Where does a new guy start on engine upgrades?

Stagray · July 21st, 2007, 04:35 AM

98 Cobra. I am relativly new at modding an engine but am very intimidated by it because I fear blowing it up. Where is a nice place to start that easy and adds a bit of kick that I will notice?

HMUSN · July 21st, 2007, 06:19 AM

gear swap.

Stagray · July 21st, 2007, 06:33 AM

what kind of gears and where would I get them? Like I said, Im new to this so be gentle!!!

HMUSN · July 21st, 2007, 06:39 AM

for a 98 Cobra...

4:10's and you can get them from American muscle.
They are a vendor here so you get a discount. just pm AMEmilie for more details.
click here

Stagray · July 21st, 2007, 06:53 AM

Awsome, thanks I sent them a PM. With any luck I can get those and the Headlights at the same time and pay reduced shipping as well.

HMUSN · July 21st, 2007, 07:09 AM

i am sure you can. as far as shipping i believe that it is free through AM

Mystry · July 21st, 2007, 11:12 PM

IMO i think a good exhaust is nice...

Ryan Paymaster · July 21st, 2007, 11:15 PM

AmericanMuscle is free shipping as long as your the 48 states for sure!

Also, get the Install Kit and some fluid while your at it? Might as well with the discount.

Personally, I'd start with Long Tube Headers and exhaust all the way back. Part of owning a muscle car is the noise. Might as well open it up, it's most of the fun with these cars! Get the gear after that and start looking for a good CAI. I personally love my K&N FIPK2 for looking nice, functioning well, and keeping my strut bar.

Stagray · July 21st, 2007, 11:29 PM

I have Flowmaster installed already. Waiting on a replay from AM for the gear swap. K&M Air Filter put on. Have a CF Hood coming to me, CF Mirrors with LED turn signals built in, new Altezza Brake lights. Looking to upgrade the motor slowy so I dont blow the damn thing up. Audio system is also coming along soon as I can find a head unit to fit with a DVD player.

I am new at Modding an engine so I am trying to find the simple things first.

Boomer · July 21st, 2007, 11:45 PM

Keep it simple start from the bottom of the car and work up, most people dive head first into the engine and realize they made mistakes later. Make the car as fast as you can before touching the engine, in the long run it will add the most benefits. If a car blows the tires off every gear a slower car that hooks will beat it.... Free advice

Stagray · July 21st, 2007, 11:47 PM

Thats exactly why I want to go slow with it. I hooked up the exterior first so I can research and get my head right before I make any decisions.

Sounds like the 4:10 gears and the Long Tube Headers will be my first additions.

MustangMatt96GT · July 21st, 2007, 11:55 PM

4.10s, Upper and Lower control arms and subframe connectors!

In that order

Stagray · July 22nd, 2007, 12:48 AM

Was looking at Upper and Lower control arms. I found some places selling a set of 4 for 200$ then some places like AM are selling 2 for 250 per set. Whats the major diffrences in the arms?

MustangMatt96GT · July 22nd, 2007, 01:19 AM

Okay well I say to go with Mega Bite Jr. Lower control arms and then a steeda upper like in the link! They will be the best you can get and boomer says that they work great!! 555-4100

Steeda Uppers

Stagray · July 22nd, 2007, 03:31 AM

JLT Performance Cold Air Intake is something else I was looking at adding. Its around 250$.... Does it add enough HP for the buck?

Ryan Paymaster · July 22nd, 2007, 10:48 AM

You'll have to get rid of your stock strut bar. Some people, (myself) didn't want to do this. Some don't care about the bar and go with the JLT Cold Air Intake which is probably the best choice, I just had a hard time wanting to give up the bar.

From what I've read, it is pretty much the best you can buy for our car, but I don't know how much better it is over any other brand such as a K&N FIPK2, BBK, MAC, etc. I stayed away from metal intakes.

TheUNZippee! · July 22nd, 2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Stagray

JLT Performance Cold Air Intake is something else I was looking at adding. Its around 250$.... Does it add enough HP for the buck?

Yes.

HMUSN · July 22nd, 2007, 10:53 AM

JLT ftw

TheUNZippee! · July 22nd, 2007, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by HMUSN

JLT ftw

Word.

MustangMatt96GT · July 22nd, 2007, 11:29 AM

yeah! But if you plan to road race this car at all you will want a strut tower brace, but if its just a street driver that gets taken to the track then I say get the JLT!

July 21st, 2007, 04:35 AM	#1
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	Where does a new guy start on engine upgrades? 98 Cobra. I am relativly new at modding an engine but am very intimidated by it because I fear blowing it up. Where is a nice place to start that easy and adds a bit of kick that I will notice?

