There is a lot of great discussion on the forum about mods and upgrades for these cars...but it's pretty obvious that there is no "upper limit" on what can be done or how much you can end up spending.

I am still shopping around for how I want to mod this thing and I am tossing around the idea of sticking exclusively with FRPP parts. This maintains some level of OEM respecability and may even help maintain resale value should the day come that the car has to be sold. Most importantly, the parts will likely provide a matched set and keep the car fairly well balanced amd enjoyable even if it's not the fastest thing on the street/strip/autocross course.

Personally, I want my car to be as quick as possible without any drastic measures- no FI, no NO2...I don't even want to open the motor at this point. Maybe in 10 years...

The two items that I'm looking at right now-

The "Power Pack" seems like a particlularly good deal, assuming it delivers genuine performance improvements. CAI, GT500 mufflers and a tuning pad for ~$700.

The FRPP suspension kit provides a menacing stance and supposedly some improved handling dymanics...

Any thoughts?
Most of you guys don't seem to go this way and presumably for good reason so I'd appreciate any input or reasoning on this topic.

Do the FRPP offerings provide a good performance/$ ratio?

 

I have the GT500 mufflers, love them. I would also like to know how is the FRPP tune? Does it come with a CAI or just the tune and K&N filter? Would love to know the difference between stock and this tune, if any.

 

ssimaniac, here's the power pack on American Muscle... it looks like everything is included... their horsepower claim is fairly modest but the torque improvment claim is impressive- 60 lb/ft!

http://www.americanmuscle.com/power-pack-2011-gt.html

EDIT:
I see what you're asking- I thought that looked like a scoop style CAI airbox in the picture but they only mention the filter in the text....so I'm not sure.

 

As of now I plan on going this route. Its probably not the best performance, but its probably the safest in regards to the tune.

 

Cool... I agree with you on the appeal of the "safety" factor.

What's up first? The Power Pack?

 

I think some parts are very good. However, the tune package...well, I'm not so sure. I looked everywhere to find a dyno chart and couldn't find one for the ProCal. And then Chris Rose at American Muscle posted some dyno results on another forum for a stock 5.0, Ford Racing ProCal tune, and Bama tune. The results were disappointing to me since I was considering the Ford Racing route. I'm not sure if I can post a thread to another forum here...but I will post the final results from their dyno. The car was automatic. The results show why most people are going with other tunes. Also, if you get the ProCal, you have to have it dealer installed for any warranty, and they have your VIN so they know that you've modded your car. Also, some other tune companies offer free updates if you add or change something on your car that requires a retune. Ford Racing doesn't. All of the custom tunes (Bama, Steeda, etc) seem to be achieving better results over the ProCal and are about the same price for the tuner as the ProCal (not sure about the power package with the mufflers, etc.) Hope this helps!

Completely Stock w/93 Octane in the Tank - 352.59 RWHP / 312.49 RWTQ - SAE Corrected

FRPP ProCal 91 Calibration (to be fair) w/93 Octane in the Tank (same fuel as previous run) - 347.83 RWHP / 318.17 RWTQ - SAE Corrected

Bama 93 Race Tune w/93 Octane in the Tank (same fuel as previous two runs) - 367.85 RWHP / 362.95 RWTQ - SAE Corrected

(edit...I should add that I've used Ford Racing Springs, and UCA and LCA on my 83 GT and they were great. It's just the ProCal that I'm not sure is worth the $$)

 

Don't know yet, bust most likely

 

The FRPP tune is ok. I have it on my car. It is a little better throttle response not to much if any more power. And it is only a drop in filter, not CAI. The mufflers are awesome and sound incredible I would definately get those.

The FRPP handling pack is very good, however the ride does get very harsh on bumpy roads. I have corrected this by replacing there shocks and struts with a set of koni SRT from sam strano. The car handles and rides awesome now.

Hope that helps

 

Dewy,
Very good information there... and not particularly reassuring, partucularly in regards to the warranty related aspects. I don't think I would want my brand new car with the full warranty ahead of it to be forever marked in the Ford database as being modded. So... the Ford Warranty on the FRPP stuff might not be that great of a selling point.

The dyno results are... umm.. awful.

 

yeah- that definitely helps.
Were you disappointed with the tune? It sounds like an improvement but The fact that the 60lb/ft of torque is nowhere to be found is very sad...you would definitely feel that in the seat o' the pants.

The suspension is perhaps a bit more promising. The harshness is to be expected...good to hear that the Koni shocks did the trick.

How did you decide on your alignment specs? Did you even go with a performance alignment?

 

No FRPP for me, unless they can compete favorably against all other parts in terms of quality, price, and performance. Either way, I will likely wait until I do any mods that will really be bad for the warranty. They cannot scare me into buying their parts just because of warranty issues.

 

If I had to do it all again.

I would buy the gt500 mufflers
I would pass on the tune and get something else or leave it stock
I would definately get the handling pack minus the shocks and struts. and get the koni's

As for the spec's the handling pack only comes one way as far as I know. Stinger1972 from rehagen racing set everything up for me and had his guys install it at the racetrack.

 

As I work at a Ford dealership, I have good access to FRPP stuff and a great service department to install them. On my '07 GT, I ended up going with all aftermarket items, though, since the FRPP stuff just didn't offer the same bang-for-the-buck. However, I did have our shop install most everything (blower, gears, stall converter, etc.) so they know my car very well and can service it easily. I have a few friends that went with comparable FRPP stuff on their cars and not get nearly the gains that I did and they spent much more money to get less.

 

What Brian said. I think that is why most people go with stuff other than frpp. More bang for the buck. Right now you can get steeda sport springs and srtt shocks and struts for right around 560 bucks. I have to agree with the gt500 mufflers

 

Where can you get that deal from?

 

Sorry, actually I was about 40 bucks off. I ordered from Sam Strano today. Shipping charges may differ depending on where you live.