Basic must do or bang for the buck mods? Suggestions?

[cook93SLOSHO]

93 MTX

I just want it to run as best as it can without dumping a ton of money into it or any major work. Open up what Ford left on the table. I'm already thinking a Y pipe W/O cats and maybe a cold air intake or just a filter, a TB and maybe some kind of tune, chip or something like that. I'm thinking the stock cat back may flow well enough. I don't want it to be too loud....

What do you guys suggest?

TIA ~ Matt.

 

[rubydist]

First, do all the neglected maintenance - plugs, wires, valve cover gaskets, crank seals, cam seals, crank sensor, heater hoses, radiator hoses, etc. as well as rubber suspension parts like bushings and strut mounts.

Then, while you are waiting for your wallet to heal from all that, read up on this forum. You will learn that the cars have cold air intakes from the factory, cats are not a restriction on these cars (although the stock y-pipe is on the mtx cars), chips are a waste of money, a tune is highly dependent upon what you want to accomplish with the car, etc.

After all of that, you will be able to make a plan from there.

 

[SHO_Mike]

You're on the right track with the Y pipe, but don't waste your money on a cold air intake. Just replace your filter, or even get a K&N drop in. The next thing you would want to do is a bigger MAF, and with that you could use a tune, whether it be an LPM, or using a twEECer. The stock catback is fine and doesn't need to be upgraded at this point.


Disregard everything I said above if you haven't performed your routine maintenance.

http://www.shophoenixproject.com/maint.htm Scroll all the way to the bottom for the 60k how-to's.

 

[cook93SLOSHO]

Cool, thanks guys. Sounds like when I get to it, a Y pipe, drop in K&N style air filter and MAF are about all I will want to do.

I see the SHO Source has a intake porting service. Maybe that too at some point?

So what's the deal with throttle bodies? Kinda looks like that's something that people don't really do on these cars, especially with just basic bolt-ons. Is that right?

What about the underdrive pulleys? are they worth the hassle? Do they make much difference?

 

[SHO_Mike]

Throttle bodies aren't necessary for bolt on SHOs. Unless you're making serious power with nitrous or forced induction (or both), they aren't needed. With underdrive pulleys, they are more for if you shift in the redline. With a larger crank pulley, the accessories don't spin as much, so if you do miss or over rev, they won't damage your AC compressor or alternator.

 

[DJSHO91]

If you really want to improve your SHO on-street performance, focus on the brakes and suspension. The 1st three mods I did (to my 91') were upgrade to 225/55 performance tires, s/s brakes lines and full-length sub-frame connectors. They really improved the feel factor for the handling and braking, thus allowing the SHO to really stretch it's legs. Spent a total of approx. $650 for everything.

(ps: as stated before, updating all over-due maintenance issues is 1st priority)

 

[cook93SLOSHO]

Thanks guys...

Something else I was wanting to ask about was the 3.2L swap. I see people do it but why? Is it really worth it?

 

[StreetlightSHO]

I'm glad someone already mentioned tires. Switching from worn out subframe bushings and worn out tires on factory 6" rims, to aluminum bushings and performance tires on 8" wide rims made a huge improvement in handling and fun.

Also the 96+ brake upgrade is nice, and cheap, but with a 93 car you'll have to switch out the knuckles for 94/95 knuckles.

3.2l swap? Well I haven't finished mine yet, but honestly for the time and money I wouldn't have considered it if my 3.0l hadn't kicked the bucket.

 

[SHOspazz92]

You're on the right track with the Y pipe, but don't waste your money on a cold air intake. Just replace your filter, or even get a K&N drop in. The next thing you would want to do is a bigger MAF, and with that you could use a tune, whether it be an LPM, or using a twEECer. The stock catback is fine and doesn't need to be upgraded at this point.


Disregard everything I said above if you haven't performed your routine maintenance.

http://www.shophoenixproject.com/maint.htm Scroll all the way to the bottom for the 60k how-to's.

With that, you NEED a tune. Even these supposed "Drop in, ready to runs MAF's" need some tuning.

-Sam

 

[rubydist]

the 3.2 is an instant 7.5% improvement in torque for very little $$. likely the cheapest performance improvement in the SHO world.

 

[cook93SLOSHO]

Thanks for the replies... Keep the info coming!

 

[shobote]

Maintentance is the first priority with these cars, as Rubydlist says...(Rod bearings !) before modding. Forget the MAF and TB and I would also get a non oiled filter, as those oiled units can contaminate the MAF sensor wire, as I and many others have found out. Full length SFC's are great to solidify the get rid of those creaks and squeaks from the chassis. for the street I would get a catted y-pipe, as it has more useful low and mid range torque, and also sounds much better than a catless y with the stock exhaust. The stock catback is not a restriction and if not rusted, just keep it.

 

[pjtoledo]

Throttle bodies aren't necessary for bolt on SHOs. Unless you're making serious power with nitrous or forced induction (or both), they aren't needed. With underdrive pulleys, they are more for if you shift in the redline. With a larger crank pulley, the accessories don't spin as much, so if you do miss or over rev, they won't damage your AC compressor or alternator.

ya sure?

 

[PROPHET]

Maintenance and suspension...and seperate account in the bank just for this car.

 

[cook93SLOSHO]

and seperate account in the bank just for this car.

ha ha!

 

[RonPorter]

Late to this thread.....

Y-pipe, underdrive pulleys. That is all.

MAF, not worth it. Same with a tune on stock motor. Leave in the cats. Do a catback with whatever mufflers you want for sound purposes. but get a bigger resonator(s) to cut the rasp.

 

[Toolman]

turbo it, its cool and stuff

twerking it down the freeway ya'all

 

[JEM]

Okay, a month down the road, I'll throw in a comment.

First off, engine mods. Do the maintenance and the Y-pipe. Nothing else.

From that point, all the reasonable uses of the next $2000 in making a SHO a better car to drive are all in the tires/brakes/chassis.

Then you can go back to a Quaife/Wavetrac diff ($1500 + installation)

Until you've done the diff, throwing $2500+ at more engine mods makes no sense IMO.