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Ford Mustang V6 and Mustang GT 2005-2014: Top 5 Performance Modifications

There are lots of things you can do to your car for solid performance enhancements. Some items make sense to do first for the most gain.

By Mark Garrett - September 30, 2015

This article applies to the Ford Mustang V6 and Mustang GT (2005-2014).

Ford designed your Mustang to run and handle well. There are some performance mods that can really be felt. The top five don't break the bank, are easy to do, and can easily be reversed if need be. Some make sense to do first, so that the rest build on them. Since your engine is computer controlled, you will have to get it tuned but it is way easier then you think. Among the top five mods, each one has multiple solution providers. Once you are addicted to mods, you just can't stop. Let's look at them now.

The top five performance mods are a cold air Intake system, performance tune for your computer, performance exhaust, suspension spring kit, and rear end gears.

Cold Air Intake

DIY Cost – $259-$500

Professional Cost – $350-$600

Skill Level – Easy; it is a bolt-on installation.

More air in equals more power out. Cold air is more dense and contains more oxygen for combustion. JLT, C&L Racer, AirRaid, Rousch, and K&N are just an example of suppliers. Recommended for its power increase.

One thing to remember is that some of these must have a tune accompany them. Some actually come with a tuner, speaking of which....

Engine Tuner

DIY Cost – $399+

Professional Cost – $500+

Skill Level – Easy to moderate; it will be easy once you get the hang of the tuner.

To get the most out of your cold air intake and to make more power, an engine tuner provides a lot of bang for your buck. Most have sample tunes already installed that you just upload to your computer through the ADSL port. You can even program your automatic to shift better, which is a great thing. Leaders are BAMA, Intune, SCT, and Diablo.

Engine tunes adjust and calibrate the air-fuel ratio (AFR) and ignition timing, among other things. These variables can be adjusted for optimum power and in response to any changes or modifications. Recommended to add more power with the cold air intake.

Exhaust System

DIY Cost – $400+

Professional Cost – $550+

Skill Level – Moderate to hard; you will need to get under the car and have the proper tools.

There are a lot of options within the mod. You can go mufflers only, axle back, cat back, H or X pipe, and headers. If you are track only, you can use long tube headers and no cats. There will be a performance gain, but maybe not enough for you to feel; however, the sound! Major players are Borla, Pypes, Magnaflow, FlowMaster, Roush, and MAC. Many of these companies also offer short or long tube headers. Recommended for its performance gain and sound.

Spring Kits

DIY Cost – $249+

Professional Cost – $400-$500

Skill Level – Moderate to hard; springs are dangerous to work with, so you need the right tools.

The springs on your Mustang are good, but if you want to lower it and get better handling, go with performance springs. Additionally, adjusting the front to rear ride height (rake) can be beneficial in setting the car up for drag racing or road racing. Top players are Roush, Eibach, H&R, Ford Racing, SR Performance, and Stage 3. If you want to go even further, you can get the entire suspension kit, including springs, sway bars, shocks, and braces. Recommended for its better handling and lowered look.

Rear Gears

DIY Cost – $150-$450

Professional Cost – $450-$700

Skill Level – Hard; the rear gears must be setup within exact specs (within .001").

Lower (higher numerically) rear gears improve the power as well as torque range where your engine lives and makes a big difference. They also make a difference in fuel mileage, so beware. 3.73 or 4.10 are the most popular ratios to go with. Ford Racing, Eaton, Motive, and Yukon with Ford Racing are the most recommended. You will need a tuner to get the most from this mod. Recommended for its improved power and torque.

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