The title basically says it. I know it wont be the fastest thing around but i just want a little more get up and go. I've searched the forums but i cant seem to find quite what im looking for. Im looking to bring my auto 03 to around 200rwhp. Im just looking for the least expensive way to do it since im extremely limited on funds. Ive asked around school but the response is always, "cold air intake man! my buddy put one in and it gave him 35whp on the dyno!" So yeah, just wondering the most cost effective way to do it.
I Just Want a Little Pep
mustang003
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More suspension mods. And really those depend on what you want to do with the car. I.e. they will vary depending on auto x (curves) or drag, or strictly street. Also, sway bars I would wait til you know exactly what the car is or is not doing that you want to correct. Sway bars control over and under steer, and often times are completely unnecessary.
Doing bolt-ons increases power, albeit slowly. They also teach you about your car. Starting small and working your way up isn't a bad idea. Like I starting getting at in my first sentence, your first step should be to really think about what you want to do with the car, and make some goals. From that you can determine which mods to get, and in what order. Also, learn about your car itself, the motor, the trans, the pros and cons of each. As well as suspension since you want to mod it. Then learn what each mod does and its benefits and drawbacks. Remember, a lot of mods, while they do improve what they are meant to, often times take away from ride comfort. They don't drive race cars on the street, because they aren't meant to, and normally vice versa.
THEN, when you know exactly what you want to do, and how to do it, you can start the modding process. There's no point in diving into it without knowing what you're doing or why, because you may end up buying unnecessary or wrong parts, or replacing mods once you do finally set a goal.
The rest of your list is a good start, but include gears and t-lok or trutrac to beef the rear end. Also, are you auto or 5spd, drivetrain mods are important and will give nice performance gains, not hp or tq, but quick shifts are key, and makes the car more fun to drive.
Think of it like this; each of your cars systems work independently, but towards one main goal, to make the car go and stop, and go and stop again. If you change one of the systems significantly, i.e., increase the power let's say, you'll be smart to also change the others. Example: throw a psc-1 on a stock rear end and have fun for 7 minutes. Rather, build the rear end, build the drivetrain, build the suspension, upgrade brakes, THEN throw on that charger and have a reliable, nice car.
Got kinda long I'll stop here...for now.
Doing bolt-ons increases power, albeit slowly. They also teach you about your car. Starting small and working your way up isn't a bad idea. Like I starting getting at in my first sentence, your first step should be to really think about what you want to do with the car, and make some goals. From that you can determine which mods to get, and in what order. Also, learn about your car itself, the motor, the trans, the pros and cons of each. As well as suspension since you want to mod it. Then learn what each mod does and its benefits and drawbacks. Remember, a lot of mods, while they do improve what they are meant to, often times take away from ride comfort. They don't drive race cars on the street, because they aren't meant to, and normally vice versa.
THEN, when you know exactly what you want to do, and how to do it, you can start the modding process. There's no point in diving into it without knowing what you're doing or why, because you may end up buying unnecessary or wrong parts, or replacing mods once you do finally set a goal.
The rest of your list is a good start, but include gears and t-lok or trutrac to beef the rear end. Also, are you auto or 5spd, drivetrain mods are important and will give nice performance gains, not hp or tq, but quick shifts are key, and makes the car more fun to drive.
Think of it like this; each of your cars systems work independently, but towards one main goal, to make the car go and stop, and go and stop again. If you change one of the systems significantly, i.e., increase the power let's say, you'll be smart to also change the others. Example: throw a psc-1 on a stock rear end and have fun for 7 minutes. Rather, build the rear end, build the drivetrain, build the suspension, upgrade brakes, THEN throw on that charger and have a reliable, nice car.
Got kinda long I'll stop here...for now.
I don't know about 7min, my vortech on my stock rear lasted 8 months and it was harshly abused 
To be honest if I had to do it over again I would do in this order:
1.) 8.8 & gears or true trac & gears
2.) sct tuner
3.) 310 fuel pump
4.) cat back exhaust
That sets you up for F/I if you really want more power, then decide if you want to go s/c or turbo. If you want to go s/c then
1.) long tube headers
2.) buy the s/c kit and injectors
3.) save up for the tune
4.) then install and have it tuned.
If you want to go turbo.
1.) find turbo kit and injectors
2.) save up for the tuner
3.) go turbo.
Heads/cam/intake/install is going to cost you about the same as a used s/c kit and you won't make as much power.
To be honest if I had to do it over again I would do in this order:
1.) 8.8 & gears or true trac & gears
2.) sct tuner
3.) 310 fuel pump
4.) cat back exhaust
That sets you up for F/I if you really want more power, then decide if you want to go s/c or turbo. If you want to go s/c then
1.) long tube headers
2.) buy the s/c kit and injectors
3.) save up for the tune
4.) then install and have it tuned.
If you want to go turbo.
1.) find turbo kit and injectors
2.) save up for the tuner
3.) go turbo.
Heads/cam/intake/install is going to cost you about the same as a used s/c kit and you won't make as much power.
