[Jay's06BlkGT]

I have had my 2006 Mustang Gt for about six months now and haven't really had much time to play with it. I am looking to do some performance upgrades. I already have exhaust mufflers but that is it. What would be the best way to start the process to get the most power for less? Please help a novice out. Thanks!

 

[rgoddard57]

Cold Air intake and a tuner with a tune. Headers but they aren't that cheap and a PITA to install. lower control arms will help get the power you are already making get to the ground better. There are many things to do. What is your budget?

 

[Chris31]

Very interested in this post I am in the same situation with the same car so far on mine I have a K&N cooling intake and a flow master exhaust (which I love by the way 😉).... I had a friend tell me chip the car but then I had another friend tell me chipping it was a waste of time and to
Just go and get a tuner

 

[rgoddard57]

Yeah chipping is really just the old way of doing things its the same idea but a tuner gives you more flexibility in the cars tune. Your best bet for a tune would be to go get a dyno tune as it will be custom to your car. But its not cheap. It might be better for you to buy a tuner package with or with out the Cold Air Intake from american muscle or brenspeed and get a tune from them. American muscle(BAMA tunes) can even swap out a new tune for you if you make upgrades to the car and they have a free tunes for life program. This is where I started when I bought mine. Many people around here are running tunes from them.

 

[Peter Sawler]

Hey Guys,

I'm in the same boat with my 05.
I've added a CDC Shaker hood, they claim, 20 plus HP increase.
A BBK Throtle Body and spacer plate, they clain 8 to 10 HP increase.
A set of Cherry Bomb Extreme cat back, they claim 15 to 20 HP increase.
My next up grade is undrive pullies, this can be done for around $300.00 and susposes to "Free Up" another 10 to 15 HP.
I've also been looking at some of the header deals on Ebay, A set from OBX Racing looks like a smoking deal for under $500.00, me I'm spectical about made in China hearder for a Mustang.

My question is Computer Chips. I've seen one advertized for $69.00 that clains you can cain 60 HP increase.
Any feedback on them?

 

[rgoddard57]

Hey Guys,

I'm in the same boat with my 05.
I've added a CDC Shaker hood, they claim, 20 plus HP increase.
A BBK Throtle Body and spacer plate, they clain 8 to 10 HP increase.
A set of Cherry Bomb Extreme cat back, they claim 15 to 20 HP increase.
My next up grade is undrive pullies, this can be done for around $300.00 and susposes to "Free Up" another 10 to 15 HP.
I've also been looking at some of the header deals on Ebay, A set from OBX Racing looks like a smoking deal for under $500.00, me I'm spectical about made in China hearder for a Mustang.

My question is Computer Chips. I've seen one advertized for $69.00 that clains you can cain 60 HP increase.
Any feedback on them?

Not trying to burst your bubble but the shaker hood, throttle body and spacer = basically 0hp. Throttle body can help but truly only on Forced induction cars or cars with cams and heads and headers.

The exhaust is a cat back which means after cat that means your really not freeing up much restriction so = 0hp. You could go for a catted X pipe or a catless H pipe and pick about 8hp ... maybe...

Underdrive pulleys do work but its about 8 - 10hp. Some people say they throw the charging system off and some say it works fine.

Are the headers Long tube or shortys? LT make the power and sound. Shortys make sound but no power. LTs are a real pain to install in most configurations. If its from china is either going to not fit right, rust or crack. When it comes to headers stick to the known brands that work.

Most of the time with car parts you get what you pay for.

Save your money on all this and get a Cold Air Intake and a tuner. Then if you really want to feel the kick get some gears in the rear end.

 

[rgoddard57]

Those chips don't really work. Most brands and people use hand held tuners to load up the to cars computer with actual working tunes.

 

[Bocephus357]

Try doing a little reading http://www.allfordmustangs.com/foru...s/2005-2010-mustang-talk/194259-tips-new-owners-modders-s197-2005-mustangs.html

If that doesn't help there are a million threads talking about CAIs, tunes, gears etc.

Generally speaking a CAI and tune is a good place to start, from there is all depends on what you use the car for and what your long term plan is for mods. Everybody wants more hp cheaply, but hp is like crack: its addictive, it isn't cheap, and there are different ways to get it depending on how you want to use it :heha:

 

[rgoddard57]

Since I have a whipple now I have a C&L Racer Cold Air Intake with about 4,000 miles on it. Hadn't really thought about selling it before but I guess I could since its doing nothing but sitting in a box.

 

[Moses]

...
Generally speaking a CAI and tune is a good place to start, from there is all depends on what you use the car for and what your long term plan is for mods. ...
but hp is like crack: its addictive, it isn't cheap, ...:heha:

But I thought crack WAS cheap?

