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  #1  
Old 02-13-2006, 01:26 PM
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Default What to upgrade first?

Hi I am about to get a 2002 mustang GT but before I do, I wanted to go ahead and learn everything so that I dont go into upgrading blindly. So I have a few questions.

What are the first upgrades I should get? Cold Air intake and exhaust?
What is a good performance chip? Is this one good?
http://www.mustangtuning.com/sct-4-b...uter-chip.html
When I get one would I have to get a tuner like the SCT XCalibrator 2?
And if I were to get a bodykit later about how much would it cost to get the whole thing painted?

Thank.
 
  #2  
Old 02-13-2006, 01:32 PM
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Just get a K & N filter (wait till other guys explain it cause i don't really remember what the whole reason was) But for a catback what kinda sound you lookin for?? deep, loud and raw SLP!!!!! what kinda sound u want?
 
  #3  
Old 02-13-2006, 01:36 PM
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In my opinion. The best mod to do is exhaust. Just because it gives it that "modded" tone. Whether you just get a cat-back, weld-ins, or full setup (manifolds to tail pipes), it'll give it that throaty sound. After exhaust, another good thing for GT's is simple appearence changes (wheels/tires, mach 1 grill delete, etc etc.) You do not need a 4 bank chip unless you are running a blown(supercharged), or nitrous injected car. The Xcal2 is the best tuner out there right now, and that will be all you need. As far as paint goes, it depends on the color of the car. My paint (redfire) is a hole lot more then your standard white or black. But on average for a good paint job for just the body pieces, expect to pay around $750. prices may vary around where you live.
 
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Old 02-13-2006, 01:39 PM
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Also, don't settle for just anything. Your car is where you spend a lot of time and you want it to be perfect, just like you would want it. I wish I hadn't jumped right into buying my car before doing some research. If I could do it again, I would wait it out until I found a Azure Blue Mach I with a 5 speed. (I originally thought that Mach I's were just a special appearance Mustang, little did I know it had 32 valves). So that's my advice. Keep shopping around until you find one that makes your jaw drop every time you see it.
 
  #5  
Old 02-13-2006, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by CCM
(I originally thought that Mach I's were just a special appearance Mustang, little did I know it had 32 valves).
what a dork:loser: ......

lol jk
 
  #6  
Old 02-13-2006, 02:31 PM
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You're asking for people to tell you what's best for you. Not a good way to get a good answer.

First, tell us what you want to do with the car long term. Drag race, street, open track, autocross? Second, how much money do you have to spend on mods each month on average? do you want to keep the back seat? Is ride quality an issue?

See, it's hard to give you an answer you'll like without you tellling us where to start.

If I had it all to do again, regardless of what direction I was going with the car, I'd do the following in order (start taking notes):

13" cobra brake upgrade (about 400 bucks). MUST DO! Stock brakes eat bawlz.
Shifter
Subframe braces (Griggs, Maximum Motorsport, etc... weld in only). (100 bucks.)
Racing seats and harnesses (about a grand or so, depending)
Maximum Motorsports F&R Bilstein coil-over (another grand and change)
Maximum motorsports control arms F&R
Maximum Motorpsorts Panhard Bar & Torque Arm
17x9 wheels with 275/40/17 all the way around.
P&P heads w/ new cams & springs.
blower

Done in order that's a bad motor scooter package. It's also very expensive and worth every penny. Everything there compliments the next thing in some way and is totally flexible so you don't have to worry about it working with your next mod.

I'm done with that very list all the way down to the wheels. Heads go in tomorrow for porting, then the 5.4L and maybe a blower will be attached and I'll start handing out kills.
 
  #7  
Old 02-13-2006, 03:23 PM
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If you're looking for a quick kick in perf. and don't plan on staying N/A then get some 4.10's.
 
  #8  
Old 02-13-2006, 04:40 PM
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What I am planing on using it for is dragging...but then just riding it around because it will be my only car. Thats why I was thinking of getting a chip or tuner...to save gas when I dont need it and all that. Whats the difference between a perfromance chip and a tuner like the Xcaliber 2? As for looking for cars...my jaw drops at a 2001 Mustang Cobra...but I was thinking that thats to powerfull for a first draggster..I dunno...I might end up getting it instead of a 2002 GT.
 
  #9  
Old 02-13-2006, 04:49 PM
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Definately go for the Cobra. It'll be much more beneficial to you.

A friend of mine has a 01 Cobra. Stock was like 273RWHP (305 engine), they did a carback, mid pipe, underdrive pulleys, CAI, and dyno tune = 337RWHP That was a 64RWHP difference

On a GT stock would be around 225RWHP (260 engine) with those same mods you might be around 255RWHP
That's only a 30RWHP difference.

This is why I say a Cobra (4v) will breathe and get much higher gains with similar mods.
 
  #10  
Old 02-13-2006, 05:29 PM
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if it gonna be for drag...then start off with a blower.....

blowers will give you a base to start from.....cause say u get 4.10's diff gears....then u get blown and its too much gear....ull have to get a new set and pay for installation....thats wasted money....

so start off with something BIG and the rest of the mods are supporting the blower

(but of course....exhaust will be nice....)
 
