[Hosstile]

I'm 23, but have always had an interest, never a budget, well times change and I now want to pursue my dreams. I currently have a 99 V6 3.8L, I have already spoken with atlantic blue who gave me good advice, but I will relay the question to ya'll. What is your opinion on rebuilding my current 3.8L with 150,000 on it, or just buying a new one and starting out fresh, its going to be street only, and I can't really afford a V8 engine, and what mods can I get started with, basically where should I start?

Thank-you

Brian

[99mustang232]

are you looking to do the work yourself or pay someone for it? what is your level of mechanical knowledge... do you feel comfortable touching the internals or doing the assembly yourself? do you have any goals when it comes to the performance like making over 300hp, also is this your daily driver, I notice you say street only?

[Hosstile]

I have some mechanical knowledge, mainly electronics, but i have done, basics, intake, plugs, wires, maintenance. This is my daily driver, so modifications have to be spread out. Some of the work I can do myself and I will prob have to pay for some things to be done, as far as the enigne I have no knowledge so that will be out pocket. As far as performance, I want to push the envelope as much as possible for a daily driver.

[99mustang232]

right now wouldn't be too wise to boost that high milage setup...

here is a list of shops that sell 3.8/4.2 related parts;

http://www.rpm-mustangs.com
http://www.supersixmotorsports.com
http://www.moranav6racing.com
http://www.vmptuning.com
http://www.delkperformance.com
http://www.livernoismotorsports.com
http://www.coymiller.com
http://www.tmaturbo.com

VMPTuning is probably the closest shop to your physical location specializing in your motor. I would browse the catalogs of SSX, RPM and Morana to see what is really in your price range... would say maybe a 4.2 stroker kit, new cam, w/ procharger setup and 8.8 swap w/4.10's might be an option?

[Hosstile]

sorry, if I sound stupid on the subject I am just now learning alot of stuff, are you saying I should get a new engine first, then mod it

[AtlanticBlue99]

well you can get a built forged 4.3L stroker out of your engine, but you will have to work that out with SSMS or another company, and it can take several weeks to get it all back and in. but N/A horsepower and reliability comes from an internally built motor out. i haven't broken anything in my motor yet, but i have cracked my crankshaft pulley and blew my transmission...

if you want to build a good base for a built motor later on, get a Ford Racing or Auburn Trac Lok and 4.10:1 ring and pinion gears for your 7.5" rear end or swap a gt mustang's 8.8" rear end and get 4.1:1 gears for it if you will be making over 500 hp down the road.

then get full exhaust: long tube headers, off road H and cat back of your choice

if you want to push the envelop in the v6 mustang class, you need a build rear end, built transmission, forged motor and a lot of nitrous or twin turbos. matt ran a 9.8 in his TT V6 mustang in atlanta a few weeks back. his car is not really streetable though, but you can hit 11's in the 1/4 on a street car daily driver.

[Hosstile]

Let me see if I get this, I am going to get LT Heads, offroad short H, and i was lookin at the magnaflow catback dual, does this sound right? Also, should I consider getting a chip, someone suggested it to me, and one more thing, can I do all this work myself, basically is there any welding witht he exhaust or does it all connect

[99mustang232]

well being it is your daily driver and you may or maynot have other means of transportation... i would sugguest building the replacement motor using core of an 01+ 3.8 or f150 4.2, this way there will be less downtime when it is getting machined or assembled. an all out high compression nitrous motor wouldn't be ideal for the streets, and the turbo route is expensive... this is why i sugguested supercharging it, and this is something you could install yourself.

