Sorry to start another "which mod next" thread, but I've got the green light from the wife, and money to spend. So what are your thoughts on where to put the money.....suspension kit (I'm thinking Eibach Pro System), exhaust stuff (I'm completely clueless), or aluminum driveshaft? This is my daily driver, and she's got like 58K miles on her. Thanks for your input (especially Mark!).
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2005 Performance White GT w/red & charcoal interior
11.5" painted red racing stripes w/2" gap
C&L cai/Xcalibrater 2, Silverhorse louvers, Stull billet grille, Hurst short throw, Trufiber GT-S 2 hood, CDC classic chin spoiler, Scott Drake hood pins, 18" Carroll Shelby wheels/Toyo tires
So, like X/H pipes and Flowmasters? I need to educate myself on exhaust, but these are familiar sounding components I see pop up all the time. In addition to the sweet sound, they add a little Hp too right?
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2005 Performance White GT w/red & charcoal interior
11.5" painted red racing stripes w/2" gap
C&L cai/Xcalibrater 2, Silverhorse louvers, Stull billet grille, Hurst short throw, Trufiber GT-S 2 hood, CDC classic chin spoiler, Scott Drake hood pins, 18" Carroll Shelby wheels/Toyo tires
do exhuast, the s197 already handles pretty nice for a mustang..and i doubt your trying to do any auotx....
so for exhuast, you can go with a h pipe, if you dont have emissions def. get a off-road one.... but if you do, a h pipe with cats will be alright. as for mufflers, make sure you get a full catback, dont just replace the mufflers... flowmasters are nice, but you will sound like every other mustang on the road... if you want it loud get loudmouths, if not borlas are great! but expensive.
So, like X/H pipes and Flowmasters? I need to educate myself on exhaust, but these are familiar sounding components I see pop up all the time. In addition to the sweet sound, they add a little Hp too right?
Is there a good website/link/thread that explains all the different components? I'm really lost with the catback-axleback things .
ill try and explain it very fast...
there are three parts to our exhuasts...
headers = the part the hooks up to the engine, and merges each cylinder exhuast pipe into one pipe.
midpipe = this is ether the x or h, x meaning, the pipes litterally look like a x... and...yep you guessed it a H looks like a H. this is also where the cats are.
catback/axleback- same thing, catback meaning, its the exhuast after the cats, axleback meaning, its the exhuast past the back axle. this is where the mufflers are.
Well just between the 3 do exhaust for sure. Id go with flowmasters. They sound the best on a stock 5.0 and or 4.6, 4.8. But you left many other mods out that may be a possibility. Any reason for that? A good set of heads would be a killer hop up for any car is more HP for your buck!
do exhuast, the s197 already handles pretty nice for a mustang..and i doubt your trying to do any auotx....
I like playing in fast canyons... Suspension changes I made, were a huge difference over stock, and mine was supposedly better than the average GT's to start with (it really wasn't). Ride harshness has increased some, but my car feels much more stable now.
Aluminum driveshaft... read the recent thread about them, started by squid. They can help lessen weight (sprung, unsprung, and rotational) but at the risk of high speed harmonics/vibration problems. Ford made the S197 with a two-piece shaft for a reason, and not because it was cheaper than a one-piece.
Other than going with LT headers (which I do like, but don't need), there's little to be gained in exhaust changes, besides making more, or different noise. Noise is great for some; not for me... I like not being noticed while speeding, and didn't want a car that screams "look at me"... I got enough speeding tickets when I was younger.
I'm pretty happy with my stock exhaust sound, and it'll comfortably support all the exhaust I'll want to put through it with a conservative blower.
Anyway, different strokes... I've always been most impressed by cars that really handled well. S197 was arguably the best handling stock Mustang ever made 'till the 2010, and can certainly be made better with relatively simple changes...but I know it'll never be a Lotus.
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'08 Bullitt -Highland Green
'09 GT-500KR -Black/Black
Nice replies, thanks. I spend all last night reading up on the driveshafts, so I'm aware of what that has to offer. What I was less knowledgeable on was the suspension and exhaust, and then comparing the benefits between all three. I'm interested in hearing any rebuttle to the charge of noise change only for the exhaust.
As to the previous question on other mods (like heads), I don't plan on messing with engine if I don't have too...for a daily driver, I don't need TOO much horsepower (I know sacrilige!). It seemed like the ones I mentioned were among the most common mods, and I assumed they were for a reason.
And thanks for the great exhaust link in American Muscle!
__________________
2005 Performance White GT w/red & charcoal interior
11.5" painted red racing stripes w/2" gap
C&L cai/Xcalibrater 2, Silverhorse louvers, Stull billet grille, Hurst short throw, Trufiber GT-S 2 hood, CDC classic chin spoiler, Scott Drake hood pins, 18" Carroll Shelby wheels/Toyo tires
ON ORDER: FRPP Stingers and Shaftmasters DS
Last edited by Superdave7; 05-24-2009 at 01:02 AM.
Reason: add info
I like playing in fast canyons... Suspension changes I made, were a huge difference over stock, and mine was supposedly better than the average GT's to start with (it really wasn't). Ride harshness has increased some, but my car feels much more stable now.
Aluminum driveshaft... read the recent thread about them, started by squid. They can help lessen weight (sprung, unsprung, and rotational) but at the risk of high speed harmonics/vibration problems. Ford made the S197 with a two-piece shaft for a reason, and not because it was cheaper than a one-piece.
Other than going with LT headers (which I do like, but don't need), there's little to be gained in exhaust changes, besides making more, or different noise. Noise is great for some; not for me... I like not being noticed while speeding, and didn't want a car that screams "look at me"... I got enough speeding tickets when I was younger.
I'm pretty happy with my stock exhaust sound, and it'll comfortably support all the exhaust I'll want to put through it with a conservative blower.
Anyway, different strokes... I've always been most impressed by cars that really handled well. S197 was arguably the best handling stock Mustang ever made 'till the 2010, and can certainly be made better with relatively simple changes...but I know it'll never be a Lotus.
just because you like your stock exhuast doesnt mean everyone else does???
and yes, you will gain horspower or torque with a new exhuast.
with our "street 1/4 mile" by my house, i got a whole second off of my 1/4 mile time... and noticed it pull harder.
Suspension, exhaust, or driveshaft? 
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