$600 to spend - what do you guys recommend?

[Narshadda]

I have about $600 or so to spend including installation.

My local shop is charging me $350 for the underdrive pulleys including the installation.

I was wondering if I would get more bang for my buck doing the catback and short shift kit or gears and a catback.

What do you guys think will get me the most bang for my buck?

-Narsh

[Jeff Chambers]

$350? Seems kinda steep. Underdrives are about $100 a set and at most require an hour to put on. Gears are the best bang for the buck and should be within your $600 budget, parts and labor included. In terms of a cat-back, I absolutely love the sound of the Magnaflow on a 4.6l motor; good fit and finish too with Magnaflow.

[blue00gt]

What car do you have? Like Jeff said, $350 is a ripoff for underdrives. $150-$200 is about what you should end up paying including labor.
Gears are definitely going to be your best bang for the buck. A short shifter is always a nice addition too. A catback is not going to gain you any appreciable hp or performance, but they do sound nice.

[Narshadda]

Hey guys,

THanks for the heads up.. I thought the $160 for the install was steep but now I know. I am just having trouble finding a reputable shop in south florida.
I think the gears with the short shifter should keep me under $600.
Now comes the question of which ones to get. 3.55 or 3.73. I do a lot of highway driving and wouldn't want the gas to kill me. What do you think?

[Narshadda]

How does $600 even for the gears installed?

[Fat0eknee]

id go with 3.73's if you drive a lot on the highway
motive makes a 3.89 gear.... just a thought

[bigwhitecobra]

Stay away from Motive Gear. They whine like there's no tomorrow. Buy yourself a set of Ford Racing 4.10's and then come back and thank me for the advice. You will love them. Don't forget to reflash the computer when you do it.

[P.C.]

You can buy them USED on the internet,E BayLots of them for sale.Guys dont need them when thy step up to a S/C.And do the pulleys yourself.Borrow a puller or rent one for the dampner.The fun is doing the work yourself, not paying someone to rip you off.Even a novice could do this.And you can tell all your friends i did it myself!I paid $100 for mine.Parts no labor.You should get a C&L upper intake and a motorsport 70mm t bodyI tried a 75 mm but i lost bottom end.Even with my 4.10s.I love the mac straight shot cold air with the billit mass air.It makes a difference.The stock rubber hose has a big restriction in it.Big white cobra is right motive is garbage!motorsport is the only way to go. 373's for a stick 410'sfor a auto.

[bigwhitecobra]

Originally Posted by Narshadda

How does $600 even for the gears installed?

I usually charge $250-$300 for just the installation. If someone brings me a Motive, Richmond, or other gear, $300 jsut for the hassel of setting the pinion depth, and reshiming the carrier. For whatever reason, the Ford Racing stuff just works right the first time.

The price of a gear is usually around $250. +/- depending on who you get them through.

Pullies are a good way to go too. I installed mine in about 15 minutes. Granted, I do that alot more than other people. If you ware wanting to get performance, and sound, a good way to go is with my Stage 1 kit. I run the same thing, and am pulling low 13's with nothing more done to the car. It saves you roughly $300 buying them seperately.

Anyway, just thought I would mention that. Hae fun with whatever you decide, as I know you will. Later.

[Narshadda]

Thanks for all the replies fellas.

I have decided on the following, just because it keeps me whithin my price range and hits my car from all angles...

I am getting:

-Eibach Pro-Kit Springs for $380 installed
-Steeda Triax Shifter w/Steeda Shift Knob $189
-Ford Racing Throttle Body 70mm $189

[bigwhitecobra]

Not bad. That should work.

[2000saleen]

i would go with the exhaust but not a catback i'd save the money and get a complete magnaflow exhaust including xpipe and high flow cats' and then get magnaflow magnapax they sound great on mustangs. otherwise if you have a supercharger get a different intercooler.

[Narshadda]

Yeah, I plan to get the complete exhaust in one shot. But from what I heard on mustangexaust.com it will more than likely be a MAC exhaust or Borla depending on how expensive it will be. If the Borla is $500 more or so, I may just get that.