taking you back to the basics

[mojoffdawal]

I've had my 86 gt vert for about 7 months and haven't really been able to do anything for lack of money aside form getting new tires. Financial aid should be kicking in soon, so what does a K&N air filter do and why should i upgrade? nother thing is, any other simple upgrades or maintenance issues i should deal with. It runs pretty good and im not much of a mechanic so any help would be appreciated.

[~The Jester~]

Boy, that brings back some fond memories! My 2nd stang was an '84 T-top car. First was an '80 Cobra.

Anyways, in 86 the horsepower dropped a bit from the '85, Ford was still "learning" about fuel injection. If the car is an automatic, a real easy way to pick up some ponies is get ahold of a set of pulleys from a stick car, or go aftermarket. Kick the timing up a bit, if you're not comfortable with that get a mechanic friend to help. Think about switching over to a mass air system too, there's a few "how to" links on this board. Opening up the exhaust is another option, headers and true duals with either an X or H pipe. Should have a factory H pipe with 4 cats on it now. Stick with the basics until you're comfortable wrenching on the car, then you can get into camshafts and heads and other hardcore stuff.

Good Luck!

[KiltedBanshees93GT]

As to your first question, a k&n (or in theory any of the reusable filters out there) uses an oil coated cotton gauze for an element, instead of a paper type element. Net result, more airflow, which = more hp, and you can reuse it. Buy a 14 dollar cleaning kit, and IIRC k&n guarentees them for like a million miles. In other words, buy the filter and occasionally (every few years) cleaner, and never have to replace the air filter. Its pretty much the first mod done to every 'Stang out there.
For simple stuff right now, I would get her tuned up at a shop, and buy the manual for the car, and read it. front to back and vice versa.
As noted before, if you can, and if not have someone do it for you, you can bump the timing a few degrees, start thinking about a good exhaust setup, basically it depends on what your comfortable doing or having done and money.

J

[mojoffdawal]

I forgot to mention that the 86 is not an automatic but a 5 speed. Its a hell of a workout on the left leg, this being my first stang and first stick shift.

[Ieatcamaros]

Originally Posted by mojoffdawal

I forgot to mention that the 86 is not an automatic but a 5 speed. Its a hell of a workout on the left leg, this being my first stang and first stick shift.

Wait till you get an aftermarket clutch kit. Then you will feel a workout in the left leg. But like everyone else says, stick to the basic stuff first. Cat back exhaust, k&n filter, advance timing. And the very first major mod you should do is put a set of 3.73 gears in the rear end. This is not something you can do in your backyard unless you've done it before or know someone who has. Adding a lower (nemerically higher) gear does not add any more horsepower or torque, but it is a great feeling on the a$$ dyno. It helps get your car out of the hole faster and it also makes burnouts easier.