About the suspension, I have stock gt take off swaybars that made a world of difference in my ride. With the pony package you already have those, so if you want to change it, the only way up is aftermarket. When I was learning about suspensions, Eibach Pro-kit springs and Tokico D-Spec shocks seemed like a good idea, many people recommended it. The springs level out the car and the Tokicos are adjustable. You can ride smooth around town and step it up on the weekend for some fun driving.
The new mustangs have a nice shifter, in 05 it wasn't quite as nice, which is why I changed to the Steeda. I do like the older clutch feel rather than the new one (my brother has an 08 pony pkg).
I've read a recent post somewhere that sets out the sway bar diameters for V6, Pony Package and GT; they are all different according to that source. You could go 'up' from a Pony to GT bars.
I left out the Pony step, going directly to GT (ran the GT rear bar with the V6 front for a while, just to see ... ), then upping the rear bars (19mm GT, 7/8" ADDCO, 26mm H&R) and the front (GT 35mm [?], Steeda adjustable 1-3/8" with bracket braces).
If gasoline mileage is your only reason for choosing a V6 over a GT, I believe you are making a mistake. Comparable V6s and GTs get mileage very close to the same. Insurance may be a consideration, but all told, if you start with a GT you'll be very close to what you are after, without the cost and bother of adding to a V6. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
(I chose the V6 because I liked the balance and because the six-cylinder sound has been a favorite since I first paid attention, ahemty-something years ago. I looove my V6 like I could never love a V8.)
Personally, i'm a v6 owner who has recently converted to the "GT owner attitude." The GT is a better platform to start if you want a fast, reliable car with plenty of room to grow. This is not to say that the v6 cannot be a fast car, but with the same mods done to each, the GT will always come out on top.
With that having been said, let me share my opinion on your situation.
Changing to GT sway bars will transform your v6 model into a useful turning machine. Without them it will be a sloppy, teetering doom box that isn't likely to keep up with much through a turn. Buy a set of takeoffs, throw a set of Eibach springs on there (the 1 3/4" drop, the 2 1/2" is too much) and call it a day. Later on you might want to add Tociko D-Spec shocks, and a bigger set of aftermarket sway bars, possibly adjustable. You might also consider upper and lower control arms if you're putting a supercharger on.
While we're on the subject of forced induction, i'm going to have to say YES to your headers and your dual exhaust. Also consider getting a GT takeoff 8.8" rear end (with 3.55 or 3.73 gears) as well as an aluminum drive shaft to help get that power to the wheels.
I'm going to be the odd-man-out here and bash the stock shifter because its a piece of garbage. Its sloppy as it gets and unless you like grinding 3rd I suggest an upgrade. Get the Hurst Comp/Plus, you wont be disappointed. Just make sure to keep the stock rear bushing when you install the Hurst, otherwise it gives off a nasty sound.
Finally i'm going to sum all this up by saying that if you do all that, you'll blow lightly modded GT's off the streets with minimal effort. You will however, have to report your supercharger to your insurance company which will likely raise your premium and you'll be required to run premium fuel with a supercharger, which costs more too. Just food for thought.
By the way, congrats on the conversion from toy cars (ie the MR2) to real cars.
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Black 2005 Mustang v6, 5 speed, IUP, EUP and Leather.
Razzi 1/4 window scoops, Mustang GT Sway Bars, Flowmaster American Thunder Single Exhaust, Clear Front Turn Signal Lenses, Demolet CAI, X-cal2 91 tune, Hurst Comp/Plus Shifter, FRPP T-Lock, Ford 3.73 gears
Sorry,a little off topic here but a father of 4 and being deployed
God Bless you, your kids and wife...be safe
Yes, Yes!!!
My Chiro as well! Since I was rear-ended two weeks ago. What a neck saver.
God bless you. All of you.
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Sonic Blue 2005 GT Premium Manual.
Borla Stingers, JLT CAI with SCT X-3 Brenspeed custom tune, window tint, shorty antenna, sequential tail lights. Teddy bear in trunk. No clue why I still have the Teddy bear in there. I gotta get that shifter soon.
I've only skimmed this thread so forgive me if this has been addressed but after reading the t-lok part of your post, i have one and i am not going to install it simply because every performance shop i talk to tells me im going to bust my rear-end especially if i take it the track because a t-lok on a stock mustang is fine but if you do it and you install that supercharger its gonna break so get the 8.8 take off with the gears you want and you'll be in better shape
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2006 V6 Pony Package Premium -Mods: 61mm Powerhouse Turbo and Intercooler, Evolution Dyno Tune(Jon Lund), Steeda Performance Shorty Headers. Current Numbers: 350 rwhp/420 torque @ 8.3 psi (low boost)
415 rwhp/470 torque @12 psi Car died 6/23/09
New Set Up: 4.6 3v With Manual Trans, Bolt Ons
You will however, have to report your supercharger to your insurance company which will likely raise your premium and you'll be required to run premium fuel with a supercharger, which costs more too. Just food for thought.
