Newbie to the site - Marauder in Nashville, TN

[Nashmarauder]

Hi everyone,

Was toying around with getting a marauder for quite some time. Used to live back in Chicago and never needed a car (used to own an '02 Ford Mustang GT) but I moved to Nashville for work several months ago and quickly realized public transit ain't the same as back home....

Long story short, caught the bug after I realized Marauders come with the same 4.6L DOHC engine blocks you find in the Mach 1's and knew this was the logical step for me. Took a roadtrip up to Louisville, KY and picked this baby up from a guy that was working on it in his garage.

Bought it with 101,500 miles and couldn't wipe the smile off my face driving down the highway back to Nashville.

Previous owner installed:

Steeda underdrive pulleys
Chrome Cam Covers
Chrome Hi-Flow Water Pump
AEM Coil Packs
Drilled/Slotted Rotors
SCT Tuned
JLT Performance Intake

Just wanted to say hello! Absolutely love driving this thing, plenty of giddy up and drives like its on a cloud..

Recently, took a roadtrip to Virginia from Nashville and blew a spark plug out the motor which destroyed the coil pack. Another long story there, but, anybody have experience with loose spark plugs? Lost tons of compression in the engine but managed to get a new plug back in and make it home. These things are such a pain in the ass to remove when your using that extension bolt, but have a bad feeling I have stripped threads. Keep hearing a ticking noise every so often. Any thoughts are welcome!

Sorry for the long intro, tried to upload pics but they come out sideways...

[RubberCtyRauder]

Blown sparkplug generally needs a timesert repair, 03 cars only have 4 threads girl sparkplugs in aluminum head, proper torque is important when installing. Get rid of the SCT tune and get
A tune from Mo's speed shop here in the vendor section. SCT canned tunes are tweaked mustang tunes, where Mo's is designed from a marauder..20 or so hp and better shifting.

[BAD MERC]

I have the Steeda pulley as well. One thing I had to do was increase the idle ~300RPM but not enough to wrestle it to a stop in traffic. My favorite mod was my billet control arms. I'd love to see those cam covers!! I have a spare set on the shelf and wanted to chrome or polish them.

[Turbov6Bryan]

It might be a Marty tune in the sct tuner and he might just not know it

You might as well go with some ngk spark plugs and get that one repaired with the time zert. Seems to be the best repair without pulling the head.

Congrats on getting the car, they are awesome cars!

[Gryphonzus]

I agree on getting the insert installed. It should be installed ASAP! When the plug came out it took the threads with it so you are probably running on borrowed time. Congratulations on your new ride! And welcome to the MODNESS!

[Mr. Man]

Blown sparkplug generally needs a timesert repair, 03 cars only have 4 threads girl sparkplugs in aluminum head, proper torque is important when installing. Get rid of the SCT tune and get
A tune from Mo's speed shop here in the vendor section. SCT canned tunes are tweaked mustang tunes, where Mo's is designed from a marauder..20 or so hp and better shifting.Can't underscore this point enough. Congrats on your purchase and welcome. :)

[Nashmarauder]

Here is a pic of them when I first bought the car. Need a little cleaning but dress the engine up real nice! I don't mind the under drive pulleys just when I need the A/C blowing full speed, doesn't really kick in until i start getting on the throttle

[Nashmarauder]

It might be a Marty tune in the sct tuner and he might just not know it

You might as well go with some ngk spark plugs and get that one repaired with the time zert. Seems to be the best repair without pulling the head.

Congrats on getting the car, they are awesome cars!

Thanks Brother, appreciate that. I'll have to check the tuner not sure what kind of tune the guy had setup on here. Think the timezert repair is the way to go, not sure if it's wise just to do all of the spark plugs as multiple were loose when i took it into the shop. Could very well be that it was just not installed properly though...

[Nashmarauder]

I have the Steeda pulley as well. One thing I had to do was increase the idle ~300RPM but not enough to wrestle it to a stop in traffic. My favorite mod was my billet control arms. I'd love to see those cam covers!! I have a spare set on the shelf and wanted to chrome or polish them.

