The Plan - Good... Bad... or Ugly?
 

Alright... have had my 2004 GT Convertible for 3 months now and the Mod bug has already bitten me... hard!! I've made a few purchases and am in the process of installing them (it's not easy getting my fat butt under a Mustang even on ramps!) and have started looking to the future for my car. Here's my plan:

Currently - I have the SLP Loudmouth catback on my car (sounds great) and an SLP catted X-pipe waiting to be installed (needed the O2 hardness and a rachet adapter *grumbles*) as well as an MGW short throw shifter waiting to go in.

Next set of mods after X-mas (with big bonus I hope!) - I want to do the Tunable Induction (Desencharger) System #5 stage 2 setup, the Accufab 75mm Throttle Body and matching Plenum, and Steeda Underdrive pulleys. That should run me right about $1k.

Then this spring I'll do - 3.90 or 4.10 gears (leaning towards 4.10's cause FRPP doesn't make 3.90's) and an SCT 4 position chip. I'm waiting on the gears due to the fact that we do get snow in NJ and I'd rather drive on them with decent traction for a bit before playing with snow! The 4 position chip is so I can go with a Turbo at some point and play with different boost levels depending on the driving conditions (slippery, normal, race).

Later in the year I may look into LT headers if I think I can squeak through emissions with them (I believe with a catted X-pipe I'd have a chance if they didn't pop my hood and look). I think that pretty much covers the bolt ons... I'm guessing I'd be needing new tires by then as well as some suspension mods but I haven't done enough reading on that to know what I'd like to get. Then I can also start looking at doing a cam/head swap and start putting together a twin turbo set up but that'll be tougher to get by the wife!!

What do u guys think?

sounds good but i would do 4.10s for sure becuase your auto and a vert so you are heavy as hell and have a power robing tranny.

as for the induction i would get a whatever plenum you want. me i wont spend over 150 for one, get a 75mm tb if you really are gonna go F/I if your not sure get a 70 and wait till you get one then sell it, as for the intake i would just get a reagular old intake no of that fancey stuff you are talking about. save some money and be happy becuase with this "tuneable" intake whatever that means, i assume you mean to tune the a/f ratio if thats the case the chip is gonna do that so dont bother getting it and leave your MAF alone as. its fine for up to 400hp i belive it is.

Actually I'm a manual (thus the short throw shifter ;) )... the guys over at Modular Depot have done a bunch of testing and have shown Accufab to be the best (albeit only by the slightest bit) so mine as well go for it. As for the Tunable Induction... that's just Desencharger's new name... I believe it's the same kit many mustang owners already have with a Green filter now instead of K&P?

As for total HP... some day I'd like to be laying down 450 or so to the wheels... I'd love to smoke a Viper (in a straight line at least)... but that's a long way off! I'm just trying to form a base as I move forward towards that goal and gain some nice power along the way.

either way i dont think the accufab is worth the extra 1 or 2 hp the thing cost like 200 bucks more than the other ones doesnt it? screw that i can buy a plenum and a tb for that price of the accufab plenum alone. But keep in mind i'm cheap and in college :)

But the accufab looks bling bling under the hood, I will spend more for that. I like to see pretty things under the hood :) You seem to know which direction you are going in, which is half the battle IMO. Good luck with everything ;) Let me know how you like the MGW shifter also.

If you are serious about building a base for a fast supercharged car, go with the 3.73's. Do it now so that you dont have to re do the rear end, but I guess youll need 31 spline axels one day so youll just have to decide what you really want to do. Sounds like a good plan, but Id skip the intake and just buy a K&N filter and be done with it. Skip the underdrive pulleys unless you just want to have them on now and then take them off when you get the blower because you cant run them with the supercharger. Good luck man, sounds like a solid plan.
Matt

If I had to do it all over I would've just got the supercharger right away. And saved alot of headache with the little stuff. You see my mods. It ain't worth the headaches or money. Save the money for a good supercharger. I know plenty of Mustang owners running at the track with stock looking cars with superchargers and tuneable chips making almost 500hp at the rear. It sucks going slow at first but being a vert I know how it feels.

