[Mark GSX]

I baught my first Mustang ever in April. It's a 99 GT. Actually it's the first Domestic V-8 I've ever owned. I'm 30 and grew up on Smokey and the Bandit, Dukes of Hazzard, and Starsky and Hutch. So I've always wanted a V-8. And since I don't have 25 grand to go buy an old school Chevelle or Camaro I settled with financing an $8,000 Mustang GT Convertible. It has a fresh rebuilt motor and I updated the looks with black housing headlights and a front chin spoiler. Only problem is it's not fast. I don't need it to be really fast because it's my daily driver but I do want to stop losing to 1.8 liter Acura's.

My background is the Mitsubishi Eclise AWD. Hence the name, Mark GSX. I still have a couple in the back yard and one runs 11's with ease but I'm in the process of building a new setup for it. I'm still on the stock engine, trans, and rear end but I'm going to a bigger turbo and bigger injectors to get into the 10's.

If my Mustang could handle the high boost the Mitsubishi does I would just turbo that thing. But since it has limited potential I'll have to settle with 12's in the 1/4 mile. I'm worried though about how much that will cost me. From what I've seen it takes a lot of money to make my mustang fast. And even more money to get it to match a stock Z06. Any suggestions are appretiated.

[TyCouey2000GT]

If you mustang is completely stock. I'd start with a CAI, gears, 4.10's or 3.73's, exhaust, mid pipe section if you can, and headers if you got money for the install. After that, a chip, shifter, and t/b and plenum will help. All that could give you around 35-45 hp. Good luck and hope you love your stang.

[Mark GSX]

I would love to get a lot more than 35-45 hp out of all that money, but I guess that motor just doesn't have enough flow or compression for higher hp numbers.

I should've mentioned before that this GT is an Automatic. I'm told that the long tube headers don't fit the automatics. I'm between a rock and a hard place I think. I'll probably do what I need to pass emissions and then just add a nitrous kit.

How high of a shot can I get away with on 91 octane pump gas?

[ChrisJ]

Welcome to the forum...

I am an ex-dsmer myself...

I to am a 4g63 junkie...

[Garhfer]

Here's what you need for big numbers in a mustang, either a supercharger or turbo with some forged internals and then you can swap the pulley and get a nice dynotune, for there on everything else is just to make the turbo/sc breathe or exhale better... oh yeah and supporting the body. you could also use 4v heads from a cobra but that'll be a big pain in the ass but they'll flow better then stock heads ever will.

[06RedfireGT]

You could run a 100 shot with a tune. And you can run LTs with an auto. I would go full exhaust (Bassani its expensive but the sound is pure sex), CAI, tb and plenum, 4.10 gears, UD pullies, upper and lower control arms, some drag radials and a custom dyno tune and that would put you in the low to mid 12s and be completely streetable.

[HMUSN]

welcome to the forums.

[00vabchgt]

welcome to the site. i believe Mac or BBK make long tubes for autos...

[Mark GSX]

Originally Posted by ChrisJ Welcome to the forum... I am an ex-dsmer myself... I to am a 4g63 junkie...

Hey Chris. Glad to hear that man. That's too bad your an EX dsmer. Thanks for the greeting.

[Mark GSX]

Originally Posted by Garhfer Here's what you need for big numbers in a mustang, either a supercharger or turbo with some forged internals and then you can swap the pulley and get a nice dynotune, for there on everything else is just to make the turbo/sc breathe or exhale better... oh yeah and supporting the body. you could also use 4v heads from a cobra but that'll be a big pain in the ass but they'll flow better then stock heads ever will.

I can really use the 4 valve heads on mine? I'll have to look into that.

[HMUSN]

you can make a GT fast as hell man.

drop 5k on a blower and your at 450rwhp

add some suspension and sticky tires and your good.

we have N/A members here hanging with Terminators.

oh and since you have a vert.. go get yourself some sub frame connectors.
it will help with the sloppy steering and body flex .

[Mark GSX]

Originally Posted by HMUSN you can make a GT fast as hell man. drop 5k on a blower and your at 450rwhp add some suspension and sticky tires and your good. we have N/A members here hanging with Terminators. oh and since you have a vert.. go get yourself some sub frame connectors. it will help with the sloppy steering and body flex .

That's encouraging. I bet those blower kits are 50 state legal too. I would love to fab up my own turbo kit but I wouldn't pass smog and I don't know how to tune these ECU's for boost.

[Drick]

Welcome to the site sounds like you got big dreams.

[Mark GSX]

Originally Posted by 8t6gt Welcome to the site sounds like you got big dreams.

Thanks. I don't consider my dreams big really. I just want a lot more for my dollar than bolt ons will offer. I want to beat the Z28's and SS Camaro's that keep whooping me. It's also embarassing to lose to these little rice burning Acura's. I think if I was putting down around 300-320 at the wheels I'd have that goal covered.

[HMUSN]

nothing a little nitrous can't fix.

those Acura's must have Turbos because most of them can't hang with a stock GT

[tlr96]

welcome to MM!

[Saleenwolf720]

Originally Posted by HMUSN nothing a little nitrous can't fix. those Acura's must have Turbos because most of them can't hang with a stock GT

+1, what exactly have you lost to so far?

[Mark GSX]

Originally Posted by Saleenwolf720 Originally Posted by HMUSN nothing a little nitrous can't fix. those Acura's must have Turbos because most of them can't hang with a stock GT +1, what exactly have you lost to so far?

Ummmm......

So far I've lost to:

My friends Z28 LS1 with catback exhaust
Some Acura Integra on the freeway
White LT1 with exhaust and I couldn't tell what else
A random SS that looked stock
Chrysler 300 from stop light to stoplight
Neon SRT-4 3 times
Chevy SS pickup from a roll
F150 with bolt ons
stayed neck and neck with my friends 89 integra with $500 ebay turbo
And lost by about 2.5 bus lengths to my friend driving my Eclipse.

I usually beat on the slower guys that think they're fast. But for the most part I've won as much as I've lost. However I've yet to beat another V-8 from 95 model year and up. For example I've beaten a couple stock IROC Z-28's and a early 80's model Corvette. But the rest of them aren't V-8's.

[1stimeford]

Welcome to MM...Post some pics when you get a chance.

[TyCouey2000GT]

In my opinion, you gotta startwith the little stuff first. With all that stuff I mentined up top, you might get more depending on how well your car was taken care of, and the more stuff you put on it that GIVES more hp, the litttle things you have will help make more and more as you upgrade higher. So those hp numbers I mentioned will go higher and higher.