Help the new guy!

'84-5.0-LX · 04-15-2005, 11:21 AM

Hi folks,

Fantastic board! Glad to be the newest member. I'm hoping some of you out there may be able to give me some need advice. I have a tendency to ramble but I'll keep this as short and specific as possible.

My wife and I inherited a 1984 LX convertible with the 5.0 EFI 302. It only has 44k miles on it, and has probably only been driven 2k miles in the last 15 years. It's a fantastic, fun car with a lot of meaning to us.

Last summer we got her out and running, tuned up, lots of fuel injector cleaner and a few tanks of gas before the backfires stopped. We popped for a new top (badly needed) and blew our budget for the year.

Aahh spring...first we're putting in subframe connectors to stiffen things up (convertible.) The goal with this car is to put maybe 1K-2K into aftermarket stuff and try to suck as much happiness out of that 302 as possible. This is just a street car of course, but it seems like it's a great engine but is pretty restricted in this factory-stock car. I know enough to know that generally "air in, air out" comes first. So I put in a K&N filter, easy enough, and now it's time to consider air out.

Looking to add headers to replace those cast-iron manifolds and some sort of dual exhaust with either H or X pipe, Flowmasters or the like for that sweet rumble. Suggestions, anyone? I read alot about '86 on up 'stangs, but can't find a whole lot of aftermarket info on this EFI '84. Lots more questions about that EFI (vs. a carb swap), oxygen sensors, etc...but lets leave it at exhaust for now. Shorty vs. long headers, what will/won't fit, is ceramic worth it, cat vs. no cat, x vs. h pipe, etc...trying to keep within a small budget. Any and all info is much appreciated. Sorry so wordy...thanks everyone!

04-15-2005, 11:21 AM	#1
'84-5.0-LX Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2	Help the new guy! Hi folks, Fantastic board! Glad to be the newest member. I'm hoping some of you out there may be able to give me some need advice. I have a tendency to ramble but I'll keep this as short and specific as possible. My wife and I inherited a 1984 LX convertible with the 5.0 EFI 302. It only has 44k miles on it, and has probably only been driven 2k miles in the last 15 years. It's a fantastic, fun car with a lot of meaning to us. Last summer we got her out and running, tuned up, lots of fuel injector cleaner and a few tanks of gas before the backfires stopped. We popped for a new top (badly needed) and blew our budget for the year. Aahh spring...first we're putting in subframe connectors to stiffen things up (convertible.) The goal with this car is to put maybe 1K-2K into aftermarket stuff and try to suck as much happiness out of that 302 as possible. This is just a street car of course, but it seems like it's a great engine but is pretty restricted in this factory-stock car. I know enough to know that generally "air in, air out" comes first. So I put in a K&N filter, easy enough, and now it's time to consider air out. Looking to add headers to replace those cast-iron manifolds and some sort of dual exhaust with either H or X pipe, Flowmasters or the like for that sweet rumble. Suggestions, anyone? I read alot about '86 on up 'stangs, but can't find a whole lot of aftermarket info on this EFI '84. Lots more questions about that EFI (vs. a carb swap), oxygen sensors, etc...but lets leave it at exhaust for now. Shorty vs. long headers, what will/won't fit, is ceramic worth it, cat vs. no cat, x vs. h pipe, etc...trying to keep within a small budget. Any and all info is much appreciated. Sorry so wordy...thanks everyone!