[artisan00]

ok, i know i started a thread about a cai, but i realized that that is probably a pretty narrow question as far as actually improving performance of my car. so id like to broaden the scope by asking this: where do I start if i want to improve the overall intake of the car? i already got an exhaust system (magnaflow, with the Y pipe adapter which isnt great but i guess when the time comes id put an H in there).
I know i need to put in the cai system, but then what else would i want to do - i dont know mcu about the maf, but i assume its something i should think about, as well as the TB. any advice/info on that stuff would be nice, and if theres anything after the TB (that i coudl do myself hopefully?) it would be good to know.

[AtlanticBlue99]

your MAF and TB are good for about 300hp then a larger throttle body could be used. the intake manifolds on the 99+ (the split-port design) is awesoem for power and flows very well. so as far as intake is concerned with just bolt-ons, you would be best to just get a cai and a good filter.

[turp]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 your MAF and TB are good for about 300hp then a larger throttle body could be used. the intake manifolds on the 99+ (the split-port design) is awesoem for power and flows very well. so as far as intake is concerned with just bolt-ons, you would be best to just get a cai and a good filter.

Here here. Unless of course you wanted to get a supercharger then well,,, that is a different story altogether.

[99mustang232]

swap oem air intake tube for cai setup, half-shaft and polish oem tb, port and polish oem upper SPI or upgrade with SSX intake, p/p lower intake... keep oem MAF, replace headers w/shortys and highflow cats, add h or x-pipe and a nice matching cam and a custom tune and you will be happy. if you are looking at more than that you will have to play with the heads, because that is where you restriction will be, just be careful on exhaust pipe size, to big and you can lose power!

[mdvaldosta]

Intake mods should be last (aside from maybe a CAI because their easy and usually one of the first mods people do).

Throttle body and plenum is gonna cost $350 - $400 usually and are only worth 6-7 rwhp (dyno proven). Much more bang for the buck on the exhaust side, and much more performance to be had with gears, tires, and suspension.

Hell, I'm still running the stock plenum

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by mdvaldosta Intake mods should be last (aside from maybe a CAI because their easy and usually one of the first mods people do). Throttle body and plenum is gonna cost $350 - $400 usually and are only worth 6-7 rwhp (dyno proven). Much more bang for the buck on the exhaust side, and much more performance to be had with gears, tires, and suspension. Hell, I'm still running the stock plenum

i see, well i already have gears, new shocks,struts,stb and subframes. hoepfuly springs soon too. i also (like i said up there) have a new exhaust system already (part 15717 from magnaflow if i remember the number correctly).
so i just go with the cai and forget about that stuff for now is what im hearing i guess?

so after i get a CAI, ill have exhaust, gears, some suspension, cai (obviously), and hopefully a tuner which i want to get soon too ( i mentioned that in another thread.. im thinking to go with the sct xcal2).

what would be a logical next step? (i assume udps are an option - so aside from that)

[mdvaldosta]

do you have headers and a mid-pipe? A tune would be a big help too.

[99mustang232]

next logical step depends on you overall goal of the vehicle? what do you want to use it for? daily driver, autoX, street&strip, offroad/race only?

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by mdvaldosta do you have headers and a mid-pipe? A tune would be a big help too.

i dont have those things, no - i was told way back that a convertible would not like longtubes very much, and shortys wouldnt be worth upgrading since the stock headers are decent. right now i have stock hardware up till the Y pipe, and then dual magnaflows to the back.

edit: oh and i have emissions so thats also a factor

would the sct xcal qualify for "a tune?"

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by 99mustang232 next logical step depends on you overall goal of the vehicle? what do you want to use it for? daily driver, autoX, street&strip, offroad/race only?

its a street driver, some highway but i already got my 4.10s so clearly i prefer street than highway
i dont "race" it or anything, just want a good street car tahts awesome and fun to drive around town

[AtlanticBlue99]

ditch the Y pipe and the 2 long parallel to ground cats. you will pass emissions with stock headers and the first 2 cats (since they are closer to engine heat, they work better anyhow). then have a shop make an H pipe to you mufflers in your catback, weld it up, and you will love the more throaty sound that magnaflow doesnt give with cats. my car is louder than my brother's 96 v6 with H pipe and flowmasters, and i have a "non-rust" setup

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 ditch the Y pipe and the 2 long parallel to ground cats. you will pass emissions with stock headers and the first 2 cats (since they are closer to engine heat, they work better anyhow). then have a shop make an H pipe to you mufflers in your catback, weld it up, and you will love the more throaty sound that magnaflow doesnt give with cats. my car is louder than my brother's 96 v6 with H pipe and flowmasters, and i have a "non-rust" setup

why dont you post up some sound clips

[AtlanticBlue99]

i dont have a video camera. if i did i would take video of my car and my brothers and post them. but i dont even know how to post videos after i take them (if i borrowed a friend's camera).

[artisan00]

Im sure MD or someone here can help you with that.. pleeease :wink

[AtlanticBlue99]

i will definitely need to meet up with Joe sometime. i wish i couldve made the meet htis year but i couldnt take off from my new job. i will try and get ahold of a vid camera and software or something to get it on the computer, but it isnt promising. if i could meet up with someone with a camera and who is into cars, that would help out.

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 i will definitely need to meet up with Joe sometime. i wish i couldve made the meet htis year but i couldnt take off from my new job. i will try and get ahold of a vid camera and software or something to get it on the computer, but it isnt promising. if i could meet up with someone with a camera and who is into cars, that would help out.

hey, i understand, no reason to promise, i just like to hear what some of the other 6ers sound like (especially since ours are so similar). but yeah why dont you cruise your ass over on to joes house! you live in the same state right?

[AtlanticBlue99]

its probably a 2-3 hour drive. i will definitely meet up with him sometime when our schedules arent conflicting.

BTW, you still play halo2 on xbox live art? me and joe and darthstriker and some others play almost every night for a couple hours.

[artisan00]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 its probably a 2-3 hour drive. i will definitely meet up with him sometime when our schedules arent conflicting. BTW, you still play halo2 on xbox live art? me and joe and darthstriker and some others play almost every night for a couple hours.

i dont have xbox... so i guess i dont
maybe ill get one soon

[AtlanticBlue99]

o, you should get the new xbox 360 coming out. i hear it is F*in awesome

[artisan00]

hehe, we'll see/... but anyway back on topic, MD and 99mustang232, based on my asnwers you have any advice?