Sorry, still learning how to use this forum website, picture uploaded down below. Need a little cleaning but dress the engine up real nice! I don't mind the under drive pulleys just when I need the A/C blowing full speed, doesn't really kick in until i start getting on the throttle

[Nashmarauder]

I agree on getting the insert installed. It should be installed ASAP! When the plug came out it took the threads with it so you are probably running on borrowed time. Congratulations on your new ride! And welcome to the MODNESS!

Appreciate that man! Think that's my next purchase before i start getting into the mods! I just hope it didn't damage any other components of the engine, besides the coil pack obviously.

[Nashmarauder]

Can't underscore this point enough. Congrats on your purchase and welcome. :)

Thanks Brother!

[billcracknell]

A fellow Nashvillian. Whereabouts? I’m in Watertown. These are some pictures of mine. No mods, pure OEM. But only 26k miles so she does ok. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190323/831165486e70d981d41a2ba2218f48 35.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190323/670469a24236b2a840fe4a1e84b213 c3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190323/abe10819c7c8dbded642db0aa9ce33 fb.jpg


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[Nashmarauder]

Right on man! She looks gorgeous so damn clean! I actually just sold my marauder to a gentleman out in Hendersonville. Wish i would have known sooner would have been cool to meetup before i sold her. Was an absolute blast to drive but needed something to get me going further without as many trips to the gas station!

[Nashmarauder]

A fellow Nashvillian. Whereabouts? I’m in Watertown. These are some pictures of mine. No mods, pure OEM. But only 26k miles so she does ok. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190323/831165486e70d981d41a2ba2218f48 35.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190323/670469a24236b2a840fe4a1e84b213 c3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190323/abe10819c7c8dbded642db0aa9ce33 fb.jpg


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Right on man! She looks gorgeous so damn clean! I actually just sold my marauder to a gentleman out in Hendersonville. Wish i would have known sooner would have been cool to meetup before i sold her. Was an absolute blast to drive but needed something to get me going further without as many trips to the gas station!

[Invective]

Right on man! She looks gorgeous so damn clean! I actually just sold my marauder to a gentleman out in Hendersonville. Wish i would have known sooner would have been cool to meetup before i sold her. Was an absolute blast to drive but needed something to get me going further without as many trips to the gas station!

Wow! I get 17 in the city and 24 on the highway running a 4:10 rear and a number of mods, but using 93 E0 fuel. Well, good luck which ever way you choose to go.

[a_d_a_m]

Welcome to the site.
You're only 3.5hrs from Mo's Speed Shop, hell, I'd call him and turn him loose on the timesert and dyno tune that baby...

[billcracknell]

Welcome to the site.
You're only 3.5hrs from Mo's Speed Shop, hell, I'd call him and turn him loose on the timesert and dyno tune that baby...



Yeah I saw that. Just might do it..


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[billcracknell]

Right on man! She looks gorgeous so damn clean! I actually just sold my marauder to a gentleman out in Hendersonville. Wish i would have known sooner would have been cool to meetup before i sold her. Was an absolute blast to drive but needed something to get me going further without as many trips to the gas station!



Ah bummer. Thanks man. I’m proud of the car for sure. Hope you wound up in something sweet.

Correction: red painted calipers count as a mod I guess...

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[MyBlackBeasts]

Right on man! She looks gorgeous so damn clean! I actually just sold my marauder to a gentleman out in Hendersonville. Wish i would have known sooner would have been cool to meetup before i sold her. Was an absolute blast to drive but needed something to get me going further without as many trips to the gas station!


If you want better MPG, put a blower on it.


When I did mt 4.10s & Trilogy I got exactly what everyone here said:
22mpg highway stock
20.5mpg with 4.10s (but worth it!)
24mpg with Trilogy kit & canned Trilogy tune


If you go with dyno tune after blower install mpg will drop (but oh so worth it!) When Jeff did mine I gained 60RWHP! (& he could have gotten more, I said good enough as it is a DD).