young at heart
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- #61
A well thought out response and for the most part right on point.Agreed.
I think one thing that no one has really mentioned (if someone did, and I missed it -that's on me) is that most (not all ) owners who go forced induction and start making high power levels in the Mustang (or most makes / models for that matter) don't tend to daily drive that car. They might drive it most every day, but it's not the car they get in most every day and drive to work, to the store, road trips etc. Depending on locale, most highly modified (for power) car owners don't drive it when it's raining or there is snow on the ground.
In fact, I have personally known more than a few people who have modified their vehicles to the point they bought another car / truck to drive everyday. In reality, that's what you mention as an option, just coming at it from the other direction.
Now the line about 'being smarter than Ford Engineers'.......automobiles are simply using more technology than they have in the past. Those same technological advances that require research and modifying certain things (like programming different modules with FORSCAN to add a digital instrument cluster for example) is just the price you pay....because that same technology allows anyone to go buy a new car that makes over 400 HP, has a 5yr /60K power train warranty and gets better gas mileage than many non-performance cars did 20 years ago.
"Tuning" or "reflashing" a Mustang is NO different than tuning a carburetor for better fueling (more performance) and recurving a distributor (For more / less timing and better efficiency / more power) was before computers and EFI appeared in mass-produced vehicles.
I've done both. Reflashing an ECU is a helluva of a lot easier than changing metering rods / jets / messing with primaries and secondary opening rates, getting distributors recurved (or changing vacuum advance units for different advance rates with timing) then making 1/4 runs or WOT runs and reading spark plugs.
In fact - I'd argue that without the "tinkerers" who continuously tried to improve the performance of the internal combustion engine - we likely wouldn't have the vehicles that we have now.
This not meant to offend you, or anyone for that matter, but if you aren't comfortable with modifying / troubleshooting your car OR you don't already have a shop / mechanic that you trust can do the same, odds are correct about modifying your Mustang.
You mention buying a second Mustang "Like maybe a Shelby"..........do you think a Shelby (that hasn't been highly modified correctly) is somehow less dependable than your current Mustang? Do you not think you'll run into the same things that are deterring you from modifying your current car? Unless you are talking about an older - much older - Mustang / Shelby. If that's the case, older vehicles (regardless of mileage / condition) come with their own sets of issues.
It seems like you're not comfortable modifying your car, for various reasons, and that's your business. It's your car, your money, your time after all. But it also seems (if I am misinterpreting what you're saying, that's on me) like you are trying to justify that feeling by defending your position.
You don't need to.
It's all a learning curve. If you are making major modifications (like a supercharger) regardless of whether or not you install it yourself or pay someone to - there is a greater chance of having issues to take care of. When you add more power - and try to regularly put that power to the ground - you of course have a higher chance of damaging / overwhelming another part of the car that wasn't designed for that power.
That's the nature of the beast.
There's an old saying when it comes to building cars / trucks.
Fast, reliable, cheap.
Pick two.
Having gone through the carburetor tuning you describe many times back in the day, I agree that a reflash is quicker and easier. But, if Iām correct the reflash leaves a detectable āpermanent markā on your otherwise warranted carās ECU.
There really is no free ride. Everything has consequences.
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