UNTRUE! Insurance companies go strictly by the vin number.. My insurance company knew all about my highly modded V6 and it didn't raise my rates one bit. A friend of mine converted his car from a 4 cylinder to a 6. He talked to his insurance company and they told him they go strictly by the vin and they didn't car if the car was not a 6... I don't know of a single person who has had their rates increased because they put some kind of F/I on....
I've only skimmed this thread so forgive me if this has been addressed but after reading the t-lok part of your post, i have one and i am not going to install it simply because every performance shop i talk to tells me im going to bust my rear-end especially if i take it the track because a t-lok on a stock mustang is fine but if you do it and you install that supercharger its gonna break so get the 8.8 take off with the gears you want and you'll be in better shape
depends... my 7.5 held up just fine (did wear the clutches int he t-lock a bit sooner than I had hoped for). I was making some extremely high TQ numbers on 125 shot of N20.... and then switch to a supercharger...
is your car a manual? if it is will you be launching at 4000 or 5000 RPM? will you be running sticky tires? DRs or slicks?
Today I was searching around the web for some CAI w/tune packages and I noticed FRRP sells a kit that also includes the upgraded dual exhaust and it seemed to be a great price for only $1,000 for all the parts, but it only claims a 12rwhp gain. Isn't that a bit on the low side for CAI w/tune and dual exhaust upgrade? I thought w/the CAI w/tune alone would give you 12rwhp. Think they underestimating or is it better to piece together my own upgrades w/these.
Today I was searching around the web for some CAI w/tune packages and I noticed FRRP sells a kit that also includes the upgraded dual exhaust and it seemed to be a great price for only $1,000 for all the parts, but it only claims a 12rwhp gain. Isn't that a bit on the low side for CAI w/tune and dual exhaust upgrade? I thought w/the CAI w/tune alone would give you 12rwhp. Think they underestimating or is it better to piece together my own upgrades w/these.
It should be more than 12 rwhp. There are a couple of other dual exhaust kits out there. JBA and Pypes both make one.
It should be more than 12 rwhp. There are a couple of other dual exhaust kits out there. JBA and Pypes both make one.
agreed.. a good single muffler (GT take off, jba, magnaflow) is good for 10RWHP. An Aero-Turbine muffler will actually get you a bit more than the 10... No big gain by going to duals... dyno testing shows 2 or 3... duals are going to be for looks and sound...
The stock air box is actually pretty good up to about 4000 RPM... that where a CAI will show it's gain.. above 4000... look for a few more HP...
So you would probably see more than 12RWHP... however I rather see someone actually UNDER rate something than some of the products that way OVER rate their products!!
There seems to be a lot of disagreement on the rear end issue. I don't plan on racing my Stang or driving hard all the time. So I figure a set of 3.73 gears and a t-lock should do me just fine. I am however concerned the stock rear end won't hold up as well over time when I do put a supercharger in. With that said I think I should convert to 8.8 rear end, but is it really necessary since I am not going to be beating my car up. Yes, I am getting a manual. Supension wise I think getting a full kit from Shelby or Ford is a the to go just cause you get everthing tuned for the car in one package for a decent price. It just the take off sway bars seem like just a steal and adding some lowering springs would be more than enough, plus very cost effective.
Once again in reply to the v6 over v8 questions, gas isn't the BIG factor in my decision just part of it. My main issue is the overall cost difference in financing. Like I said I have four kids and a wife. I can stomache a car payment on $16,000 car a lot more than a $25,000 car. Plus, like I said I really was quite impressed w/the stock v6, more so than I thought I would be so I know with some mods I will be more than happy. In a perfect world guys I would buy the GT500 but hey that's what dreaming is for!
stlwagon - yeah I have been actively searching exhaust kits and have been actually leaning towards getting an xpipe conversion kit then picking my own mufflers. I have heard a bazillion sound clips and I can tell you really need to be careful with what setup you go with to get a decent sound. I have heard some pretty bad clips of certain full kits. The best sounding ones are always the custom made kits overall. I do really like the sound of the FRRP dual exhaust and when I saw the kit w/a tune package included I was pretty sold till I saw the claimed gains of only 12rwhp for the whole thing.
stlwagon - yeah I have been actively searching exhaust kits and have been actually leaning towards getting an xpipe conversion kit then picking my own mufflers. I have heard a bazillion sound clips and I can tell you really need to be careful with what setup you go with to get a decent sound. I have heard some pretty bad clips of certain full kits. The best sounding ones are always the custom made kits overall. I do really like the sound of the FRRP dual exhaust and when I saw the kit w/a tune package included I was pretty sold till I saw the claimed gains of only 12rwhp for the whole thing.
Stlwagon - I have looked at that one. Great look and price too. I heard a sound clip of a pypes exhaust and didn't sound that good, but might of been the straight through version. It looks a lot more afforable than the ford one too.
