25 hp needed

[03marauder]

Well, I got the car retuned last Friday at a high performance Ford dealership that a few other members have talked about. Results ended up being 276 rwhp and 298 rwtq. I didn't think that was too bad for the few mods I've done. I just wish it wouldn't have been 95-100 degrees out when I took it in. The question is what can I do to get up to 300 rwhp? I know I saw a post about this some time ago, but I couldn't find it. What options are left besides an intake spacer and underdrive pulleys, without going as far as a supercharger? I think I would be content at 300 rwhp. Hopefully anyway.

[RF Overlord]

What options are left besides an intake spacer and underdrive pulleys,

The spacer and pulleys together are good for about 10-12 HP...adding the SCT Big Air MAF and/or a Lightning throttle body might get you most of the way there...but all those parts will run you almost a grand...

[Blackened300a]

adding the SCT Big Air MAF and/or a Lightning throttle body might get you most of the way there...but all those parts will run you almost a grand...
Have you tried this Mod?? Will I have to have my SCT tuner Tweaked for the extra air intake? I have all the bolt-ons installed as far as the spacer and the PHP AirBox.
Thanks for any info

[FordNut]

Steeda underdrive pulleys, Meziere electric water pump

[bigslim]

Pulleys and headers.

[HwyCruiser]

A 25 shot :D

[Mad4Macs]

I think I would be content at 300 rwhp. Hopefully anyway.

I'll sell you 25 of mine for $800 :D :D :D

[mpearce]

Kooks Headers, or Stainless Works Headers.

-Mat

[CRUZTAKER]

What options are left besides an intake spacer and underdrive pulleys, without going as far as a supercharger? I think I would be content at 300 rwhp. Hopefully anyway.
I am able to dyno over 300 (NA) even on the hottest days with my set up on 93 pump gas. Depending on the overall heat, humidity, and altitude, my numbers have varied from 298 to 317 RWHP. There is no way to avoid this other than dynoing in the winter months, and make sure a good fan is propped in front of the vehicle.

I do not have a mazzy pump, nor have I fussed with the MAF or Throttle Body.
I also achieved these numbers BEFORE I did the PHP cold air kit and Intake spacer.

I cannot be sure how much difference there is with the exhaust kit you went with compared to mine (KOOKS)......but I suspect your exhaust is doing what you want numbers wise.

I also am unable to prove that cooler plugs and thermostat provide all that much gain. I did these minor mods however to take advantage of Lidio's extreme programming. I beleive there are gains to be had if the the programming is applied accordingly.

BTW: All of those individuals trained in SCT tuning have there own way of doing things that they either picked up from experimental tuning or friends in the industry. This alone could make quite a difference in your numbers, particularly when the A/F tune is done on the dyno. I WILL NOT say that one person is better than another. You as the consumer must step up and ask for a more radical tune if the numbers do not meed your expectations.

The pullies are a must. For the cost -vs- gains they can't be beat. Start here. :up:

If you have not had your tune tweaked with the A/F tune on the dyno, do it. This is a must. :bows:

There are proven gains with a Mazzy electric pump. I just veared away from that out of personal uncertainty regarding long term life expectency.:rolleyes:

The Intake spacer is cheap, easy to install, and WTF...why not?
I believe it helps your torque numbers more so than HP numbers.
Just do it. ;)

^^^ I can only assume from that magic number of 268-278 that you have not. The full realm of basic bolt-ons w/o the A/F tune seems to put most members in that area.

The only other items I have are 4:10 gears and a Stallion T/C. I am not knowledgable enough to know if these items actually provide power in respect to dyno numbers, but they have amazing results in the real world perforfance aspect.

Utilizing the best everyday pump gas (94) and tuning the motor to it's max for that fuel helps as well. I always run 94 day to day, but when I am at the track I use Citgo 114 unleaded and can really see a difference. I can only imagine what the dyno numbers would look like with that fuel...as I have always had to drive great distances to reach the good tuners and that fuel was unavailable.

Good luck, and I hope this helps.

