Mustang 5.0 Setup

[Chris1337]

Hey all, I think im planning on buying a Mustang 5.0, probably 87-92, Currently I plan on putting the following upgrades in it..

- Cold Air Intake
- Exhaust System

And uhhh, thats about all I Know right now... does anyone have a good setup, and a list of some other cool upgrades I could do too it.

[94svt5.0]

It all depends on how much you want to spend. The full exhaust is a good idea, throw on some 3:73 gears, and underdrive pullies. If you want to get more involved throw on some new heads and intake and a nice cam.

[HiFlow5 0]

First should always be gears, in most cases. Mustangs really benefit here!

Then a good less restrictive exhaust should be next.
-headers, offroad h-pipe or hi-flow cats, and mufflers. Usually people scrap the 2 1/4" system for a 2 1/2" system.

Underdrive pulleys are always a great bang for the buck.

Removal of the air silencer, and a better filter. K&N panel or cold air are good choices.

If auto, a shift kit is a must. If stick, then a good aftermarket shifter will help greatly.

Those are some of the minor things that people tend to modify first. Once you have those done, then you can go the route of larger throttle body and mass air meter, heads, intake manifold, cam, etc....

[TcobrA]

Buy an cali 88 or a 89+ WITH MAF. Stay away from speed density set ups (Pain in the A$$)

Some suggested mods:

low buck (good for about 5-7.5 HP):
1. Delete air trumpet from inside the fender.
2. Replace air filter with K&N

Mid buck upgrades:
1. CAI (UPR and others)
2. BiggerThrottle Body
3. Extrude Hone Intake Manifold
4. Depending on state you live in -- gut the cats (all 4) keep body in place for inspection.
5. exhaust replacement (cat back) there a several good ones

High Buck
1. Full Bassani Exhaust
2. Long tube headers
3. GT-40 Heads and Intake
4. Paxton Novi SC
5. Chip upgrade for SC
6. AFTERCOOLER (suggest air-to-water as it is easier to place)
7. Increase front brakes (11.5 I think will fit stock 10 hole rims)
8. Swap rear drums for disks
9. Steel brake hoses (front AT LEAST)
10. DOT 4 brake fluid
11. Centerforce clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel replace
12. Subframe connectors
13. Strut tower brace (front)
14. Shock tower brace (rear)
15. MSD Ignition
16. High volume fuel pump
17. Higher volume injectors
18. Gears!
19. Roll cage HIGHLY recommended

If you're going all the way:
20: Spool the rear
21: Tub the rear
22: Get Mickey meats

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally posted by TcobrA
Buy an cali 88 or a 89+ WITH MAF. Stay away from speed density set ups (Pain in the A$$)

Not so, SD cars have potential too!

low buck (good for about 5-7.5 HP):
1. Delete air trumpet from inside the fender.
2. Replace air filter with K&N

Commen know as air silencer

4. Depending on state you live in -- gut the cats (all 4) keep body in place for inspection.

Bad idea, gutting the cats is not the smartest thing to do. Either buy a high flow cat h-pipe or a off road h-pipe, more power in doing that. The whole point is to increase diameter of the exhaust, can't do that keep the stock h-pipe

3. GT-40 Heads and Intake

With all the technology out there, you can find a lot better parts for about the same price or cheaper. Example: heads; Trickflow Twisted Wedge, or even better AFR. Intakes; Holley, Trickflow, or Edelbrock.

18. Gears!

This should be #1 on the list!!!

[TcobrA]

Like the 85 throttle body FI system, the SD set up was around for a short time. As such, some parts are a PIA to get. Especially here in the NE where "used" cars turn to brown dust QUICKLY. Also, you can only tune this set-up for oh so much air. Beyond a certain point, you place yourself out of the ROM look-up table and your AF goes NUTS.

Yes, there are less expensive options than GT-40 stuff... sited as an example.

As for gears, that depends on how the car is to be used. As for me, I drove my 88 daily on the highway. It depends on how fast you want your engine to spin at highway speeds... If all you intend to do with the car is drag race then by all means...GEARS ARE JOB 1.

As for "air silencer" a rose by any other name is still a rose...
You knew what I was talking about... that awful piece of plastic in the fender... makes a spiffy planter!

As for coring the cats, he asked for cheap! That's about as cheep as you can get. The kinked ford stock exaust system and stock headers offer plenty of back-pressure. When money is a plenty, there is a miriad of good exhaust systems available... see http://www.mustangexhaust.com


Peace:bandit:

[HiFlow5 0]

Personaly I wouldn't keep a motor from a pre 87 fox car. Those engines were pretty much junk. I thought we were talking about the 87-93 years. Still people can get into the low 13's without any drivabilty problems in a SD car.

I do have to agree though "that awful piece of plastic in the fender... makes a spiffy planter". LOL :sun:

Take care, Craig

[TcobrA]

Let's just say that pre 87 5.0 engines require special care and feeding.

For post 87 to 93 5-speeds, get a beefer clutch set-up if you're going much over 320 lB-ft. If you don't, the smoke show you make won't be the tires!!!

So, who makes a good rear seat delete kit and battery relocation kit for the '03 Cobra?

Mods to date:
Steeda Triax T-56 shifter (way better than stock)
UPR CAI (yes, it does help quite a bit)

Planned Mods:
Cat-back (looking for recommendations)
Steel Brake Hoses (looking for recommendations)
Chip (looking for recommendations but like UPR offerings)
Bigger (wider) driver's seat to accomodate my fat ass (looking for recommendations)

Peace
Ted

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally posted by TcobrA

Bigger (wider) driver's seat to accomodate my fat ass (looking for recommendations)

I got a bench seat from a mini van in the garage. would that work for ya? LOL:silly2:

[TcobrA]

Hmmmm? He says, stroking his beard... Me thinks it will give me problems with the T-56. But, perhaps I can reapolster Winstar seats and bolt them in....... LOL

[Chris1337]

:o Guys, I went ahead and purchased a 79' Mustang with a 302 V8 in it for $1400... Needs Interior work, but the engine has 70,000 miles on it. Do you think this is a good car.. dont make me regret it >.<