July 21st, 2007, 06:19 AM	#2
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	gear swap. __________________

July 21st, 2007, 06:39 AM	#4
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	for a 98 Cobra... 4:10's and you can get them from American muscle. They are a vendor here so you get a discount. just pm AMEmilie for more details. click here __________________

July 21st, 2007, 07:09 AM	#6
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	i am sure you can. as far as shipping i believe that it is free through AM __________________

July 21st, 2007, 11:12 PM	#7
Mystry Enthusiast 03 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington, Illinios Posts: 708 iTrader: 0 reviews	IMO i think a good exhaust is nice... __________________

July 21st, 2007, 06:33 AM	#3
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	what kind of gears and where would I get them? Like I said, Im new to this so be gentle!!!

July 21st, 2007, 06:53 AM	#5
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	Awsome, thanks I sent them a PM. With any luck I can get those and the Headlights at the same time and pay reduced shipping as well.

July 21st, 2007, 11:15 PM	#8
Ryan Paymaster Enthusiast 1996 Ford SVT Cobra 13.36@102 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Plainfield, IL USA Posts: 661 iTrader: 0 reviews	AmericanMuscle is free shipping as long as your the 48 states for sure! Also, get the Install Kit and some fluid while your at it? Might as well with the discount. Personally, I'd start with Long Tube Headers and exhaust all the way back. Part of owning a muscle car is the noise. Might as well open it up, it's most of the fun with these cars! Get the gear after that and start looking for a good CAI. I personally love my K&N FIPK2 for looking nice, functioning well, and keeping my strut bar.

July 21st, 2007, 11:29 PM	#9
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have Flowmaster installed already. Waiting on a replay from AM for the gear swap. K&M Air Filter put on. Have a CF Hood coming to me, CF Mirrors with LED turn signals built in, new Altezza Brake lights. Looking to upgrade the motor slowy so I dont blow the damn thing up. Audio system is also coming along soon as I can find a head unit to fit with a DVD player. I am new at Modding an engine so I am trying to find the simple things first.

July 21st, 2007, 11:45 PM	#10
Boomer Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: warren, Mi Posts: 941 iTrader: 0 reviews	Keep it simple start from the bottom of the car and work up, most people dive head first into the engine and realize they made mistakes later. Make the car as fast as you can before touching the engine, in the long run it will add the most benefits. If a car blows the tires off every gear a slower car that hooks will beat it.... Free advice __________________ Just another 10 second Mustang, what did you expect ? http://youtube.com/watch?v=BgykaUrmfvM

July 21st, 2007, 11:47 PM	#11
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	Thats exactly why I want to go slow with it. I hooked up the exterior first so I can research and get my head right before I make any decisions. Sounds like the 4:10 gears and the Long Tube Headers will be my first additions.

July 21st, 2007, 11:55 PM	#12
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	4.10s, Upper and Lower control arms and subframe connectors! In that order __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

July 22nd, 2007, 12:48 AM	#13
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	Was looking at Upper and Lower control arms. I found some places selling a set of 4 for 200$ then some places like AM are selling 2 for 250 per set. Whats the major diffrences in the arms?

July 22nd, 2007, 01:19 AM	#14
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	Okay well I say to go with Mega Bite Jr. Lower control arms and then a steeda upper like in the link! They will be the best you can get and boomer says that they work great!! 555-4100 Steeda Uppers __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

July 22nd, 2007, 03:31 AM	#15
Stagray Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	JLT Performance Cold Air Intake is something else I was looking at adding. Its around 250$.... Does it add enough HP for the buck?

July 22nd, 2007, 10:48 AM	#16
Ryan Paymaster Enthusiast 1996 Ford SVT Cobra 13.36@102 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Plainfield, IL USA Posts: 661 iTrader: 0 reviews	You'll have to get rid of your stock strut bar. Some people, (myself) didn't want to do this. Some don't care about the bar and go with the JLT Cold Air Intake which is probably the best choice, I just had a hard time wanting to give up the bar. From what I've read, it is pretty much the best you can buy for our car, but I don't know how much better it is over any other brand such as a K&N FIPK2, BBK, MAC, etc. I stayed away from metal intakes.

July 22nd, 2007, 10:53 AM	#18
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	JLT ftw __________________

July 22nd, 2007, 11:29 AM	#20
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	yeah! But if you plan to road race this car at all you will want a strut tower brace, but if its just a street driver that gets taken to the track then I say get the JLT! __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

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