2002 GT Convertable recommendations?

Hey guys, I'm totally new to the whole newsgroup thing. Just thought I'd point that out. I've got an '02 GT convertable, Satin Gray, black leather interior, all stock except Flowmaster 3 chambers and K&N cold air intake. I'm looking for all the suggestions for modification I can get (within reasonable cost). They would all be appreciated. Thanx guys & gals.

-The Marin Mauler

Reply to
Marin Mauler
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Welcome aboard! We're all a pretty nice bunch of folks except for a few old soreheads.

The Mod List:

  1. If you've got a 5-spd. car, get a good shifter.
  2. Gears, 3.73 minimum
  3. Subframe connectors

Those 3 things will get you the most bang for the buck for enjoying the overall driving experience. You'll need to correct your speedo (and shift points if your AODE) when you do the gears. Either a custom chip or a computer reflash will take care of these issues easily.

Give us a little more info on your driving habits, location, car specs, expectations, and so forth. You'll definitely get plenty of good replies!

Good Luck!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tom

1998 GT Coupe 5-spd. Bright Atlantic Blue K&N FIPK, Tri-Ax, 3.73's, FRPP Coated Shorties, SpeedCal, P&P 2K Heads, 2K Intake, Bassani X-Pipe and Cat-Back, Subframe Connectors, JMS Chip, Eagle Alloy Wheels
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Reply to
bluestang98

Thanks for the input, Tom. I know absolutely nothing about chips or subframe connectors. :-P I'd like (and am planning) on getting the gears changed to that 3.73 exactly as a matter of fact (does that really make a huge difference?). As for the AODE...I have no clue. Sorry for the stupidity on my part, but I want to learn all I can, this is my first real car, which is not really paid for yet, but I'm working on it. Some things, such as the gears, I'd really like to do but since I have no money the loan is in my father's name (even thought I'm 25), and he's an all-out-ford-knows-best-when-they-built-it kinda guy. So a lot of things have to wait until I pay him off unless I can do some good Machiavellian(?) scheming, which is very likely. He already nixed the gear change for the time being. I just got the car a few months ago, it's a 5-speed, also my very first manual tranny, so I don't really know how to describe a lot of my driving habits. I drive mostly around a small town and about 25-50 miles of freeway on the norm. I don't really have any desire to take it over 100mph (at least more than once), but I do however have the desire to make a lot of loud, rumbly, attention-getting noise in town and all the acceleration I can get. The 3 chamber Flows was arranged by one of my brothers and I'm not sure I want to keep them...good sound when I open it up, but otherwise too darn quiet. I love the car, the color, though that's a tie with BLACK. But black wasn't an option since it was a used car. I have the 17 inch Bullit-type wheels..but I'm not sure I'd like to stick with those. The thing I DON'T like about the design of the car is the front end..how it kinda slopes up..and the Steeda Front Splitter, for example, is just asking for trouble and scraping etc. Anyway, I've blabbed enough for the time being. Thanx again Tom, glad to meet you.

In addition to asking for recommendations, I'd love to hear about all your cars and see pictures if possible. I'd show mine but I don't know how (I'VE GOT THE PHOTO FILES, THOUGH!) :-) See you fellas later. Thanx one more time and sorry about the length.

-The Mauler

wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Reply to
Marin Mauler

By the way Tom, I'm interested in a list of what mods you've made and are planning on. Thanx (I'm really gettin into this stuff) :-)

Reply to
Marin Mauler

You have a nice car, I have a red 2002 Convertible GT that I am going to replace the shifter as soon as the warrenty is off (this October); I'm also planning to put a light bar later this year, maybe next year relace the exhaust then go with a Vortec turbo.

Go to my website and go to my 'Mustang Page', click on the 2001 Mustang convertible pic to read an article about our favorite car.

Reply to
Ralph Snart

Thanx for the compliment Ralph. OF course, it's no nicer than yours. :-) THEY ARE AWESOME!! I agree that the Mach1 'no convertable' was a shame, but that would I guess throw off their whole 'retro' balance thing they're going for. I like you guys' color choices. I'm not so sure about my satin gray? By the way, the '05s don't look that great. HAH! What kind of shifter are you going for? The TriAx, steeda, right? I don't know about many others. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, that's some sort of 'short throw' system? I kinda like the shifting in my new 02 stang...long throws I guess they are but the STILL FEEL GOOD (plus it's my first manual). Anyway, right on with the turbo..better than superchargers in your opinion? The light bar.....uh, I just don't know about that one...I almost bought a black 98 GT vert with a bar and it just seems like it detracted from the whole 'openness' of the convertable. The 'freedom,' if you will. (As I recall Tom Petty's famous tune).

Oh hey Ralph, the bullitt wheels (2002) from Angelica: never heard of those? are they the 17 inchers w/o the painted spokes? Thanx guys.

The Mauler.

