Making the switch to american

[firefly948]

Ok...I love my car, but at 268,000 miles, I think it's time for a new one! Now, I've been working on my dad's 69 Cougar, and I'm kind of starting to make the switch from asian rockets to American muscle.

I'm looking at buying a 2003 Mustang 3.8L v6. I've done a little research and have found that it has 193 bhp. Correct? Ok, here are the questions:
1) Is 12,900 usd a good price for one with 26k miles, from a certified dealer?

2) How much potential does this engine have

3) How easy will it be to put this engine in the 250 hp range

4) How much will it cost to put it into the 250 hp range.


I just want something that will stomp all the "fast and Furious" fans there are in Southern California.

Any other advice you have would be greatly appreciated! I know my stuff in the japanese market, but you put me in a room with a bunch of american car parts, and I wouldn't even know where to put the starter!

Thanks guys!

[Demonhunter]

Of course your gonna get guys like me saying " why waste time with a wimpier engine that will cost more to get fast?"

Dude for 12k you can get a 96-98 cobra with lower miles, that has 305bhp stock. Or a bit higher mileage 99+ GT with 260 stock. It will sound meaner run quicker and each mod will get you ten times the power than if you had the v-6.

Now if you have around 12k to spend i wouldnt say its the insurance thing.

But i wont lie and say theyre dogs. a 3.8 can put some power down. they run high from 14.9 to mid 15s stock , which would put you ahead of a bunch of the ricer crowd and equal with the stock 5.0 mustang crowd. Ive seen some sixes ouot down some major HP....but it will cost you more in the long run to go just as fast as a stock v-8...

[firefly948]

Well, I'm getting it from a dealer, and they're asking 12,900 for it, but I can probably get it for 11,000. And I don't have 11,000 to spend, I am going to have to finance. One of the biggest reasons I want this one from the dealer is because of the warranty that it comes with.

I was just curious about some of the specifics of the engine. I know it has 193 hp, and has a 9.3:1 compression ratio. How easy would it be to achieve 250 hp on the 3.8L. what would I need to do to get it there? I know it sounds stupid, but the american and import worlds are completely different. In the import world I would know exactly what to do, but I know nothing about bigger engines. thanks alot guys!

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by firefly948

How easy would it be to achieve 250 hp on the 3.8L. what would I need to do to get it there?

It's not far fetched to get 60 ponies out of the engine. The thing to do is start small and work your way up.

The very first thing I'd get would be gears. You won't get extra power but a nice set of 3.55s or 3.73s will make your car much, much quicker.

Next, I'd start with putting a duel exhaust with equal length headers, an off-road X-pipe, and some high flow mufflers on.

Then I'd put in a cold air kit with a K&N, a bigger throttle body, and a higher flowing intake manifold. With the more air flow I'd then get bigger injectors.

Next I'd get myself a MSD ignition system with an ignition box, coil, distributor, and bigger plug wires. I'd then get a good set of plugs to get a good spark going.

Then I'd put a bigger cam in with some better flowing heads.

Finally, I'd put on a power adder like a super or turbo charger. Personally I've heard turbos work very well with the 6 bangers.

Originally Posted by firefly948

I know it sounds stupid, but the american and import worlds are completely different.

Not really when you get down to it. The engines may be different but you're doing the same thing to get more power. You're either messing with the air flow, ignition source, or the fuel supply to get a bigger bang and make the car run faster.

Originally Posted by firefly948

In the import world I would know exactly what to do, but I know nothing about bigger engines. thanks alot guys!

The 3.8 isn't really a "bigger engine" but whatever. Also, if this car is still under warranty you won't be able to do any modifications to it.

So if you're looking for a car to do some work on I'd go with Demonhunter advice and get a Cobra or something. Better yet you could find a nice 5.0 out there and with a little money the thing will scream.

[Demonhunter]

http://www.3.8mustang.com/forum/

theres some guys that could probably help you out a bt better than i.

and as muslcestang said , you can get 250hp probably with some headwork , exhaust and a couple other bolt ons...

[HoNdAgUrUecp]

Go import.

[Demonhunter]

go blindly import loyal lol

anyways......

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by HoNdAgUrUecp

Go import.

Whatever troll

[HoNdAgUrUecp]

Dont get pissed off just because your amercian cars have more displacement then HP. its not my fault. Imports are proving to be amoung the safest, and most reliable cars out there. Its the facts, not the opinion...

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by HoNdAgUrUecp

Dont get pissed off just because your amercian cars have more displacement then HP. its not my fault. Imports are proving to be amoung the safest, and most reliable cars out there. Its the facts, not the opinion...

Uh huh...well don't be a troll and come into the Mustang forum starting that shit or you won't be here long. Highflow and GT don't like it.

[Demonhunter]

why are you in here? Im not going into fartcansville and telling ppl to go american.
You drive an import because thats whats "cool" at the time. Fast and the furious had made you this way in part. If you like displacment smaller than that of a KB supercharger, thats fine. But know that most ppl hate what you drive besides your import buddys. Ask anyone if they would rather hear a buzzing lawnmower sound or a smooth deep MANLY rumble. Or bright pink and green color schemes or deep rich solid colors. Crazy ass ground effects that look like some 50s sci fi space ship crap or a sleek tastefull solid design that wont fall apart if you hit a speed bump. 10K $ to get your briggs and straton to go 13s or 3500$ to go 12s in a v-8. Wand mileage get a moped , want low inurance get a mini van, want sensible preformance? Go domestic V-8.
Now go back to the uncle ben forums and leave us alone as i will you.

[turboEKhatch]

Originally Posted by HoNdAgUrUecp

Dont get pissed off just because your amercian cars have more displacement then HP. its not my fault. Imports are proving to be amoung the safest, and most reliable cars out there. Its the facts, not the opinion...

You're fucking stupid. My Honda has as many problems as my Ford does.

http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/i...story=20050519

Hummer, Cadillac, and Buick have less problems than Honda, Acura, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, but don't get pissed off because you're dead wrong. Piss off.

[importeater5_0]

so anyways, if i had 12 g's and i wanted to stomp all the Fast and Furious fans in so cal, i would buy a fox body for like 3 g's and get a nice crate engine, new tranny, and bigger rear. but thats just my opinion.

[boosted331]

Originally Posted by importeater5_0

so anyways, if i had 12 g's and i wanted to stomp all the Fast and Furious fans in so cal, i would buy a fox body for like 3 g's and get a nice crate engine, new tranny, and bigger rear. but thats just my opinion.

'Course, you could just throw a turbo kit on the stock motor with a home built C4, a stock 8.8 with a few suspension mods and have the setup to go 10's, but whatever floats your boat.

[firefly948]

It's really funny how a thread about what to do to a 3.8L can turn into a thread about domestics vs. imports with just one post!

Originally Posted by Muscletang

It's not far fetched to get 60 ponies out of the engine. The thing to do is start small and work your way up.

How much is all that going to cost though...well, everything up to the supercharger part.

And that would put me a little over 250 wouldn't it?

and as far as imports being completely different than domestics, they feel worlds apart. I look at any mitsubishi, mazda, or any other import, and I know exactly what I would do to that car to make it faster. But when I look at a mustang, the only thing that I can think of doing is boring it out, and moving to forced induction. I'm sure it's just a wall I need to break down...but...whatever. It feels completely different.