Recently bought a Mustang..

Hey guys. I just recently bought a 2002 Ford Mustang GT with 44K miles on it. It has the 4.6L V8 in it with an Auto transmission. What are some upgrades I can do to this car to get the most out of it? I want more HP and better acceleration but with not alot of money put into it.

Also, what is the best way to drag race someone when your driving an automatic?

Thanks for the help guys! :wink:

Another thing, I want to change out the stock exhaust. I want something that is going to sound really good and fairly loud but very muscle sounding. Can I acheive this? And How?


Thanks again! :p

from the pics if this is the car we're talking about you already have deep dish bullets, are there no other mods? i would recommend 4.10 gears and maybe a set of steeda pulleys and timing adjustor. for exhaust if you arent looking to change out the whole thing and just go for a more budget exhaust i think youll be happy with the slp loudmouth

Personally I was happy with MAC, I can recommend that.

Yes, the Deep Dish Bullit rims are one of the mods, but I didn't do it, I bought it like that :)

I am looking for something that is going to be loud and also I would like bigger exhaust tips out the back. What do you guys recommend, and what type of price am I talking about here?

Thanks again :iceslolan

I say exhaust(Mac cat back, maybe Borla if you can afford it and a O/R mid pipe), 4.10's, a xcal2, DR's, and a intake plenum or somthin. It would probaly be around $1500-2000 for the performance mods, thats if you want to get that much.

What are some of the cheaper do-it-myself modifications I can do to my car?

There aren't too many do it yourself mods that yield noticable power results. You can do an intake, TB/Plenum, short shifter and UDP if you've got the tools. For exhaust, gears cams and the like, you are more than likely going to need to take it to a shop.

As far as exhaust goes, do you have to worry about emissions laws? If not, go with some LT headers, o/r shorty x-pipe and some Flowmasters or SLP LM1s. You could also look into some mild cams.

Most people say that for the price, gears will give you the most noticable kick (aside from FI). You'll need to get something to correct the speedo though.

How much do gears run and how much do shops usually charge to install them? Also, I can get some cat-back 40 series Flowmasters for around 200 bucks I believe - is that good?

Shops normaly charge around $200-300 for a gear install, its all about where you live and where you go to though. But for just the mufflers $200 is overpriced, but if its a whole cat back system then its a good deal. Gears alone are around $200.

Yes for 200 bucks I had the 40 series Flowmaster cat-back system installed on my 2002 Ford F150.

As for the gears, what exactly does it do? What type of improvements?

The new gears will sacrifice top speed for acceleration. Right now 2nd gear will reach to around 65 at redline and 3rd gear will reach to nearly 100 at readline. With your 3.73s installed it will definately be in 4th gear at the end of the quartermile, but you will get there a little quicker too.

Get some magnapacks and gears. :grinyes:

I have a 1999 ford mustang cobra with 50,000 miles (manual trans.). I recently took it to a ford dealership and i'm having a hard time swallowing what they are telling me. There is a "clunking" noise coming from the rear when shifting gears and at around 60 mph there is a vibration in the rear. They already replaced the bearings in the rear end, replaced U-joints and balanced the driveshaft. This cost me $2000.00 - please any advise would be great......thanks

I have a 1999 ford mustang cobra with 50,000 miles (manual trans.). I recently took it to a ford dealership and i'm having a hard time swallowing what they are telling me. There is a "clunking" noise coming from the rear when shifting gears and at around 60 mph there is a vibration in the rear. They already replaced the bearings in the rear end, replaced U-joints and balanced the driveshaft. This cost me $2000.00 - please any advise would be great......thanks

get a second, maybe third opinion

7earitup (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=325659)....

Like bullitt smoke said...start with gears and exhaust