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Thread: $350 budget...

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    $350 budget...

    OK, so I have had my (precious) Marauder for a little over a year now, and decided it is about time I finally add some more power. Everything is still stock (except the floor mats...), and I only have about +- $350 right now. I figured maybe a tunermight be the route to go, but then thought perhaps start with a CAI first....any suggestions/insights? JLT seems popular, as well as the obvious K&N, but JLT seems comparable for about $70-$100 less...

  2. #2
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    Save another $25 or so and go with a tune, best mod for the money, IMO.

    2003 300B DBP
    Build date: 6/19/03
    Number 7,792 of 7,838 - 326 of 328
    Proud member of the MM "BLUES" Bros.
    Purchased: 11/10/05
    Eaton swap by ImpalaSlayer 11-09-10

    Semper et in Aeternum, Mercurius.

    In Memory:
    2004 DTR
    Build Date 01/27/04
    Purchased 04/04/04
    Wrecked 10/19/05, R.I.P.



  3. #3
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    Save your $$$ and buy us all beer at next years Kentucky meet. Cai and a tune are good places to start. Think about a 4:10 gear swap also but you will need a tuner for that to change the speedo and such.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by SC Cheesehead View Post
    Save another $25 or so and go with a tune, best mod for the money, IMO.

    That's no opinion - its a fact!
    '04 Silver Marauder w/ sunroof - HID lighting, JL Audio / Eclipse DVD/NAV/iPod/camera, 4.10's, 2" drop, Progard Bumper Baffle, Delete tips, Billet Pedals, BC4E dead pedal, Lidio Tune, Mach1 chin spoiler, K&N CAI, TCE lines, Super40's, tinted tails, SS Inserts, Heinous Control Arms, Real oil gauge, lighted door handles. Currently installing Eaton M112.

    2004 Mercury Marauder
    Born March 2004, adopted October 2005. Sold January 2012, adopted AGAIN January 2016
    2,187 of 3,214
    997 in Silver Birch
    448 with light flint interior
    304 with heated seats
    336 with sunroof

  5. #5
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    Nice 1st post.... Let the mods begin!

  6. #6
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    Wow that was fast...Thanks for the input! I have considered the 4.10's, and will probably pursue that, but as you mentioned, a tune would be needed... I guess for now I will get the JLT, and then go from there...what about flashing? There is so much info, I don't even remember 1/4 of it...They all seem pretty expensive ($300+) too. I would have been able to get more mods right after purchasing, but I gut it used, and it needed to be repainted which really set me back quite a lot. In fact, I couldn't even get everything done-just the hood and roof. Both were blistered up really badly, and could not wait to be done. It's sad that someone let the car get that way...

  7. #7
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    Place a WTB ad and try to get one used so you can spread your cashflow around.

  8. #8
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    Get a tune
    Thanks to Darrin @ BC Automotive:
    $1800 and it was worse than when he started!

    Brian (FordNut) FPG # 1458 of 7838
    03 MM 300A (Lotsa mods, 130k mi) was 303rwhp/318rwtq N/A
    then 476/410 D1SC ProCharged on stock block
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    then 365/369 N/A on 5.3 wet sleeved Teksid alum big bore stroker
    Now 751/617 3.4L Whipple on 5.3 Boss5.0 iron big bore stroker

    03 MM 300B Silver (Mostly stock, originally wife's car, 370k mi) FPG # 7053 of 7838 or 49 of 417 SB
    03 MM 300B Silver, Stock, wife's next one, 136k mi FPG # 7134 of 7838 or 89 of 417 SB
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Man View Post
    Save your $$$ and buy us all beer at next years Kentucky meet.
    This ranks as one of the smartest posts you've ever made


    ~But, it makes it a lot easier when he is manscaped.~ Haggis
    ~Cool, I can have one of those strangulation orgasms without the strangle.
    WIN WIN!~ Zack
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  10. #10
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    Another vote for the tune!

  11. #11
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    mmmmm....beer....
    That probably why I don't have more money for this stuff right now....
    It seems like alot of people recommend the SCT. A buddy of mine has always used Superchips on his cars/trucks...I guess when it comes to stuff like that, it sometimes seems like a foreign language

  12. #12
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    I'd get the JLT, then underdrive pulleys then a tune to top it off.

    4.10's will set you back at least $500.00. Way over your budget.

    Will you be doing the work yourself?

    If so, your money will go further.
    “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
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    is to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one, then you kill his pet goat."

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  13. #13
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    A tune is plug 'n play.

    Order one from Dennis Reinhart or Lidio, they'll send you the tuner with tunes loaded (one for the stock gears, one for 4.10s), unwrap it, plug the cable into the OBD port, download, done!

    If you decide to go with U/D pulleys, let your tuner know and he can bump up the idle speed to account for the pulleys.

    2003 300B DBP
    Build date: 6/19/03
    Number 7,792 of 7,838 - 326 of 328
    Proud member of the MM "BLUES" Bros.
    Purchased: 11/10/05
    Eaton swap by ImpalaSlayer 11-09-10

    Semper et in Aeternum, Mercurius.

    In Memory:
    2004 DTR
    Build Date 01/27/04
    Purchased 04/04/04
    Wrecked 10/19/05, R.I.P.



  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by fastblackmerc View Post
    I'd get the JLT, then underdrive pulleys then a tune to top it off.

    4.10's will set you back at least $500.00. Way over your budget.

    Will you be doing the work yourself?

    If so, your money will go further.
    I will be doing some of the work, depending on the project. I have two friend who both have loads of experience in the area. One of them works mainly with diesels now, and his brother actually has a degree in high performance automotive something or other... Anyway, they are both more than willing/able to assist in some of the more complex projects (4.10's, etc). "simple" projects like the CAI, chip, etc I can manage easily, but it's good to know that I have capable help if I need it.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by SC Cheesehead View Post
    A tune is plug 'n play.

    Order one from Dennis Reinhart or Lidio, they'll send you the tuner with tunes loaded (one for the stock gears, one for 4.10s), unwrap it, plug the cable into the OBD port, download, done!

    If you decide to go with U/D pulleys, let your tuner know and he can bump up the idle speed to account for the pulleys.
    I hadn't even looked into the UD pulleys...I did, however, look at reinhart's site. I will have to revisit the site to refresh my memory on that subject though. I suppose I could get the JLT and just save some mroe money for the next "step(s)". The tunes come with the OBD module, right? and those cost about $350, right? I definitely need to go back and review that info...

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