What Would You Do for your MM with $1000, $2000?

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Hi -

I've had my bone stock 03 SBMM for about a 1 1/2 months now and I'm ready for some mods (I was OK with the tranny shifting for a while as I was into the sound of the motor/exhaust but now, I'm ready for some crisp/timely shifts).

I'm still learning about the car and what works well so I thought that I'd throw it out to the forum to tell me how to spend my money on my MM.

I'd like to get a tune as well as generate as much horsepower as possible for $1000 to $2000.

What would you recommend that I do?

Thanks in advance!

Mark

[Taemian]

Hi -

I've had my bone stock 03 SBMM for about a 1 1/2 months now and I'm ready for some mods (I was OK with the tranny shifting for a while as I was into the sound of the motor/exhaust but now, I'm ready for some crisp/timely shifts).

I'm still learning about the car and what works well so I thought that I'd throw it out to the forum to tell me how to spend my money on my MM.

I'd like to get a tune as well as generate as much horsepower as possible for $1000 to $2000.

What would you recommend that I do?

Thanks in advance!

Mark
DON'T waste $$ on exhaust mods til the very end. They might sound nice, but the bang per buck really sucks.

Get a Xcal with a tune from Lidio for $400, some kind of CAI (like K&N or JLT) for about $200.

If you don't care about the gas mileage too much, add 4.10 gears for $500 and then drive around til you need more speed.:D

[B.C. Bake]

Mine is stock too, well I did put Medco control arms...350.00 group buy and car motor-sports badges.....250.00 or so...valve stem gods heads group buy.....and more...it's fun to mod but the sky is the limit..."I think":coolman:

[jstevens]

Do cold air, chip and 4.10's. However only do 4.10's if your not planning on doing a blower in the future.

[SC Cheesehead]

Do cold air, chip and 4.10's. However only do 4.10's if your not planning on doing a blower in the future.

Uhhhhh, why do you say that?

[jstevens]

The 4.10's are great, don't get me wrong. My nitrous MM had them. Just, with a blower its nice for MPG and the vehicle gets to stretch its legs.

I am tempted though.

[SC Cheesehead]

The 4.10's are great, don't get me wrong. My nitrous MM had them. Just, with a blower its nice for MPG and the vehicle gets to stretch its legs.

I am tempted though.

Going to 4.10 gears may cost you between 1/2 to 2 mpg on the highway. At 75 mph the engine will be turning about 2,400 - 2,500 rpm, IMO, NBD.

[a_d_a_m]

Tune, J-mod, CAI, sway bars, maybe some nitrous.

[CBT]

Tune, J-mod, CAI, sway bars, maybe some nitrous.

J-mod is free....

[CBT]

The same things I could do now. Nothing.

[LANDY]

4.10s, 3500stall, tune. there goes your 2 grand. ( only If you dont do the work yourself)

[breeze]

swap mufflers and res deleted tips will get you thinking you have more power then what you really have. tune, jlt cai, 4.10s then pocket rest for future mods.

[yjmud]

J-mod is free....
all but the trans fluid still worth it

[CBT]

all but the trans fluid still worth it

Go 'green', recycle :D

[SamF]

Xcal and a tune, flush the trans, 4.10's and have the rear axle freshened up with a service and some new clutches as well, KN drop in in the stock box. That will make you feel like you have a different car.

I drove mine like that for two years before I installed the SC...forget the exhaust, underdrives, torque converters, etc. they are all band aids. When you want more power SC it and be done. If you go SC later the 4.10s are fine. Just got back from a mountain trip with my girls....fully loaded trunk (clothes, ice, food, beer and fishin rods), 3 people, 80 mph on the highway as much as possible and I netted just over 19 mpg with my 4.10s. K&N and SC.

[jstevens]

Xcal and a tune, flush the trans, 4.10's and have the rear axle freshened up with a service and some new clutches as well, KN drop in in the stock box. That will make you feel like you have a different car.

I drove mine like that for two years before I installed the SC...forget the exhaust, underdrives, torque converters, etc. they are all band aids. When you want more power SC it and be done. If you go SC later the 4.10s are fine. Just got back from a mountain trip with my girls....fully loaded trunk (clothes, ice, food, beer and fishin rods), 3 people, 80 mph on the highway as much as possible and I netted just over 19 mpg with my 4.10s. K&N and SC.

Did you have the 3.55's when you sc'd?

I know the results with a NA'd one but not sc'd

[SamF]

Did you have the 3.55's when you sc'd?

I know the results with a NA'd one but not sc'd

No it went from stock with 3.55 to modified with 4.10, tune and CAI and I really liked the way it ran that way. Added the SC about 2 years later...now its perfect :D

[RoyLPita]

I would repair some of my crappy puttied and painted areas on my MM.

[TFB]

I've only had mine for a month, yet to decide if I'm going to make any additional upgrades... I'd like to see a 12 second ET, but it can likely run that in cool weather with a empty trunk...

