Suggestions needed

[KIRK343]

I have a 2003 MM bone stock with the exception of a K&N cold air intake. I'd like to add some bolt on horsepower but still keep the car driveable. I'm considering underdrive pulleys and a tuner.

Can anyone suggest the best brand/place to buy these two items?

[cer0413]

I have a 2003 MM bone stock with the exception of a K&N cold air intake. I'd like to add some bolt on horsepower but still keep the car driveable. I'm considering underdrive pulleys and a tuner.

Can anyone suggest the best brand/place to buy these two items?
Sparta performance for pulleys and Marty from mo's speed shop for the tune, are great vendors on this site

[fastblackmerc]

Steeda for the pulleys and Mo's for the tune and tuner.

[rauder88]

I would go with Steeda pulleys and a tuner from Mo's. Best bang for your buck though would be getting 4.10 gears. No "bolt on" part can replicate what 4.10s will do besides an Eaton swap/trilogy. My first MM had 4.10s this one has stock 3.55s I will be switching to 4.10s very soon.

[SamF]

4.10 and a tune

[KIRK343]

Thanks guys! I keep hearing about 4.10s. How much will that effect gas mileage and drivability? I had great results with pulleys and sct tuner on a 99 lightning

[MERCULES]

Gas mileage will not be affected very much and when you have your first drive with the 4:10's and a tune you won't give a damn about gas mileage and the grin on your face will be permanent.

:banana:

[Anthony84]

^^^^ Yup. The only reason my mileage sucks is because how much fun I have.

[ctrlraven]

Thanks guys! I keep hearing about 4.10s. How much will that effect gas mileage and drivability? I had great results with pulleys and sct tuner on a 99 lightning
Replies below answer the question. You won't get much power out of the pulleys, MAYBE 4-5 hp and that's not RWHP. You'll need a tune for them to bump up the IDLE RPM in Drive to 800-850 to keep the charging system in the mid-high 13 volt range otherwise it will run low especially with a/c, rear defroster, headlights, etc etc on. Whoever you get the tune from (go to Mo's honestly) you may want to ask if upgrading to a one stage colder spark plug and run a 180 degree t-stat are required. Intake, Tune and 4.10 gears will really wake the car up, like how it should of came from the factory. With 4.10s you could see 1-2 mpg loss but none of us bought this land yacht for gas mileage, we bought it for smiles per miles.

Gas mileage will not be affected very much and when you have your first drive with the 4:10's and a tune you won't give a damn about gas mileage and the grin on your face will be permanent.

:banana:


^^^^ Yup. The only reason my mileage sucks is because how much fun I have.

[justbob]

Keep it drivable? What bolt on's render it undrivable?? LOL


Builder Of Badassery

[lji372]

I have a 2003 MM bone stock with the exception of a K&N cold air intake. I'd like to add some bolt on horsepower but still keep the car driveable. I'm considering underdrive pulleys and a tuner.

Can anyone suggest the best brand/place to buy these two items?

Boost usually gets bolted on :beer:

[1 Bad Merc]

The tune not only wakes the car up but changes the erratic shifting of the trans and makes the car so much more enjoyable to drive. I would then go with the 4.10's and would not even bother with the pulleys.

You will be smiling from ear to ear after just these two changes!

[justbob]

4.30's and tune


Builder Of Badassery

[chief455]

The tune not only wakes the car up but changes the erratic shifting of the trans and makes the car so much more enjoyable to drive. I would then go with the 4.10's and would not even bother with the pulleys.

You will be smiling from ear to ear after just these two changes!
Mine had 4.10 when purchased, but can't imagine going to 3.55:confused:

Mo's tune changed my life.

I sold new in box Steeda pullies to help fund the inevidable Eaton swap.
tune + 4.10 - lowest cost gains.

[Mr. Man]

4.30's and tune


Builder Of Badassery
Been considering this for my car as I generally only drive it to local cars shows but I do occasionally drive it to NH if Paula's car is down. What kind of driving experience do the 4.30's give you at highway speeds? :)

[myrodr]

I drove my MM from OH to SC with tune and 4:10s got 25mpg @around 60-65 mph . When I added the Eaton is when the car got fun. I still drive to work and around town just not in snow if I don't have to but I have been in snow with Eaton no big deal if you drive normal(no boost brake early)

[PB Marauder]

4.10s and tune from Marty +1000!

[fastblackmerc]

Did a 150 mile trip each way, got 20mpg at a steady 79MPH (cruise control).

4.10's & a Mo's tune.

[justbob]

Been considering this for my car as I generally only drive it to local cars shows but I do occasionally drive it to NH if Paula's car is down. What kind of driving experience do the 4.30's give you at highway speeds? :)


19.8 MPG with three WOT bursts to a hundo or so leaving tollbooths, rest being cruise set to around 75MPH. I believe this was with the 6 speed, but so far the difference between that and the auto isn't much at all that different. Joe drove it and said he would NEVER do 4.10's again and was kinda pissed that he took everyone's opinion on them as gospel. Everyone else that's driven it describes it as a chubby ballerina on crack cocain? :)


Builder Of Badassery

[rauder88]

Thanks guys! I keep hearing about 4.10s. How much will that effect gas mileage and drivability? I had great results with pulleys and sct tuner on a 99 lightning

Pulleys on a Lightning are way different. If you switched out your lower pulley most likely you added boost, and with the tune to correct for everything you did gain a substantial amount of power. Pulleys and a tune is the go to for bolt ons with a Lightning. With a Marauder you won't really get your money worth, even if you buy "blemished" steeda pulleys off Ebay for $170.
For a 4,200 lb NA Marauder the best way to wake it up is a tune and gears. As said before it truly only cuts fuel by 1-2 mpg.

[cheaneyt]

Msd coil packs and new performance plugs an wires

[KIRK343]

I see on several posts there is a production number listed. How do I go about finding out mine? Do I just call Ford with my VIN number?

[fastblackmerc]

I see on several posts there is a production number listed. How do I go about finding out mine? Do I just call Ford with my VIN number?

It's always best to ask a new question in a new thread.

Here's your answer:

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=57772

[rauder88]

Call 1-800-FORD-788 and press "1". Have the last 6 of your VIN handy. You will get the numbers for FREE. You'll pay $$$ for the certificate.
If they say you have to order the certificate hang up and call again.

The certificate is nice, but if you just want the build number, call.