Newbie needs help...PLEASE!!!
 

I just bought my first pony. It's a 95GT 5-spd. conv. The car is all stock and I'm looking to get some more HP under the hood for the best price and I don't know where to start. I have posted messages on other boards but no one seems to be able to help me. You see, I'm looking for performance over long distances like a road race car would have, not 1/4 mile times. This means I don't want to change the gear ratios. Instead I'm looking for bolt on options or other mods that won't be very time consuming to complete and yet will give me a nice boost in HP. I also want to be upgradable in the sense of I don't want to spend tons of money to get the car to, say, 300HP and then have to start all over if it's not enough. Please Help!!!

If I understand you correctly, then I think you're looking for midrange power, not real high end power like drag cars use. If that's the case, then consider a long runner intake (Cobra, Edelbrock Performer), and either ported stock heads, or some mild aftermarket heads. Maybe a small profile cam, although that's not necessary right away. Upgrade the exhaust. As for gear ratios, road race cars change them, too. It allows the rpm's to go up and down faster, which is good when you're accelerating/decelerating in and out of turns frequently.

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Moxie Racing

The Nitrous Oxide Information Site

I wouldn't cheese out with some so/so heads and a so/so cam, cause you'll kick yourself down the road for not giving it more balls...

And why is your name eclipse_one on a Mustang board???

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1992 LX:V-1 S-Trim ,Edelbrock 6037 Heads,Cobra Intake,E-303,1.6 Rollers,65MM Holley TB, 75 MM Pro M Mass Air, 190 LPH FP,24 lb injectors,MSD 6A and BTM,BBK equal length shorties,offroad h-pipe,Mac Flowpath Mufflers,Pro 5.0, 3.73's,Motorsport "C" springs,welded subframe connectors,Ponies w/ 225/50 Nitto NT 450's on front,255/50 BFG Drags out back,93 Cobra Spoiler
Daily driver 89 Coupe:BBK shorties,offroad,flowturds with dumps,soon to be cyber green

I would get 1.7 roller rockers, under drive pullies, K&N filter, either a 3.27 or a 3.55 gear, a Cobra or Performer intake, 65mm throttle body, bump the timing to 12-14 degrees, larger mass air meter (like the Pro-M 75 mm bullet), adjustable fuel pressure regulator, short throw shifter, 1 5/8" long tube headers with h-pipe (2 1/2 inch exhaust, if you are really going for more torque, 2 1/4 inch exhaust) and mufflers of your choice.

This would put you at maybe 270-280 flywheel horsepower give or take 10hp. If you would like to "eclipse" (sorry had to do it) the 300 hp level, then cylinder heads are a definite must. You must find something with a small runner size for good velocity (GT-40 heads are good for this, especially the GT-40p heads).

I would also consider bumping compression to like 10.0:1 if you buy aluminum heads and 9.5-9.75:1 for cast iron. This can be accomplished by shaving the heads. I would recommend port matching the heads to intake and intake, upper to lower.

That is all I can think of right now. There are a lot of knowledgable people on this site, like those who have already answered your thread, so more will post their views at how to go about it.

BTW, welcome to mworks.

Jason

Eclipse:

I just went through basically the same thing with a stock 87 LX 5.0 5-speed convert.

I wound up doing the following:
headers, cat-back, K&N air filter, a "performance" tune-up and underdrive pulleys. I also added a 4.10 gear but am considering backing down a bit to a 3.73.

Consider adding full-length sub-frame connectors and a strut tower brace to reduce cowl shake of the convertible. Big difference.

I also did shocks, struts and springs which tightened the handling considerably!

Have fun and good luck...

Paul