Upgrade advice for a beginner (HELP)

1bad89lx · 02-24-2003, 08:24 PM

I have an 89 LX 5.0 5-Speed. It has a F-cam, Flowtech headers, Flowtech off-road H-pipe, Mac after cat exhaust, Lakewood 50/50 shocks, Mac fenderwell kit, A/C eliminator pulley and underdrive pulleys. I have some 3.73 gears waiting to be installed. This is the way that I purchased the car. I was wondering which direction I should go from here. I was thinking either a cobra intake or C&L mass air meter. If I use the Cobra intake can I use just the upper? Does that make any sense to just use the upper? I am looking to do the work myself and am not sure if I can change the lower. I wasn't really wanting to get into changing heads or anything. Also, do my upgrades warrant larger injectors? Is an adjustable fuel pressure regulator worth it with my setup?

Thanks in advance!

NotchJohnson · 02-24-2003, 09:07 PM

First off, that cam is hurting you more than helping. The stock cam is actually a great cam for stock and near-stock engines. About the cobra intake, you cannot bolt a cobra upper onto a stock lower, even if you could, it would do nothing. In my opinion, get an h-pipe and some headers, and take out that f-cam. I would look for a cobra or explorer intake, and port the exhaust side of your e7s.

mike72678 · 02-24-2003, 09:47 PM

check out www.neweraperformanceparts.com , great prices on lots of parts for mustangs.

project 5.0 · 02-25-2003, 02:26 PM

hey notch johnson, how do you like your prochamber on your car? I was thinking about ordering one but i have never heard a car around here with one on there.

Kamaro Killer · 02-25-2003, 03:34 PM

you do not have to worry about messing with the heads when changing an intake, upper or lower. There is a RTV seal you need to reseal, but the heads are already bolted up to the block. You do have to take the fuel lines off to get the lower off though. If you need help during the installation, PM me, or someone you've noticed is knowledgable, (I'm not very knowledgable unless I've actually done the work myself). take care, welcome to the boards, Keith

NotchJohnson · 02-25-2003, 04:11 PM

Project, yeah I do like the sound of the prochamber. I have heard that it is slightly quieter than the h-pipe, but I dont mind.

1Bad89lx, sorry if it seemd as though I said the heads need to come off to change the lower, they dont. Dont sell yoiurself short by thinking you cant do the lower yourself. It is really pretty easy. Alot of stuff needs to be disconnected, but its a no briner when it comes to putting it back on. Dont get discouraged when you see the fuel rails, injector harnesses, and injectors. The injectors pop right out, and I didn not even have to disconnect the fuel lines, i just moved the whole fuel rail/injector assembly in one piece, and carefully placed it in front of the engine to get it out of the way. Also, dont worry about changing heads either, they too are no biggie.

NotchJohnson · 02-25-2003, 04:21 PM

Oh I forgot to mention that you wont need to upgrade your injectors with light mods, they handle up to around 300hp I believe. I also didnt see that you already have headers/h-pipe, so scratch that. - John

Coupe50h · 02-25-2003, 05:00 PM

you might have not stock heads since you are sort of new to this, make sure they are e7's, if so, some porting would help ALOT, or just buy some cheap gt-40's like i did, the cam would work with the airflow and probaly be the best thing you could do for that car, even with stock intake, the cobra intake wont gain anything near what heads, or head work would do.

1bad89lx · 02-26-2003, 10:43 AM

Thank you for your input. As far as the heads are concerened, is there an easy way to tell if they are stock or not? Coupe50h had mentioned the number E7's?

Also, how long should it take to replace the upper and lower intake? Would you recomend it for a beginner?

Thanks once again.

Ackbar00 · 02-26-2003, 11:49 AM

As long as you have basic mecanic knowledge, and have some tools, it will take about a weekend for a beginer. Just stare at the upper and say"what is in my way." Then just move it. If you get real unsure about the ECM harness, take some masking tape and mark numbers on each peice you remove and left in place. That way when you put it together, you just match up the numbers. My .04$, get an intake(any is better than stock) and try to find it used. Ebay is a great place to look. Get a C&L 76 Mass Air with flowtube(Also on ebay) and a shift lite. The shift lite is great because you will be consistant in you shifts and it is dead simple to hook up. Oh yeah, a shifter too.

Intake - around 350$
C&L76 - under 200$
MSD Shift Lite - around 120 after getting shift pills
Shifter - around 150$

Good Luck, and just remember, its all downhill from here on your bank account

Coupe50h · 02-26-2003, 01:25 PM

I have to go look at my e7's heads, i think they have a #13 on them, but not sure yet.
When i removed the upper, i thought it was alot of vaccuum lines and stuff in the way, but after doing once, i can do it quick! now the lower, you will have to pull the distributor, try and mark it's position, it sometimes takes a minute to get the dist gear to fall in place, (i've never done this) but I read my haynes manual all the time, you need to get one, and also a torque wrench, would be good to have.

02-24-2003, 09:07 PM	#2
NotchJohnson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 593	First off, that cam is hurting you more than helping. The stock cam is actually a great cam for stock and near-stock engines. About the cobra intake, you cannot bolt a cobra upper onto a stock lower, even if you could, it would do nothing. In my opinion, get an h-pipe and some headers, and take out that f-cam. I would look for a cobra or explorer intake, and port the exhaust side of your e7s. __________________ 89 notch-finally not stock!! ported gt40's, ported cobra intake, 65mm tb, 75mm maf, mac cai, lt's,prochamber, fms 1.6 rr, 125 shot.

