A New Setup-'04 Mustang GT (Manual)
 

So I have been looking around for what could be a nice setup for my '04 mustang GT (manual). I would have to buy each item then wait for more cash then buy another item, but what do you guys think about these parts. If there is any other suggestions please help out. I have been looking at a lot of BBK products and I have found to like them a lot but if thre is anything better for cheaper please advise me. haha thanks

Cold Air Intakes:
JLT Performance Cold Air Intake (96-04 Mustang GT) around $234
http://www.americanmuscle.com/jlt-96-04-gt-cai.html

or

BBK Cold Air Intake (96-04 GT) around $179
http://www.bbkperformance.com/produc...ke-system.html

Headers:

96-04 BBK Full Length 1-5/8" Exhaust Headers - 4.6L GT (Chrome) around $449 or Polished Ceramic for around $529
http://www.bbkperformance.com/produc...h-headers.html

or
Mustang SLP Coated Long Tube Headers - (96-04 GT) around $809
http://www.americanmuscle.com/slpheaders.html

Mid Pipes:

BBK Shorty H-Pipe (96-04 Catted) around $349
http://www.bbkperformance.com/produc...onverters.html

or

Magnaflow Tru-X X-Pipe (Catted, 99-04 GT and Cobra) around $565
http://www.americanmuscle.com/1999-2...ted-xpipe.html

Cat-Back:

Borla Stainless Steel Cat-Back System Aggressive around $750
http://www.borla.com/applications/lo...essive/140067/

or

Borla Stinger S-Type Catback (99-04 GT/Mach 1) around $670
http://www.americanmuscle.com/borla-...-99-04-gt.html

Steeda Tri-Ax short shifter around $169
http://www.americanmuscle.com/noname1.html

If there are any other performance parts that are better and have a better sound/ gain in power please help! thanks guys. :) All of these parts are going to probably cost around $2,000. Remember that I am waiting a while between each part to get a hold on some cash.

Exhaust is going to be typically for sound. Not much power. The CAI isn't going to give you much either.

Go with 3.73 or 4.10 gears, Short Shifter, Mid Pipe, Cat Back, and you'll be satisfied.

can you link some info about the 4.10 gears, i just wanna get the most for my dollar. thanks

Unless you have cash or tons of patience, leave the stock exhaust manifolds in place (though there is no better bolt on than long tubes). Also, forget a CAI, waste of cash. Have you considered suspension work?

4.10 gears
MGW shifter
BBK long tubes/h pipe
catback of your choice
Accufab or Dragon Plenum/ throttle body
JLT induction
Steeda Underdrive pulleys
Xcal 3 with a tune
MM or Steeda frame connectors

I know that's like $3400 in parts, but atleast it gives you an idea of what you can do. To start a shifter, 4.10's, catback, and an Xcal 3 with a mail order tune would be good. You can get these parts and have the catback and gear installed with an install kit and oil for just under $2,000.

ok so i think im going to go with a MGW short throw shifter and Ford Racing Gears - FRPP 4.10 Gears

ok so now what type of mid-pipe should i get, H pipe helps more with torque right? and X-pipe helps with more high end RPMs right? Then I'm pretty sure I'm going to stick with some sort of Borla Cat-back, but which of the two that I picked sounds deaper and just all around better. Oh and why is CAI waste of money? j/w

oh and i almost forgot, so shorty h/x pipe or full length? i plan on getting long tubes in the future

i have had both, and i prefer an h-pipe. cattless of course. lol

expect around $300 to install the gears.

but they are so totally worth it.

also, you should get a tuner. it helps with gas, gives youi a bit more power, and since you will have 4:10 gears your speedometer will be off so you can correct it.

ok so i pretty sure im getting most of my parts installed by professionals, they would have a tuner wouldnt they? does anyone know how the Borla Stinger S-Type sounds? just wondering. yeah, i mean i've known guys who have h-pipe and it just sounds amazing, BUT b/c i will be getting LT in the future should i got with a short H or a full length?

ok so the list of decided items\

1. Ford Racing Gears FRPP 4.10 Gears

2. either MGW short throw shifter or Steeda Tri-Ax short shifter

3. BBK Shorty H-Pipe (96-04 Catted) or should i get a full length but i shouldnt b/c of LT


so basically im making a list of all the mods that i will eventually get.... GO USA:t: haha

oh and what size throttle body should i get?

