[Guest001-04GT]

Just bought a 04 GT last night, now I am focusing on improving its visual style and performance.

The problem is I have never modded a car before, so I don't know what to put on it to boost hp and torque or performance. So any help that you can offer would be appreciated. I can't afford too much in performance at the moment so please keep that in mind. I am putting alot of money into the exhaust, side skirts, c-pillars, and wheels this month. I plan on focusing on the engine next month.

I was thinking of installing a new exhaust which would be a bassani o/r x-pipe, but other than that I am not sure what I could really do to get more performance, torque, and horsepower out of this car.

Is there a better sounding exhaust over the bassani currently on the market?

My next question has to do with visual styling
Please, open the link in another window and look at the sonic blue 04 GT. Then look at the questions below.

Just for verification
The front and rear bumpers shown are default GT bumpers?
The side skirt is a roush stage 3 exhaust addon?
The rear wing is a Cobra R wing?
The wheels are mustang FOOSE F120 wheels?

How far should I lower the car itself to match whats in that picture?
Proper lowering on the car to achieve a nice look

What kind of lowering kit do you recommend?

Please let me know what you would do to a 04 GT to improve its performance that would be somewhere between $500-$600.00 in mods and offer a noticable improvement. I am basically shooting for 415-435hp which is what a roush, ronaele, or saleen mustang offers.

My focus for this month is visual style and sound profile
My focus next month is 100% performance and handling

I estimate it will take me about 3 months to fully mod my mustang out

[Guest001-04GT]

visual style questions are for the sonic blue 04 GT shown here


I could not post the link within the first post due to restrictions with being new to this forum

[DeMello]

500-600 bucks will get you gears and pretty much nothing else

410s will help you alot with speed but not add any hp/tq but you will defintily fell the difference

for your goal hp of 415 you are going to definitly need a power adder or a completly differnet engine

your looking at atleast 3 grand for a supercharger or turbo (can be alot more if you buy brand new and depending on the brand)

a s/c or turbo will get you to your goal

you could also get nitrous for about a grand (without tune)

it wont put you as high in hp but you will be higher with torque and its alot less money

and somethign to remember about your car....400-450 hp is the max limit our internals can handle

[thorpedo26]

the front and rear bumper arnt default



tokyo drift fool

[DeMello]

Originally Posted by thorpedo26 the front and rear bumper arnt default tokyo drift fool

now now be nice thorpedo lol

[DeMello]

Originally Posted by Guest001-04GT Is there a better sounding exhaust over the bassani currently on the market? What kind of lowering kit do you recommend?

depends on your taste in tone/loudness



steeda or eibach

[Guest001-04GT]

Thank you

You mentioned a new engine or a supercharger/turbo

I may just go that route and put a 4.10 on it as suggested then possibly a procharger or kenne belle charger.

I was gonna go out and buy a used stage 3 roush, but then I thought I could save a ton by buying an 04GT 4.6 liter v8, manual at 9K WITH 78K miles and reach the hp limit for alot less.

Once I saw that sonic blue body kit, I knew I was going with a 99-04 model.

I figure 2k for body kit, exhaust, and wheels.
3-4k for 4.10 gears and supercharger

all in all the total to have a nicely modded mustang would be 15k vs 35-48k for a roush .

One thing I have noticed when I look at peoples signature is that many people choose various headers, cats and pipes. Isn't it better to use a complete exhaust system as one brand? What are the advantages of using various brands

Since you mentioned engines. Is it possible to put an 05-08 4.6 v8 engine in the car should the current engine I have ever go out? I only ask, because if the engine ever went out I would want to replace it with something better to increase the maximium hp limit.

and somethign to remember about your car....400-450 hp is the max limit our internals can handle

thanks for the help

[DeMello]

Originally Posted by Guest001-04GT One thing I have noticed when I look at peoples signature is that many people choose various headers, cats and pipes. Isn't it better to use a complete exhaust system as one brand? What are the advantages of using various brands

well most people like me dont buy it all at once

and i bought my midpipe used

[DeMello]

Originally Posted by Guest001-04GT Since you mentioned engines. Is it possible to put an 05-08 4.6 v8 engine in the car should the current engine I have ever go out? I only ask, because if the engine ever went out I would want to replace it with something better to increase the maximium hp limit.

