I will be the 1st to admit, beyond changing the oil, tires, and general "upkeep" maintenance, I don't know jack about working on, much less tearing down and installing mods/upgrades, on a car. So, do any of you know of "chain stores" (ie; Speed Unlimited) that don't necassarily sell products, but do install them? Or could you give me an idea of what types of places/shops to look for that would do the installation? Any idea if there is usually a warranty on mod/upgrade installations?

Thanks.

 

it really depends on the mod on alot of them we could all just give you points on what ot do. On things likes cams.gear installs etc. we could help recomend a shop.

 

Yup...depends on the mod. Basic suspension stuff can be done at almost any shop, though you may have to go elsewhere for an alignment. Most larger chain places won't touch this stuff, so stay away from them. Small private shops is where to go, OR speed shops. There is prolly a bunch where you live.

Now tougher stuff like engine work, you need to go to a good speed shop or perhaps a good mechanic. Steen Racing is in VA for example. I had my gears done at a speed shop, subframes at a speed shop, suspension and exhaust at small private shops.

 

I smell the chance for a great learning experience...

My suggestion: Meet some friends who also drive mustangs, or modify cars period, and do the installs yourself along with them. You will enjoy the results and you will also know what to do when your car breaks. Just a suggestion. Now, I also had a shop install my gears and my subframe connectors, but I cant do one and cant weld, so thats out.

 

Join one of your local Mustang clubs and start asking questions. I pretty much try to do all my own stuff to save on the shop labor and for the learning experience itself. Grab a Chiltons or Hayes manual for your car should you decide to start tackling some of your own stuff. Plus, there is always this wonderful message board. Good luck.

 

I would like to add,get a manual for your car whether you plan on using it or not.This way when you go to have work done or post on one of the boards you know in advance what the name of the part in question is and how it effects other parts when it goes south.

 

OR just get someone you know to steal the 3 HUGE manuals from Ford

 

If there's a mustang club in your area, join it. That's your best shot at good local work. Besides... you build a relationship with your tuner after a while. My whole club goes to a particular sub-set of the local mustang and speed shops for parts but all the labor is done at Apex Motorports. We've built a relationship with them as a club and as individuals so we can talk to them like friends and they'll treat us like friends.

It's more important to me that my wrench monkey know that I'm easy to please and a part of a much bigger customer base than him knowing every factiod about every car. A good wrench knows what he's doing. It's just turning wrenches for cryin' out loud. A great wrench knows who he's doing it for.

 

Here's what is probably one hell of a stupid/naieve question, but how/where would I even begin to go about locating such a club?

 

I had that same problem a few years ago.

Easy way is find a group of mustangs gathered in a parking lot... walk up and say, "Hi!" That's what I did.

Hard way, google search for "Mustang Club <insert your town here>", or check out www.wildhorsesclub.com. I'm a long time member of WH and we are a pretty tight group. We've got chapters all over the country. I'm sure we'll have a few in your neck of the woods.

Other than that, go to the corral regional forums for your area ( http://www.corral.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=263) and hook up with the locals that way.

Corral is like the galactic hub and all the other sites like MT, MW, etc... are like liittle star systems orbiting. As you get finer and finer in your area of interest you naturally gravitate toward the more specific from the more general.

 

r2dn3ck, you've been one hell of a source of info for me today. I really do thank you for it. Here's to ya!!

 

Thanks. I'm only here to try and help the people with questions that others make seem like a crime to ask.

I remember clearly what it's like to be called a n3wb and have it be a derogatory statement... just for asking a simple question. I was shocked that a community of like minded individuals would treat a newcomer like that. Now I'm out returning the favor for all those times people answered my n00bish ?'s.

Back in the day I was a firearms instructor part time. People would always come into the gun shop I hanged around at asking dumb questions based on info they got from McGuyver and get laughed out of the shop. I stopped that crap and asked the rest of the gun-shop-groupies if they'd have kept in the sport if people treated them poorly at every opportunity. Same thing applies with Mustangs, I want mustang owners to be a community of friends, even if most of us only know each other's screen name.

 

drive to baltimore and ill do your work for cheap