I have a 2001 cobra with just a cai and a MF catback exhaust. I was thinking about getting a handheld tuner for my car, but I really know nothing about them. What kind of numbers could I expect? Is it harder on gas mileage? I have about 700 bucks give or take. Is this the best option? Is it harder on my car?
Any answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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I would rather be a superb meteor, every atomof me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.The function of man is to live, not to exist.
Get a used unlocked Tuner from Ebay or classifieds, I can't see paying $400 for a new one. Then get a Custom e-mail tune for your Mods! The popular ones are SCT Xcal and Predator!
You don't "need" a tuner right now. If you get one you will see a few hp increase. If you get it dynotuned, you will dial in things like air to fuel and timing, specific to your car. So it's actually beneficial to get a tuner. But you don't "have to". If I were you, I'd get a set of gears before you got the tuner. But it's really up to you.
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C&L 80mm mass air and True Flow pipe, Mac CAI, BBK 65mm tb, Steeda non-piggy back ud pulleys, MGW shifter, RAM HD clutch and aluminum flywheel, 3:73 gears, 2.5" Dynomax o/r x pipe, 3" MAC cat back system w/ 3 1/2" tips, Kenny Brown(front and rear strut tower brace, caster plates, subframe connectors,extreme matrix brace,jacking rails, torque brace, lowering springs), Bilstein shocks, 03-04 Cobra(side scoops, rear bumper cover, top), 6pt roll cage, white FR500's, FMS 2000 Cobra R air dam.
aight aight. So I should get gears first. I was going to go with 3.73s just for practicality's sake. I dont have the mechanical know how to tackle trying to install them myself though. How much do you think it would cost to install those bad boys?
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I would rather be a superb meteor, every atomof me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.The function of man is to live, not to exist.
If staying normally aspirated go with 4.10's and the cost ranges from $200-$300 for labor! your in Texas so there should be some Quality Stang Speed shops in your area
Here's the problem with 3.73s and worse with 4.10s... If this is your commuter car and the primary car that you drive then don't get gears. You probably already have 3.55s since its a Cobra and those are plenty. Plus with those gears you'll get significantly worse gas mileage and the stang won't be able to reach its maximum speed. Tuner's are a good idea but there also better ways to make power for the price. If you don't already have an H-pipe and headers I would go that route. Tuners work best with Diesels, a stock Duramax can get up to 400 additional hp with a single tuner and get better mileage. Wait till you get heads and or a cam then tune it.
+1 above, or have someone that does it for a living "chip and tune" your car, that way you can always change the tune as you go...also if you've never tuned a car, I'd leave it to someone who knows what they are doing..I have SCT chips/tunes in both my Stangs...they were done by someone who is a Ford expert.
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
First off your Cobra only has 3.27 gear. I have a 2001 and trust me when I say bump up to 4.10. Your launches will be harder.Then get some Nitto 555R Drag Radials. This will eliminate almost all the wheel hop. If you have stock rime then you can go with 275 40 17's. Also, get subframe connectors installed. Gas mileage will not decrease driving around. I can do 80mph on the highway @ about 2800 rpm and get about 25mpg. Bone stock with Drag Radials and a 4.10 gear and you should be good for around 13.4's at the track.
Forget all that overpriced bolt on crap that's on the market. Here's my $700 wish list that will get you over 120 HP @ THE WHEELS !
NGK TR-6 Plugs - Gap em at .34
Steeda Timing Adjuster
Holley/ZEX/NX or w/e youre liking Nitrous kit. (I'd go wet if I had to do it all over again)
An a purge valve to boot
No bolt on's cams, long tube's gears will ever compare to the "bang for the buck" in the Jug. Best $$ I ever spent on my car.
And down the road an a few $100 here an there for the right suspension set-up, U/L adj. control arms, some 4:10's - 4:56, an a nice set of drag radials or slicks, youre up there playing with the big boys for a fraction of the cost...
Just my OP an pretty much the "only" way you'd get over 20hp with at leat $700.... Good luck & have fun shopping around ! ! !
tuner questions 