The problem with the 3.73's is that I won't be going Turbo until after my warrantee is up... no real reason to blow that anymore then I have to as it's still a Ford! I figure the 4.10's will give me good use for the 3 years until that and it'll be 400 bucks well spent... the 31 spline is something I've read about but don't really understand yet, haven't looked into it much.

As for the underdrive pulleys... I'm planning to go with a twin turbo set up instead of a SC... more power per psi and more elite :) Everyone has a SC... how many have a Turbo? I also like the idea of being able to adjust the boost from inside the car for different driving conditions. Even if I do end up with a SC... the UD pulleys should serve me well for 3 years right?

If you are looking at a timeline of 3 years, then I would say yes. Get the stuff now and enjoy it, and your car. When the time is right for you to swap out for the turbo then you will be one happy man :)

Yes if it is 3 to 4 years, then do it now and enjoy it. Also good luck man.

Everyone picks on Vipers =(

;) PM me or call us when you want to buy that Steeda or Accufab stuff. We can take care of you.

After the service I got ordering the SLP catback and mid-pipe there is no question I'll be shopping here again :)

Mods
 

Not trying to thread-jack but this is along the same topic I have been wondering about. I have a '01 manual vert. My plan is to put a Vortec super charger on hopefully with in the next year, possible tow years. What mods can or should I do in the mean time. TB, Plenum, etc??? I've wanted to go with 4:10's but bad idea with a super charger?
I'm new to this so pardon the stupid questions. Thanks!
:confused:

If you're new I suggest you read all the back posts you can... there's a LOT of info out there already...

To set up for a Super Charger... you're gonna want to clear up your airflow into the engine and back out... you want at least a 2.5" exhaust... mid-pipe (x, h, or prochamber) and catback... u may also want to do Long tubes depending on your budget and what your emission laws are... you're also gonna want to do your throttle body and plenum... if you're definitely going with a SC go with the 75mm...

As for gears... I know people on other forums are topping out in 4th gear during the 1/4 mile at the track with a SC running about 420 hp... they love em on the street, but need less gear at the track... I'm not sure what you're goal is to be running or where.

Questions
 

I do not really plan on doing any racing. I just want a bad ass street car. So going ahead and changing the Plenum and TB is ok? Are the 410's too aggressive with the SC? Thanks for the info I will check out some of the old post. :)

I think Kenne Bell has your name on it :D

Yea, if you dont really want to race, maybe a twin screw, positive displacement blower would be more for you. If I could make a suggestion, go out and buy this months Muscle Mustangs And Fast Fords magazine. The last few months, they have been doing very informative articles on superchargers. Just read everything you can, anything you can get your hands on. Good luck.

Well he said he just wants a bad ass street car. I'm sure he will love to hear the KB screaming :)

one of the benefits to the accufab is that it looks more like a stock plenum.

slap the stock pony on top of it and the smog techs wont know.

as far as the 31 splines go they work great but alot of money,(New trac lock) I have moser 28spline axels in my stang and they are supposed to be 40 % stronger than stock and still retain the c-clips, Now If you are going to go turbo i would go with 3.55 's personally 1. because you want boost rite? well whats the sense in having such a short gear ratio that it cant be used!, 03-04 cobras come with 3.55's and I dont know many cobra owners who change the gears because of that. 2. Highway driving, if your car is going to remain a daily driver than you will be in full boost at like 2500-3000 rpms with the 4.10, with 3.55's it still gives it alittle more pep but makes the driavability so much better! If it were me I would also look at doing a single turbo like a T-66 or a T-76 trim turbo, These are the turbo's most comonly found on single turbo conversion supras, and everyone Knows those things ley down some huge power numbers. Also with a single turbo the spool up time isent that bad SORRY SO LONG

Thanks!
 

Thanks for all the great info. Madmatt - I will take your advise and pick up MMFF. Thanks again!