[AtlanticBlue99]

Originally Posted by Hosstile Let me see if I get this, I am going to get LT Heads, offroad short H, and i was lookin at the magnaflow catback dual, does this sound right? Also, should I consider getting a chip, someone suggested it to me, and one more thing, can I do all this work myself, basically is there any welding witht he exhaust or does it all connect

yeah:

long tube headers
off road short H
maganflow catback (for the GT mustang***)

an sct xcalII from Justin at VMPTuning.com based out of FL is the best place to get a chip. he is the best v6 mustang tuner out there.

with the exhaust, you will need to cut out the stock pipes by the rear axle with a sawzall to get it out. the new stuff all bolts up, but a friend with smaller hands is welcomed for bolting on the long tubes. also a good jack and jackstands are needed to install the exhaust yourself.

the gears, go to a pro- you dont want to mess up here if you have never done them before.

[Hosstile]

I appreciate all the help, I will keep you posted and post pictures as I complete the work, thanx for getting me started.

[turp]

Being that this is your daily driver I would not go with 4.10 with gas being at 3.00 a gallon and looking like it will never drop. I would get a set of 3.73's and the track loc out of a ranger rear diff. they will fit in the 7.5 mustang diff. This should be WAY cheaper for you(on gas and installing)
Next catbacks really don't do anything more than change the sound of your car. Horsepower gain is minimal so just make sure you like the exhaust note of the system you are putting on.
On an engine with that many miles replacing it could be an option but if you are are hard on cash and I say stroke it from the get go. The chambers will be bored .30 over so it won't matter what condition the motor was in beforehand anyways.
If you stroke it I def. recommend using forged internals and maybe a cheap way to, if you are driving it on the street everyday, would be to stick a nitrous kit on it for those time when you need "a little extra power"
Usually as a general rule I tell people "Don't get in a rush!" Take your time and make sure you get what you want and what the car will need, not bargain basement crap parts. The car will love you for it.

[AtlanticBlue99]

Originally Posted by turp Being that this is your daily driver I would not go with 4.10 with gas being at 3.00 a gallon and looking like it will never drop. I would get a set of 3.73's and the track loc out of a ranger rear diff. they will fit in the 7.5 mustang diff. This should be WAY cheaper for you(on gas and installing) Next catbacks really don't do anything more than change the sound of your car. Horsepower gain is minimal so just make sure you like the exhaust note of the system you are putting on. On an engine with that many miles replacing it could be an option but if you are are hard on cash and I say stroke it from the get go. The chambers will be bored .30 over so it won't matter what condition the motor was in beforehand anyways. If you stroke it I def. recommend using forged internals and maybe a cheap way to, if you are driving it on the street everyday, would be to stick a nitrous kit on it for those time when you need "a little extra power" Usually as a general rule I tell people "Don't get in a rush!" Take your time and make sure you get what you want and what the car will need, not bargain basement crap parts. The car will love you for it.

my daily driver has 4.10's. i pay for my gas,insurance,mods through a highschool job as i am only 17 years old. dont fear the gear.

[Hosstile]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 Originally Posted by Hosstile Let me see if I get this, I am going to get LT Heads, offroad short H, and i was lookin at the magnaflow catback dual, does this sound right? Also, should I consider getting a chip, someone suggested it to me, and one more thing, can I do all this work myself, basically is there any welding witht he exhaust or does it all connect yeah: long tube headers off road short H maganflow catback (for the GT mustang***) an sct xcalII from Justin at VMPTuning.com based out of FL is the best place to get a chip. he is the best v6 mustang tuner out there. with the exhaust, you will need to cut out the stock pipes by the rear axle with a sawzall to get it out. the new stuff all bolts up, but a friend with smaller hands is welcomed for bolting on the long tubes. also a good jack and jackstands are needed to install the exhaust yourself. the gears, go to a pro- you dont want to mess up here if you have never done them before.

With the exhaust you wrote GT, how come I need the GT exhaust if I have a 3.8

[98mustang]

You will need a GT cat-back (hooks up to the midpipe) because the h-pipe or x-pipe (which ever one u prefer) will only fit with the GT catback because that is how GT's exhaust comes stock (with a h-pipe.)

