Hi all!! New to the board! Couple of performance questions...

rdgdawgGT · 02-16-2003

Just got my 03 Black GT 5-speed on Monday, took out this weekend through the mountains of North Georgia and I must say it runs faster and handles as well as my 01 BMW330i I traded! Absolutely LOVE the ride! Questions:
1. Best performance mods for the money? Thinking K&N or a chip
2. I was told NOT to run high octane gas. Is this true?

Russ

Monkey Boy · 02-16-2003

Don't waste your money on a chip, most don't work. I would start off with either a CAI or a cat-back exhaust system. From there you could go with pulleys and gears. Later on, if you want to get more serious you could go with headers, h or x-pipe, MAF, and throttle body. If you want to get a chip, get a custom one burned at a speed shop with a dyno. You don't need 93 octane for the GT, just use 87. You can use 93 but with the high gas prices right now you don't want to.

Murdock · 02-16-2003

If you don't have emissions in Atlanta I would first go with a complete 2.5" exhaust with an x-pipe, and don't forget the MIL Eliminators. Second I would get a good short throw shifter. Third I'd do a Power Pipe from Anderson Ford with an 80mm 'shorty' Pro-M meter, you will have to relocate the MAF to the fender but it makes for a more accurate reading. Fourth would be the pulleys, but only from Steeda. Then IMO I would start thinking of a chip. The 4.6's like fuel so I would say adding 5% fuel and 4 degrees of timing would show good results. Now is when you need to run the premium gas.

Murdock

Twister · 02-16-2003

hey Russ, welcome to the site, I would not get a chip until your car is heavily modded, and it is custom burned for YOUR car, as for gas, your car will run better on 93 than 87

STEN'S2002GT · 02-17-2003

Russ I would suggest you run 87 I tried running 89and 91 and I it feels like does not run the same I might be wrong but my 2002 GT runs fine with 87 I guess since my stang is bone stock other than BBK CAI

rdgdawgGT · 02-17-2003

I appreciate the input!! I was told that the Mustang does NOT run well on 93.. definitely made a difference on my BMW... she HATED 87 or 91!!

Anyway, best CAI?

rdgdawgGT · 02-17-2003

Whoops, I meant 89 and 93 octane....

Monkey Boy · 02-17-2003

Best CAI? Depends who you ask. Me and my dad both run Mac CAI's and we love them. Some folks on here will agree with me. Others insist on K&N's FIPK. And then there are others who think CAI's are a waste of money (what are they smoking?). I think the Mac and K&N are both good choices.

rdgdawgGT · 02-17-2003

Best place to purchase a CAI?

Kevin62773 · 02-17-2003

Hey stick with 87 for now your car likes that i have a 02 and i'm begining to mod myself. As for CAI they do work some better then other some not at all. I just put on the K&N FIPK it's the most exspensive i feel my car pulling harder for sure much better throtle response and a meaner crowl with this kit it's your choice. I reccomend the FIPK and so woild another guy on here MANA4REAL ask him he can tell you his thoughts also. He is the one that convinced me on the FIPK it's a good choice don't get cought up in all the hype about a kit needs to be in your fenderwall it's a bunch of BS if you think about it the ones in your fenderwall like BBK and MAC even the Densecharger all have a extra curver in your tubing that i feel you really doin
t want it restricts strait threw air flow a bit were as FIPK pushes the air in as strait as possible it's really all matter of preference. oh not to mention with the BBK and the MAC kits the crome gets hot. There is a ton of info on here about CAI kits most will say go with a MAC only reason being is it's cheaper so if you want to save a buck go for it i just feel with the FIPK you going to get that little slight extra. May not be huge but every little ounce of HP counts to me. Hope this helps. oh i would also reccomend you to stick with your stock tail pipes they are perfect just get mufflers welded in and throw on a H or X pipe hope this helps

specter · 02-17-2003

Congrats,

Lucky dog, your're right there at Mustangs Unlimited too.

I have to drive an hour to get my good parts ( don't like to wait on ups )

01TrueBlueGT · 02-17-2003

Get a densecharger or FIPK for your cold air. Unless you're gonna insulate the metal cold airs, like MAC, they will heat up and not serve their purpose. Densecharger and the K&N FIPK are plastic and will not heat up.

Mana4Real · 02-18-2003

Ok. My computers busted, so I'm doing all my responses from work right now. But to answer your questions, I say go with the K&N FIPK. It's gonna cost you around $205 It comes with everything you need for the install. It also has easy to follow instructions. You won't be disapointed with the K&N. You can see how happy Kevin is with his. He is very passionate about the cold air kit issue

As for the gas. I run 91 octane. I notice that when I punch it when I run 87 octane, it pings for a second right when I first punch it. Everyone knows detonation is bad. So I run the 91 and don't have any problems with the detonating when I punch it. For example; When I'm in second gear at 3000-3500 rpms, I'll punch it and it will pings for a second. I feel because of that, that my car requires 91 octane.

ChronSmoke · 02-21-2003

Congrats on your new stang your they lucky.A K/N air
filter will help net a few horse's and help your stang breath
better I highly recommed it.I would rather go with a custom
burnt chip than a aftermarket one because a custom burnt
chip will natrualy performance better.Please always put
good gas in that brand new stang your fuel system will thank
you by performing up to par.I highly recommed useing
91 octane or better for any stang.

snkypete · 02-21-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by 96TT
Congrats on your new stang your they lucky.A K/N air
filter will help net a few horse's and help your stang breath
better I highly recommed it.I would rather go with a custom
burnt chip than a aftermarket one because a custom burnt
chip will natrualy performance better.Please always put
good gas in that brand new stang your fuel system will thank
you by performing up to par.I highly recommed useing
91 octane or better for any stang.

Explain the difference between a custom burnt chip and an aftermarket chip? They are one in the same.

You will only net 5-7rwhp with a chip in a stock NA setup. Why run 91 octane? What is the octane requirement for the 4.6L with stock compression? While not enough octane is a bad thing, so is too much octane. They needs to find what his car needs/wants for thier location and their driving habits. Listen for detonation, and if it isn't detonating with 87 and the timing isn't retarding, then it's safe to use.

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...threadid=11149