Hey everybody, i finally made the jump to mustangs after a bunch of boring sedans and SUVs. So now that I'm here, i have some questions.I have a 2003 GT, 52k miles. The previous owner babied it, it has absolutely no mods, completely stock. So the first order of business is, the stock exhaust sounds excellent, I live in New York so a severely loud exhaust is more of a nuisance than it is fun. On that note, the car is just a little too quiet for my liking. I was hoping that there's a way to do 2 things, first i wanna open up the exhaust a little without losing any sort of performance (if possible) or replace certain pipes, I'd rather leave the mufflers if i can. Also i want to put a mild cam in the car, nothing too aggressive. but on top of having the cam, I don't want to have to replace a million other parts of the car so I'm not sure if that's possible. Overall I'm just looking for the car to have more of a rumble to it when its idling. So I'd love to hear what everyone has to say!
noob in need of some help
l0rd_vader
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Hey everybody, i finally made the jump to mustangs after a bunch of boring sedans and SUVs. So now that I'm here, i have some questions.I have a 2003 GT, 52k miles. The previous owner babied it, it has absolutely no mods, completely stock. So the first order of business is, the stock exhaust sounds excellent, I live in New York so a severely loud exhaust is more of a nuisance than it is fun. On that note, the car is just a little too quiet for my liking. I was hoping that there's a way to do 2 things, first i wanna open up the exhaust a little without losing any sort of performance (if possible) or replace certain pipes, I'd rather leave the mufflers if i can. Also i want to put a mild cam in the car, nothing too aggressive. but on top of having the cam, I don't want to have to replace a million other parts of the car so I'm not sure if that's possible. Overall I'm just looking for the car to have more of a rumble to it when its idling. So I'd love to hear what everyone has to say!
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Cams alone will really change the entire tone of your car if thats what your thinking about I say do that first and work your way from there.Afull exhaust will get close to 1000 Dollars a cam install will be just about as close in price with ALOT more performance and sounds that will make your heart flutter.
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any recommended brand?
---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 PM ----------
that was my plan at first but a few friends said it'll get louder than I want. Regardless I would like to give it a shot. Any thoughts on the off-road pipes?
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welcome to the mustang world! Read my sig if you have any questions about what mods you might want to do first.
I'd say that if you want cams then CMS as filmman has suggest is probably my number 1 go to for recommendations. I'd also recommend looking into a new mid-pipe; either x or h depending on the muffler sound signature you're interested in.
I'd say that if you want cams then CMS as filmman has suggest is probably my number 1 go to for recommendations. I'd also recommend looking into a new mid-pipe; either x or h depending on the muffler sound signature you're interested in.
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mother of god lol. That just made the big decision a million times easier
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after hearing those for the first time i dont think i can choose anything different! haha thanks for the advice man i have some thinking to do
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haha, if you keep your stock exhaust, it won't be quite as loud, as i have shorty headers, off road x pipe and slp lm1 mufflers. my exhaust setup is loud, especially at WOT (wide open throttle), maybe too loud for your situation lol but definitely get some cams if you like that lopey idle.
not sure exactly how the CMS Stage I cams sound at idle, but these are the Stage II's w/ ported/polished heads. its fun
there's a lot of ppl that use the HP292 Cams as well. i've heard good and bad things with them. most important is to have the cams degreed upon install so you won't run into any PTV (piston to valve) clearance issues and to get those few left over HP they may be left on the table.
my mid pipe is a bbk o/r x pipe. basically x pipes are more raspy while the h pipes are more muscle car sounding. x pipes give a bit more HP while h pipes give a bit more TQ. then offroad versus catted, for emissions purposes. i'd choose catted if you aren't willing to swap out the midpipe every year or two for smog lol
EDIT: also get it tuned if you're going to do cams! well even if you just do a midpipe. many will say just get the Tuner from Americanmuscle.com as you get a tuner device with 3 free tunes for life...however; i have recently gone w/ a professional tuner (especially since i have heads and cams now) and its the best choice i've made. Ortiz Performance. they do email tunes, now many ppl say when doing cams and anything big to dyno tune. not necessary. with midpipes you dont have to dyno tune it, just an email tune works fine. but i'd highly highly recommend going with Ortiz Performance. you can PM F8L GT on here to get more info.
F8L GT is on this thread:
http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/99-04/310108-whats-best-cam-4-6-2v-2.html
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6,255 Posts
UPR makes a good midpipe for "cheap." I'm not sure what you would classify as loud though.
This is what stock exhaust sounds like with just a Magnaflow catback. It's relatively tame until you open it up past 3k rpm.
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13,422 Posts
Mid pipe+different cat back(or weld in mufflers). Just take note that some cams require different gears, springs depensing on what stage you want, and a TUNE. So you'll also need a handheld for a dyno tune.
I just had cams installed on my 3v a few days ago and tuned and cost me ~1800. That was the tuner, cams, bolts, install and tune.
I just had cams installed on my 3v a few days ago and tuned and cost me ~1800. That was the tuner, cams, bolts, install and tune.