Don't get an h pipe if you will be getting longtube headers soon. You will need to replace it with a shorty h pipe once you do the longtubes. I would wait and do the longtubes and h pipe at the same time. MGW shifter is the way to go. FRPP 4.10's and install/master bearing kit. Borla Stinger catback will be fine. The people doing the install may or may not have a tuner. You should check on that. If they don't, get the Xcal 3 with a mail order tune from American Muscle. If you plan on staying n/a (all motor) a 70mm throttle body will be fine. If you want a supercharger in the future then get a 75mm. I recommend the Accufab plenum with 70mm throttle body. You should also pick up some Maximum Motorsport full length frame connectors. You can have them welded in when you get the other parts installed. The connectors will tie the frame together making the car more firm and stable over uneven roads, and help with body twist in higher hp cars.

That's a lot of money for very little hp gain and reduction in 1/4 mile times.

I recommend:
-Gears
-Long tubes and off road x or h
-Small Diameter Dampener w/alt and PS pulley
-Cams

A shifter will not make the car any quicker or faster but may give you more confidence banging thru the gears. Mufflers will not make much of a difference in power and the same goes for the TB.

An Xcal is okay but to get the most power safely you need a dyno tune.

Spend our money on parts that provide big gains as opposed to those that make very little difference in overall power.

could you please explain the Small Diameter Dampener w/alt and PS pulley a little more, thanks, I know what cams are but just for my knowledge could you better explain exactly what they can do better.

What "what" can do better?

On a 4.6 a the lower pulley is not a pulley because the harmonic dampener acts as the lower pulley. So, in order to slow the accessories to free up hp you need a small diameter dampener. The March Fluid Dampener is the best one followed by Steeda, BBK and a few others.

As far as cams go, they provide the most bang-for-the-buck than any other mod.

if u want strictly performace... 4.10 then headers...
if you want a combo ide say 4.10's then a nice catback with new mid pipe for sound. Even though i think the stock GT sound is good, it only makes nouse when u get on it... i want sound when im idling at a red light or w.e

Steeda underdrive pulleys are the best. Everything else is pretty much garbage. Give us a figure of how much you want to spend right now because everyone is going to keep throwing suggestions out. I doubt you want to do cams because cams + springs + install + dyno tuning is going to be just over $2,000, and you don't have the supporting mods like exhaust and induction done yet. Do the supporting mods first. And cams are worth it if you do the install yourself, but if you need to have a shop install them then they are not worth the price. $1,000 for install + all the parts is not worth ~ 35rwhp that you'll gain. For twice the amount, $4,000, you can have a supercharger and make ~100 rwhp more, and room to grow by just switching a pulley and being able to make more power.

Based upon what? The March Fluid Dampener does a better job at damening harmonics while having the same diameter as the Steeda part. I gained 11rwhp by putting the March dampener on my 96 Cobra.

Also, 1k for a cam install is very high as most shops can and will do it much cheaper. Heck, you can get 4v cams installed for that 1k.

yeah but so as of right now i dont want to go over $2,000, I have a friend who can do some pretty damn good work on cars and the stuff he can't do I'll go to a shop, 1k for install does sound a little steep, but hey I'm in CA, living it up in good old Kansas. At the moment I think the mods that I will be doing with probably be the 4.10 gears, a throw shifter, and borla stinger catback. I'm pretty sure my friend can do the catback, pretty sure on the throw shifter but I havent asked him about the gears, but he probably can do it, if not his dad can seeing that he owns a shop. I'm not sure if he can really tune anything, but j/w how much does a dyno tune generally cost? thanks

Most shops around here charge $600 - $700 to do cams on a 2v. If sprngs need to be changed it is $1,000. I got quoted $1,000 from two shops.

Steeda was making the one piece dampner pulley before March was. March and BBK always used to be the piggy back style pulleys. Everyone runs and recommends Steeda. I've never heard of anyone with the March's, except you. March may work, but Steeda has been proven to work years ago.

A one piece dampener is not a good dampener. Also, March makes piggybacks as well as the SFI approved Fluid dampener which btw was used on the 2000 Cobra R. Also, many people on the larger, more informed forums have used the March Dampener with great results.