Hey, I've been reading on here for a little while trying to learn a little about what to do to my car. I'm, uh, how should I say it? "Mechanically declined?"
I love cars, there's just not much I understand about the inner workings of them. I want to improve the sound and performance on my 05 GT, and I just wanna get a clue before I shell out the cash on junk parts I don't need. I'm looking to put about 2-3 G's into my new baby. Suggestions? I think I've got a pretty good idea on how CAI's work with a tune and all that. I'm more curious about gears. What's the difference between 4.10 & 4.30 and whatnot, and how do they improve performance?

 

Excellent question Billy. I am wondering the same. From what I've gathered, I think the 4.10's give an increase in acceleration, but you will be at higher RPM's when cruising. I am at 2100 at 70 MPH with stock gears. I have read someone being up to 2700 at 70 with the 4.10's. That doesn't seem good for the average commuter. As for the 4.30's I haven't read anything. Sorry bro, but thanks for asking the question.

 

Think of it this way, Remember back when you were a kid and you had a bike that had different speeds? you could get going a lot faster if you started off in low (1st) then worked your way up to the highest (10th).
You car is the same. if you lower your rear end gears you are changing the final gear ratio. the lower the gear the quicker the engine will rev the faster you will take off.
But...there is always a but. The lower the gears the higher your engine will rev to maintaine a given speed. so you are giving up gas mileage for the increase.
I would recommend 4.10 for a manual 5 speed mustang. But you will get 10 different opinions to that question. you really need to weigh the performance vs gas mileage.

For more info on this try the following calculators on gears and gear ratios http://www.allfordmustangs.com/AFM_Tech/Ca...ers/index.shtml

Hope that helps,
Gordon

 

Thanks alot, Gordon. It's hard to decide what to do with so many different people reporting their mods.

 

No problem,
You really just have to sort though the stuff that you think you want to do then research it some more. The gear mod is a pretty simple mod that I am planning on doing myself, but down the road a little. This first summer I just want to dress up the exterior a little bit and enjoy the car, after all that is why I bought it.

 

The lower the gear ratio, the slower it will accelerate, but it will have a higher top speed than a higher gear ratio; the higher the gear ratio, the faster it will accelerate, but the top speed is lower.

I think I can come up with something that will get you in the low 12's for 2-3k.

To start...
Diablo Predator Programmer
Ford Racing 4.10 gear set
JLT CAI

That's all for now, i'll come back and add some more in a few minutes once I find some other parts to recommend.

Ok...
cat-back exhaust (I recommend a Borla stinger)
BBK long-tube headers
BBK throttle body
BBK x-pipe
SHM underdrive pulley set (cheaper than Steeda)
lightweight wheels
MMR rear-seat delete kit
MMR electric water pump

Well, all I can think of right now...hope this helps.

 

wow you want him to get rid of his rear seat? hope all he is going to do is race the car with all those racing mods.

 

You must not have seen MMR's rear seat-delete kit, it's by no means a homemade hack-up job kit.

What do you consider racing mods? The water pump might be a little overboard but everything else is a bolt-on, simple power adder.

 

Billvis,
I have heard the same problem expressed by several people on this forum and on a diesel forum I belong to so you are not alone. When I was in high school it was a normal thing for the guys to take "Auto Shop" classes (and the girls took Home Ec.). This was the way a lot of us got introduced to the basics of how an engine and driveline work. If you have not had that exposure, I would seriously consider taking a basic auto mechanics course at your local Jr. College. It would give you a good foundation for making your own decisions on what you want to do with not only this car, but other cars you may have in the future. You might even find it enjoyable to spend some time with other novice "motor-heads" while you are learning more about your car.

The Boss Hog . . . . . . Just an idea

 

I asked the question about 4.10 vs 4.30 before. I got some help...

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index.php?sh...0+vs+4\.30

 

Check out posts by "Sixty-six "
He changed out gears and had several posts on his experiances.

 

Just remember you can do all those mods but you need to put it to the ground. Get some sticky tires for sure and LCA's if needed!

 

So many choices, so little money!

 

Yeah, I was thinking about getting some Mickey Thompson's I saw in MM & FF magazine.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

If I were to start over and work my way up again, I would do it in this order.
1. SCT-for some the Diablo, but I haven't seen anything spectacular about it. You really can't get the most of almost any mod without the tune.
2. Lose the HC trap
3. Lower control arms-for wheel hop-Steeda or BMR
4. Under drive pullies-Steeda or equivelant
5. Sticky tires-for race only-Mickey Thompson, street and track-Nitto's, I just got my M/T's for the track only. Pic in another thread
6. 4.10 FR gears-2900 rpm @ 80 mph. Not bad for daily driving and get up and go.
7. Full exhaust-header and all-Mines on order
8. CAI-Steeda, MRT, JLT, C&L. Differences in opinions on which one. You need to browse through the threads with dyno sheets and make a choice. Everyone will give you opinions, typically biased b/c that's what they have. Proof is in the dyno charts.
This is a cool site with tons of info and answers to any questions you may have about anything!
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
The key is to finding what you like based on factual info and not opinion.

 

I did! why am I ALWAYS the last to know these things :scratch:

 

Another silly question for y'all to snicker at :
What is an HC trap?

 

Another silly question for y'all to snicker at :
What is an HC trap?
[/b][/quote]
It's fine, we all have to learn it from somewhere.

HydroCarbon trap. It's in the intake.

 

Just to elaborate since I was kind of short...

It's a silencer; a catalytic converter-type vapor trap that is in the intake tube. It prevents fuel vapor from escaping through the engine and out of the car through the air intake.

 

OH, do a search here and you'll learn everything you want to about the HC trap from how to remove it, opinions about it and dyno charts. Put it this way, they are removed when a CAI is installed. That gives a manuf. product additional 4-6 hp. I don't think most manuf. expected us end users to find out about the HC trap.