DrWalrus M.D.

Hey Mustang Forums People!

I'm pretty new to the forums but i was wondering what you guys would recommend to start upgrading and changing on my 1997 V6 Mustang. Im looking to just make the car faster as a whole without spending 10k+ Just some basic upgrades to start with (If there is such a thing as a "Basic" upgrade)

Thanks for any help and sorry if the post seems to Vague ill try to answer any questions you might have.

Again thanks!

BabyGT

The most basic and best bang for buck will be upgrading the rear end gears and getting a tuner. The tuner isn't a necessity if you have a manual but if your car is auto it is required as the computer decides when to shift based on speed as well as rpm at the same time. If you don't correct your Speedo with a tuner it will shift at terrible times.




Actually someone help me out here, is the 97 speedo cable driven or computer controlled?
Might just need the correct gear for the Speedo cable.

PNYXPRESS

I believe the 97 was still a gear driven cable speedo.

Things to focus on:
Getting more air into the engine,
Getting the air out of the engine.
Adding more fuel to the increased air.

The easiest and cheapest way to make a car faster is keep it clean and remove as much weight from the car as you can.

BabyGT

There really isn't any intake that flows much better than the stock intake for the v6, the next thing would be boost but that's rather expensive. Exhaust is a good idea, but I still say for the money gears are the quickest most noticeable mod.

PNYXPRESS

A better flowing filter is usually all that's needed until f/I.

a supercoupe engine can found relatively cheap also. I have one sitting complete in my garage, just don't have anything to put it in at the moment.

BabyGT

Pretty sure an engine swap is more in the realm of advanced mods lol. He did ask for basic.

TfcCDR

I wouldn't sink money into a 97 V6. If you want more performance, you can get a car with V8 at a reasonable price and sell your current car. The cost difference is likely to be less and the gains greater.

I would point out that we're using a 2000 V6 (stock base model) for traffic enforcement, and nobody complains that it won't go fast enough.

BabyGT

A 2000 v6 is a split port intake and his 97 is single, there's a decent hp difference between the two.

TfcCDR

Oh, ok. I guess what he needs to do it hoist up the radiator cap and attach a 2000 Mustang to the bottom of it.

BabyGT

Hahahahahahahahahaha you sir have broken the internet for me today, that certainly brightened my morning!