Red X

Hm, I suppose I should slow down on the hammering, though I don't do it a lot. It's my first 'Stang, so I'm trying to get used to the thrill kind of. >_<
I'd say I'm not very mechanically inclined. I only started getting into cars a while ago and there really isn't anybody around to help me with them.

harristotle

I can relate to that, I still have to drop the hammer every once in a while

As far as working with them, I would recommend picking up a factory service manual for your car off of ebay. They usually aren't too bad. I've got one for my 95 Thunderbird, my 96 Cobra, and I bought my best friends 95 Mustang after he sold his Cobra... they are VERY helpful. Start small and work your way up. 2 years ago I hadn't done much more than change the oil and spark plugs, now I've got a tranny swap, timing chains, oil pump, and a number of other projects under my belt.

Everett

K. Your never gonna hit 300 without boost or juice. You can start with a windstar intake. It's good for about 15 hp. The cai/tuner/gears. At least 4.10s to give you some giddy up. Then long tubes. You will get roughly 40-50 hp if you do all of these mods

Everett

You are in dreamland if you think your gonna hit 300 for 1k. I have a new edge 4.6 and I have a pp plenum,cai,70mm tb,shorty header(waste of money) and I might have 300 at the crank. Boost or juice is the only way to get to your goals. Juice will get you to 250 and its in your price range

Everett

Rear gears is not a hobbyist job. It is a very intricate job to do. Get a pro to do it or find an 8.8 t-lok with that gear in it already. A hobbyist can do the intake and manifold and so on but gears is tough

Red X

I believe I still do have the booklet (and CD) that came with the car.
Alright, 40-50 still puts my over 200 and that's fine with me.

Everett

Ya. If you do them all you will feel a significant increase and still be reasonable on fuel. Good luck with your build

harristotle

I'm not talking about the owners manual, I'm talking the no kidding Ford service manual for the shop tech's like this one, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...#ht_1510wt_931

Red X

Thanks. Was your intake around $400 like I'm seeing while searching?
Oh jeez, I really am so behind on all this stuff... I will surely have to get one of those. Dang.

robb15033

Advice will come from many directions. Locate your nearest reputable Mustang dyno shop and realize that you will need to establish a relationship with them. Be sure to pick the best. I am in Northern Virginia and during the course of the last visit to the shop I met a guy who had driven up over night from Florida and another from Tennessee, so the best are really sought out.
I think the most common recommendations will incorporate your basic bolt-ons with a SCT tuner as a good start. From there, keeping with those modifications you can work at base engine improvements for a while before leaving naturally aspirated power.
My very quick recommendations to gain power would be to start off with a Cold Air Intake, Under Drive Pulleys, VAP Intake Spacer and a True Dual Exhaust. Next purchase 3.73 or higher ratio gears and a Tuner and have them installed and dyno tested.
That's basic and on the "cheaper" side. Hope its helpful and have fun. I have had a blast working on mine the last year or so. Learned a lot from these guys on the forum.

MyLittlePony

I would get a cold air intake and dual exhaust. Anything extreme like super charger and cam swapping, you probably want to consider doing a v8 swap, or just for fun, a 2010-11 v6 swap. That way you'll have a dependable 300hp daily driver, and can add all the hardcore stuff later for even more HP than you would have gotten souping up your old engine.

One thing to think about though is that your differential and transmission wasn't designed to handle 300hp, so eventually they will fail in you. Then again, I'm going off of what I know about 94 v6es.

Red X

I'm thinking of just going with a GT. I'd just like to know, for those of you who have had both a V6 and GT, how much of a difference do you notice in MPG and how often you fill up?

Also, I made a pro-con list for getting a GT, so any advice on that would be nice.

Pros:
- Much more power, which is what I want (secretly crave).
- Faster.
- Physically/cosmetically more appealing.
- 6-CD changer. No more constantly changing CDs manually. Ugh.
Cons:
- I'm sure I'll have to fill up more.
- Slightly higher car insurance.

That's all I got.

dcpirani

What year model Windstar intake? Is it a direct bolt on?

mustangfreak8812

I made it from ft Knox Kentucky to hazelwood Missouri on one tank of gas in my v6 stepping into it doing speeds of 80-100 the whole way but in my gt I had to fill up in Evansville Indiana because I had my foot in it so if that tells you anything now keep in mind both cars I'd only use one tank if I stayed out of it n did speed limit n used cruise control. But also keep in mind every three thousand miles I gave it full tune up n new tires

StangMahn

might I ask why you would do that? Hell, I don't even change my oil every 3000, much less do a tune up and get tires.

mustangfreak8812

Because its what helped me maintain such good gas mileage n kept my motor running strong as hell while I was in the army

mustangfreak8812

I did my best to maintain my vehicles and keep them in the best shape I could so that I had a reliable vehicle to make it home to my wife and kids in when I'd take leave

skunk21

nothing wrong with that but pure over kill, to each there own though.

mustangfreak8812

Yeah well best to be too cautious then not at all. I was a diesel mechanic in the army so all I know is maintaining a vehicle

bluethunderhorse

Hell my owners manual says to change the oil every 7,500 miles. Got 6,000 on the current oil and it's still a honey color