Opinions needed! First Performance Mods

Mustang73Mach1 · October 25th, 2009, 12:46 AM

Hello all, I have a '73 Q-code Mach 1 that I'm looking to get some more power out of. So far, I've put in a complete new suspension and a high-flow oil pump to get that 351C some decent oil flow, and now I'm looking to start improving its performance.

Here are some of the things I've considered, but I don't have the money to do it all at once:

-new headers & exhaust, leaning towards x-pipe
-more radical cam
-MSD ignition
-cylinder head swap... I've heard good things about the Aussie aka "3V" heads as opposed to my 4V
-or the biggest change, stroking the 351C to a 408.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what to do first? It doesn't have to be something on my list... I wouldn't want to blow the engine with something it couldn't handle yet. I've also been having trouble tracking down parts to fit a '73... and more specifically the 351C

MustangOne · October 25th, 2009, 12:05 PM

I would go with E. All of the above.

here is the stroker kit.

here are 2 cams to look at.

COMP Cams® - Cam Details

COMP Cams® - Cam Details

Mustang73Mach1 · October 25th, 2009, 06:40 PM

Yeah... all of the above would be ideal. I'm sure eventually I'll get it all, but I'll probably have to do it in 2 parts. Would I be safe doing the stroker kit and cam, and then the rest separately?

Thanks for the advice, and I appreciate the links!

Countryboy_99 · October 26th, 2009, 03:10 PM

I vote Ignition and Exhaust first. If you go with the stroker and cam kits your current exhaust and Ignition will just keep your reworked engine from realizing it's potential. Plus I think that would be the cheaper way to go.

Mustang73Mach1 · October 26th, 2009, 06:50 PM

Yeah, it's definitely cheaper. That's probably what I'll end up doing, then getting the stroker and cam a bit later. Thanks!!!

69fastback · October 28th, 2009, 02:33 AM

Gears

Mustang73Mach1 · October 29th, 2009, 11:50 PM

Gears... there's something I hadn't really thought of. Nor do I know much about them unfortunately. What size would you recommend?

69fastback · October 30th, 2009, 12:34 AM

You'll get at least as much gain from gears as doing a cam swap, depending on what it has in it. Do you know what it has? Is the car a DD? What do you do with the car? Usually, a 3.73 is a good all around gear. I have 3.55s in mine and like them, becasue I drive it a lot.

Mustang73Mach1 · October 30th, 2009, 01:42 AM

I have another car for daily driving, so that isn't too much of an issue. I'll be happy as long as it's still streetable with a small amount of stop & go traffic.

Right now, I'm just casually driving it around, but I'd like to take it to some track days and open it up once I get all the kinks worked out and a few performance parts in it. This is my first real chance to put some bigger upgrades in, not counting the suspension.

It still has the stock gears, which I think are 3.25s. It seems like a lot of people go with 3.73s, at least that's what I see the most often. Do you think those would be best?

Thanks a lot for the advice too

69fastback · October 30th, 2009, 12:17 PM

In another car I had, I went from the stock 2.75s (which is what's in most 351/auto cars), to 3.73s and it was like I had done an engine swap. I think that's your best first mod because it's fairly cheap, and if you put a cam in it, generally it bumps the power range up a little bit and tall gears will KILL you.

Mustang73Mach1 · October 30th, 2009, 12:38 PM

Sounds good. I did a little bit of research myself on gears and it sounds like gears are going to go to the top of my list! I'll probably do that, ignition, headers & exhaust first and the rest later.

69fastback · October 30th, 2009, 12:54 PM

Sounds like a good start

460brevill · October 30th, 2009, 04:20 PM

mustangone will never steer you wrong.

Spiderz · October 31st, 2009, 09:35 AM

I would do gears, Then get more air and fuel into the engine, more air out, then a rebuild.

October 25th, 2009, 12:46 AM	#1
Mustang73Mach1 Newbie 1973 Mustang Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11	Opinions needed! First Performance Mods Hello all, I have a '73 Q-code Mach 1 that I'm looking to get some more power out of. So far, I've put in a complete new suspension and a high-flow oil pump to get that 351C some decent oil flow, and now I'm looking to start improving its performance. Here are some of the things I've considered, but I don't have the money to do it all at once: -new headers & exhaust, leaning towards x-pipe -more radical cam -MSD ignition -cylinder head swap... I've heard good things about the Aussie aka "3V" heads as opposed to my 4V -or the biggest change, stroking the 351C to a 408. Does anyone have any recommendations for what to do first? It doesn't have to be something on my list... I wouldn't want to blow the engine with something it couldn't handle yet. I've also been having trouble tracking down parts to fit a '73... and more specifically the 351C

October 25th, 2009, 12:05 PM	#2
MustangOne June 08 ROTM 1968 GT 500 Super Snake 12.6 @ 114.3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sapulpa Oklahoma Posts: 947	I would go with E. All of the above. here is the stroker kit. here are 2 cams to look at. COMP Cams® - Cam Details COMP Cams® - Cam Details __________________ www.Mustang1.Com Last edited by MustangOne : October 25th, 2009 at 12:10 PM.

