basic Questions

[my1ststang]

Monday im going to purchase a 1989 mustang gt Its in good shape needs a new fender and headlight but its in good shape other wise, i am wanting to go all motor first when i get the car i want to give it a complete wash down and tune up clean the whole engine bay out, replace the plugs buy a msd distributor maybee a new msd coil, new wires, new fuel filter, a Cold air intake i want to get headers and a full cat back flowmaster american thunder exhaust, i want to do all that first and in the next couple months then go with a new intake manifold and some head work to my stock heads, replace the cam and new roller rocker.
These are just some ideas im shooting off if you guys could shoot off some other mods i can make with out going into the bottom end of the engine. also i wana get a aluminum drive shaft and short shifter.

What kind of horespower does a header and full cat back flowmaster exhaust give you, and also a cold air intake,roller rockers

Thanks for your help Brian

[Los]

Best friend has a stock motor with Lts, xpipe, and catback. With timing adjusted, cold air intake (BBK) and nothing else, he could pull on me...

But I was running a mid to high 14 at the time.

[94svt5.0]

Headers and catback on a mostly stock motor will probably give you 15-20 hp depending on what other mods you would have done. Other breathing mods like intake, head work, and cams will cause your exhaust mods to be more beneficial. The cold air intake by itself is not worth a whole lot of hP, but is a nice place to start in opening up the breathing and getting some denser air in. The roller rockers alone are only worth around 5hp.
all the mods you listed sound like your on the right track, maybe add some 3:73 gears, throttlebody and larger MAF.

[MyFirstStng89gt]

thanks, i got a couple questions
what is MAF?
WHat can a machine shop do to my heads? Performance wise
how much horsepower does a trick flow or ford racing intake give you?
thanks

[Los]

another term "Mass Air meter"

You should be looking at getting like a 65-70mm mass air meter or MAF.

[HiFlow5 0]

You sound like your on the right track. Just remember 1 added component won't give you tremendous gains. Things work best as combos, in conjunction with other parts.

Gears should be one of the first things on your list as well, they will make the car accelerate a lot quicker, and will probably be the most gain you will feel in the seat of the pants.

A good exhaust system is also a good place to start. Headers, 2.5" h-pipe and cat back will net you about 10-20 HP

Anything you can do to increase air flow into the motor will help. If not already done, remove the air silencer from the fender well and install a K&N panel filter into the stock air box. Its cheaper then a CAI, and will work just the same.

Pulleys, great choice! Anything to slow down the power robbing accessories to keep the power at the crank. Just beware, some people have problems with the alt charging, but then again some don't.

I don't think a cam is all that necessary with stock or reworked heads. A cam would really work best with a set of high flowing heads where max lift is needed. If your going to go through and pull the heads off, then spend the money to get them reworked, why not just buy a good set of aluminum heads? That would be a great gain with a cam and intake.

The TFS intake is a nice piece, I like mine. If your going with a new intake, think about getting a larger throttle body and mass air meter. A 65mm TB, and a 70mm MAF should work good decent intake.

Good luck, Craig