I am in no way a gear head, nor all that knowledgable inn regards to making these cars fast. I learned everything I know thanks to this site, and some very fine TUNERS we have at our disposal.

[Smokie]

I tried it, got to 290 rwhp. Actually felt pretty good, did it on a very modest budget. INFO. (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14375) Go to post #25 there is a good deal of documentation on what was done and how much it cost. Best of Luck.:)

[Bradley G]

Not to flame you Kris, Rather than focus on a number, what do you want your car to do?

If it is off line acceleration, your best bet is probably a torque converter.
If you want real world comparo, Lets make a date, to run your/my car at a local dragaway.BTW, your car sounds real nice! congrats on better numbers than me!:o
Bradley G

[fastblackmerc]

Not to flame you Kris, Rather than focus on a number, what do you want your car to do?

If it is off line acceleration, your best bet is probably a torque converter.
If you want real world comparo, Lets make a date, to run your/my car at a local dragaway.BTW, your car sounds real nice! congrats on better numbers than me!:o
Bradley G
I'm only looking for an extra 20HP.... My dyno #'s were 280.6 RHP & about 308 torque. My HP mods are underdrive pulleys, JLT intake and DR tune via SCT Xcalibrator. I run 94 octane all the time, except for the time the "attendant" in N.J. filled it up with regular. I'll be returning to CP Racing in Charlotte, NC to get it tuned. I also have 4.10's installed. Will be doing a spacer, MAF and complete exhaust in the near future. I should get to 300 RHP.
In the future I'm looking for off the line acceleration so a torque converter & Trilogy blower will be future mods. I figure if you beat someone badly off the line who cares about top end?? :D

:burn:

[jstevens]

Please no one take offense to this as I know how oil threads can get out of hand.

I for one and many others will probably be looking at full exhaust work to gain HP short of supercharging.

I know for headers we have Kooks and Stainless Steel Works. Has anyone put on the SS Works ones? Have not heard of any.

I think for manifolds/headers we have DR Ceramic/ported manifolds, SVO shorty (whatever these are) and am I missing another one.

Just curious of noise and driveability trade off for more grunt.

[Slowpoke]

looks like i was wrong.... my numbers were 278.79 HP and 299.58 TQ.

[CRUZTAKER]

I'm only looking for an extra 20HP.... My dyno #'s were 280.6 RHP & about 308 torque......


You must have the secret!!!! I have never seen numbers that good with absolutely no exhaust work.

Kudos man! :bows:

[03marauder]

Not to flame you Kris, Rather than focus on a number, what do you want your car to do?

If it is off line acceleration, your best bet is probably a torque converter.
If you want real world comparo, Lets make a date, to run your/my car at a local dragaway.BTW, your car sounds real nice! congrats on better numbers than me!:o
Bradley G
Brad- I do want off the line acceleration and will get a torque converter one of these days. Right now I'm just looking into options for bumping up hp and torque, mostly looking into stuff that is affordable for me. I mean I would love a supercharger, but that will most likely not be an option for me. And about that date for a run at a dragway, I would be up for that.

[Slowpoke]

for off-the-line accelleration and given your current mods, I would suggest gears. My 4.30's give me astounding accelleration; choose 4.30's if you dont do lots of highway driving; choose the 4.10's if you cruise at high speeds for a while.

this is my suggestion.

[03marauder]

Yeah, I will also do the 4.10s when I get the funding. The next mods I was thinking are 4.10s, pulleys and intake spacer, and then the torque converter. All in a matter of time, as money comes along. I still need to pay off the car and pay off those school loans.

[fastblackmerc]

You must have the secret!!!! I have never seen numbers that good with absolutely no exhaust work.

Kudos man! :bows:
I couldn't believe it either. I wish I had it dyno'd before I did any mods.

[mpearce]

I have never seen numbers that good with absolutely no exhaust work.
285/311 - with weld in mufflers and tips. I can tell you those minor exhaust mods don't do me any good for HP and TQ #'s.

