best $150 performance mod
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best $150 performance mod
A question sure to raise trouble:
I have about $150-$200 to spend on a performance mod to increase power... what would you guys recommend?
New muffler?
chips?
better air filter & intake?
underdrive pulleys?
something else?
looking forward to see recommendations.
Matt
ps. i have a 302. Everything is stock except for a higher flow catalytic converter.
I have about $150-$200 to spend on a performance mod to increase power... what would you guys recommend?
New muffler?
chips?
better air filter & intake?
underdrive pulleys?
something else?
looking forward to see recommendations.
Matt
ps. i have a 302. Everything is stock except for a higher flow catalytic converter.
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From: St. Louis, MO USA
best $150 performance mod
I'm going to say a good catback system (either scratchbuilt or something like an american thunder), followed by a home-made cold air intake. those are good starter things to do while you save up for new heads and intake manifolds.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
best $150 performance mod
For 150-200 bucks I say MSD ignition. I've had two trucks and I felt more of a difference with the MSD than with the 3 exhaust setups I've had. My american thunder kit cost 300 bucks....
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: AK
best $150 performance mod
Well... I assumed he was doing a full exhaust, headers back. That's why I suggested the chip after. Any modifications made to the exhaust after the cat yield hardly any performance gain... just makes the sound of the exhaust different.
A chip makes the most hp per dollar gain but with the current gas prices doing what their doing
A chip makes the most hp per dollar gain but with the current gas prices doing what their doing
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: St. Louis, MO USA
best $150 performance mod
bacially, you take your filter, and set it somewhere where the air would be colder than inside the engine bay (on mustangs and such, into the fenderwell), then route tubing from the filter to t/b. dont know how much performance increase there is on speed density trucks, but you hear some of the stang guys picking up a few hp, mostly seat of the pants.
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best $150 performance mod
thanks for the input...
I don't have headers, but my y-pipe and cat are a hair higher flow than stock (the dynomax/walker direct fit kit). I think I'll put the msd in when the ignition wires I have now start to decay. For the time being I might try putting on a cold air kit like you guys suggested and a cat back system.
The cat back system looks pretty simple - more or less a high flow muffler and tubing.
Will moving up to three inch from the cat back hurt torque on a single exhaust or is it better to pocket the money and just put in a high flow muffler?
Matt
p.s. dynomax has a $25 rebate right now which brings the super turbo muffler for the bronco (which is the same dimensions as in my truck) down to about $45.
I don't have headers, but my y-pipe and cat are a hair higher flow than stock (the dynomax/walker direct fit kit). I think I'll put the msd in when the ignition wires I have now start to decay. For the time being I might try putting on a cold air kit like you guys suggested and a cat back system.
The cat back system looks pretty simple - more or less a high flow muffler and tubing.
Will moving up to three inch from the cat back hurt torque on a single exhaust or is it better to pocket the money and just put in a high flow muffler?
Matt
p.s. dynomax has a $25 rebate right now which brings the super turbo muffler for the bronco (which is the same dimensions as in my truck) down to about $45.
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best $150 performance mod
Just got a jegs red hot coil, distributor cap, and rotor with some moroso bluemax wires. I'm putting them in tomorrow night and will let you know how it goes. Got a nice 3" muffler too, but I still have to build the piping to accomodate it.
Matt
Matt
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Removing the muffler and just adding a pipe might gain you some HP without costing more than a couple dollars. Mine is like that and is quiet enough with just the cat. I want to do the cold air intake mod also, I was thinking of getting some PVC tubing and running a outlet next to the radiator for a more ram air induction, with some kind of airbox in-between.
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No they didn't really. Mine were worn, especially my distributor cap and rotor. It might have helped it idle smoother, but no power difference that I could tell. Also check out adding the 5.8 air intake instead of setting up a ram air on your own - it might be easier (the snorkel part going to the filter box). It was setting the timing up that made the difference.