[AtlanticBlue99]

yeah. basically, if you get a new midpipe (H pipe or X pipe) you will need a GT cat back of a corresponding year to match the mid pipe.

Long tubes
Short H pipe
and a gt cat back is a good full street exhaust combo for the v6

[turp]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 Originally Posted by turp Being that this is your daily driver I would not go with 4.10 with gas being at 3.00 a gallon and looking like it will never drop. I would get a set of 3.73's and the track loc out of a ranger rear diff. they will fit in the 7.5 mustang diff. This should be WAY cheaper for you(on gas and installing) Next catbacks really don't do anything more than change the sound of your car. Horsepower gain is minimal so just make sure you like the exhaust note of the system you are putting on. On an engine with that many miles replacing it could be an option but if you are are hard on cash and I say stroke it from the get go. The chambers will be bored .30 over so it won't matter what condition the motor was in beforehand anyways. If you stroke it I def. recommend using forged internals and maybe a cheap way to, if you are driving it on the street everyday, would be to stick a nitrous kit on it for those time when you need "a little extra power" Usually as a general rule I tell people "Don't get in a rush!" Take your time and make sure you get what you want and what the car will need, not bargain basement crap parts. The car will love you for it. my daily driver has 4.10's. i pay for my gas,insurance,mods through a highschool job as i am only 17 years old. dont fear the gear.

And how long have you and I been going back and forth about 3.73 vs. 4.10??? I can't remember that far back. I was just offering him the CHEAPEST way to get lower gears to improve bottom end! Get off me young buck! BTW my 75 has 4.56's I DON"T fear the gear...

[AtlanticBlue99]

Originally Posted by turp Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 Originally Posted by turp Being that this is your daily driver I would not go with 4.10 with gas being at 3.00 a gallon and looking like it will never drop. I would get a set of 3.73's and the track loc out of a ranger rear diff. they will fit in the 7.5 mustang diff. This should be WAY cheaper for you(on gas and installing) Next catbacks really don't do anything more than change the sound of your car. Horsepower gain is minimal so just make sure you like the exhaust note of the system you are putting on. On an engine with that many miles replacing it could be an option but if you are are hard on cash and I say stroke it from the get go. The chambers will be bored .30 over so it won't matter what condition the motor was in beforehand anyways. If you stroke it I def. recommend using forged internals and maybe a cheap way to, if you are driving it on the street everyday, would be to stick a nitrous kit on it for those time when you need "a little extra power" Usually as a general rule I tell people "Don't get in a rush!" Take your time and make sure you get what you want and what the car will need, not bargain basement crap parts. The car will love you for it. my daily driver has 4.10's. i pay for my gas,insurance,mods through a highschool job as i am only 17 years old. dont fear the gear. And how long have you and I been going back and forth about 3.73 vs. 4.10??? I can't remember that far back. I was just offering him the CHEAPEST way to get lower gears to improve bottom end! Get off me young buck! BTW my 75 has 4.56's I DON"T fear the gear...

i hope you have a taller first gear lol.

people who mod cars need not worry about mpg because very few mods increase it, and if you have a budget to mod, fuel should not be a worry imo.

[turp]

People who mods cars in a sense should not worry about fuel but not everyone wants a strip demon running 12's or better. Some people just want a step up from the norm and a few mods to satisfy thier urge to tinker. Granted it usually progresses into full blown mod madness but you have to take baby steps to start with. There is a distinct learning curve when it comes to mechanics and not everyone can jump in both feet first and be able to build a vehicle that will do exactly what they want. It takes alot of questions and patience and taking the best of what each person knows and building off of it.

[lemon]

yeah... im shooting for a n|a 5.4 aluminum block later on, but like in 5 years ... hopefully there will be gas then - but my first purchase ( from me to the car ) was a simple cold air induction kit

[AtlanticBlue99]

if you are keeping it n/a then a CAI isnt too bad to get some basic mechanical sckills. but if you go FI later on, the CAI will need to be replaced with the other plumbing...