03 GT newbie... Need lists of local stores in Chicago/Naperville

HI... I bought my 03 a few months ago, and now it's time for some mods... Are there any local stores in the southwest suburbs of Chicago so I can see some of these products? Naperville, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Aurora, Orland Park area?

While we are at, what are some must haves as far as mods, that won't break the bank....

-Cold Air Intake (what is recommended)
-Gas Door ( I like the new one on the 2005R, are those available besides the regulare silver ones that everyone seems to have
-How can I make my stang sound loud... you know, a nice growl...

Thanks for all the help. I want to make my friend with his camaro jealous.

Welcome to the stang club! First off I don't know of any shops offhand that carry parts for stangs that you can see firsthand. Usually you have to find a speedshop and order through them or order it yourself online. There are a couple of good speedshops around and more than quite a few that are not so good. Do some research before dealing with any of them trust me will save you a lot of headaches.

For performance forget the cold air kit they do nothing if you want to buy something like that get the FIPK from K&N or a desencharger they at least are reputable and people have seen small gains from them.

As for exhaust I can recommend tons of different setup's what's good for your pocketbook and what sound you are looking for is going to determine what you'll get.

Where ya from exactley you should meet up with some of us something when there is a gathering... If you need any help let me know

Hey welcome to Stangnet!! What color is your GT? I am around the bolingbrook/naperville area and I am also just starting to look into modding my car, so I have been spending time on mustangexhaust.com listening to some sound clips of difft exhaust set ups and the site is very informative and a good place to start in my opinion.

Thanks for the replys

it's so overwhelming of all the different options... shaker hoods, exhausts, etc, etc. I live in Bolingbrook area.... off Weber and 115th.

I have a Silver GT. I would love to be included in any gatherings that you know of.

I saw some cool addons that would make it look distinct without making it look 'cheesy'. Where are you guys from? Where are these 'Speedshops'?

Hey that's near me...I am off of Boughton Rd and Naper-plainfield. We all need to get something planned, some sort of get together somewhere. I agree it is so overwhelming...I feel like I am getting addicted to modding and I haven't even started yet!

You are not far away from me at all. Yes, I am addicted too, and i haven't even started yet. So many options... I wish I got a Mach1 when I bought my GT, but they only had black and I wanted silver.

I love that shakerhood. I am thinking about adding it. I just would want a pro to install it. Let's organize a get together.

What's your car?

Yeah I use to have an 01 Gt before I traded it for the mach. Both are just as fun, especially, I have noticed, once the modding starts! I have an 03 azure blue mach 1. I am in your area all the time, so I am sure we'll see each other eventually! Yeah let's go ahead and organize a get together. I actually have never been to any of the get togethers, so I am really excited to see some stangs!

I have never been at a meeting either.... it would be exciting. So you have a blue mach1??? I am bound to run into you. what year is it? I love the seats and the shaker hood? how does it work for you? Is it loud?

Yep it's a blue mach...and it's a 2003. I ordered it August 2002, and picked it up Feb 2003, so I have had it a little over a year. I absolutely love it! It is so fun to drive. For being stock it is pretty loud and has a really good sound, which is why I am a little hesitant to get a new exhaust, but I would love for it to be louder! Is the 03 gt your first mustang?

Yes, this is my first mustang... so I am pretty geeked. I wanted to get a convertible GT first, then a Mach1, but I ended getting the GT Coupe. I am very happy. I didn't have the luxory of waiting, since I was dealing with a Ford Buy Back of my other lemon that I owned for a few months (SVT FOCUS).

I love the seats in the Mach1 and the shakerhood. I know you can add those to the GT, and I am thinking I might do it, if the hood is cool. It just sounds so unique. I would love to hear it sometime....

I love the SLP exhausts... check this: http://www.sloanvalve.com/sultangt.mp3

So I can't listen since I am having trouble with the sound on my laptop

I'll check it out later when I get home from work.

I think you made the right decision going with the coupe. As much fun as a convertible is, I personally have never liked the look of the gt convertible...I just think it looks so much meaner in the couple. Just my opinion though, everyone has their thing! Yeah you should definitely hear the shaker hood on the mach sometime...you'll love it!

I agree with the look of the vert gt... i like the coupe much better. I did see this kit that really is peaking my interest. Its a targa kit... http://store4.yimg.com/I/mustangtuning_1785_9005356

I wish there were good shops in our area... There is room for it with all the new shops going in. So does your shakerhood make the sound all the time? is it loud? how much does it shake? I just think it is so unique.

Yeah that's pretty cool. I really don't know about any shops in our area, or even in Naperville...kinda weird since there are so many shops and everything. I actually haven't really checked though. We'll just have to plan a get together soon so you can witness the mach and shaker first hand!

sounds like a plan... I know you are going to leave me all jealous. I'll look around for something in our area. There has to be something.

Yeah just like a feel all jealous everytime I get in my mom's 03 cobra! But they are all cool in their own way! Once you start modding it, your friend in his camaro will be jealous. although he should feel jealous already since you have a stang and he has a camaro...not my favorite car as you can tell...lol!

i always kid him that his camaro needs a driver with a mullet...

Lol, yeah really.

You guys if you haven't already should register on some of the local boards. Like Midwest mustangs or www.cponygo.com so you can find out when some get together's are.

As for exhaust sounds on the internet really doesn't compare to hearing it up close and in person. I am totally glad I went the route I did instead of going with what I heard off the websites they are more to give a good idea of what to expect.

Hey thanks...yeah I have checked out those other sites, just haven't ever registered! And I don't think I am going to be able to make a decision about the exhaust til I hear some in person.

Hey if you guys are looking for a shop there is one about 10 mins from Orland in Matteson. Its called Sutton High Performance, there number is 708-720-8500. Do dyno tuning and everything. They have some stuff on site, mostly Ford Racing Performance Parts, but a lot of it they order. Anyways, its actually inside a dealership, Sutton Ford in the Matteson Automall, off of Rt 30.