I have a somewhat modified 04 mustang GT, has CAI, throttle body, intake plenum, and aftermarket exhaust. Which would be a better mod performance wise between UP or the bama tune?

 

Are you already running a tune? It you're still on the stock tune (not sure how w/ all those mods), I would definitely go w/ the tune. If you're already tuned I'm not sure how much of a difference a Bama tune would make, unless the one you've got right now isn't that great.

 

Ok I'm not sure if it's tuned already. I bought it from a ford dealership over a year ago with everything already installed. How can I tell if it has already been tuned?

 

Also are under-drive pulleys just a bad mod? I've heard mixed reviews about them. Makes your car run hotter and pull more from the battery since the alternators and water pump aren't spinning as fast. But I've also heard that the gains can be decent for the price.

 

I'm not sure how to tell if the car's been tuned already. I take it it didn't come with a handheld tuner (like an XCAL)?


As far as UDPs go, I just put mine on last week so I can't speak to the long term side effects. Battery's charging OK, and I haven't overheated (but its November and the hottest intake air temp I've data logged since the install has been 80 deg). It definitely made a difference. Since the wife and I got a Mazdaspeed3 and a Focus as our daily drivers about 2 years ago, more and more the mustang felt heavier and more sluggish to me as I got used to the lighter cars, especially under acceleration. The best way I can describe the difference w/ the underdrive pulleys is it doesn't feel as heavy anymore. Definitely feels freed up.

 

No it didn't come with anything but the owners manual, maybe I'll try running it on only 91 for a week or so and see if it makes a difference. Thanks for the advice on the under drives. I figure there only like $200 and I can do the install myself. If they car starts to act funny I'll just take them off and put the stock ones back on.

 

If you are not sure to run on the stock settings, the only way to know for sure would be to buy a handheld tuner and bring the car to a tune shop specialized in muscle cars such as Mustangs. They will put your car on the dyno and tune it to pull every horses out of your Stang. Don't get me wrong, I personnally run the Bama 91 Race Tune on my 2013 V6 and I absolutely love it, but in your case where you are unsure about your car's tune and considering your Stang is a 04 with light modifications, I think a professional tuner would be best. Plus it is not that much expensive, considering the number of horses that he can unleashed.