Give me mod ideas!
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Joined: December 20, 2015
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Well, since you asked and you will get an array of answers but here are the three I will tell you. I personally have all three tunes and will tell you my #1 favorite. I recommend Bama, MPT or Steeda tunes. All three tuning companies are highly qualified that provide safe reliable tunes. I have an automatic and my favorite tune is my MPT tune. A close second is my Bama tune and thrid my Steeda tune. The majority of 3.7 performance enthusiasts roll with MPT because they have just mastered the tune for our engines and the shift points for us automatics are just sick. Not cutting Bama short, I have had them for almost 5 years and never a days trouble. Fantastic tune with top notch customer service. The shift points are very strong and the car pulls hard. Since your pony is new to you and beginning to mod, I would start out with Bama tunes. They offer free tunes for life which is great for new moders. Perfect for you. Then down the road I would get yourself the MPT tune for $75 dollars. You will get a whole bunch of advice. You will hear, Get Lund, Get a dyno tune, Get AED, Get VMP! Don't waste your money on a custom dyno tune for a N/A car. If you just plan on getting bolt on type mods, no need for a custom dyno tune. You will get very little to ZERO rwhp and rwtq gains over the other listed tuning companies.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
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I can't speak for anyone but me...but I originally got a canned tune from TillmanSpeed (OK, not one of the companies you listed, but still considered reputable). When I spent the money on the actual dyno tune @ Tillman. They loaded my 93 Race tune they sent me, pulled ~270 RWHP. Then they did the dyno run... 289RWHP. From the butt dyno I can tell you there was quite a difference. I know I've read other threads here where people had similar experiences going fromi a canned to a dyno tune from different tuners
Just curious but after you got your canned tune from TillmanSpeed did you ever data log it and send it back so that peak performance rwhp could be obtained?
You are supposed to data log the car after the initial tune!
What power mods does you 3.7 exactly have that got you 289 rwhp with a custom dyno tune. I only ask because my 3.7 put down 297 rwhp on my 91 MPT tune and 294 rwhp with my 91 Bama hybrid tune? Both of these tunes are canned tunes but were data logged before my dyno day.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
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They will ship you out the device with the tunes loaded up on the device. Once you get the device, the tunes are loaded into your pony by you. You just connect the device to the OBII port and upload the tune. I would highly recommend buying the SCT device. The SCT device is what holds the performance tunes. You can load up different tunes on the device.
The SCT tuning device is not the actual performance tunes. Its just the machine that holds the tunes in them and it connects to your mustang and then gets uploaded to the cars CPU.
Here is the link to what I personally recommend for any beginner moder such as yourself. A must have and should be a first performance mod.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/x4-cus...er-2011v6.html
Thread Starter
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Joined: December 20, 2015
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No sir. A dealership does not have the performance tunes for our 3.7's. The performance tunes that I speak of are aftermarket companies. You contact them order the tuning device and they make the tunes for you. They will have a queationare you will fill out on line about your personal mustang. They will ship you out the device with the tunes loaded up on the device. Once you get the device, the tunes are loaded into your pony by you. You just connect the device to the OBII port and upload the tune. I would highly recommend buying the SCT device. The SCT device is what holds the performance tunes. You can load up different tunes on the device. The SCT tuning device is not the actual performance tunes. Its just the machine that holds the tunes in them and it connects to your mustang and then gets uploaded to the cars CPU. Here is the link to what I personally recommend for any beginner moder such as yourself. A must have and should be a first performance mod. http://www.americanmuscle.com/x4-cus...er-2011v6.html
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
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Dealers cannot tune our 3.7's! They don't offer that service. The only tune one can buy from Ford is actually from Ford racing and its only offered on the 5.0's. Its not really from Ford, its the Ford racing division but not for our 3.7's. If you want your pony tuned, your gonna have to have it done third party, aftermarket business or company.
Thread Starter
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Joined: December 20, 2015
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Dealers cannot tune our 3.7's! They don't offer that service. The only tune one can buy from Ford is actually from Ford racing and its only offered on the 5.0's. Its not really from Ford, its the Ford racing division but not for our 3.7's. If you want your pony tuned, your gonna have to have it done third party, aftermarket business or company.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
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I also have run my Bama tunes for years.
Pro's:
Increase rwhp
Increase rwtq
Better throttle response
Quicker acceleration
Firm sport like shifts (automatics)
Far better shift points
Need tuner for all other future power mods.
Con's:
MAY void factory warranty if the performance tune is deemed the cause of the car parts failure.
Cause to contract the mod bug
Cause you an addiction to American Muscle company.
Cause your bank account to be depleated quickly because modding is awesome and always start with a performance tuner.
Thread Starter
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Joined: December 20, 2015
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I run my 91 octane MPT tune. I also have run my Bama tunes for years. Pro's: Increase rwhp Increase rwtq Better throttle response Quicker acceleration Firm sport like shifts (automatics) Far better shift points Need tuner for all other future power mods. Con's: MAY void factory warranty if the performance tune is deemed the cause of the car parts failure. Cause to contract the mod bug Cause you an addiction to American Muscle company. Cause your bank account to be depleated quickly because modding is awesome and always start with a performance tuner.
GT Member
Joined: November 27, 2012
Posts: 146
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From: Moore, OK
Bama has updated their tunes for the 3.7 a few months ago and now has a V2 version. I am using their V2 91 octane race tune and it is much better then the old race or hybrid tunes I used in the past. I did lose about .5 MPG from my previous older race tune but the driving experience is well worth it.
A tune is the easiest mod you can do. It's just plug and play. Follow the simple instructions on how to load the tune that comes with your tuner. There are plenty of youtube videos that show you how it's done. No need to have a "pro" do it for you.
