I recently moved to Colorado and didn't start modding until about a year ago. There isn't many performance shops in this area. I started making phone calls and visited a few shops. Wasn't very impressed with their shops, prices or recomedations. So I waited. My son hooked me up with a local shop owner and we started making plans for more horsepower. I used to do all my own work back in the 70's so I had a little knowledge of what worked best back then. All of my tools are back in Portland,OR as well so I had limitations on what I could do myself. We started ordering parts at his cost which was far better than I could have purchased them for. If you read my profile you can see what I have done so far. Now comes the question of Headers. I see little gain from this mod. Yes they look nice but throw off a lot of unwanted heat under the hood. Have seen posts of people that are racing with stock manifolds and are posting times that are impressive. The biggest gain I have noticed has come from a good tune. Any Thoughts ?
I made the mistake on the shorty headers for sure, too late now IMO. If I keep spending 700 here and 700 there I will never have the money for the supercharger.
I made the mistake on the shorty headers for sure, too late now IMO. If I keep spending 700 here and 700 there I will never have the money for the supercharger.
I recently moved to Colorado and didn't start modding until about a year ago. There isn't many performance shops in this area. I started making phone calls and visited a few shops. Wasn't very impressed with their shops, prices or recomedations. So I waited. My son hooked me up with a local shop owner and we started making plans for more horsepower. I used to do all my own work back in the 70's so I had a little knowledge of what worked best back then. All of my tools are back in Portland,OR as well so I had limitations on what I could do myself. We started ordering parts at his cost which was far better than I could have purchased them for. If you read my profile you can see what I have done so far. Now comes the question of Headers. I see little gain from this mod. Yes they look nice but throw off a lot of unwanted heat under the hood. Have seen posts of people that are racing with stock manifolds and are posting times that are impressive. The biggest gain I have noticed has come from a good tune. Any Thoughts ?
Hi and welcome to AFM. It's nice to see another old school guy with a new school hot rod. These little engines and cars are nothing like the ones we used to play with from back in the 70's. They are so much better!!!
Take your time on the mods, ask lots of questions and do the research. These engines don't respond to the bolt ons like the old school stuff did.
If you want to know what doesn't work just ask me. If it has been done and is a waste of money I have probably done it
I have a garage full of useless bolt ons
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DUMB LOOKS ARE STILL FREE
I hear ya bro, but those were the days. I han an old 66 mustang 289 Hi-Pro 3 speed back in the 70's. I beat the hell out of that poor thing. Always ran great though. I banged 2nd so hard that it sheared the pinion and spool, went to a wrecking yard and 75 bucks later I was back tearing the road up. I do love these new cars but sure get discouraged at all the electronic gizmo's on these. Just got through reading a 12 page thread on a Kenne Bell install that looked flawless, but the headaches that he went through were a lot more than my nerves could take. My hats off to the guy, I would have totally lost it. At first I was pumped because that is what I would like to do next. After reading that, I hope I don't have nightmares tonight.
Last edited by Stanger07; 10-17-2009 at 04:40 PM.
Reason: clarity
Hi and welcome to AFM. It's nice to see another old school guy with a new school hot rod. These little engines and cars are nothing like the ones we used to play with from back in the 70's. They are so much better!!!
Take your time on the mods, ask lots of questions and do the research. These engines don't respond to the bolt ons like the old school stuff did.
If you want to know what doesn't work just ask me. If it has been done and is a waste of money I have probably done it
I have a garage full of useless bolt ons
10/05GT is soo right, I too am an old school guy.I played with this stuff back in the late 60`s and early 70`s. Got out , and came back in `06.This new technology is incredible.My `67 Chevelle ran high 12`s, and lucky to get 6MPG when I did drive it on the street. My GT is a 10 second street car, I drive to the track,to work when the weather is good, and get 18MPG going home from the track( with the A/C on ), What`s better than that !!Pick your mods carefully,you can spend a lot of $.I feel I`m kinda lucky, I have a place to go to I trust, he`s kinda expensive, but very good.It all depends on how fast you want to go.But beware the faster you go the faster you want to go.Good luck !!
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`06 Redfire GT Premium Coupe,398 Stroker,Whipple Supercharged,Comp Cams, Ford Racing CNC ported heads & throttle body,JBA longtubes,4:10`s with Eaton posi,Moser 31 spline axles,5R55S auto trans w/billet 3500 stall converter by Level Ten, TCI ratchet shifter,BMR K member ,A arms,trailing arms & drive shaft loop,aluminum drive shaft, ,BFG KDWS`s on Am Racing,CDC chin spoiler,Roush rear wing,custom roll bar by JW Racing & fabrication Shelton Conn, engine & tuning by Jannetty Racing Waterbury Conn.
10/05GT is soo right, I too am an old school guy.I played with this stuff back in the late 60`s and early 70`s. Got out , and came back in `06.This new technology is incredible.My `67 Chevelle ran high 12`s, and lucky to get 6MPG when I did drive it on the street. My GT is a 10 second street car, I drive to the track,to work when the weather is good, and get 18MPG going home from the track( with the A/C on ), What`s better than that !!Pick your mods carefully,you can spend a lot of $.I feel I`m kinda lucky, I have a place to go to I trust, he`s kinda expensive, but very good.It all depends on how fast you want to go.But beware the faster you go the faster you want to go.Good luck !!
My biggest problem is trying to make power at altitude. Never experienced this problem in oregon. When I research parts, I call the vendors and they still claim the horsepower gains for their products. They need the sale and I want the power.
My biggest problem is trying to make power at altitude. Never experienced this problem in oregon. When I research parts, I call the vendors and they still claim the horsepower gains for their products. They need the sale and I want the power.
Go for the blower,NO2 does give quick instant power when you use it, but with the blower power is always there, and you don`t have to keep filling that bottle.You just have to find a good tuner to get the most out of it.You will get some kind of generic tune, but seeing every engine is a little different,I think it`s important to get a custom tune.
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`06 Redfire GT Premium Coupe,398 Stroker,Whipple Supercharged,Comp Cams, Ford Racing CNC ported heads & throttle body,JBA longtubes,4:10`s with Eaton posi,Moser 31 spline axles,5R55S auto trans w/billet 3500 stall converter by Level Ten, TCI ratchet shifter,BMR K member ,A arms,trailing arms & drive shaft loop,aluminum drive shaft, ,BFG KDWS`s on Am Racing,CDC chin spoiler,Roush rear wing,custom roll bar by JW Racing & fabrication Shelton Conn, engine & tuning by Jannetty Racing Waterbury Conn.
Headers vs Stock Manifold on a 2007 Mustang GT 
I han an old 66 mustang 289 Hi-Pro 3 speed back in the 70's. I beat the hell out of that poor thing. Always ran great though. I banged 2nd so hard that it sheared the pinion and spool, went to a wrecking yard and 75 bucks later I was back tearing the road up. I do love these new cars but sure get discouraged at all the electronic gizmo's on these. Just got through reading a 12 page thread on a Kenne Bell install that looked flawless, but the headaches that he went through were a lot more than my nerves could take. My hats off to the guy, I would have totally lost it. At first I was pumped because that is what I would like to do next. After reading that, I hope I don't have nightmares tonight. 
Pick your mods carefully,you can spend a lot of $.I feel I`m kinda lucky, I have a place to go to I trust, he`s kinda expensive, but very good.It all depends on how fast you want to go.But beware the faster you go the faster you want to go.Good luck !!
, and you don`t have to keep filling that bottle.You just have to find a good tuner to get the most out of it.You will get some kind of generic tune, but seeing every engine is a little different,I think it`s important to get a custom tune.