02-25-2003, 02:26 PM	#4
project 5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 10	hey notch johnson, how do you like your prochamber on your car? I was thinking about ordering one but i have never heard a car around here with one on there. __________________ 94 mustang gt :_3:73's , flowmasters w/no cats, 2"lowering springs,bbk fenderwell cai, bbk pullies_:

02-25-2003, 03:34 PM	#5
Kamaro Killer Mustang Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 528	FYI you do not have to worry about messing with the heads when changing an intake, upper or lower. There is a RTV seal you need to reseal, but the heads are already bolted up to the block. You do have to take the fuel lines off to get the lower off though. If you need help during the installation, PM me, or someone you've noticed is knowledgable, (I'm not very knowledgable unless I've actually done the work myself). take care, welcome to the boards, Keith __________________ 1993 GT 5.0-My Stang Rice Hater's Club Member 22

02-25-2003, 04:11 PM	#6
NotchJohnson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 593	Project, yeah I do like the sound of the prochamber. I have heard that it is slightly quieter than the h-pipe, but I dont mind. 1Bad89lx, sorry if it seemd as though I said the heads need to come off to change the lower, they dont. Dont sell yoiurself short by thinking you cant do the lower yourself. It is really pretty easy. Alot of stuff needs to be disconnected, but its a no briner when it comes to putting it back on. Dont get discouraged when you see the fuel rails, injector harnesses, and injectors. The injectors pop right out, and I didn not even have to disconnect the fuel lines, i just moved the whole fuel rail/injector assembly in one piece, and carefully placed it in front of the engine to get it out of the way. Also, dont worry about changing heads either, they too are no biggie. __________________ 89 notch-finally not stock!! ported gt40's, ported cobra intake, 65mm tb, 75mm maf, mac cai, lt's,prochamber, fms 1.6 rr, 125 shot.

02-25-2003, 04:21 PM	#7
NotchJohnson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 593	Oh I forgot to mention that you wont need to upgrade your injectors with light mods, they handle up to around 300hp I believe. I also didnt see that you already have headers/h-pipe, so scratch that. - John __________________ 89 notch-finally not stock!! ported gt40's, ported cobra intake, 65mm tb, 75mm maf, mac cai, lt's,prochamber, fms 1.6 rr, 125 shot.

02-24-2003, 08:24 PM	#1
1bad89lx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 7	Upgrade advice for a beginner (HELP) I have an 89 LX 5.0 5-Speed. It has a F-cam, Flowtech headers, Flowtech off-road H-pipe, Mac after cat exhaust, Lakewood 50/50 shocks, Mac fenderwell kit, A/C eliminator pulley and underdrive pulleys. I have some 3.73 gears waiting to be installed. This is the way that I purchased the car. I was wondering which direction I should go from here. I was thinking either a cobra intake or C&L mass air meter. If I use the Cobra intake can I use just the upper? Does that make any sense to just use the upper? I am looking to do the work myself and am not sure if I can change the lower. I wasn't really wanting to get into changing heads or anything. Also, do my upgrades warrant larger injectors? Is an adjustable fuel pressure regulator worth it with my setup? Thanks in advance!

02-24-2003, 09:47 PM	#3
mike72678 MW Link Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: rochester , ny Posts: 79	check out www.neweraperformanceparts.com , great prices on lots of parts for mustangs.

02-25-2003, 05:00 PM	#8
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	you might have not stock heads since you are sort of new to this, make sure they are e7's, if so, some porting would help ALOT, or just buy some cheap gt-40's like i did, the cam would work with the airflow and probaly be the best thing you could do for that car, even with stock intake, the cobra intake wont gain anything near what heads, or head work would do. __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

02-26-2003, 10:43 AM	#9
1bad89lx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 7	Thank you for your input. As far as the heads are concerened, is there an easy way to tell if they are stock or not? Coupe50h had mentioned the number E7's? Also, how long should it take to replace the upper and lower intake? Would you recomend it for a beginner? Thanks once again. __________________ Mods: F-Cam Mac Cold Air Kit Flowtech Headers Flowtech off-road H-pipe Mac Exhaust Lakewood 50/50 shocks Underdrive pulleys 3.73's (near future)

02-26-2003, 11:49 AM	#10
Ackbar00 Rebel Fleet Commander Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Huber Heights, OH Posts: 1,003	As long as you have basic mecanic knowledge, and have some tools, it will take about a weekend for a beginer. Just stare at the upper and say"what is in my way." Then just move it. If you get real unsure about the ECM harness, take some masking tape and mark numbers on each peice you remove and left in place. That way when you put it together, you just match up the numbers. My .04$, get an intake(any is better than stock) and try to find it used. Ebay is a great place to look. Get a C&L 76 Mass Air with flowtube(Also on ebay) and a shift lite. The shift lite is great because you will be consistant in you shifts and it is dead simple to hook up. Oh yeah, a shifter too. Intake - around 350$ C&L76 - under 200$ MSD Shift Lite - around 120 after getting shift pills Shifter - around 150$ Good Luck, and just remember, its all downhill from here on your bank account __________________ 1993 Mustang GT, PTK w/ T-64 - My Cardomain Webpage 11.25@123.5 on only 8 psi. 10.84@121 on only 1 headgasket "The Truth is, Your the Weak, and I am the Tyranny of Evil Men!"

02-26-2003, 01:25 PM	#11
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	I have to go look at my e7's heads, i think they have a #13 on them, but not sure yet. When i removed the upper, i thought it was alot of vaccuum lines and stuff in the way, but after doing once, i can do it quick! now the lower, you will have to pull the distributor, try and mark it's position, it sometimes takes a minute to get the dist gear to fall in place, (i've never done this) but I read my haynes manual all the time, you need to get one, and also a torque wrench, would be good to have. __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

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