Mods in a Modular

[FordFan02GT]

Okay so the other day I broke down and traded my 02 v6 on a new 02 GT (Was the last one on lot, Just happened to be Red with black leather interior and 4000 in rebates) So now i start my quest for aftermarket goodies, but I am looking for a little advice and knowledge. First off, I plan on doing all the little bolt ons first, pullies, MAF, TB, headers, exhaust... you know, all that smit. But digging around, I come up with questions.

First off, on a MAF conversion, I have noticed warnings about using a cold air system with the 85 MM MAF. Has anyone really found this to be a problem? To little ole me it would seem the car would benifit from the two. I mean MORE air thats COLD is what a engine wants. Or should i just hunker down and get that Ram Air system that they are putting on the new Mach?

Now what the hell is a H pipe or X pipe and is it really needed? I am thinking about scrapping the stock exhaust and running 2.5 straight with some flowmasters. (No cats) I got a shop out here who i can get to do it, all mandrel bent SS for around 600, while i see the cat back systems for @ 400 and up. Or would the X/H pipe be better? Is it feeding back low end torque? whats the deal?

Chips... Who has the best one out there? I know everyone has a opionion, so all will be considered.

What about cams? Is there a good one out there that will give me a good run before and after the eventual S/C?

And as for S/C, Who has played with high boost on a stock block? I see 8 pounders all the time, what about 11 or 14? too much on a stock block? I know its a good idea to change pistons and what not, but if I am gonna do that, I might as well get a 5.4 thrown in for more giggle power. Thats why I am wondering about how much boost i can run before smit starts breaking.

Also, how much break in time should i put in before i make serious mods. Right now i think i just broke the 200 mile mark, and i know it used to be 500 miles before a engine was "broke in", But how soon is too soon?

Any help or advice ya'll can give me would be appreciated.

[Hammer]

Congrats on the GT. I recommend that you take a look at the Modular Tech FAQ when you get a chance.

Depending on the mix, cold air kits have been known to give problems with even stock MAFs. Considering the minimal gain they give on a stock setup, I'd wait on a CAI kit.

That "ram air" system on the mach, while nice, won't exactly get you too much. Get yourself a good MAF from Pro-M or C&L, a K&N, put it in the stock air box and remove the silencer...

Just as many horses at a 1/4 of the price....
(The C&L kits usually come with a K&N, so you might want to check that out...)

An H\X pipe setup will give you much less backpressure, therefore horsepower than the stock setup. Between the two, the H pipe will give you a bit more torque while the X will give you a bit more horsepower.

Autologic has been my chip of choice....

As far as cams, I would wait to put cams in for when you get a blower. Then you can get a set of Crane's blower cams...

On a stock block, it is recommeneded that you keep it at 8 psi or under. I'm going on 60k miles with my setup at 8psi. I've seen others go higher, I've also seen others have to do engine rebuilds...

As far as break in time... I would wait the standard 500 miles.

Hope this helps...

[FordFan02GT]

Thanks for the advice hammer, I already put it to use, found a 85mm C&L kit and ordered it, it did come with the K&N. Now who knows of a good way to hide these purchases from my wife?

BTW I always heard straight pipes and a free flowing muffler like a flowmaster would get rid of just about all back pressure, am i wrong here? Will a X or H setup get rid of even more? Also, I always heard a LITTLE back pressure was good for low end torque, is that a urban legend?

[Hammer]

Yes, a little backpressure is good for low end torque...

As far as straight pipes, there IS a technical reason for wanting a crossover in your exhaust instead of straight pipes, but to be honest, it was outlined in another post, and I just can't seem to find it right now.

If you're not in a pollution controlled area, I would recommend an off-road x-pipe (no cats).

[95mustanggt]

You want an "X" or"H" pipe to balance out the exaust. Having the two side connected at some point is very important on a full length exaust system.

