I have just completed a round of mods this past season, and I dont know where to turn next. I have a CAI, axle-back exhaust, louvers, stripes, and wheels are on the way. Any suggestions as to what I should do next? I like the appearance mods, and dont want anything that wont provide a big difference in either performance or appearance (like UD pulleys). I have about $700-$1000 to spend. What to do.....?

 

Gears or a Driveshaft or both.

 

Buy a Pinto. I am sure you would notice a huge performance difference as well as a major appearance difference




+1 on going with some new gears and maybe the MGW shifter.

 

Shifter would be what I'd get.. MGW or Hurst..

 

Oh, thats right, I completely forgot about the shifter. Thats what I will do. Thanks! Any more recommendations?

 

MGW hands down. Do a search on this forum or any mustang forum and you'll see they are the best.

 

Keep saving for a blower.

I haven't modded in about 3 months and I've saved $3,800 so far. I figure by end of summer I'll be there.

If you can't wait go with shifter. I would go with MGW as I am less than happy with my Hurst.

 

You could go with gears. I've heard that makes a substantial difference.

Personally, I'd invest in your rear suspension next. you don't have to go all out with drop springs or adjustable shocks or anything like that. You can get a new panhard rod and/or control arms (upper and lower). I did these one at a time so I can attest to the difference with each one. The panhard rod on a stock suspension made a decent difference in getting traction, ane even reducing the rear tires' tendancy to skip around on high throttle launches (wheel hop) a little. But you'll se a big difference with tubular LCA's and an adjustable UCA jumping off the line. I've got ABSOLUTELY NO WHEEL HOP ANYMORE (believe me...i tried, even in the rain to get it to hop and it just won't go) all it does is dip the back down a little bit and grab. So much more traction at low speed and even when cornering the back is planted better. I did autocross without the UCA and then did similar maneuvering in with it in a week later. The difference was there. If you only want one or the other, I'd say get the UCA first. The OEM bushings are a lot softer on the upper control arm than on the lower ones, so you'll see the most improvement there. You're looking at about $150 for each component. I would go adjustable on the panhard and the UCA. A companion mod to the panhard would the the panhard rod support for about $100 if I remember right, but its not absolutely necessary. It'll let you adjust your suspension geometry if you ever lower the car. And by the way, all 3 are REALLY easy to install. Would take you only 2-3 hours, maybe 4.

here's what's strictly my opinion on some other mods I've done. I have the Coast Aluminum driveshaft. You feel a little difference in acceleration. It doesn't amount to the "30 hp" some people think it feels like. It's a difference, but its not the kind of difference you're looking for from the sounds of things, and I don't really think its worth the $500.
The rear swaybar doesn't make much of a difference, but the front is noticeable.

Don't buy the $300 shifter just yet. Try the Steeda urethane bushings for the shifter first. They're $23 or so counting shipping, and they only take an hour to install. The shifter works a lot better with them, and it might satisfy your needs without having to spend another $277.

And while we're on the subject of cheap mods, ever think about a new shift ****?

They also make vinyl piping you can insert in your doors for about $20. You can get it in a variety of colors, and even paint it. I got red for by black interior and I would've said go with red too but your interior already is. So silver, yellow, etc. But it did make a huge impact on the interior. Sometimes its all about the details.