Sup guys! I'm new to the whole modding and even owning a pony deal !

I drive a 2004 Torch Red 3.8L Mustang and needed some advice on what parts to get for it

I really dont even know where to start but I guess ya'll can help with that, right?

I do have a small idea of what i want though..i was thinking an intake and a new exhuast system. But i also need a new clutch i think.

Question is, which would be best to start with and what brand to follow through with?

I do want a dual exhaust because it has a GT bumber so the extra "hole" can get filled up!

Thanks, JC

 

Maybe the V6 guys will have better input but from what i've seen, go with a MAC catback for your v6. If you want a cold air intake, go to ebay and get like a 25 dollar one.

If your going for looks, just go to AM and pick out stuff you like. If you want performance, look into forced induction or if thats too extreme go with gears w/ t-lock. Unless your doing FI, you won't get much faster.

edit: And not that it matters, but i think the 2004's had 3.9 liters.

 

04's did have 3.9's at the 2nd half of the year...i guess mine was unlucky..heh.
i really would prefer to get a new one for many reasons (the intake)
whats a MAC catback? and you really lost me at "forced induction"
sorry man...like i said, im new :/

 

-Correct

T-lock and gears are a good bang for the buck as far as performance goes but it will cause a slight dip in the MPG

 

not really sure what t-lock is but i guess that has to do with the trans. right?

 

its in the rear end it makes it so both tires are given power. Most do it when you replace the gears to 3.73 or 4.10

 

one tire fire ftw.

 

what does it take to replace the gears? and that just helps to make 'em go by faster, right?

 

If you got those I would recommend getting that professionally installed because that you don't want to mess up. You can get gears from many places.. americanmuscle.com, stangmods.. etc.. Just about everything else can be done by yourself basically. The gears don't add any horsepower but it does impact your acceleration. One of the best mods that people can do with a v6 because basic bolt-ons won't give you any significant gain.

 

If gears weren't so damned expensive to get installed (90% of the cases) they'd be the most sold modification for mustangs besides the chin spoiler...lol

 

for "go" like said above the best bang for the buck Gears+T-Lock, if i had to do it again that'd be the first Mod. since you got a GT bumper i'd get a catback of some kind. i prefer flowmaster 2-chamber catback, i really like the sound of mine.

so as far as the mods go for "performance" my list would be
1: 4.10 gears(no less than 4.10's) and can be found at American muscle.com. make sure you get the one for the 7.5" rear end
2: Posi-lock or a.k.a T-lock, can get it from Stangmods.com
3: Xcal 2 or Xcal 3 handheld tuner- corrects the gear ratio and you can adjust alot of stuff.
4: for sound, a catback. some prefer MAC but i like mine( 2-chamber flowmaster catback), although i've never heard a MAC in person.

 

does anyone else find it funny that hes got a GT bumper on his v6?

Thinkin out loud

There are two reasons why someone would put a GT bumper on there, either the car was damaged in the rear and a GT bumper was the closest the mechanic could get to a fix, or the guy who had the car before put a GT bumper on to fit a dual exhaust system. Since you don't have the dual exhaust, isn't it a little wierd? Just throwin that out there...

Or am I totally missing something?!?!?

 

The car was probably modded before, and the previous owner likely parted out his aftermarket stuff for more $$, and threw what stock crap he had back on.

That's what my plan is if I ever sell the car. lol

 

ohhhh hmm not a bad idea hahaha. When I trade up my mustang in four years after I get outta college I'll remember that little trick

 

before you do any modding i recommend you do a whole lot of research and reading. gears are the best bang for your buck, as well as a t-lock. u should talk to one of ur local performance shops because they'll be able to help picking them out and ordering them for u for the install.

personnally, i advocate you look into a head/cam/intake swap and upgrade. i know ur new so i'll explain. it is the top of ur motor that is above ur cylinders. ur engine has a split port intake, so all u'd have to do is get it ported and polished. u can get a more agressive cam and better heads from RPM mustang or supersix motor sports. this mod will give you a good amount of horsepower.

i'd wait a bit for an exhaust. it really adds no power, and because its mostly a sound thing, u'll want to be happy with the way it done. go on youtube and go through cars of ur year and see what kind of exhaust ppl are running and see what u like. deep, throaty, loud, etc.

anyway, good luck.

 

About the bumper, i think its like that because it was in an accident and i guess the people just didn't know the difference between a mustang gt and a v6.. which works out for me because i want dual exhausts

And i did some reading on the 4.10's and most people already had an intake and a new exhaust system. so maybe i should do these in order...heh good thing these parts are pretty cheap (compared to what i imagined).

also, what's a tuner good for? Like, can you make adjustments on your car or is it just to read what you have?

what brands are best though? or does it just depened on the owners preference?

 

a tuner will help tune ur car's ECU to optimal performance, however for a V6, you shouldn't get it until u get gears, and really u'll only see a 5-10 HP gain. what it'll do for the gears is re adjust ur speedo.

u can get a couple of tunes, like an 87 octane, or 93 octane tune. but don't think that u can just switch on the fly.

 

yep you can switch the octane anytime you want if you've got the tunes

 

Yes but you better use 93 octane tune when your running 93 octane gas and not 87 or 91 or whatever.


But other question, my local racetrack has like 112 octane fuel, i never used it because i figured it was a complete waste and i wouldnt get anything from it. I run a 93 octane tune, this doesn't help me for **** does it?

 

yeah, thats what i meant. its not like u can drive down the street using 87, and then have a trans-am pull up next to u and u go "omg!! let me switch tunes!!!"

oh and steeda, u do get a benifit from having a 93 tune and u run 93, but honestly, its not that much with a V6. like 5-10 HP. v8 drivers get a huge gain.

 

Thanks chief but thats not what i was asking. And i do have a V8 if you were implying that i had a V6.

 

I like the performance of 93 oct.

 

ok....talk about being lost...lol

Do i really have a choice on what intake to get? because i was looking on AM and only saw one kind, unless im blind...

 

93 octane does not give performance. lol all it does is make your wallet weight less, so maybe it is good for weight reduction

it is a tune that requires 93 octane that will give the performance, but dumping 93 octane in a car tuned to accept 87 octane is a waste of money because it offers ZERO performance gain.

 

*cough*