[04MachOne]

I'm so indecisive it's ridiculous. I'm having trouble deciding what to do next. I really want to lower the car and get some black saleens, but the blacks saleens wouldn't come until the tires are about done with so this is what I'm deciding between.

Lowering the car and getting c/c plates.

or

Gears tuner, 31spline differential, and 31 spline axles.

or

Either Bassani midlengths or Mac LTs with an o/r prochamber or lethal performance o/r x.

Would the headers even be worth the cost? Because I'm not about to install these myself even with the help I have so I'll have to pay to have them installed. Also I really want to lower the car but I'm dreading the ride getting worse than it already is and having to be paranoid about hitting something with my chin spoiler.

Depending on what I go with it'll be a month or 2 before I can buy it anyways, just would like some help deciding. Thanks.

[Cricket]

I just had 4.10s installed with a new carrier, so I may be a little bias, but go for gears.

I did the 31 spline conversion on my GT when I had it.

03-04 stock oem carrier, moser 31 spline axles, and motive 4.10s. I was happy with very happy with it.

At the track(1/8th) on street tires I was running consistent 8.7s-8.9s. This was an auto gt with just a catback, gears, CAI, and tune, and that was before my dyno tune.

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by Cricket I just had 4.10s installed with a new carrier, so I may be a little bias, but go for gears. I did the 31 spline conversion on my GT when I had it. 03-04 stock oem carrier, moser 31 spline axles, and motive 4.10s. I was happy with very happy with it. At the track(1/8th) on street tires I was running consistent 8.7s-8.9s. This was an auto gt with just a catback, gears, CAI, and tune, and that was before my dyno tune.

Will gears really effect flooring it from like 40-50? While I'm driving sometimes I just like to drop it a gear and gun it will it feel slower doing that? Even from say 60-70?

[Smoothgrandmama]

On n/a engines headers are worth it. Ive had gears but I think thats something you should get after you modded your car and your ready to fine tune for your trap speed

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by -nick- Will gears really effect flooring it from like 40-50? While I'm driving sometimes I just like to drop it a gear and gun it will it feel slower doing that? Even from say 60-70?

Gears are unlike any kind of mod you will have. It's a different feeling because it doesn't "kick" in like you would feel with other mods either in your powerband or from a stop. It's because they are integral into the movement of your car. So it's always doing it's thing. You can feel it, but you will feel it throughout your entire movement of your car. You will notice it more with a manual because you are shifting faster. It really woke my 4v up.

They wake our little 4v's up because they do like the rpms, and get us into them faster.

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by Cricket Gears are unlike any kind of mod you will have. It's a different feeling because it doesn't "kick" in like you would feel with other mods either in your powerband or from a stop. It's because they are integral into the movement of your car. So it's always doing it's thing. You can feel it, but you will feel it throughout your entire movement of your car. You will notice it more with a manual because you are shifting faster. It really woke my 4v up. They wake our little 4v's up because they do like the rpms, and get us into them faster.

I guess this is what I'm going for then. One guy I know told me that if I'm doing gears I need to go ahead and just beef up the rear end. Can't remember why though. I never take it to the track, I might once after all my performance mods are done just to get a time slip, but other than that it's all street. What all should I get to beef it up?

Links would be great, especially if it's from AM since we get a discount there.

[manolith]

Lower it first and also put a good pair of upper and lower control arms.

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by manolith Lower it first and also put a good pair of upper and lower control arms.

So after lowering it LCAs and UCAs will keep the ride quality good?

[Ryan Paymaster]

Originally Posted by -nick- So after lowering it LCAs and UCAs will keep the ride quality good?

Eh, it stiffened my ride up pretty good. A lot of it has to do with what kind of bushings you use as well. You get polyurethane and you start to feel stuff more. Once you leave stock you're starting to get rid of that cushy feeling for a more performance orientated vehicle. My ride got a bit noisier and stiffer after suspension.

With that said some good U/LCA and new bushings are nice.

If you are "building the car right" you should probably start with suspension as it is. Warning: It's horribly boring and you won't feel "the fun" like you would with a set of gears or headers.