It's that aggressive tune for 100 octane I've got. Big difference over my 93 tune. Barry's right...step up, and ask for more aggressive tuning...use good gas if you want. Can't hurt. The differences between my two tunes in seat of the pants is very noticeable on the street.

-Mat

[03marauder]

Well. for some reason I can't get my graph from the tune to attach, but not a big deal. Numbers are 275 rwhp and 298 rwtq, my mistake in the first post. The A/F ratio runs right about 13 all the way through the rpm's. I think with the pulleys, intake spacer, and maybe colder thermostat with appropriate tuning, I will get closer. Thanks for the help.

[jstevens]

Please no one take offense to this as I know how oil threads can get out of hand.

I for one and many others will probably be looking at full exhaust work to gain HP short of supercharging.

I know for headers we have Kooks and Stainless Steel Works. Has anyone put on the SS Works ones? Have not heard of any.

I think for manifolds/headers we have DR Ceramic/ported manifolds, SVO shorty (whatever these are) and am I missing another one.

Just curious of noise and driveability trade off for more grunt.


No, really everyone, don't chime in all at once. Wouldn't want to clog up the board with good advice for people.

No, I'll just figure it our myself. Of course, if you need any advice, I might be unavailable. Rant over (maybe)

[Smokie]

No, really everyone, don't chime in all at once. Wouldn't want to clog up the board with good advice for people. No, I'll just figure it our myself. Of course, if you need any advice, I might be unavailable. Rant over (maybe)Be cool J.:) Here is some info about the shorties, if you want more ask....http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13390 be sure to look at post #19.

[Rider90]

No, really everyone, don't chime in all at once. Wouldn't want to clog up the board with good advice for people.

No, I'll just figure it our myself. Of course, if you need any advice, I might be unavailable. Rant over (maybe)

What, do you own us?

[CRUZTAKER]

No, really everyone, don't chime in all at once. Wouldn't want to clog up the board with good advice for people.

No, I'll just figure it our myself. Of course, if you need any advice, I might be unavailable. Rant over (maybe)
Whoa....!

I bet if you START a thread with this very question...EVERYONE would chime in at once.

It's all good. I think we were just trying to help 03Marauder here.

[Paul T. Casey]

JT, with any exhaust mod you will get a change in "noise level." How quiet or how loud you want it will help in deciding which way you want to go. Kooks/ Stainlees headers, high flow cats, big pipes, 40 series mufflers, smooth tips should be the loudest, and theoretially the biggest hp gain. DR/SVO manifolds, factory cats, factory pipes, 70 series muffler and factory tips should be the opposite.
Kris, spacer, MAF mod's will add to the total HP of the car, pullies will not add to the total, but will yield higher rear wheel numbers. That peak number, although important, isn't a panacea (wow, what a cool word). The shape of your HP curve is much more important. Flat is where it's at. A car for instance that makes 100 hp at 2000 rpm and slowly climbs to a peak of 400 HP at 6000 rpm won't be as much fun as a car that makes 150 HP at 200 rpm and peaks at 350 hp at 3500 rpm. (Not real numbers, just an example). Some of the "Ricers" have dyno sheets showing 400 plus hp, but if you look at the graph, it looks this _____^--. That 400 hp peak is usually around 8500 rpm, and let's face it, how often do you run at the redline. Remember, get your HP curve to look like the women I used to date, FLAT!

[03marauder]

I know that the peak number is not important, but it is somewhere that I would like to be I guess. I wish I could get my graph to attach on here. Because my hp curve is not flat. It's at about 100 hp at 2200 rpm and climbs to 275 at about 5000 rpm. Can the tune be redone to get the hp more flat across the rpm's, or is that more specific to the tuner doing the job?

Ok, I finally got the graph to post.

[Bradley G]

That will be something I want to do real soon!

I will let you know!
Bradley G
Your dyno looks like it was well tuned!

Brad- I do want off the line acceleration and will get a torque converter one of these days. Right now I'm just looking into options for bumping up hp and torque, mostly looking into stuff that is affordable for me. I mean I would love a supercharger, but that will most likely not be an option for me. And about that date for a run at a dragway, I would be up for that.