  #11  
Old 02-13-2006, 06:46 PM
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I would get a few mods under your belt before going with a tuner.. and when you do pick one up I recommend the SCT Xcalibrator 2. Exhaust is definately important.. to get the most power you want Long tube headers.. I like my Off-Road X-pipe with it also. You'll also want some gears. Gears won't give you more horsepower but it's a torque mulitplier and will help you accelerate much faster. Also if your car is a 5-speed I recommend a short throw shifters.. there's several brands out there that carry them and they are just about all as good as the other brand. I would also do a plenum / tb combo to help you get some more air into your car. The CAI's don't help much on these N/A cars, so don't spend a lot of time/money worrying about that. You can remove the silencer from the stock one and it'll probably help you just a tad. Do lots of research though on what you buy.
 
  #12  
Old 02-13-2006, 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by gunsnbam
What I am planing on using it for is dragging...but then just riding it around because it will be my only car. Thats why I was thinking of getting a chip or tuner...to save gas when I dont need it and all that. Whats the difference between a perfromance chip and a tuner like the Xcaliber 2? As for looking for cars...my jaw drops at a 2001 Mustang Cobra...but I was thinking that thats to powerfull for a first draggster..I dunno...I might end up getting it instead of a 2002 GT.
Hell yeah man, that's my favorite Cobra too, I like them better than 03/04 Cobras.
 
  #13  
Old 02-13-2006, 09:10 PM
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4.10s................
 
  #14  
Old 02-13-2006, 09:24 PM
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Start big and work your way down. Get a supercharger first.
 
  #15  
Old 02-14-2006, 04:37 AM
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Originally Posted by MattJ
Start big and work your way down. Get a supercharger first.
Best advice ever. Take it now, or pay later...:bash:
 
  #16  
Old 02-14-2006, 05:15 PM
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Why would I pay later and about how much is a good supercharger? I heard this is a good first upgrade set up by a guy a used to know. He said to get..

Intake
Exhaust
Headers
Timing
Chip

All at the same time...would this be good? By the way guys I dont want to just go crazy and get everything all at once. I am new to all this stuff and not many people around here do this. Thats why Im not sure about getting the big things first...unless somebody could give me a good reason?....And what the heck does a supercharger and 'turbo' do?
 
  #17  
Old 02-14-2006, 05:53 PM
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they do what they do and very well...lol

sorry
 
  #18  
Old 02-14-2006, 06:12 PM
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First, intakes dont do ANYTHING for our cars. Secondly, about paying later, listen to ANY of the guys with nothing but boltons on this site, and ask how much they have spent on bolt ons and ask them what they really want. For the MOST part, they will say something over 2k, and MOST of them will say they really want a supercharger. Take me for example, ive spent almost 4k on nothing but bolt ons and gears and exhaust, when in reality, instead of 250 rwhp, I could have had 380 rwhp had I just saved up for the blower and done it first. Dont have to take the advice, but its free, and abundant around here.
 
  #19  
Old 02-14-2006, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by madmatt
First, intakes dont do ANYTHING for our cars. Secondly, about paying later, listen to ANY of the guys with nothing but boltons on this site, and ask how much they have spent on bolt ons and ask them what they really want. For the MOST part, they will say something over 2k, and MOST of them will say they really want a supercharger. Take me for example, ive spent almost 4k on nothing but bolt ons and gears and exhaust, when in reality, instead of 250 rwhp, I could have had 380 rwhp had I just saved up for the blower and done it first. Dont have to take the advice, but its free, and abundant around here.
:stupid:....im still in the safe zone..the only thing that i have do was a cat back.......imma gonna save a lil more and then get my vortech....i could buy alot of other things right now (i.e. headers, midpipe, rims, springs, etc.)...but im gonna get the s/c if i can....

if i cannot get the s/c....im gonna deff. finish up the exhaust and do my suspension
 
  #21  
Old 02-15-2006, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by madmatt
First, intakes dont do ANYTHING for our cars. Secondly, about paying later, listen to ANY of the guys with nothing but boltons on this site, and ask how much they have spent on bolt ons and ask them what they really want. For the MOST part, they will say something over 2k, and MOST of them will say they really want a supercharger. Take me for example, ive spent almost 4k on nothing but bolt ons and gears and exhaust, when in reality, instead of 250 rwhp, I could have had 380 rwhp had I just saved up for the blower and done it first. Dont have to take the advice, but its free, and abundant around here.
Oh I'm proubly going to take all this advice seeing as how you have all done it before lol but I dont understand why get that first? Do you have to add all the bolt ons to it? ...and what IS a blower? Also...does anybody know a good message board or site about fixing up old muscle cars?
 
  #22  
Old 02-15-2006, 08:39 PM
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a blower is a supercharger....

Vortech Mogoose Kit is Modular Power House's supercharger kit...it comes with EVERYTHING u need to get the s/c up and running safely and drive it around town.....the vortech seems to be the most popular kit for street/strip applications...that is the kit im getting......

and you can trust the guys that work at MPH....its an all mustang garage so to speak.....

check out their forums @ modularpowerhouse.com.....

EDIT: you dont need any bolt ons to your car proior to the s/c....many people do it but find out later that they arent happy with their results and wished that tehy when forced inducted instead of adding basic boltons....
 
  #24  
Old 02-15-2006, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by GREG@94GT
a blower is NOT a s/c

bowers chillontopof the intake manifold while s/c's dont...
both blow air in
 
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