[Drivien]

I've been looking around on the internet to try and find parts to tune up my 78 mustang II, and i'm having trouble finding out what i can do to tune up my car.

1st thing is that it hasd no power steering, i'm sure you all know that though. just want to know an estimate on how much it would cost to get pwer steering.

2nd, i'm trying to find a price on a couple of rims i'm looking into, one of which is american eagle series 187. http://www.wheelsmaster.com/wheels/ae/187-small.jpg theres a link. and other is series 028 http://prescottrussellbusiness.com/rims/p12_028_j.jpg.

3rd, is there an exhaust system i can put on it to give it that muscle sound? I don't want it to loud. just loud enough to make people look when the rpm's get up there.

and 4th, what kind of performance parts can i put in it, that i can do myself without having to replace the engine?

oh and im debating on whether i should put racing stripes on it, and a hood scoop. Being the kind of car it is, i don't know if it would look to rediculus.

thanks

[74stang2togo]

Well, you didn't say which engine it has, but here goes:

If you've got a 2.3, you're in luck because of this engine's popularity in dirt track and road racing. Racer Walsh makes intake manifolds, headers, cams, valvtrain parts, cylinder heads, stroker kits, and rotating assemblies for these engines. Lunati makes a nice little selection of camshafts, Offenhauser makes a 4bbl. intake manifold, Holley makes two small four barrel carburetors that work great with the offy intake (390 and 450cfm both mechanical secondaries and chokeless) and two 2-bbl. carburetors that can fit a stock manifold with some modification (the 2300 series 350cfm and 500cfm models, I'm using the Motorcraft 2100, which is a direct relative to these carbs). Other good parts would include upgrading the ignition system (MSD or other name brand control box, Accel or Taylor wires, NGK V-power or Bosch Platinum plugs, a good name brand coil (MSD, Accel, Mallory, etc.) a Pertronix module if you're still using points-type ignition... These little engines can be made into screamers. You can even go with a turbocharged EFI swap from an 84-86 Mustang SVO or 87-88 T-bird turbocoupe for serious power (enough to embarass 5.0s and 4.6s with ease.)

If you've got the 2.8L V6, don't fret... there are some parts out there, they're much harder to find, but this little V6 was an Autobahn brawler in Germany in the 70s, and seriously detuned for American use. Offenhauser again makes a four-barrel intake manifold, Pace Setter makes headers, these engines use solid-lifter cams from the factory (a direct link to their performance roots) and some European companies made very high-lift cams for them, even with the stock intake the same Holley 2 barrel carbs work well, and the same Holley 4s work with the Offy intake, ignition upgrades are basically the same, but stick with Motorcraft or ACDelco for plugs unless you can find Bosch copper plugs instead of Platinums. These engines, while detuned to about 100hp here (they made substantially more in Europe) can rev for what seems like forever, my dad has one in his 1976 Mercury Capri (Imported from Germany) that has seen 7,000 RPM on the tach without breaking a sweat. The one weak link in these engines is the timing gears (they are gear-to-gear, no chain) which are made of nylon, Blitz Performance makes a replacement set of bronze or steel gears (can't remember which).

Last, but not least, the 302... there isn't anything that can't be done with the 302, and very few things that haven't been done... They can be stroked all the way to 347cubic inches, they can be supercharged, turbocharged, fuel injected, there are DOZENS of heads and intakes, virtually any carburetor will work as long as you have the right intake (and don't go too big) though hood clearance is a factor with a Mustang II, Hooker and Headman make headers, you just can't name everything that can be done with these engines.

As far as exhaust goes, it's pretty much up to you and your exhaust shop, stay away from the big chains, ask around at your local parts stores and shops and find an independent exhaust shop with a really good reputation that carries name-brand parts, you usually save serious money and get better work. If you want it to sound good, steer away from glasspacks, as they're loud, but annoyingly resonant and they tend to make popping noises on deceleration, but they are cheap, and they do offer great flow and performance. If you want SOME noise, then completely avoid stock-type and "turbo mufflers" they muffle quite a bit, and tend not to flow as well as a good performance muffler. Dynomax, Borla, Flowmaster, Flowtech, Hooker, Bassani, SLP, and MAC all make decent sounding, good-flowing mufflers, but you'll have to pick based on sound volume and what "note" you're looking for... and that can be difficult without hearing them first, there are a few sites on the internet where you can hear some sounds from certain brands. You'll also at the VERY least want 2" exhaust pipes, but 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 would be even better if you do a lot of upgrades to the engine.

As far as a hood scoop and racing stripes... ever look at a Mustang II Cobra II? They had BOTH from the factory!

[J. Rhapsody]

Id love a MustangII. I talked to either racerwalsh or esslinger and they said you can get about 400hp from a n/a 2.3 thats why Im making a boss 140 lol.