A tune should be your first mod. It will wake up your engine and turn up the smile factor.
A tune is the easiest mod you can do. It's just plug and play. Follow the simple instructions on how to load the tune that comes with your tuner. There are plenty of youtube videos that show you how it's done. No need to have a "pro" do it for you.
A tune should be your first mod. It will wake up your engine and turn up the smile factor.
Last edited by maverick1125; Dec 31, 2015 at 06:28 AM.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
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As far as MPG, I did notice a drop in them. Nothing dramatic that I consider but still a drop. Before my tune I could get 29 mpg highway. Now I get 26 to 27 mpg highway. Please note that my 29 mpg highway was when my car was factory stock.
My 26-27 mpg highway is modded and just shy of 300 rwhp.
Bullitt Member
Joined: March 6, 2013
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Wheels and springs are a must on these V6s. Immediately sets you apart from the hundreds of stock ones you see around. I've got the roush front end so upper and lower grilles and splitter. Borla ATAK axel backs, SR shifter and steeda bracket, RTR panhard bar. The wheels are STR 607 20x9.5 all the way around with 275/35 tires.
Thread Starter
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Joined: December 20, 2015
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Questions are good. Its the way you learn. Everyone was new at modding at some point. Thumbs up. As far as MPG, I did notice a drop in them. Nothing dramatic that I consider but still a drop. Before my tune I could get 29 mpg highway. Now I get 26 to 27 mpg highway. Please note that my 29 mpg highway was when my car was factory stock. My 26-27 mpg highway is modded and just shy of 300 rwhp.
Where did you get the striping on your 3.7? I was looking at hash marks on AMR, but I couldnt pick a color. Silver, white, or black (matte or regular)?
I'm leaning towards black bc i'm dipping my wheels as soon as i get back from vacation and i'm putting 2 black "3.7" emblems on the side (matte or regular?)
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
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Thats not too bad. Im going to college next year so I just don't want to do anything thats going to tear my MPG apart bc im going to be driving back and forth everyday. More than I drive now.
Where did you get the striping on your 3.7? I was looking at hash marks on AMR, but I couldnt pick a color. Silver, white, or black (matte or regular)?
I'm leaning towards black bc i'm dipping my wheels as soon as i get back from vacation and i'm putting 2 black "3.7" emblems on the side (matte or regular?)
Where did you get the striping on your 3.7? I was looking at hash marks on AMR, but I couldnt pick a color. Silver, white, or black (matte or regular)?
I'm leaning towards black bc i'm dipping my wheels as soon as i get back from vacation and i'm putting 2 black "3.7" emblems on the side (matte or regular?)
You may like the more subtle stealth look. Many people like that look. For me personally, I wanted contrast that was in your face, scream out look at me. Lol
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: February 13, 2006
Posts: 2,523
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I am not familiar with this canned tuner (TillmanSpeed) you speak of. I have participated in various mustang forums and this name has never come up before. TillmanSpeed may be a very reputable tuning company however they have never come up on any forum as a known canned tuner company.
Just curious but after you got your canned tune from TillmanSpeed did you ever data log it and send it back so that peak performance rwhp could be obtained?
You are supposed to data log the car after the initial tune!
Just curious but after you got your canned tune from TillmanSpeed did you ever data log it and send it back so that peak performance rwhp could be obtained?
You are supposed to data log the car after the initial tune!
What power mods does you 3.7 exactly have that got you 289 rwhp with a custom dyno tune. I only ask because my 3.7 put down 297 rwhp on my 91 MPT tune and 294 rwhp with my 91 Bama hybrid tune? Both of these tunes are canned tunes but were data logged before my dyno day.
Were those numbers calculated from the datalog or measured on the dyno?
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
Posts: 2,633
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Guess I'm dating myself a little bit here. Tillman used to be big on this board circa 2007-2008, pretty much up there w/ Bama. (check out this old thread -- everyone wanted tunes from them: https://themustangsource.com/forums/...posted-464823/) Then they just kind of dropped off the forum. They never had me datalog it & send back, but I don't think anyone really was at the time. I wonder what they use to calculate the RWHP/TRQ on the tuner and how that compares to a dynomometer?
Might be comparing apples and oranges a little bit w/ your numbers vs mine. Mine's a 4.6 w/ just a CAI+tune. Soon to be w/ Long tubes, cams, etc...
Were those numbers calculated from the datalog or measured on the dyno?
My 2011 3.7 was on a dyno. I actually made 297 rwhp with assorted bolt on mods and have an automatic.
Last edited by 2011 Kona Blue; Dec 31, 2015 at 03:18 PM.
Bullitt Member
Joined: November 13, 2013
Posts: 491
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From: TX
If you're looking for performance mods:
1) 93 Octane Tune + CAI Combo
2) 3.73 Gears
3) Headers/Exhaust
If you're looking for Visual Mods:
1) Lowering Springs
2) 19" or 20" Wheels
3) Front Roush Grille
These are the top 3 of each category i'd do priority wise. Of course there are much more mods, but since your budget seems to be $800, i'd start with the best ones.
With 3.73 Gears + Custom Tune, you will feel like you're driving a 450 HP V8 car..
1) 93 Octane Tune + CAI Combo
2) 3.73 Gears
3) Headers/Exhaust
If you're looking for Visual Mods:
1) Lowering Springs
2) 19" or 20" Wheels
3) Front Roush Grille
These are the top 3 of each category i'd do priority wise. Of course there are much more mods, but since your budget seems to be $800, i'd start with the best ones.
With 3.73 Gears + Custom Tune, you will feel like you're driving a 450 HP V8 car..
