What's a noob to do with a new stang? Advice?

[djanim8]

I just purchased an 09 Mustang GT and want to upgrade it.

This is my first "play" car (as my friends would put it) so I've never had the experience of upgrading a car for performance... the most I've done is put in new head units for the stereo and speakers

So... with that in mind.. I want to upgrade it and want some advice on what to get.

I want to upgrade slowly, so I can feel the difference when I add/modify something... so I would like to get a CAI, exhaust, etc... I want to get the best performance for a decent price...

I've looked at American muscle.com and got some visual stuff from them (floor mats, ect) but no performance parts. I've also seen CJ Pony Parts in Harrisburgh, PA because I'm in MD and thats pretty close to me if I just wanna drive up..

What other places are there to purchase? and where is the best deal to get upgrades?

What axel backs does everyone recommend for the nice "growl"? I want a nice growl, and some added HP (of course!). I read somewhere on here that the 09 mustangs have a larger pipe so the catbacks aren't necessary, so looking into axel backs only, unless someone has anything different to say....

What CAI is good for the price and HP? I've seen package deals with the tuners, but I have no idea how to use the tuners too..

What else can I do to give it more hp without adding the supercharger? (thats father in the future!!)

Also, I would REALLY like to upgrade the instrument cluster to the one they sell in the GT premiums... but can't seem to find anyone that sells them, and don't want to even talk to the dealer about them, but is that the only option? I'd really like to get the computer display on it too...

Love to hear feedback, what is recommended, etc...

 

[6773]

Drive it stock and save up all your pennies until you can get a turbocharger. That's still my plan anyway.

 

[mjk]

depends on what you want in the long run and what your budget is.

If I was to do it all over again, I would go to brenspeed and buy saleen with no money down...


Hers's something that may help you if you want to start out slow.

MustangForums.com - View Single Post - Basic Mods for your 05-09 GT

 

[6773]

If I was to do it all over again, I would go to brenspeed and buy saleen with no money down...

Saleen with no money down? What's that all about?

 

[Renegade236]

American muscle is good they have free shipping, so does brenspeed. As far is exhaust goes i went with american racing long tube headers with an off road h pipe the price for that was 1287. my saleen has stock magnaflows dumped so i didnt change the mufflers. ony the S197s American Racing and Kooks are the way to go...but are kinda expensive. Mac, Bassani, and BBK are really good too. Mac sounds the best on our cars though. As far as tuning goes i went to brenspeed and told them my mods and they put it in my tuner and all i had to do was plug it into my cars computer and i was good to go. They give u the SCT X3 pre loaded with everythign u will ever need. If all the bolt ons ( gears, full exhaust, cai, etc) dont satisfy ur need u could use nitrous 50-125 shot but anything over 100 shot u need different spark plugs u can get ur nitrous from american muscle or brenspeed...but they dont fill them up for u. to fill a 10lbs bottle its usually 40-50 bucks.

 

[TheVat]

For your exhaust question, MAC boomtubes in my opinion are the way to go. No packing material inside the long 4" tube (small cheese grater looking resonators inside), loud outside (not harley loud), very little drone inside, not farty or raspy, and you can get them for $300. If I was rich, I'd get Corsa's that are 600+. No drone, little sound inside, loud outside. 2nd, SSS terminator AB would be my next choice ($300). 3rd, MAC chambered AB (330-350), but they drone like crazy. No tune needed for axelback. High flow catted/off road H and X pipes make it a lot louder, but tend to roar more than rumble at higher RPM if that makes sense. Depends on the sound you want.

With the sensitive CPU in the 05+'s, practically any other bolt on will require a tune; UD pullies, CAI, gears. Throttle bodies and intake spacers on N/A motors show very little HP gain for the money. Some CAI's say they don't require a tune. Some owners have no issues and can feel it, others don't and get a check engine light or ping. C&L racer and JLTII seem to be the most popular CAI's when used with the SCT tuner showing average of 25-30 rwhp, good for .3-.5 in the 1/4 mile.

Auto or man trans? If you keep stock tires/suspension, then 4.10's might give you some trouble hooking up, especially if you go FI in the future. 3.90's, some guys have had some whine with them. Make sure an experienced installer puts them in.

1 piece driveshafts are another good mod (Stock DS is a 2 piece unit). I piece DS is lighter, doesn't create HP, but is more efficient in the same way gears, and UD pullies work. Make sure an experienced installer puts them in.

These seem to be the most cost effective bang for buck bolt on's that you will feel on the street and at the track.

 

[race4food]

2005+ Mustang GT JLT Series II Cold Air Intake kit w/ SCT X3 [CAI-FMG-0507-X3] - $549.00 : Stang-Hi Peformance

There are 3 performance packages from Stanghi that will get you 300 to the wheels.

After that I would recommend learning to drive the car. Find the local BMW and Porsche club and see when the Open track drivers events are..

 

[browning_1]

i have a 09 also, and the first thing i did was exhaust just becuase i wanted to the sound there wasnt much performance, but the corsas were the way to go there, but if u dont care about sound do the cai/tuner package i noticed a pretty big difference when i did that, but if ur looking for an exhaust go to the corsa website they have a great soundclip of our cars with their axleback

 

[chad9350]

Drive it stock and save up all your pennies until you can get a turbocharger. That's still my plan anyway.

wait and save 25k... whatever..

FI done right 10k and change, suspension and drivetrain that hook and do not break... another 10K and change


CAI, dyno tune, 4.10 gears, drag radials, exhaust for the 'rumble' you speak of...

That'll get you a mid 12 sec 300 hp car....

 

[300]

Drive it stock and save up all your pennies until you can get a turbocharger. That's still my plan anyway.

I agree, or a supercharger. Axlebacks wont get you Hp. A CAI will become useless when you add a supercharger. And if you get gears you might need to change them again with FI.

Start with a supercharger (it will come with a CAI and tuner). Then long tube headers, an x-pipe with hi flow cats (or no cats), and then mufflers. Then tires and suspension work to put the power to the ground.

In the meanwhile enjoy the car for what it is.

 

[6773]

wait and save 25k... whatever..

25k? Really? How much have you put into your mods?

 

[Rob@Ninosport]

Cold air intake/tune combo and an axle-back are the best mods to start out with in my opinion. Oh and go with boomtubes, they sound amazing!