PhoenixRising

Hello all,

I am new to the site, but have always loved mustangs. Im on to my second one. I have an 03 GT. I am not super techincal but know the basics.

My question is pretty simple. I have put on a cat back system and an cold air in take. Whats next?? i would like to do something that will give good horse power gains but isnt horribly expensive. I was loooking at possibly changing the cyclinder heads (yeah more expensive than i was first thinking but from what i read has the best $/HP gain.) Anyway, i was wondering if anyone has done this or if there is a better cheaper option?

Additionally, if you have done this - are there other things that will need to be replaces that isnt included with the headers - valves etc. Thank you for the help and advice.

PS I edited the post to make it more clear, when i initially typed headers, i meant cycinder heads not pipes - but thats another good thought. Although long tubes might illegal in CA? dunno i ll have to check. Thanks again.

monster4music

If you do headers for Horsepwoer gains, you should do long tubes. Shorty's won't do much. With that you will need a new mid pipe and MIL eliminators. The are a pain to put on and there are several threads her about intallation of long tubes if you use the search feature.

My suggestion to get good power or feeling of it cheaply is to do gears. 3:73's or more agressive 4:10's will give you lot's of punch.

Ayways good luck!

01GT4.6

they are actually called cylinder heads and in my opinion should be one of the last mods, they are expensive, extensive and there are many other mods that you should do before heads. I'd suggest gears, or a shifter (if you have a 5 speed)

PhoenixRising

by shifter, you mean short shifter?

Im am shying away from gears simply because i still need it to be a daily driver, freeway driving at that.

I was thinking of chipping it but i know for a fact i need to do that last unless i want to keep reburning the chip after every mod.

I think at the end of the day putting a turbo or super charger on it. but thats still a bit down the road. Any other suggestions?

thanks for the tips for far

97modifiedmustangGT

actually best horsepower for the $$ is gonna be nitrous. which will still keep it an awesome DD.

BTW mine is a daily driver and I have 4.10's. i drive on the highway and everything still gettin 22mpg. don't count gears out soo fast.

PhoenixRising

Interesting, thanks for the heads up. I was under the impression running a 4.1 gear ratio and doing a lot of freeway driving was bad for the car. About how manymiles have you run that set up?

97modifiedmustangGT

i have had this setup about 5000 miles and i used to really avoid the highway but lately it has seen a little more highway. i don't always go the speed limit though, i do probably between 55-60 which is the speed limit here. ehhh.. so what if u always get passed on the highway all the timeor people get pissed u aren't going fast enough. lol. i just don't like spinning my motor too high for long periods of time. but still even 60mph is only like 2200rpm.

PhoenixRising

haha, thats the whole reason i was shy on them. I was thinking of the excessive engine spin. The speed limit here is 65 but i usually do 75 or so.