New to 5.0, need some help!

daynz · Jun 10, 2013

I'm new to the whole world of mustangs and I've been reading these forums for so many days in a row my mind is going insane!

1995 Mustang GT 5.0

Already have the 3.73 gears, and cai (that's it)
What I want is a little more performance and still keep decent mileage. This is my daily driver.

I can get an edelbrock performer intake for 250$ used (is that good?) I know I'd need the adapter($109), strut tower brace ($120)

Looking to stay under $1500 budget (including the above ^^) so pretty much have $1000 left.

I have no idea where I spend my money and how! SO suggestions would be awesome, just keep in mind it's a daily driver! Thanks!

boston2k4 · Jun 10, 2013

maybe full exhaust and a tune?
will make it sound great and the tune will catch you some ponies. If you stay out of the pedal mpgs should be reasonable

ivan12 · Jun 10, 2013

No custom tune on stock engine, that money could be spent elsewhere. Bang for buck upgrades: gears (you already have), 100 shot of nitrous, full length subframe connectors, rear lower control arms, short throw shifter, good set of lowering springs. Although some of these might not feel like they make you go faster they do make the car handle better and the driving experience more enjoyable. Full exhaust is nice to have but it's not going to give you a lot of power, will mostly just make your car louder but not all that faster. You're probably not going to like just swapping out intakes yet, with a basically stock engine you're going to lose some low end power and gain a bit on the top and since it is a daily driver you'll notice the lack of power even more. Depending on your level of mechanical skills I'd start reading into doing a GT-40 top end swap instead with the budget you're working with

RonBurgandy · Jun 10, 2013

Get yourself a gt40 intake at a pull yard for about 100 bucks or less then pick up a used supercharger on corral.net. There is all your money. And you can usually find a set of headers for a cheap price i think hotwheels is selling a set for our cars. Oh and injectors. I went the in 1500-2000 range haha

Warning : TO MUCH AWESOME

daynz · Jun 10, 2013

Awesome. Thanks for the quick.

With doing heads, cam, intake would I still be able to keep it a daily driver or will my mileage suffer greatly? I just don't want it to get 5mpg like my truck.

SLOW95GTS · Jun 10, 2013

Just get that edelbrock intake and the professional products adapter, ($69). Get a set of the gt40 heads from a 96-97.5 explorer not the p's. get a set of crane 1.7 roller rockers and trick flow valve spring kit. Maybe a new timing chain and gaskets. No tune needed but you do need a fuel pressure regulator to bump the injector rate, and adjust the ignition timing to 14 unless it pings then you should back it down. Get a off road x pipe or h pipe to take those restricting cats. And suspension, you should at least get some lowering springs and struts and shocks depending on what you want it for. ( street or drag)

Overall this combo and a nitrous kit should be able to beat all the rice and some in your area and still get cool gas mileage.