Gears being done, what next?

BryantD · 08-27-2002, 04:13 PM

Ok, I've added a K&N air filter and ordered 3.73's and the Speed-cal (will be installed next week) on my '02GT convertible (5-speed). What should be the next mod? Under-pullies, exhaust, MAF......? My thoughts (based on responses here and other') are as follows:

Under-pulley - Steeda
Exhaust - MAC long-tube headers, MAC H-pipe w/cats and 2 chamber Flowmasters (my concern is will I get the bang for the buck or will I need some additional enhancements like improving the Intake and/or Heads, pistons, cams....). Is there an Intake available for the '02GT?
MAF - I have no idea
Others - ?

My long term goal (maybe not so long term

) is to compete with the Camaro's, Firebirds & TA's of the world SS & Z28 class) and maybe give my buddy (who drives a 2000 Corvette convertible) a scare or two. I haven't won the lottery (yet!) so money is a concern, thus no Blower for the intermediate future; maybe a year or two from now it could happen.

Recommendations please?

Hammer · 08-27-2002, 04:46 PM

Next should be a new shifter and some under-drive pulleys...

If you are using the car as a near-daily driver, I wouldn't go with long tubes due to clearance problems (especially if you plan on putting in some Eibach springs or something...)
Maybe some Ford Motorsport shorties would be a better idea....

Get yourself an X\H-pipe (offroad system if you're in a non-emissions testing area)....

The stock cat-back system is not very restrictive on the 02 GTs....
so a cat-back will basically change the sound.... not much else....

blue00gt · 08-27-2002, 05:33 PM

Hammer is right about longtubes. My car is lowered over 2" and I only have slightly over 3" of ground clearance under my cats because of the longtubes. I am very careful and try to take everything at the right angle. so I rarely scrape on driveways or speed bumps, but there have been a couple times when the cats scraped just driving along due to humps in the road that I couldn't avoid without hitting something else. If you are willing to put up with the ground clearance issue, they definitely add noticeable power - I have pulled away from a couple of stock 5 speed 99+ GT's without a problem since getting them.
If you decide against longtubes, I would just get an H- or X-pipe for now and skip the headers because shorties don't seem to gain much power at all on the newer cars (I've heard maybe 2-5 hp depending on what other mods the car has). In my opinion they are not worth the cost and difficulty of putting them in unless they are one of the last mods you are doing to try to get every last hp out of it.

SnakeDriver97 · 08-27-2002, 10:13 PM

In response to the long tube headers limiting ground clearence...does any one know who makes them with the most clearence.....or is the X/H pipe that causes the problems........my buddy had a '95GT w/ shorties and Xpipe...his cats scraped all the time<------they were punched so he didnt care.

02Silver4.6 · 08-28-2002, 12:54 AM

Send back the 3.73's and get 4.10's...trust me!

98gt5sp · 08-28-2002, 01:50 AM

I'm pretty sure that headers on the 4.6L Mustangs are not worth the money at all. I would definitely go with exhaust next, including cat-back even though the stock cat-back exhaust on the '99-'02s flows pretty well. Not only will you notice a little more horsepower, but the sound is something that you will greatly enjoy. I have an off-road H-pipe and flowmaster cat-back exhaust and love it!
As for the 3.73 vs. 4.10 gears, I would stick with 3.73 if it is your daily driver. That is what I have and it's pretty aggressive. The improvement in torque will be amazing whether you get 3.73 or 4.10, and 4.10 probably wouldn't be too much fun for every-day driving.
I'd say after the exhaust your best bet is a short-throw shifter (steeda tri-ax is good) and maybe some suspension. The stock shifters are just horrible. Good luck.

02Silver4.6 · 08-28-2002, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 98gt5sp
As for the 3.73 vs. 4.10 gears, I would stick with 3.73 if it is your daily driver. That is what I have and it's pretty aggressive. The improvement in torque will be amazing whether you get 3.73 or 4.10, and 4.10 probably wouldn't be too much fun for every-day driving.

Considering you have a 98 GT 3.73's are a sufficient gear. 99+ GT's are much better suited for 4.10's because of their better heads, higher compression etc..I have 4.10's in my 02 GT(5 speed) and its a daily driver. 3.73's in a 99+ GT will put you BELOW the traps of your powerband.