Reply to
Marin Mauler

FYI, Vortech makes superchargers, not turbochargers :-)

Mike

1995 Eagle Talon TSi
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of all the old cars
Reply to
TurboMike

TurboMike,

I'm being totally serious now: What is the difference between turbo and supercharger?

Reply to
Marin Mauler

Well, to simplify things:

A Turbo is exhaust driven. It takes the exhaust and spins the turbine causing the turbo to spin and forces air back into the motor. Usually intercooled in newer factory applications.

A supercharger is either centrifugal or roots in design. Roots can be twin screw, rotors, etc. It's basically a pump. Whether centrifugal or roots, it is still driven off the crankshaft via a pulley. The centrifugals are the Vortech, Powerdynes, Paxton, etc. The Roots are the Eaton (which is stock on the 03-04 Cobra, Lightning) whipple, Kenne Bell, etc.

Mike

1995 Eagle Talon TSi
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of all the old cars
Reply to
TurboMike

shit, i wouldn't want exhaust gasses going anywhere but out. lol so the supercharger is better I'm leaning toward?

Reply to
Marin Mauler

Actually, no. Turbos are much more efficient. Dollar for dollar you'll make more power with a turbo. It's free power. With a supercharger, you'll USE power to make power as the drag on the crank to drive the blower is a huge drain. The exhaust is already there and is used to spin the turbo. Look at how many factory cars are turbocharged.

Now, expense-wise, a turbo kit will be a bit more money and the installation is much more detailed, but he payoff is worth it.

Ask around, I think you'll find I'm in the majority when I say that turbos are where the action is.

For the average guy who wants a easy bolt-on power adder, the supercharger is going to be more attractive due to the ease of installation and lower cost, however, look at how many of the big hitters are going to turbos.

Mike

1995 Eagle Talon TSi
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of all the old cars
Reply to
TurboMike

i just thought that exhaust gasses were best to not re-use?

I like your explanation though. thank you.

-The Mauler

installation is

Reply to
Marin Mauler

All they are doing is spinning the exhaust side of the turbo. The other side of the turbo pulls in fresh air and blows it into the motor. The exhaust gases are NOT reused :-) They simply spin the exhaust wheel and exit via the downpipe.

Mike

1995 Eagle Talon TSi
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of all the old cars
Reply to
TurboMike

Go to Wal-Mart and start buying Mustang 5.0 magazines - you will get tips on how to modify your steed, and you will find all kinds of catalogs chock full of goodies that you never knew existed to make your Mustang run better, handle better, etc.

The Bullitt rims are based on the 'Torque-thrust' rims that were popular on the 60's model Mustangs; they came on the 2001 Bullitts and 2001-2001 GT Premium packages. They are 17" rims, but you can buy them from other manufacturers in 17, 18 & 19" versions.

Also go to

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to get the info on almost anything Mustang related.

Reply to
Ralph Snart

NOW I got ya. :-) OK, I've been swayed to the turbine side of things. thanx Mike.

Reply to
Marin Mauler

So those ARE the same rims on my 02 GT...shiny ring and painted spokes?

Reply to
Marin Mauler

Thanx, though, Ralph, I will pick up a bushel of 5.0 (and other) mags and check some things out. I appreciate it. Will difinitely check out that stangnet site more thoroghly. I've been there once or twice but didn't explore much. By the way, is Angelica yours?? veeeery nice. beautiful pony, man. :-)

-The Mauler

Reply to
Marin Mauler

Oh yeah HEY! If someone can explain to me how to get pics of my stang up here so people can look if they want, that would be much appreciated. I have been dying to 'name' her. :-) Thanx

-The Mauler

Reply to
Marin Mauler

Yep, Angelica was bought for my wife, and 2 months after I got it for her, her MS reached a point that she couldn't drive anymore, so I do all the driving, and on nice days (and we hve a lot here in Colorado), we drive with the top down and enjoy the countryside.

I was at the dealership about to buy the last Bullitt that they had, when my wife saw the red convertible and she fell in love with it. Since I know that she isn't going to live very much longer, I nixed the Bullitt and got the convertible.

Either way, we have a fine automobile in the family.

Page 2 of my webpage has pictures of my wife in the car.

Reply to
Ralph Snart

Well, we're not really suppose to place pics on the NG, as it's not a binaries NG, but you can do like me: Get a FREE Yahoo e-mail account, the you can get a FREE Geocities webpage with 15 MB's of space - If I can follow the directions and build a website in the course of a few hours, then anybody can do it.

If you don't have a digital camera, then take some regular pics and when you have the film developed, have the place place the pics on a CD-Rom so you can place them on your computer and upload them to your webpage.

It's nice to see a newbie with so much enthusiasm; there's a lot of us on the NG that will help you. There are also Mustang discussion groups on Yahoogroups that may be able to help you.

Reply to
Ralph Snart

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