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Wow, thanks for all your help. The car is unfortunately an auto by the way... Basically, what im looking for in my car is a nice performing street car. I rarely, if ever, plan to take it to the strip. (i have an actual track fairly near my house though) I am looking to have nice handling and fairly decent acceleration so that the car performs better than your average v6. It doesnt need to be at a GT level at the moment, (maybe in the future
) but i want it a ways beyond stock.As to the rear sway bar, i hate the understeer that is present in the stock v6. My van didnt even have that bad understeer and i can definitley handle oversteer. (driving fast through snow in a rwd van throughout winter in wisconsin helps you learn how to control a vehicle
Thanks again for your help though!
I also hate the 1 wheel peel!
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Ok, since you understand the use of the sways and have an issue you want to correct, then go for it. However I suggest getting a kit, such as Eibach's antiroll kit. I'm sure Steeda and the bigum suspension co's like Griggs and MM make them too. The Eibach kit is available on AM. It's suggested to match the bars if you're upgrading one, to have balance, rather than a huge increase in oversteer.
Don't feel bad about having an auto. The 4r70w is actually a pretty efficient trans, and a shift kit will improve upon that even more. Also, a tuner works wonders for an auto trans to adjust shift points and to firm the shifts up. I'll never have an auto sports car, esp. for street use, but that trans with those mods doesn't slouch.
For your goals def. look into suspension. Stiffer springs, a nice set of shocks and struts, c/c plates, ball joints and bumpsteer kit. Strut/shock braces, the subframe connectors you mentioned already (make sure to get full-length, weld-in style). Finally some LCA's to keep those wheels planted. This is the area in which I have the most experience, the most mods and most work time, so ask away if you have questions on any of these mods esp.
Tires are the final thing I'll mention in this post. Most people overlook a nice set of rubber when considering suspension mods. This is the connection your car has to the road, and is very important. Not saying go out and buy the most expensive race ready tire, but don't cheap out on them. Make sure to have the right size for your wheel and also application overall. For curves you want a stiffer, therefore normally smaller, sidewall, and you're not gonna want to be running 315's out back to own the corners.
Don't feel bad about having an auto. The 4r70w is actually a pretty efficient trans, and a shift kit will improve upon that even more. Also, a tuner works wonders for an auto trans to adjust shift points and to firm the shifts up. I'll never have an auto sports car, esp. for street use, but that trans with those mods doesn't slouch.
For your goals def. look into suspension. Stiffer springs, a nice set of shocks and struts, c/c plates, ball joints and bumpsteer kit. Strut/shock braces, the subframe connectors you mentioned already (make sure to get full-length, weld-in style). Finally some LCA's to keep those wheels planted. This is the area in which I have the most experience, the most mods and most work time, so ask away if you have questions on any of these mods esp.
Tires are the final thing I'll mention in this post. Most people overlook a nice set of rubber when considering suspension mods. This is the connection your car has to the road, and is very important. Not saying go out and buy the most expensive race ready tire, but don't cheap out on them. Make sure to have the right size for your wheel and also application overall. For curves you want a stiffer, therefore normally smaller, sidewall, and you're not gonna want to be running 315's out back to own the corners.
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1,295 Posts
I don't see this getting you to 200 rwhp. More like 180ish.
Hey, if anyone has a REALLY good guide to installing a cam/3.73 gears could you PM me it or a link or just as a new thread in the v6 area. I am interested in doing both of these my self i am fairly technically and mechanically inclined but ive never done it before so i would like an insanely accurate guide
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502 Posts
Thanks for all the info. This may be kind of a newbie question but for now would i be able to only get lowering springs (eibach or something like that) w/o buying shocks and struts right away? I would assume that the shocks/struts would wear out faster but would there be any other problems? Also, would the j-mod shift kit be a good option to go with? Basically, my current budget is around $400.
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You can fix that you know...
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5,308 Posts
Depends on how aggressive the tune is. Could get you 15-20whp. MAYBE. 200ISH was about right. To me, 190 is 200ish.
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You can. However you are correct in assuming that the stock shocks/struts won't last very long after lowering. It makes more sense to install everything at the same time. If you only afford springs right now, either save and wait, or buy them and just don't install them yet. The install procedure for shocks/struts and springs is very similar.
I've heard good things about the j-mod can't say anything from personal experience about it.
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I can't think of a better place for this http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/v6-mustangs/79395-look-here-before-asking-about-mods.html
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that's because it won't.
The exhaust is closer to on par than most things on the car. UDP, RR's, Windstar. These mods are where the power will be at. If after that exhaust is wanted GT take offs worked very well for me until around 330rwhp ish. factory exhaust manifolds will be sufficient for almost any N/A application.
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That's exactly why you should utilize the search feature so graciously provided to this forum, and for starters you could always check the link I provided in my previous post.
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Yea, You could follow me around but my car is parked lol
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I know you were, I was just playing, I haven't even thought about the car lately. I have school to focus on at the moment. The plan is a 4.2L swap, then put in a new cam, and my upper and lower intakes.
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