I need more power! I have an 1987 5 liter 5 speed with the following mods: 3.73 gears, rebuilt limited slip, flowmaster 2.5 catback exhaust, Pro 5.0 shifter, 2 row alum radiator, plus the free stuff (timing, etc.). I just had the gears put on this year and love them. I would eventually like to go low 12's. I would prefer more power at the higher rpms since without slicks, I probably will just spin if I get too much at lower rpm's. I want to stay away from nitrous and slicks. I want reliability and am on a budget. By budget, I could probably spend about $1000 per year (could save for a year so I have $2k in one year) I was thinking whatever I do, I will get the car ready by upgrading the fuel system, etc to make the car ready for either heads/intake/cam or supercharger or whatever. Has anyone been in this situation before and what did you do? I was originally thinking of the powerdyne with a fuel system upgrade but have read so many negative things about them on forums. Then I was going to go with heads,intake,cam but hear comments that if you take apart the motor, people have problems. So many ways to make power, very confused about what to do. What would be a good combo for me to get to the low 12's? Even if it takes 4 or 5 years, that would be ok I guess, just want to get there as quickly and cheaply as possible. I've heard of people using GT40p heads and intake(explorer I think) and they've said this is a good budget upgrade. What do you think??? I want to learn as much as possible before next spring when I'll start this project. (maybe something little over the winter since I'll have more time then). Thanks for your input!!
Posts by chrisbmx
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A "few" questions: If I upgrade the fuel system to get ready for future mods, will it be ok to add a 255 lph in tank pump and 42#/hr injectors? Will this change work ok and reliably with everything else untouched? I know this won't get any more power immediately, but will get car ready for some later so I don't lean out:rockon. Will this just lower the duty cycle of the injectors, but still idle and run ok? Will the stock speed density and computer work as is with this mod, or will something need recalibrated? Of course, once I need, or if I need, to switch to mass air, I'll be sure to get one calibrated to match the injectors.
Also, I think the first year, I'll put on unequal shorties and an o/r X pipe. The reason for these headers is the car is lowered 1 1/2" (forgot to mention earlier) and I don't want the long tubes scraping the ground. It's street driven and only sees the strip probably once or twice a year. Also, I want to be able to easliy change the spark plugs without making an erector set out of ratchet extensions like I've heard with the equal length shorties. From what I've read, the HP increase isn't that much anyway. Will the aftermarket headers really flow that much better than stock?
Thanks for all the input!!!!
Also, I think the first year, I'll put on unequal shorties and an o/r X pipe. The reason for these headers is the car is lowered 1 1/2" (forgot to mention earlier) and I don't want the long tubes scraping the ground. It's street driven and only sees the strip probably once or twice a year. Also, I want to be able to easliy change the spark plugs without making an erector set out of ratchet extensions like I've heard with the equal length shorties. From what I've read, the HP increase isn't that much anyway. Will the aftermarket headers really flow that much better than stock?
Thanks for all the input!!!!
Thanks for the info on the injectors! I will add the fuel pump and exhaust in 2010 and wait until the charger/motor work before adding the injectors. Also, to avoid a tune as long as I can, I'll probably switch to mass air. I have an A9L with the 55mm mass air meter (too small 
) that I got from ebay last fall, but it will do until I start making power and maybe go to an 76/80mm.
The reason I was afraid to go to stickier tires is the stock axles and no c-clip eliminators. How much power can I safely have before having a chance of snapping an axle? I know to get the full potential, I should upgrade the suspension, lose some front end weight, and use slicks at the track. If I do launch harder, I don't want to be towing the car back home. The car doesn't see the track that often. Really just want seat of the pants feel for a car that is fun to drive around. The gears did a lot for this, but I want more. If I get into making the car optimal for track runs, I feel I'd probably need c-clip eliminators, stronger axles, etc. Then I would be getting into much more money and more time before I can afford a supercharger or motor work. Is this accurate, or am I off base here?:dunno
) that I got from ebay last fall, but it will do until I start making power and maybe go to an 76/80mm.The reason I was afraid to go to stickier tires is the stock axles and no c-clip eliminators. How much power can I safely have before having a chance of snapping an axle? I know to get the full potential, I should upgrade the suspension, lose some front end weight, and use slicks at the track. If I do launch harder, I don't want to be towing the car back home. The car doesn't see the track that often. Really just want seat of the pants feel for a car that is fun to drive around. The gears did a lot for this, but I want more. If I get into making the car optimal for track runs, I feel I'd probably need c-clip eliminators, stronger axles, etc. Then I would be getting into much more money and more time before I can afford a supercharger or motor work. Is this accurate, or am I off base here?:dunno
Hey Ryan, do you use DR's at a lower pressure at the track and run them on the street at a regular pressure (25-30psi)? I am looking for a tire that will hook decently, but still perform in turns. Are you using a BFG, Hoosier, etc.?
Traidmarx, Did you replace the t5 with another t5 or a tremec, etc? I know the T5 is weak and I'll probably end up replacing it sometime. Is it easy to switch to a 6 speed tranny, T56??? With the 3.73's at highway speed, it would be nice to have a 6th gear.
Is the mass air swap easy to do? I got a wiring harness plug and some instructions from the guy I bought it off of on ebay. I see a wire needs to go to the computer and I'll have to get a wiring terminal where it snaps into the computer wiring harness according to his directions. Anyone do this recently and have some tips or instructions?
Thanks again all!!
Traidmarx, Did you replace the t5 with another t5 or a tremec, etc? I know the T5 is weak and I'll probably end up replacing it sometime. Is it easy to switch to a 6 speed tranny, T56??? With the 3.73's at highway speed, it would be nice to have a 6th gear.
Is the mass air swap easy to do? I got a wiring harness plug and some instructions from the guy I bought it off of on ebay. I see a wire needs to go to the computer and I'll have to get a wiring terminal where it snaps into the computer wiring harness according to his directions. Anyone do this recently and have some tips or instructions?
Thanks again all!!
I checked out the Nitto 555r's on the net and hear nothing but good reviews of them. I do hear that they have such good traction once you heat them up that some guy snapped his axle, not a mustang though. Ryan, do you have stock axles in your dd? If I have to, I may upgrade axles before using sticky tires even though it may add another year to the final picture. Would I risk snapping an axle with the 555r's, launching hard with 3.73's?
Does the smog and A/C delete get you that much HP? I've seen on the forums only a few HP.
I've seen a lot about the GT40P heads and intake adder. Seems like a lot of people on budgets are doing this. How can you tell if it's a good set from the junkyard and not junk when buying them used? What will it add HP wise to a stock mustang motor? Should I try a home port job or do anything else while the heads are off? Are they easy to install? I've done waterpumps, radiators, coil springs, catbacks, etc. in the past, but never any motor work. I'm not a great mechanic, but like to think I can get by. I tend to go overboard in making sure things are done right, like you can't tell from all my questions I really like to do things once. Should I try the head swap myself?
Does the smog and A/C delete get you that much HP? I've seen on the forums only a few HP.
I've seen a lot about the GT40P heads and intake adder. Seems like a lot of people on budgets are doing this. How can you tell if it's a good set from the junkyard and not junk when buying them used? What will it add HP wise to a stock mustang motor? Should I try a home port job or do anything else while the heads are off? Are they easy to install? I've done waterpumps, radiators, coil springs, catbacks, etc. in the past, but never any motor work. I'm not a great mechanic, but like to think I can get by. I tend to go overboard in making sure things are done right, like you can't tell from all my questions
I really like to do things once. Should I try the head swap myself?1 - 5 of 25 Posts