[SleeperGT]

So many good questions, yet you forgot to ask about the single best upgrade next to a S/C, in my opinion. GEARS!! For a first upgrade I wouldn't waste a single penny on anything but gears. Cold air intakes, mass air sensors, ram air systems, pulleys, chips, any one of these might get you zero to maybe 10 hp, heck even combining them all you still might end up with maybe 10 to 15 hp. And when do you feel any of these upgrades, only if you wind the car completely out. Now gears you feel all the time, down low, and up high, just blip the throttle or mash the gas and you feel the gears, heck it feels like the car has an extra 50 ft-lbs of torque. I just drove a buddies brand new '02 GT and man did it feel unresponsive (I can't believe I said that, but it's true). I think the best two upgrades to do at the same time are gears and an exhaust upgrade. The gears get you the power, and the exhaust/muffler upgrade make is sound like you got the power. It sounds like one day you're going to go the S/C route. Most S/C kits come with many of the upgrades you mentioned (new chip, cold air intake system, injectors, fuel pump, etc and I've heard you don't want to go with a pulley upgrade if you eventually get a S/C installed). My first upgrade was the S/C and then I did exhaust, and the gears. I wish I did the exact reverse order. Any-who, just do a search on gears, there are a million posts about them. And congrats on the purchase and no matter what you do your going to have a blast.

[SkammyManX]

I am planning on getting a 2001 Mustang GT and was considering putting on a S/C kit...until my buddy mentioned that the stock transmission wouldn't support the gains of the supercharger.

I was thinking about getting a Procharger from ATI or ATP...I forgot which it was, and then exhaust mods, gears, pulleys...so forth..but he said the TREMEC T-56 the same that comes in the New 2003 Cobra which support I think about 425hp, is what I would need, that way my transmisson wouldn't kick the bucket one day at the track or...who knows on the street...

This made me a little disappointed, because I want the best power and modificiations. So what I want to do is replace exhaust headers--H-pipe, mufflers...gears, pulleys, maybe cams, intake set up, TB...igintion all that jazz...put I think other than NOS or S/Cer that there isnt anything you can really do to see drastic changes...or is there?

Thanks

Skammy

[SleeperGT]

Skammy,
Your buddy is not quite correctly informed. The stock transmission will support well into the 400 hp range for a GT, I've heard up to 450 hp, not sure if this is at the motor or rwhp. I know Hammer is running around 450 hp and I'm somewhere around 400 hp. To date I have had no problems, plus I've got at least 50 runs in at the track (on drag radials). Two other things to consider. A stock Vortech S-Trim S/C package will get you about 360 hp at the motor on a GT, well less than the 450 limit. My stock Vortech install dyno'd at 313 rwhp and 370 rwtq. That's a pretty good jump in power from stock and well worth the upgrade. Also, in my opinion, if you keep away from the racing slicks, you'll have less of a chance of breaking things. I have seen numerous posts from folks who have been running on slicks with well over 400 hp (there are some crazies, my role models actually, running out there with practically 500 rwhp on stock transmissions, that's almost 600 hp at the motor) and no transmission problems (yet at least). If you're planning on hitting the track only on occassion and not on slicks I wouldn't worry at all with a S/C upgrade (heck I haven't, and I can't tell you how much my car ROCKS, I love it, it really is a beast, and it "only" has about 400 hp!!) I'm sure folks will jump in with their experiences and you'll hear the stories. Good luck, and go get those upgrade!!

[SkammyManX]

That's the move!

What are the best sites for parts, with the best prices?!

I'm looking for some good deals on a supercharger kit, I've seen various prices for Paxon's and Vortechs, but someone said that the move was the ATI/P Procharger (www.procharger.com) which has much higher gains than Paxon...

Although you might be right about the tranny...but im pretty sure its 360hp that it can handel...if you go to www.tremec.com, I think I might of spelled it wrong, go there and see if you can find a stock tranny for a 99+ mustang GT...I think I read 360hp and 425hp for the T-56.

Thanks

Skammy

[SleeperGT]

Interesting note on best pricing. I found that purchasing direct from Vortech via the web was the most expensive and that buying from a dealer saved at least 10% (at least $300 for the complete Vortech kit, enough to practically pay for the install). Good luck and have fun!