I want my 05 GT (automatic) to go faster without spending a lot of dough.

Here are my mods so far:

JLT CAI
SCT Bamachips Tune
3.73 gears
Steed UD Pulley

Anything else I can do without breaking the piggy or have done all the cheap *performance* mods.

 

Headers, exhaust, x-pipe?

Suspension upgrades to help eliminate wheel hop and get those 1/4 times down such as LCAs, UCAs, Panhard, etc.....

 

Depends on what "a lot" is to you. These new mustangs seem pretty expensive to modify.

My biggest bang for the buck was gears, I went with 4.10s. Not sure if the car is "faster" or not (as I don't take it to a track) but it sure is alot more fun to drive. I didn't really notice a whole lot of change with an intake and mufflers (aside from the nice rumble, which is what I wanted!)

 

I heard that short headers are a wasted of time and money.

LT headers and installs are not cheap - usually requires motor mounts and sometimes lifting of the engine. Install and parts will probably be way over $1500.

Cat-backs usually don't provide any performance gains - it's a sound mod.

How much for X-Pipe and what gains can I expect?

There's also aluminum single piece drive shaft - that look interesting too.

Oh yea, my definition of a "lot" is anything over $1000 (including install)

 

any thing he can do to take some weight off.

 

Aftermarket torque converters can also be good for a few tenths in the 1/4. If I was doing it all over again, my first five mods would be:

1. CAI + Tune
2. Drag Radials
3. 4.10s
4. Torque converter (3000rpm stall)
5. Electric H2O pump.

IMO, those would result in the best bang for the buck at the track.

 

I currently have a steeda UD pulley installed but I dont have an H2O pump.

What HP gains can I expect with the H2O pump?

 

Honestly I don't really know (and frankly I don't care). The benefit to me is the ability to go to the track, make a run, and in 5-7 minutes completely cool the car back down (this requires a manual fan switch too, but that's pretty easy to install). Heat soak is the enemy at the track. Being able to make many runs with the engine cooled down to the same temp everytime results in incredible consistency, and optimum performance.

 

Why do you need a manual switch for an H2O pump - doesn't it run all the time?

 

Yes, the pump runs when the key is on. The switch is for the radiator fan. Turn on the key and flip a switch, and both pump and fan run. Five minutes later, the car has cooled down.

 

Just so it's clear... when I say the "key is on", I mean without the engine running.

 

How about a shot of nitrous? That would be the best bang for the buck and well under the $1000 budget...

 

N2O is probably the biggest bang for the buck. For less than a grand you can add 50 to 150 horse for whenever you want it there..... Sure you have to refill the bottle now and again, but really for the money, what beats nitrous?

 

What's a good inexpensive Nitrous kit for an 05 GT automatic?

So how do u engage nitrous, do u have some trigger somewhere that engages it?

 

Example: http://www.brenspeed.com/mustang_2005/nitrous.html

 

How about an aluminum one-piece driveshaft? I've read that it knocks 2-3 tenths off the 1/4 and weighs about half of the stock 2-piece unit. They're around $700 and from what I've heard pretty easy to install.

 

Freebies - Loose the back seat - loose the spare tire.

OR-X pipe will lose more weight and add some H.P.'s

You could get the drive shaft mentioned above and the OR-X pipe for under $1k.

My front sway bar and links fell off too.

 

I'm kinda leaning towards that Zex Nitrous system. It looks like I could install it myself. They say it takes 2-3 hours to install which means it will take me 5-6 hours

Does anyone have a detailed install instructions for the Zex nitrous system ?

 

Try PM'ing "Eleanor Dreaming"..........

Tom

 

One thing I'm not sure of is how do you refill these Nitrous bottles?

I believe when you buy these Nitrous kits you get an empty bottle - right?

It's not like you can pull into your local gas station and ask them to fill it up.