Next mod to do "other than gears"

[RUNINAGT]

Looking for the next easy mod to do. I say not gears because it seems like almost impossible to find someone to do them here, without charging a lot. The Ford dealership (which I knew someone there) and they wanted over a $grand$.
I checked a local shop here that works on a bunch of Stangs and he wanted 800-900 bucks. Am I just being to cheap or is that high.
So anyway I was going to consider a new intake. The guy @ Mustangs Unlim said he preferred the Victor Jr. Would I just change the upper intake,? Or do I need to change lower as well. Would it make sense to just do that and not change the throttle body from it's O.E. size?? Or should I replace the TBI unit 1st. Im trying to stay in a $500.00 area.

 

[tmoss]

gears are generally in the $500-600 range so you are getting quoted pretty high.

A Victor intake is a poor choice for an intake mod.

my website has a lot of tech article info and dyno test pictures that are located in the Community pictures section. Take some time and study the results.

 

[bullitstang1313]

I would suggest to wait on the intake swap, it will be best to swap the intake with heads and a cam. You want to make sure that you pick a H/C/I combination that will produce power/torque in the range you want it. The Victor Jr. intake would be a horrible choice for a stock engine as it is designed for a power band of 4000-8000 rpm.

As far as the next mod, I would suggest preparing the suspension for more power down the road. Everybody always likes to start building more horsepower but they forget about the suspension. I'd suggest getting some subframe connectors and some rear control arms to get started.

 

[RUNINAGT]

I hope this is in the correct section.
And I forgot one question, I am going to attend a large Ford car show in Fla in Jan. I was told by a friend that went to the chevy one this weekend that he had his Firebird Dyno'ed and it was like $60. He sai they would tune it for $100 total. My question is what is there to gain in "tuning". I have already bumped timing up.

 

[bullitstang1313]

With a pretty much stock engine you really don't have anything to tune. Once you start adding mods like a cam, intake, heads, injectors, etc. you can find gains in performance and driveability with a tune.

 

[mike93lx]

wow a grand for gears?? you can get it done around here for under $500 including parts. Kepp looking around. I can't believe that you will need to spend that kind of money for gears.

 

[redfox91]

You should try a place that does gears and axles in big rigs, they do a fantastic job and it is easy for them because thats all they do. Thats the way I went and it only cost 200 in labor, well worth that.

 

[ninety15.0]

I had my gears done for 250 bucks. I brought him the parts; gears, master rebuilt kit, and gear oil. He too care of the rest. Dropped it off in the morning...picked it up that night! I would keep looking around...or do it yourself.

Now that i have been working on this car for 5 years...including a couple motor swap/teardowns...there is no doubt i would do the next gear swap by myself! Not much to it!

 

[crazyquik50]

wow i charge 175.00 bucks to do swap I am gettn boned

 

[RUNINAGT]

Wish someone could lead me in the right direction in this area.

 

[bloopbloob]

looks like we have fairly similar mods...
i just did my gear swap, and was not as amazed by it as some others seem to be. to see much gains, i really think you'd be better off saving your money for heads (or get some work on the stock e7's done) If you want an intake, don't go with something that doesnt match what you have right now. I'd say get a gt40,cobra or typhoon that won't cause you to lose all your low end. You definately need the lower also, as that is where the big restriction on stock intake is. A 65 or 70mm TB would be a nice addition to one of these, as long as you port match the openings. If no future mods are coming (never happens) just get the tb that matches the intake you buy and your good to go. I'd have to recommend subframe connectors and UD pullies as two of the best cheap mods( Under $100) i've done so far. What about a short throw shifter?

 

[tmoss]

wow i charge 175.00 bucks to do swap I am gettn boned

No your not, your charging a fair price, maybe a little less but in the ballpark. The number I quoted above includes a $200-$250 set of gears, so labor is about $250-$300.

 

[JKidd]

For adding power, you could always throw in a small shot of Nitrous.

Gears would be your best bet if you can get the price down to $550 for parts and install.

Other than that, until you want to do H/C/I or a blower, you're tapped for "easy, inexpensive engine mods."...unless you want to pull the heads and intake and port and polish them.

Or...you could turn toward suspension parts:
Subframe connectors will me a must with more power (I think they should be mandatory as soon as you buy the car...but that's just me). Strut tower brace. Rear control arms (upper and lower). Lowering springs.

 

[dragnazz5.0]

no one mentioned a set of 1.7 rockers. check out ebay for used intakes. if i remember correctly i got my old cobra intake for like $250-$275 shipped and i bought a set of 1.7 rockers off of a buddy for $100 and spent a saturday afternoon putting them both on and it was definetly a good improvement.

 

[svtpower]

SF

Full length subframe connectors.

 

[RUNINAGT]

Full length subframe connectors.

What is the gain from this. Does this help you out tremendlessly getting out the hole.

 

[Fast63]

What is the gain from this. Does this help you out tremendlessly getting out the hole.

I'm not sure, but it will help out handling a LOT.

 

[svtpower]

yep

They will suprise you.

When I did them on my Cobra I could chirp the tires shifting at a lower rpm than before I had them. They help get more of the power you have to the ground and yes they REALLY help handling too.

 

[skunk21]

One of the best things to do is make a list like I did by catagory. stuff like suspension, brakes, engine, exhaust etc. get some catalogs and look on line at places like maximum motorsports for suspension stuff and clutch cables, 50rest.com, cjpony parts just to name a few and put prices next to the stuff.

suspesnion stuff to do, like the others said full length frame connectors, give the car strength keeps it from twisting during launch which keeps the power going towards the rear end. ford racing upper control arms, I like the maximum rear lower arms but do some searching there are other opinions. get the rear tightened up with tourqe box kits and be ahead of the game so to speak. new shocks , etc.

the ford racing front lower control arms are also a nice mod, great improvement.

engine stuff I would search like i'm still doing since there is so much out there.

I went with suspension then brakes then finally my rearend gears before hp mods. I wanted the car to handle better, replace worn bushings and stop better. that way the car will better handle more hp and be much safer, then I wont be chasing after stuff the rest of the car can't handle. I learned most of this from searching on here and asking ?'s. sometimes going hp first isn't always the 1st thing but to each his own.

has you buy things just cross them off the list, work things by priority and before you know it most of the stuff will be done. get organized and don't get to quick to do things, do some research and figure things out that way you will spend your money more wisley and the car will come out much better.

 

[2000xp8]

What is the gain from this. Does this help you out tremendlessly getting out the hole.

Subframe connectors on a mustang are more of a requirement than an upgrade.
Without them when you are beating on the car, it's really flexing itself into pieces slowly.
They also make the car more stable.

Should be the first mod on any mustang.