[Mustang73Mach1]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Gears

[Mustang73Mach1]

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

[69fastback]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Sounds like a good start

[460brevill]

mustangone will never steer you wrong.

[Spiderz]

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