$ : performance Ratio says gears. Gears + headers is really fun because then you're up high in the RPM really fast and the car sounds awesome.


Right choice: suspension
Best "go faster now" option: gears
Coolest option to enjoy the car more: headers and exhaust

[manolith]

Originally Posted by -nick- So after lowering it LCAs and UCAs will keep the ride quality good?

If ride quality is what you want then forget about it.

[MadBeau]

Gears, by far. Most noticeable.

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by manolith If ride quality is what you want then forget about it.

I was just asking cause I said I don't care to lower it unless I can't get it to ride like it is now or better, and so that one response was lower it and get U/LCAs so I figured he would've only suggested that if it kept the ride quality the same.

[04mach1mustang]

I just bought 4.30 gears for my Mach and they are being installed on Thursday... I'll let you know how they feel on Thursday night!

[manolith]

The best ride quality will be stock. As soon as you touch the suspenssion it will get stiffer and noises will start to apear. The reason to work on suspenssion for the most part is for performance benefits.

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by manolith The best ride quality will be stock. As soon as you touch the suspenssion it will get stiffer and noises will start to apear. The reason to work on suspenssion for the most part is for performance benefits.

I want it lowered though I can't stand it looking like a truck. I guess when I lower it I'll just get the springs and C/C plates.

[Ryan Paymaster]

Originally Posted by -nick- I want it lowered though I can't stand it looking like a truck. I guess when I lower it I'll just get the springs and C/C plates.

For the most part if you're using good springs (which all of them pretty much are) the ride quality drop isn't really noticeable (assuming you're not going down like 2"). What is noticeable is the fact that a lot of people who do lower the car also have larger wheels. When you're dropped an inch or more rolling on 19"s with 275/35/19 tires you're going to feel it.

If you're riding on a stock 17" wheel and meaty tires I doubt you'll notice much difference from a mild drop from a something like Eibach Sport Springs. Change the upper the lower control arms and bam - good bye stock ride. Once you have a new gear, headers, and exhaust all that "ride and noise" comfort start getting thrown out the window and amazingly you stop caring about it as well. It's a damn drug.

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by Ryan Paymaster For the most part if you're using good springs (which all of them pretty much are) the ride quality drop isn't really noticeable (assuming you're not going down like 2"). What is noticeable is the fact that a lot of people who do lower the car also have larger wheels. When you're dropped an inch or more rolling on 19"s with 275/35/19 tires you're going to feel it. If you're riding on a stock 17" wheel and meaty tires I doubt you'll notice much difference from a mild drop from a something like Eibach Sport Springs. Change the upper the lower control arms and bam - good bye stock ride. Once you have a new gear, headers, and exhaust all that "ride and noise" comfort start getting thrown out the window and amazingly you stop caring about it as well. It's a damn drug.

Oh, well later down the road when my tires are close to needing to be changed I MIGHT get some 18x9s all the way around but I'm not sure yet. So if I dropped it and got some C/C plates it wouldn't be unbearable? I mean I used to drive an '00 v6 so I can deal with poor ride quality as long as it doesn't get worse than that was.

I think right now I'm just going to do the gears and beef up the rear.

[2003MACHWON]

if i were you 04machone i would go for the staggered look with those 18's. trust me it makes the car look way meaner and helps getting traction as well

[04MachOne]

Originally Posted by 2003MACHWON if i were you 04machone i would go for the staggered look with those 18's. trust me it makes the car look way meaner and helps getting traction as well

Yeah I mean I want to, it's just not reasonable. Tires are already going to be expensive for 275/65s at 18in so getting even wider and not being able to rotate them and have them wear fast isn't too smart for me. I mean how much faster would they wear by not being able to rotate them?

[tweeters97]

if your worried about the look of a 4x4, get it lowered first. u/lcas and a bump steer kit if you go below an inch and a half. as manolith said above, the drop is for performance benefits. aka handling. if your car can't perform without the suspension mods when you build the engine, then you could wreck your newly modded mach 1. wiseman says. someone out there is always faster, so look your best. and our cars look their best when lowered. everything is complimented by a lower ride height once you start to mod the drivetrain and engine. oh and look into full length weld in subframe connectors. hope this helps.