Lifetime of Modifications

[Grimace427]

Right, so the tunes will lean the motor closer to optimal vs the stock tune, thus giving better hp/trq/mpg, but at the expense of wear. Although I'd imagine under normal driving conditions the motor isn't going to really suffer at all. More likely it would be harder on the engine if you drove it at the limit all the time.

Yeah pretty much. My car has been tuned since 1,000 miles have been on the ODO and I'm at 28,0xx now. The key is that the top tuners know how to utilize the power of the vehicle's PCM and safely alter the stategies to maximize performance without putting the longevity in danger. Any joe blow with access to SCT software can bump the timing and lean it out for more HP and promptly grenade the engine within minutes.

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[Norm Peterson]

I'm pretty sure that OE tunes are set just a little 'fat' for reasons involving catalytic converter durability (100,000 miles?) and normal production-line variations among engines that are only nominally "identical".


Norm

 

[tbonez3858]

I would never. Drone doesn't bother me. Plus, I've read the stainless works doesn't have drone under 4k

One of the best sounding exhaust I've ever heard on any sub 150k car. If you do it and remember please PM me and let me know about drone. I take calls in my car so there is some point when drone starts to impact that ability.

 

[Grimace427]

I want my car to sound like this

Damn sounds just like my car!

[ame]

 

[fionic]

One of the best sounding exhaust I've ever heard on any sub 150k car. If you do it and remember please PM me and let me know about drone. I take calls in my car so there is some point when drone starts to impact that ability.

I hope there's some exhaust ready to go on launch, but may have to wait a year :(

 

[fionic]

Damn sounds just like my car!

 

[Aipaloovik]

The lifetime of most modifications will depend on the quality of the part and the quality of the install. The best advice I can give you is to get involved in some local Mustang clubs, or at least car clubs, and talk to the members. Find out who the best and most trusted shops around are. Create a relationship with them and let them know your goals. There is nothing wrong with doing some research on your own, but a quality shop will often know when a set of upgrades won't work together the way you are expecting. I believe someone already touched on this point, where an upgrade in one area can be a downgrade in another.

I modified my 2005 Mustang extensively. Most of the corners I cut (cheap parts, cheap labor) I ended up having to replace with quality parts later. I sold the car with over 150,000 miles on it. By that time I had replaced all of the corner cutting with quality and the car ran very strong and was extremely reliable. You don't want to do things twice, it gets quite expensive. Do it right the first time.

Spend what is needed up front for both a quality part and a quality install and the upgrade should last the lifetime of the car. Presuming of course it is not a part designed to wear and be replaced. (tires, brakes, etc)

$0.02

 

[FATTBoss]

Take it from someone 47, modded almost every car I've had, and has tons of track time on both road circuits and drag strips: Drive the car first. Live with it. Learn what it does well and pay attention to areas YOU feel are lacking.

Want more sound? Research, research research. Listen to audio clips. Listen to cars at tracks and shows to see what sounds good to you. Also, pay attention to local laws. Do you live where there are strict state inspections annually? This could factor into whether or not you want to bother with off road pipes or if you can even change the muffler. Technically in VA it is against the law to change your mufflers, but many do.

Need more acceleration? Maybe gears will work. Upgrade to a slighter higher numeric gear set.

Above all, don't change things just because the rest of the "herd" does it. My Boss is 95% stock. The changes made I did because it is what I felt were needed, and wouldn't compromise its streetability.

Last, save your stock pieces. If you plan to sell or trade in later, you can get some return on the parts by selling them off as you almost NEVER see any added benefit when selling a modded car.

 

[Grimace427]

Drive the car first. Live with it. Learn what it does well and pay attention to areas YOU feel are lacking.

The only thing anyone new to modding really needs to know.

Everything else comes with time and experience.

 

[GMAN6]

One point.
A tune will optimize the car as it is.
If you have it tuned in stock form and make modifications, it will need to be retuned to optimize those modifications.
So if you drive it a while, do some research and decide to want a CAI, LT headers and off road x-pipe, it would be cheaper to get all three and then have it tuned as opposed to having it tuned after each install.
Also, if you wait and watch others as they make mods you will get an idea about how much performance you will get from a certain mod or combination of mods.
Also, some combinations work better together than others.
Personally, if I were going to do any significant mods in the first 6 months or maybe even after, I would look at some reputable speed shops that test and put out packages.

 

[souprmage]

I am still surprised that a proper CAI isn't standard on a performance car or heck any car for that matter.

My 2005 F350 with 6.0 (yeah, stop laughing) is known to get better power and gas mileage with a CAI. With CAFE standards, why aren't these things standard equipment?

 

[Norm Peterson]

My guess is however much extra noise it adds, vs whatever noise levels the car is targeted to meet.


Norm

 

[Clink]

I am still surprised that a proper CAI isn't standard on a performance car or heck any car for that matter.

My 2005 F350 with 6.0 (yeah, stop laughing) is known to get better power and gas mileage with a CAI. With CAFE standards, why aren't these things standard equipment?

The '13-14 GT has a CAI from the factory, any aftermarket ones have been shown to add little or no HP gains w/out a tune. It's more for looks/sound these days unless you get a tunable one that will show gains overall.

 

[Chameleon]

Can't wait to see what long tubes/tune gains put out.

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