Since I have a whipple now I have a C&L Racer Cold Air Intake with about 4,000 miles on it. Hadn't really thought about selling it before but I guess I could since its doing nothing but sitting in a box.

Sell it!!

Seriously though: catback, shaker, and TB are not going to amount to much in the way of HP gains. I didn't notice any improvements on the dyno until I added the CAI & custom tune, then added the catted x, and then the pullies, and noticed a little bump up each time. i should also note that I haven't had any problems with the pullies.

~Mo

 

[rgoddard57]

Yeah I guess I will sell it I mean its practically brand new.

 

[Sharad]

I have had my 2006 Mustang Gt for about six months now and haven't really had much time to play with it. I am looking to do some performance upgrades. I already have exhaust mufflers but that is it. What would be the best way to start the process to get the most power for less? Please help a novice out. Thanks!

It's funny, I bought a stock 2006 GT a little over a year ago and I'm in the same boat.

So far I've added a UPR CAI & Tuner:
05-09 Mustang Black Cold Air Kit & SCT Tuner

and off-road x-pipe:
05-10 Mustang GT 4.6L Off Road X Pipe at UPRproducts.com- Lifetime Warranty!

^^I installed those three at the same time and I was blown away by the difference in performance! It's supposed to be about a 40hp difference, but you know how that goes. I wasn't actually expecting that, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a major difference according to the butt-dyno.

I also upgraded my suspension to UPR's Pro Street setup. I can't even begin to tell you how much better the car corners, and it still has a decent ride. I'll tell you, even if I didn't add one horsepower to the car, I'd suggest suspension AND tire upgrades to everyone. It gets rid of the wheelhop (my car wheelhopped badly), it gives you better traction on the launch in a straight line, and it gives you better traction in the corners. The car is much "faster" without even adding any power. Of course, it looks better being a little lower than stock too. It's truly a win-win.

There are a lot of parts involved, but here's our S197 suspension link:
05-11 Mustang Suspension Parts at UPRProducts.com - Lifetime Warranty!

I hated how sloppy feeling the stock shifter was, so I installed UPR's short throw shift. It is much more precise than the factory rubbery feeling shifter.
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ford Mustang TR3650 TR-3650 Short Throw Billet Competition Blu Thunder Shifter at UPR Products - Lifetime Warranty!

I recently installed our billet catch can on my car. The car occasionally puffed some blue smoke on startup and it was freaking me out. Then I remembered that these 3Vs are bad about having a lot of oil vapor in the intake tract. Our catch can looks great, works very well, it's super easy to install, and it's only $89 with the AFM discount.

2005-2010 Ford Mustang GT Billet Oil Catch Can - UPR Products

I've also added some billet goodies like a shorty antenna since had the long factory one and also the billet seat release tabs since the plastic factory ones on the back of my seats were broken when I bought the car.

Those are some of the mods I've done to my '06, and they're really transformed the car. Plus they were all easy to install. I should mention that every part UPR manufactures is Made in America, they carry a Lifetime Guarantee, and AFM members get a 10% discount on them. :bigthumbsup

 

[Peter Sawler]

Guys,

The CDC Shaker is functional forced CAI. (I bought it for looks anyway)
And I never believe any of the mfg'er claims.
Headers, I'm going with Kook's LT's all the way back, as many of the Stanger's recommend.
Thanks for the advice on the chips1

 

[sqidd]

Guys,

The CDC Shaker is functional forced CAI.

CAI yes. Forced......no, not even close.:nogrinner

There is no air moving over that part of the hood. 12in higher up there is, but not close to the hoods surface. Note in the picture how the smoke runs along the windshield and roof, but there is a boundry layer across the surface of the hood.

 

[rgoddard57]

+1 to sqidd on that! cause its the truth!

 

[Peter Sawler]

Sqidd,

I guess all the hippe over all the years on "RAM AIR" hoods is just BS.
Years ago I ran an old Dodge with a big block, that by adding a ram air hood gave me almost as much of an performance increase as did the headers.

 

[Peter Sawler]

rgoddard57,

When you changed your rear end gearing to the 373's, how much better was your 1/4 mile time and did you do this before you added the Whipple?
Also did this make much change to the streetability of your ride.
With gas up here at a $1.40 per lilter is a concern.
I've had this Mustang for 5 years now and I am not looking to turn this into a drag racer, but want just a little performance.

 

[SteedaBrandon]

I would do:
Steeda CAI & SCT X3 Tuner with Steeda Tunes
Steeda Lower Control Arms
Steeda Tri-Ax Short-Throw Shifter

All of our products are made in the USA, and come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Please let me know if I can help you with this.