08-27-2002, 04:13 PM	#1
BryantD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20	Gears being done, what next? Ok, I've added a K&N air filter and ordered 3.73's and the Speed-cal (will be installed next week) on my '02GT convertible (5-speed). What should be the next mod? Under-pullies, exhaust, MAF......? My thoughts (based on responses here and other') are as follows: Under-pulley - Steeda Exhaust - MAC long-tube headers, MAC H-pipe w/cats and 2 chamber Flowmasters (my concern is will I get the bang for the buck or will I need some additional enhancements like improving the Intake and/or Heads, pistons, cams....). Is there an Intake available for the '02GT? MAF - I have no idea Others - ? My long term goal (maybe not so long term ) is to compete with the Camaro's, Firebirds & TA's of the world SS & Z28 class) and maybe give my buddy (who drives a 2000 Corvette convertible) a scare or two. I haven't won the lottery (yet!) so money is a concern, thus no Blower for the intermediate future; maybe a year or two from now it could happen. Recommendations please? __________________ 2002 GT Convertible (5-Speed) Mods: 3.73 Gears Novi 1000 with Paxton Air to Air Intercooler Delta Chip (Tuned by Reinhart Automotive) 38lb Injectors 90mm Lightning MAF (threaded IAT sensor for Lightning and IAT plug from '93 Taurus wiring harness) relocated between the blower & throttle body 255lph Fuel Pump Autometer A-Pillar (Dual) with Vacuum/Boost Gauge & Exhaust Gas Temperature Gauge Motorcraft AWSF22C sparkplugs (.030 gap) Bassani X-Pipe with Cats Dyno #'s: 328.4rwhp & 340.9rwtq

08-27-2002, 04:46 PM	#2
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	Next should be a new shifter and some under-drive pulleys... If you are using the car as a near-daily driver, I wouldn't go with long tubes due to clearance problems (especially if you plan on putting in some Eibach springs or something...) Maybe some Ford Motorsport shorties would be a better idea.... Get yourself an X\H-pipe (offroad system if you're in a non-emissions testing area).... The stock cat-back system is not very restrictive on the 02 GTs.... so a cat-back will basically change the sound.... not much else.... __________________ Uncle Sam "What the hell is up with all the gauges? Calling Captain Kirk, your ride awaits... Phasers on stun...."

08-27-2002, 05:33 PM	#3
blue00gt Mustang Addict Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 1,294	Hammer is right about longtubes. My car is lowered over 2" and I only have slightly over 3" of ground clearance under my cats because of the longtubes. I am very careful and try to take everything at the right angle. so I rarely scrape on driveways or speed bumps, but there have been a couple times when the cats scraped just driving along due to humps in the road that I couldn't avoid without hitting something else. If you are willing to put up with the ground clearance issue, they definitely add noticeable power - I have pulled away from a couple of stock 5 speed 99+ GT's without a problem since getting them. If you decide against longtubes, I would just get an H- or X-pipe for now and skip the headers because shorties don't seem to gain much power at all on the newer cars (I've heard maybe 2-5 hp depending on what other mods the car has). In my opinion they are not worth the cost and difficulty of putting them in unless they are one of the last mods you are doing to try to get every last hp out of it. __________________ Strike down the unroadworthy! 2000 GT Atl. Blue: '03 Cobra motor - 465rwhp/473rwtq, T-56 6-speed, full MM TA/PH & tubular K-member suspension, Saleen body, 17" Torq-Thrust II's, M/T ET Street radials, and lots more '94 Rio Red Cobra: All the bolt-ons, 3.73s

08-27-2002, 10:13 PM	#4
SnakeDriver97 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 24	In response to the long tube headers limiting ground clearence...does any one know who makes them with the most clearence.....or is the X/H pipe that causes the problems........my buddy had a '95GT w/ shorties and Xpipe...his cats scraped all the time<------they were punched so he didnt care. __________________ '97 Procharged Cobra

08-28-2002, 01:50 AM	#6
98gt5sp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Washington Posts: 40	I'm pretty sure that headers on the 4.6L Mustangs are not worth the money at all. I would definitely go with exhaust next, including cat-back even though the stock cat-back exhaust on the '99-'02s flows pretty well. Not only will you notice a little more horsepower, but the sound is something that you will greatly enjoy. I have an off-road H-pipe and flowmaster cat-back exhaust and love it! As for the 3.73 vs. 4.10 gears, I would stick with 3.73 if it is your daily driver. That is what I have and it's pretty aggressive. The improvement in torque will be amazing whether you get 3.73 or 4.10, and 4.10 probably wouldn't be too much fun for every-day driving. I'd say after the exhaust your best bet is a short-throw shifter (steeda tri-ax is good) and maybe some suspension. The stock shifters are just horrible. Good luck. __________________ 1998 Silver Mustang GT 5sp My Mods My Web Page Rice Hater's Club - Member # 78

08-28-2002, 12:54 AM	#5
02Silver4.6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 15	Send back the 3.73's and get 4.10's...trust me!

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