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I want to upgrade my 3.8L v6 Mustang, Suggestions?

38K views 87 replies 31 participants last post by  zubdog  
#1 ·
I have an awesome 2003 3.8L Mustang that I want to upgrade with performance parts, a better engine, and a great exhaust kit.

I AM NOT SELLING MY CAR FOR A GT. I LIKE MY CAR AND I WANT A CUSTOM RIDE. THIS IS MY FIRST CAR AND MY FAVORITE CAR. Thanks =)

Anyways I read a couple days ago about someone upgrading their v6 that would make a stock v8 owner worry and I was very interested in that but I cannot find that thread.

I really want to put a great enginge in there and I'll do whatever it takes within reason to get all parts needed. I'm not gonna change it myself, but I figured over time I could get the money needed for this and have my cousin who has worked with ford specifically on mustangs to help me.

All suggestions welcomed, and I'm interested in any possibilities you have in mind. Money is an issue but with hard work I can take care of that myself.

And on a side note: I raced a custom firebird today with what sounded like alot of HP under the hood and kept right on him today. I'm very proud of my car, and after this incident I decided enough was enough. I need HP.
 
#6 ·
Haha not just a GT, but most street cars. =)

And I'm not necessarily looking for the biggest and best but I just want to know some good combos and what ever works good for upgrading. I just want more HP and and better exhaust sound. I want to have a fully custom ride and basically get rid of the stock items for better parts.

Things like engine swaps and stuff that I could add to gain HP.
 
#4 ·
Yeah I know but I'm talking about when he revved the engine you could tell it wasn't stock.

Um well I currently don't have much but I'm willing to spend at most(over time) 10k.

I'm not gonna spend 10k up front but thats about the price of the car and it is in great shape with 72k miles on it, 60k when I got it.
 
#7 ·
$10k?! Over how much time?! Damn man $10K?!

You either want to keep the stock V6 and mod it or
Goto a GT or
Engine swap THEN mod it (but if you dont engine swap UP, youre wasting money).

Whats your HP goal? Do you just want to beat GTs? What?

EDIT:
OMG $10k?! Just go put it down on a 2011 V6 and wait for mods for it.
 
#8 ·
Well if he has a paid off car and spends 10k... He'll be way ahead of the 2011 v6..

If he puts 10k down on a 2011 he'll owe another 15k on it + modding = expensive.
 
#9 ·
get the 4.3L long rod from ssms. then slap an eaton m112 on top of that. you'll be good and should keep you under 10k if you do it all yourself.
 
#11 ·
If you want to beat a GT then spend $1000 on a 100 shot and a tune. If you want to beat a bunch of fast street cars invest in a better platform motor. (note that I did not say buy a GT)

For 10k you could do a lot with your car.
 
#14 ·
if you go on sssms' website and scroll down a little bit, it has a list of parts you would need for it.
 
#27 ·
611/561


Its an auto so thats a little more then 700 crank
 
#28 ·
such a beautiful engine bay on that TT
 
#41 ·
A true dual exhaust? Is that like two seperate pipes or would a x/h pipe be a true dual exhaust?

What headers/exhaust would you recommend? Everyone says flowmasters for exhaust but I think that I could find better for cheaper if I look. what are 4,10s, t loks, and CAI?

And what exactly is a cam and boring your engine out? Haha I'm trying to learn believe me.
 
#38 ·
Why get a shift kit and a tuner?... a tuner is basically kinda like a shift kit that you can control.
 
#43 ·
first mods id say to get is 4.10's and tlok ^^ u can get ford to install them.. the gears and lok from ford cost the same as on american muscle and and which are the same brand..

4.10's and locker would cost about 360 ish but the install is kinda expensive. shops usually charge about 300 just to install these 2 =\

they say 4.10s feel like they add about 40hp? not sure. getting my 4.10's and tlok installed on the 1st ^^ cant wait
 
#55 ·
305 factory is about 270 ish to the wheels i beleive.. not sure and its an 03 sti if im not mistaken white, lowered, with gold wheels, and really nice interior, but one noticeable scratch in the hood =( not too big though. should i get it? :p
 
#57 ·
haha it looks so good sitting there when i drive passed it. just gotta find somone to buy these parts, which is probably gonna be hard. might install them into the car and then just sell the car for 3 - 3.5k ish. or keep it and have 2 cars but i like to put all my attention into 1 car :p