[mmvi]

I know this has been asked thousands of times before; However, I am tired of sifting through millions of forums and reading a ton of posts to find a seemingly never-ending answer. I could really use some opinions and advice.

I am novice when it comes to cars. I know very little, but I am good with instructions, so, that makes everything okay.

QUESTION: I have a 1999 3.8 Liter (6 cylinder) Mustang. I have new rims, tires and a true dual exhast with flowmaster 40 series mufflers and pipes from a GT. The transmission is automatic, 4spd w/od. What can I do to make this vehicle "faster" ? (I do not intend to try to beat any world records, but I would like to start making this car into a "sleeper". Since I haven't a sh*t load of money, am looking for ideas and HELP!!!

Thanks.

[Luvdmustang]

Originally Posted by mmvi I know this has been asked thousands of times before; However, I am tired of sifting through millions of forums and reading a ton of posts to find a seemingly never-ending answer. I could really use some opinions and advice. I am novice when it comes to cars. I know very little, but I am good with instructions, so, that makes everything okay. QUESTION: I have a 1999 3.8 Liter (6 cylinder) Mustang. I have new rims, tires and a true dual exhast with flowmaster 40 series mufflers and pipes from a GT. The transmission is automatic, 4spd w/od. What can I do to make this vehicle "faster" ? (I do not intend to try to beat any world records, but I would like to start making this car into a "sleeper". Since I haven't a sh*t load of money, am looking for ideas and HELP!!! Thanks.

cold air intake
shorty or long tube headers
4:10 gears
a tuner
throttle body

[Compy386]

Yeah I'm kinda just now delving into the whole performance mod thing too

I have a 97 automatic, maybe we shall learn together!

[mmvi]

well, those were two extremely fast replies!
I have :
cold air intake
shorty headers

but, what I do not understand is where to get or how to install :
4:10 gears
a tuner
throttle body

The first two were easy installation, since the headers went on with the exhaust. But, I am looking for specifics and what not (not being picky, I do really enjoy the responses).

I was told by a friend(mechanic) to grab an m90 supercharger. any suggestions on that?

[mustang kid 1989]

Originally Posted by mmvi well, those were two extremely fast replies! I have : cold air intake shorty headers but, what I do not understand is where to get or how to install : 4:10 gears a tuner throttle body The first two were easy installation, since the headers went on with the exhaust. But, I am looking for specifics and what not (not being picky, I do really enjoy the responses). I was told by a friend(mechanic) to grab an m90 supercharger. any suggestions on that?

to get parts
http://www.americanmuscle.com/ and the always amazing ebay
and ive heard m90 is a pain to install urself and will cost to much to get installed, someone on here has one dont remember who though

[GotBoost232]

ur going to want 4.10s gears they dont make ur car put out more power but make ur quartermile times faster.....u can buy the gears online and take them to a shop to install...200 bucks prolly....u wont want to install them urself unless uve done this before.....a tuner will setup ur engine electronic and "tune" ur car.....u just plug it in to ur obd port under ur dash and preselcted tunes u use...i wouldnt neccesarly go with a throttle body i never did but i went with forced induction....also ur going to want a t-lock.....aka posi, lsd, ect....it gets rid of ur one wheel peel...helps u hook up better...also a m90 supercharger wont work on ur car....well it can....but its 50+ parts and makes ur life hell...ude be better off just buying a supercharger like procharger...vortech doesnt intercool theres so go with a procharger unit....but before u get a supercharger u have to upgrade ur fuel system, high flow fuel pump,lines,injectors...also ulle need forged interals ie crank and rods...pistons are good so u can decompress ur engine to add more power...decompress with an s/c....the m90 s/c is off the "superbird" it basically the same engine as the pre 99 mustang engine in 1999 the intake became a dual intake...while pre 99 3.8ls were a single intake...and to go witht the m90 ull hav to take ur dual intake and convert it into a single....dont cuz that be loosing u about 30 horses if u go back to single....its just too complicated to go with a m90 on 99....another thing that ive learned is that the people on this website are here to help ya but the search function is good thing to use

[mmvi]

Fantastic! Thanks for your responses!

I only have a grand to work with right now, so, some of the things mentioned won't be possible for me until the mid-summer range. But, I definately am getting the gears with t-lok and a tuner for now.

Do I need the forged internals if I upgrade my fuel system? I plan on going gear, t-lok, tuner, fuel, internals, sc. good? bad?

[mmvi]

if I get fuel injectors, do I need lines too? and what would you reccomend on a 6. 24, 30, 42? http://www.americanmuscle.com/bin.html
Where would I get the t-lok at?

[scubasteve041186]

go into the forums and look at the specific piece set apart for buying peices ( also at the top of this form in the sticky's) it gives you a list where to get stuff.) but chad at crazy legs will give you a good deal just pm him on here i know he has prices alrdy cause i alrdy bugged him about it i'm just waiting on money now lol.
as far as the injectors go your gona have to wait for some other guys to come on cause i was wondering that myself.
also i dunno the m90 is more for show then power and speed. i would look into a turbo or procharger you'll get way more out of it..
personally look into www.supersixmotorsports.com they have a thing called a superpak which might intrest you as well

[GotBoost232]

your only going to want to upgrade the fuel system if ur going to be going through forced induction, or going 300+ hp....ur going to want 39lbs injectors..fuel lines just help with flow not truely needed unless u got up to 60lbs injectors and that for high boost levels.....only thing ulle need forged internals for forced induction or nitrous...t-lok u can get here....http://www.strippermotorsports.com/foraditrloli.html ....and for what u said getting right now would be the way to go....go with the SCT LIVEWire tuner...good thing to have....but right now with what ur getting ur right on. :award

[mmvi]

ah, thank you. you all are a huge help. I found a 5.0 for 500 bucks, and I was told to just drop that in there, but, since i only have 1000 to play with right now, I'm not sure and my 6 only has 30k on it. what to do, what to do.

[DSEZ]

30k miles ill buy that engine if ur done with it

[Luvdmustang]

dude, another really good mod i forgot about is underdrive pullies

[mmvi]

i dont know how much 6's go for... so, make an offer? motor, trans, ecu, etc? I'd be willing to sell it if I can get a 5.0 (which i have lined up) but I don't know what i all need to do a swap like that and I need to find a trans. new rear? wont a 5.0 hurt my rear thats in now?

[GotBoost232]

the 5.0 install would be way to hard....lol try to find a 351 it will fit better and it bigger lol

[Cricket]

Since you say you don't know much about cars you should just stick with the v6, and learn from that. Something like a engine swap may cause you to get into a problem where instructions can't help you, but some thinking, and experience of working on a car will help you. Cars aren't just a read a write up, and it will work perfectly kind of thing. Cars are one of the biggest reasons why I believe in Marshall Law (If it can go wrong, it will go wrong.). Stick with the six, get some experience working on an engine, and learn about it, and then when you get some experience under your belt start thinking about a motor swap if you still want to.

[mmvi]

well, there's no way I would attempt to swap an engine myself. I'm looking for ways to make the car faster and better cheaper. My freind would do the swap for me, but I don't know what I all need for it. I know I need a driveshaft, and a 8.8 rear. But, what trans should I get?