Best First Mods for my 03 GT?

[95.0Stang]

I bought a 2003 GT 5spd with 51k miles back in October 2008, and I have decided to go ahead and make a few modifications.

Supposing my budget is $1500 what mods do you guys recommend? I am not mechanically inclined really. I can figure out whats wrong because I have a good concept of mechanics mentally, but because of a bad back and bad legs from the Military I never have gotten much experience working on the cars.

Listing the FREE mods it would be great also, I know the old 5.0s had a number of mods you could do for almost no $$$.

I was thinking about the following:
1. Bassani BX Cat-back
2. JLT CAI
3. Eibach ProSystem

 

[Jbauer]

1500 bucks?

Gears...Ford Racing Gears and Tuners at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

800 dollars installed, tops.
o/r H pipe: 160..turn off the mil with the tuner from the link above
mufflers: 130..get em used even cheaper.
K&N filter: 50
Lowering springs: 200
Tokico shocks and struts: 300.
1600 bucks..
you'll be real happy with those mods.

 

[95.0Stang]

I looked on that site and never saw the full gear kit like that...Thanks!

I will not be putting an O/R anything on the car, I don't like the smell when I go to church, and get out and smell like exhaust. I have had 5 other Mustangs with O/R X or H pipes and I am just kind of tired of it. I may do a highflow X pipe at some point down the road though.

I already did the K&N filter.

What about the Bullitt or Mach 1 suspension kits like these???
gefracing.com: MUSTANG HANDLING KIT - BULLITT

or

gefracing.com: MACH 1 SUSPENSION KIT

Thanks for all your help

 

[mustangman9812]

4.10 Gear, MGW Short Throw

 

[Winters98GT]

These cars won't make you smell like exhaust. The stock catback and offroad mid pipe sound great, and is not too loud. If not, go with a hi flow h pipe, and leave the stock catback on. I don't like the loud sound from a mid pipe with mufflers, but everybody is different. You get the bang out of the midpipe. Don't waste you money on a bassani catback.

Other than that, I would agree with Jbauer and mustangman. Gears, mid pipe, pullies, TA, Shocks, Springs, and shifter. You can't go wrong with any of them, and if you shop around, might be able to do them all.

 

[tag4car]

think seriously about some full length sub frame connectors

 

[trinity_gt]

IMO, your initial list first "first" mods looks good: free up some intake and exhaust flow and tighten up the suspension.

Bassani is expensive but you know what they say about getting what you pay for... For a catback, you might also consider Magnaflow or Steeda. You won't get a ton of power from these mods but you should notice some.

On my 02 GT, I've got the Bullitt suspension 95.0Stang mentioned and love it. A worthy alternate to the Eibach PS you can consider.

After saving some more, you might consider some gears (I like 3.73s but others swear by 4.10s...) to liven the car up around town. If you go 4.10s and you drive the highway at higher speeds, budget for an aluminum driveshaft too.

What are your goals? Just a few mods like these or do you have bigger plans down the road?

 

[evil281]

definately get full length subframe connectors first, you will be amazed how much less jerky the car is over bumps

so my first couple mods would be

sub frame connects
short throw shifter
eibach kit w/ new shocks n struts of your choice (belstien, tockico, esc.)

 

[timeless2]

FYI, lots of good information in here: http://forums.stangnet.com/246291-modification-survey-thread.html

 

[scupking]

Gears Gears Gears, I wish I did that as my first mod, it made my car feel so much faster and much more fun to drive. After that do a catback, I would skip the hi flow mid pipe for now seeing as most are around $400+.

Gears (3.73 or 4.10)
Xcal III tuner
Catback
Aluminum drive shaft
Short through shifter
Lowering springs
Full length sub connecters.

 

['03GTinFLA]

Don't forget to check out the classifieds. I have a list of sites that I search almost every day. There are some decent deals out there. I wouldn't buy used gears, but shifters, catbacks and such are usually fine used.

 

[Stark77]

+1 on the Bullitt Suspension - add in some Ford "C" Springs, some upper + lower control arms and a nice sway or panhard bar and you've got a killer street/strip suspension set up.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

First and foremost 3.73 gears. Then...o/r H-pipe, cat-back, CAI, larger throttle body and plenum kit. If you are NEVER going to supercharge, install some u/d pullies. They add some RWHP to the car, but they have to come back off if you supercharge.

 

[Novanutcase]

I have the same car you have. Just do what I did....

John

 

[02nightmaregt]

First mods should be: GEARS, full length subframe connectors, short throw, midpipe, and suspension. Ok well that was a few mods

 

[turbomaxx]

Do gears and a tuner first.

That should absorb about $700 or so if you buy brand new and have a shop install them.

Or hell, your off to a great start, why not save another 2k or so and boost? Maybe not even all 400 that it can handle. I'm sure 375 would be enough for a big ol' grin.

 

[ravenr_1]

im with turbomaxx, save a little more and boost it

 

[Yawkeyman]

I added an MGW Short throw shifter, 40's flowmasters, 4.10 ford racing gears, BBK cold air intake and got the diablo tuner 93 octane. The car runs great

 

[Lifted07Sierra]

if youre looking for good handling why not a UPR k member kit? drop some weight and get great handling