help get more in. No need to go overboard here. JLT seems to make the most power though.

Honestly a killer 2v setup for an auto car is this:

Gear swap
Stall
J-mod
Exhaust
Nitrous (100 shot is fairly safe, offers nice gains)

fast97gt · Nov 29, 2010

dont forget to beef up the tranny as well, maybe a small stall speed conver, and the j-mod.

GettinThere · Nov 29, 2010

Everett said:
gears and a tuner first and foremost...

+1000

Especially since he has an automatic. 4.10s or bust, baby...

BurninRubb3r · Nov 29, 2010

N/a: Gears, cams, exhaust, intake, tuning

Blower: Exhaust, intake, tuning, meth injection

03_TrueBlue_GT · Nov 29, 2010

Gears are definitely worth it from what I have experienced. If staying N/A like these guys said just go with a tune, X or H pipe, a decent CAI, some good tires and subframe connectors and thats a good start...

Good luck!

Cobnial · Nov 29, 2010

My first mod was a cold air intake and an exhaust for my mustang. The next step for me is to get a tuner and 4.10 gears combo. If you don't wanna beat around the bush and go all out, just buy a super charger. Theyre expensive as hell but it will give you the most power and the least effort. But i think bolt ons are fun so im doing mine one by one haha have fun

BurningRubber · Nov 29, 2010

BurninRubb3r said:
N/a: Gears, cams, exhaust, intake, tuning

Blower: Exhaust, intake, tuning, meth injection

Nice user name... lol.

02NutStang · Dec 11, 2010

How many miles are on the car? I know this may sound redundant but over time cars will lose horsepower due to carbon build up and deposits. I always believe its a good idea to gain some factory HP back before any add-ons. Maintenance such as Air filters, Cleaning inside intake manifolds and intake heads, injector cleaning. Even replacing a clogged EGR valve can help a car not hesitate. Just a thought...

007 · Dec 12, 2010

The fact its an auto changes everything. Your first mod needs to be 4.10s with a SCT SF3 tuner. Youll gain power, get a new shift pattern and the gears make a shocking difference. With those changes you'll feel like you picked up 50hp.

All the intake and plenums and pulleys etc. did **** compared to the gears and tuner.

mustang_matt · Dec 29, 2010

Well my approach is not as glamorous as some of the others but it will grow with you AND the car will be faster.. start at the rear and come forward. 4:10 gears, diffie cover, hardened axles, suspension, long tube exhaust, programmer, tubular k-member, after you do all the chassis and suspension mods you can THEN start on engine mods. like I said its not as glamorous but I believe its the better way to go, and you'll be less likely to break stuff.

Where to start to gain hp?

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