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perfect man thank you. all the info i neededhaha, if you keep your stock exhaust, it won't be quite as loud, as i have shorty headers, off road x pipe and slp lm1 mufflers. my exhaust setup is loud, especially at WOT (wide open throttle), maybe too loud for your situation lol but definitely get some cams if you like that lopey idle.
not sure exactly how the CMS Stage I cams sound at idle, but these are the Stage II's w/ ported/polished heads. its fun
there's a lot of ppl that use the HP292 Cams as well. i've heard good and bad things with them. most important is to have the cams degreed upon install so you won't run into any PTV (piston to valve) clearance issues and to get those few left over HP they may be left on the table.
my mid pipe is a bbk o/r x pipe. basically x pipes are more raspy while the h pipes are more muscle car sounding. x pipes give a bit more HP while h pipes give a bit more TQ. then offroad versus catted, for emissions purposes. i'd choose catted if you aren't willing to swap out the midpipe every year or two for smog lol
EDIT: also get it tuned if you're going to do cams! well even if you just do a midpipe. many will say just get the Tuner from Americanmuscle.com as you get a tuner device with 3 free tunes for life...however; i have recently gone w/ a professional tuner (especially since i have heads and cams now) and its the best choice i've made. Ortiz Performance. they do email tunes, now many ppl say when doing cams and anything big to dyno tune. not necessary. with midpipes you dont have to dyno tune it, just an email tune works fine. but i'd highly highly recommend going with Ortiz Performance. you can PM F8L GT on here to get more info.
F8L GT is on this thread:
http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/99-04/310108-whats-best-cam-4-6-2v-2.html
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np dude.
also, what cabikejumper said is correct. i believe anything above Stage I as far as cams will more than likely require springs, retainers, cam gears and bolts. a bunch of random **** i don't really know haha i went with the CMS combo package:
CMS/MHS 2V Modular Head/Cam Package Stage 2 - Cushman Motorsports
b/c it includes everything needed (aside from head bolts, head gaskets, timing chain guides and tensioners)
the cost for me was as follows
$2600ish for the head/cam package w/ trickflow valve covers
$2000 for install of head/cam package (included a dyno tune)
about $500 in misc. parts (gaskets, head bolts, chain guides, tensioners, random bolts)
soo yea i spent a shitload of money and gained a decent amount of HP/TQ... coulda gone the the supercharger/turbo route and gained a bunch more HP/TQ but my car is a daily driver and i'd rather build the 2V that's in it b4 i go crazy and supercharge it
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A cam install is a pretty intense first mod. Since you just got the car and arent sure how well its going to run in the near future i would be careful doing something as serious as a cam. Imo i would defenitely either weld in some new mufflers or get an X/H offroad pipe. Keep in mind that an offroad pipe may cause you to fail inspection. I bought my car with stock exhaust and thought it was a little too quiet. Me being the broke college student that I am, i went the cheap route and just got two Flowmaster 40s welded in place. They are relatively cheap to purchase and get put in, and they sound awesome!
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I was N/A for a long time and I wanted these CMS cams so bad I couldnt see straight, I hope you know you just basically injected your self with a diesease stronger than AIDS, Your ****ed, that being said Id do O/R H pipe (keep stock for inspection) and if you do cams do CMS N/A stage 2s and I think you will be rather pleased other than that, Id do a Steeda tri_axe shifter or a MGW shifter cause you feel it all the time and its awesome, other than that, gears are a must. This is just the start
welcome---------- Post added at 11:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:53 PM ----------
thats not a bad price for all that, HPP??
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have some good mufflers welded in or cat back.
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If your not replacing the heads like this guy, you wont need head bolts, head gaskets. He didnt need chain guides, tensioners. I bought and installed my cams for $350 (used). Then obviously you will need a tune afterwardsnp dude.
also, what cabikejumper said is correct. i believe anything above Stage I as far as cams will more than likely require springs, retainers, cam gears and bolts. a bunch of random **** i don't really know haha i went with the CMS combo package:
CMS/MHS 2V Modular Head/Cam Package Stage 2 - Cushman Motorsports
b/c it includes everything needed (aside from head bolts, head gaskets, timing chain guides and tensioners)
the cost for me was as follows
$2600ish for the head/cam package w/ trickflow valve covers
$2000 for install of head/cam package (included a dyno tune)
about $500 in misc. parts (gaskets, head bolts, chain guides, tensioners, random bolts)
soo yea i spent a shitload of money and gained a decent amount of HP/TQ... coulda gone the the supercharger/turbo route and gained a bunch more HP/TQ but my car is a daily driver and i'd rather build the 2V that's in it b4 i go crazy and supercharge it
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3,444 Posts
Froush, when they took my timing cover off the chain tensioners were shot to hell lol i have 120k miles on the stock ones and run this thing hard. i had to replace mine lol but went w/ trickflow ones.
but yea, course if not replacing the heads, no need for the gaskets and head bolts.
---------- Post added at 10:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 AM ----------
Just realized you have a vert as well. Before any mods; I'd get some Full Length Subframe Connectors to stiffen the chassis. Have them welded in as well. The stock ones on the convertibles are terrible. Replacing them alone, you will feel a difference in the way it handles.
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awesome guys, all the info i need. Theres a guy whos close with my family, he specializes in american performance and hes had his own shop for 45 years or so. he built a camaro that runs a quarter in 8.7 at 160 so ill have him do all the work haha i think i can trust him
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