MustangMadness7

OK, so i just bought an 89 LX 5.0. Its auto and bone stock. First thing im gonna do is get a tune up, new fluids and such. What are some good mods o start off with after that? Iv read lots of people talk about new gears. How much are they (instillation too)? Which ones should i get, 3.73, 3.90, 4.10...? Whats the difference etc. Thanks 4 your help.

Stevens91gt

yup i'd say gears

auto or manual?

and gears + installation would be around 500-600

highskewlmustnglvr86

well since your an auto many many people say you should really go with 410s, so im pretty sure thats the best for you....and as for other mods, go to the 5.0 section and click tech articles and in their is a site that says first mods to your fox....click that and that should help you alot... good luck and congrats on the stang...im still looking for the right one later
-tyler

nitrous_bob

don't even mess with less than 3.73's

from each gearset expect a rpm increase of about 250

4.10's are great, i have them in my 5-speed, and get 21 mpg on the freeway still.

your car could have 2.73, 3.08, 0r 3.27 already.

in the door, under "ax" there is the code....
m=2.73 z=3.08 e=3.27

there are calculators that will tell your rpm at any speed w/ different gears , what you lose going 4.10's you gain x 2 from leverage, so just do it.

but yes, gears and cheater slicks are the best gains you'll get, then do nitrous or start saving for heads.
the biggest bottleneck is the heads , swapping out tb's, meters, and an intake won't get you anything , don't fall in that trap.

nitrous_bob

oops....forgot about the free stuff.....

remove the intake silencer if it's still there, it's behind the airbox, and looks like a plastic tunnel

put in a k@n filter

switch to all synthetic oil...trans, engine, power steering , gear lube

adjust the tps, to .970-.990 w/ key on engine off, just put a safety pin through the green wire on it, and adjust it.

adjust timing to about 12*-14* initial, make sure your using premium after that.

OneFine89Mustang

4.10 gears are a must for a auto i have them in my 89 lx aod.also get some exhaust work done. depending how your emissions are where ever you live loose the cats put in a catless h pipe to free some power

95hooptey

4.10s are good but in an 5.o auto you can literALLY SEE THE GAS GAUGE GOING DOWN!. 3.73s are real nice! Put those in and a B&M street/strip shift kit and your bone stocker will be chirping 2nds!!! underdrives are real nice for the $$ and give you a diffinent boost at lower RPMs....do not fall in to the "cold air kit" bull. Get a new mass air converter kit. You will get 15 to 20 HP with that(73 to 76 MM). Also check in to some H-pipes and headers (long tubes are better but hard to find someone willing to put them in?)

Full synthetic oil..........after a flush. Add some greased lighting additive (raised my oil pressure 10 or so) or slick 50.