[ctrlraven]

Piece yourself together a homemade Eaton Kit, probably cost a little more than $2,000 but it would be well worth the performance enhance for $ per hp.

[babbage]

Also for about $2k you could get ceramic coated stainless works long tube headers and a dynotune.

[Mr. Man]

Uhhhhh, why do you say that?
I think what he meant was don't over S/C the stock motor. From what I've been reading over 450rwhp might make the stock set up go poof.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Thanks to everyone who replied - I knew that I'd find the right information here.

From your responses - I'm leaning toward:

CAI
J-mod
Tune (Do I have to identify the J-mod with the tune?)

Just to see if the car gets "sorted" - I'm not sure that I want to go to 4.10's yet - I want the car to be streetable/highway-ready and keep the RPMs down on trips (maybe 3.73's?).

Thanks,

Mark

[4drcbra]

tune, intake, 4.10, save for blower amd do exhaust then

[fastblackmerc]

Just to see if the car gets "sorted" - I'm not sure that I want to go to 4.10's yet - I want the car to be streetable/highway-ready and keep the RPMs down on trips (maybe 3.73's?).



The 200 RPM increase is nothing compared to the off the line feeling with 4.10's. Other than a "tune" 4.10's should be on the list of "must do mods" to your MM.

Why would you think 4.10's would make your MM not streetable / highway-ready?

I've had my 4.10's installed for over 60k and I drive alot of highway miles. Never once regretted installing the 4.10's.

IMHO.... installing 3.73's is a waste of money.

Any time your in N.C. your welcome to drive mine.

[tbone]

Thanks to everyone who replied - I knew that I'd find the right information here.

From your responses - I'm leaning toward:

CAI
J-mod
Tune (Do I have to identify the J-mod with the tune?)

Just to see if the car gets "sorted" - I'm not sure that I want to go to 4.10's yet - I want the car to be streetable/highway-ready and keep the RPMs down on trips (maybe 3.73's?).

Thanks,

Mark

When I found out that they wanted to put 4.10's in from the factory, but the bean counters squashed it, that was enough for me to get it done.:burnout:

[fastblackmerc]

when i found out that they wanted to put 4.10's in from the factory, but the bean counters squashed it, that was enough for me to get it done.:burnout:

+1!!!!!!!!!!

[Spectragod]

I think what he meant was don't over S/C the stock motor. From what I've been reading over 450rwhp might make the stock set up go poof.


There's more than one MM running 500RWHP on a stock block.

[breeze]

why do ppl think 4.10s are a PITA, all they do is kick it in the butt off the line and everybody says u lose 1 mpg. im s/c soon and 4.10s WILL be too!

[fastblackmerc]

why do ppl think 4.10s are a PITA, all they do is kick it in the butt off the line and everybody says u lose 1 mpg. im s/c soon and 4.10s WILL be too!

Exactly!

All this BS....

Ohhh.... :bigcry: I'll need a new driveshaft
Ohhh.... :bigcry: my gas mileage will be bad
Ohhh... :bigcry: the engine will be turning more RPM's
Ohhh.... :bigcry: will I have enough left in the engine to go faster
Ohhh.... :bigcry: I'll install 3.73's instead (what a waste of time & money)

Just install the 4.10's............

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Exactly!

All this BS....

Ohhh.... :bigcry: I'll need a new driveshaft
Ohhh.... :bigcry: my gas mileage will be bad
Ohhh... :bigcry: the engine will be turning more RPM's
Ohhh.... :bigcry: will I have enough left in the engine to go faster
Ohhh.... :bigcry: I'll install 3.73's instead (what a waste of time & money)

Just install the 4.10's............


Ok, Ok - I've got it..........

It's just that the last cars that I knew with 4.10's were a 12 second Z-28 (LT-1) and a non-street-able 66 Deuce (Both animals).

Granted - This was in High School (1979).

Warming up to 4.10's (will have to cancel the MM warranty and put the money into mods.....).

Mark

[BODYMAN]

There's more than one MM running 500RWHP on a stock block.

Thank you Spectragod! We are out there last dyno said 503 RWHP, That is on the stock block better yet with 74,xxx miles on it and I dont baby the car, just the tunes on it have all been close to perfect a/f that makes a huge diff. Heck one of the other guys here in STL w/ ported Trilogy is also right at 500 on his stock block also... close to mine on mileage :D

[secretservice]

Ok, Ok - I've got it..........

It's just that the last cars that I knew with 4.10's were a 12 second Z-28 (LT-1) and a non-street-able 66 Deuce (Both animals).

And neither one I'm sure had an o/d trans. Just sayin'. :cool4: I've had two cars with 4.10's, one being a Mustang with a T-5 trans. Totally highway drivable, even with fairly short 26" tires.

[En4cer71]

Some one wanna explain "J-mod" to me. Looked around but I don't even know what I'm looking for... :dunno:

[SC Cheesehead]

Some one wanna explain "J-mod" to me. Looked around but I don't even know what I'm looking for... :dunno:


http://www.crownvic.net/tech/4R70Wnotes.pdf