Modular Mustang Racing

[347stroker]

Originally Posted by Guest001-04GT One thing I have noticed when I look at peoples signature is that many people choose various headers, cats and pipes. Isn't it better to use a complete exhaust system as one brand? What are the advantages of using various brands thanks for the help

It makes very little difference in performance numbers as far as exhaust goes, your biggest gain will be the headers, midpipe and mufflers dont do much of anything except tone. The only thing Ill tell you is if you get headers get long tubes as shorties are a waste of money IMO. Bassani and mac are prob two of the nices sounding exhausts on the market, just like everything else with cars you get what you pay for.

[Guest001-04GT]

the front and rear bumper arnt default

Hmm, do you happen to know what body kit name the front and rear bumpers are? I was thinking roush, but the design doesn't match the picture. I'm still 90% sure the side skirts are infact roush stage 2-3, but I could be wrong.

the roush bumpers have the triangle going out instead of coming in and I'm beginning to think the front end is a cobra R, because front lip comes farther out than the available roush kits I see images of on google.

the rear bumper design goes inward instead of outward.. I can't find this bumper anywhere and I've been to various body kit websites.



I am just trying to get everything together to order monday and and then about three days for the install.

if you get headers get long tubes as shorties are a waste of money IMO

Any specific brand you recommend?

Notice the rear bumper design

[DeMello]

how much you gonna spend?

[DeMello]

get these rims...

Chrome Deep Dish FR500 Wheel 94-04 (17x10.5) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

[347stroker]

I have ceremic BBK lt's, little over a year and no problems at all, these were a very reasonable price and still a good brand. Mac is another good brand but a little more pricey. Not real sure as far as teh bumper goes, my personal opinion i say take it and the front of, go with something a little sleeker such as a 01 cobra or roush since you have the side skirts already.

[Guest001-04GT]

I'm looking at no more than $1,500.00 in parts - I figure install costs might be $500.00

Trying to get the visual and exterior sounds done this month.

I am definately taking notes on all the performance mods suggested and stuff as I will be saving to mod the cars performance.

I'm gonna have to wait a bit till I can grab a supercharger 3-4K

[347stroker]

1500 wont do too much in the body work dept either, you gotta figure in paint to that also.

[DeMello]

Originally Posted by Guest001-04GT I'm looking at no more than $1,500.00 in parts - I figure install costs might be $500.00 Trying to get the visual and exterior sounds done this month. I am definately taking notes on all the performance mods suggested and stuff as I will be saving to mod the cars performance. I'm gonna have to wait a bit till I can grab a supercharger 3-4K

100 shot and sct x cal 3

[DeMello]

Originally Posted by 347stroker 1500 wont do too much in the body work dept either, you gotta figure in paint to that also.

very true....

[DeMello]

what go mods to you already have?

[Guest001-04GT]

I have no mods whatsoever - The car is a bone stock 04 GT
I'm in the process of choosing everything for visual and exhaust

1500 wont do too much in the body work dept either, you gotta figure in paint to that also.

I was hoping to stay at or below 2k, but my absolute maximium is 3k.
The only reason I can do this is because I drove a 92 honda civic for
years while I saved up to get me a stang. I saved for it and bought
my stang - I have approx 3k and some change left over to mod the car.

I was so happy to get an 04 GT with only 78k miles for 9k - He was moving,
so I asked whats the lowest he would take. You know the rest

If I kept below the 2k mark I could have 4.10 gears also this month which is why I was shooting for 2k, but you are right. I did not factor in the paint for the bumpers and side skirts.

I thought what would hit the hardest was the lowering install cost.