October 26th, 2009, 03:10 PM	#4
Countryboy_99 Regular '95 GT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: I forgot so I live in the 'Stang... Posts: 347	I vote Ignition and Exhaust first. If you go with the stroker and cam kits your current exhaust and Ignition will just keep your reworked engine from realizing it's potential. Plus I think that would be the cheaper way to go. __________________ Dont mind me... I just float in and out of the forums at random... lol

October 28th, 2009, 02:33 AM	#6
69fastback Enthusiast 1969 Mustang Mach 1 OLDNSLO Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma jackass, get to driving Posts: 812	Gears __________________ New ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...aig/craig.html Old ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...g/mustang.html old rides engine in new home http://videos.streetfire.net/video/4...285480b970.htm

October 30th, 2009, 12:34 AM	#8
69fastback Enthusiast 1969 Mustang Mach 1 OLDNSLO Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma jackass, get to driving Posts: 812	You'll get at least as much gain from gears as doing a cam swap, depending on what it has in it. Do you know what it has? Is the car a DD? What do you do with the car? Usually, a 3.73 is a good all around gear. I have 3.55s in mine and like them, becasue I drive it a lot. __________________ New ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...aig/craig.html Old ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...g/mustang.html old rides engine in new home http://videos.streetfire.net/video/4...285480b970.htm

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October 25th, 2009, 06:40 PM	#3
Mustang73Mach1 Newbie 1973 Mustang Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11	Yeah... all of the above would be ideal. I'm sure eventually I'll get it all, but I'll probably have to do it in 2 parts. Would I be safe doing the stroker kit and cam, and then the rest separately? Thanks for the advice, and I appreciate the links!

October 26th, 2009, 06:50 PM	#5
Mustang73Mach1 Newbie 1973 Mustang Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11	Yeah, it's definitely cheaper. That's probably what I'll end up doing, then getting the stroker and cam a bit later. Thanks!!!

October 29th, 2009, 11:50 PM	#7
Mustang73Mach1 Newbie 1973 Mustang Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11	Gears... there's something I hadn't really thought of. Nor do I know much about them unfortunately. What size would you recommend?

October 30th, 2009, 01:42 AM	#9
Mustang73Mach1 Newbie 1973 Mustang Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11	I have another car for daily driving, so that isn't too much of an issue. I'll be happy as long as it's still streetable with a small amount of stop & go traffic. Right now, I'm just casually driving it around, but I'd like to take it to some track days and open it up once I get all the kinks worked out and a few performance parts in it. This is my first real chance to put some bigger upgrades in, not counting the suspension. It still has the stock gears, which I think are 3.25s. It seems like a lot of people go with 3.73s, at least that's what I see the most often. Do you think those would be best? Thanks a lot for the advice too

October 30th, 2009, 12:17 PM	#10
69fastback Enthusiast 1969 Mustang Mach 1 OLDNSLO Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma jackass, get to driving Posts: 812	In another car I had, I went from the stock 2.75s (which is what's in most 351/auto cars), to 3.73s and it was like I had done an engine swap. I think that's your best first mod because it's fairly cheap, and if you put a cam in it, generally it bumps the power range up a little bit and tall gears will KILL you. __________________ New ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...aig/craig.html Old ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...g/mustang.html old rides engine in new home http://videos.streetfire.net/video/4...285480b970.htm

October 30th, 2009, 12:38 PM	#11
Mustang73Mach1 Newbie 1973 Mustang Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11	Sounds good. I did a little bit of research myself on gears and it sounds like gears are going to go to the top of my list! I'll probably do that, ignition, headers & exhaust first and the rest later.

October 30th, 2009, 12:54 PM	#12
69fastback Enthusiast 1969 Mustang Mach 1 OLDNSLO Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma jackass, get to driving Posts: 812	Sounds like a good start __________________ New ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...aig/craig.html Old ride http://www.superior-motorsports.com/...g/mustang.html old rides engine in new home http://videos.streetfire.net/video/4...285480b970.htm

October 30th, 2009, 04:20 PM	#13
460brevill Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Farmville VA Posts: 1,251	mustangone will never steer you wrong. __________________ i sixing 200 six with 300 hp.

October 31st, 2009, 09:35 AM	#14
Spiderz Regular 1965 Coupe, 351w Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sedalia Missouri Posts: 174	I would do gears, Then get more air and fuel into the engine, more air out, then a rebuild. __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ff/Spiderz.gif

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