YACT: Performance Modifications or Cosmetic Modifications.

[jcovercash]

Ok Right now Im debating on which on to do first.

I have a 92 5.0 Mustang that I have been spending some money on lately, but im not sure which direction I want to go in.....

Should I Buy.....

A Camshaft, Rocker Arms, Valve Springs, Throttle Body (Intake and Heads would come a few months later) If I go this route I will probally put off the cosmetic modifications for a while.
OR
Have My Car Painted and get a set of chrome wheels for it.
OR
Wait till X-Mas Time sell my car and Buy a 2000-2002 GT Mustang.


Im pretty set on keeping my 5.0 because its my baby and I like It, there is nothing wrong with it besides it being almost 15 years old. The motor could probally stand to be rebuilt in it but thats not a big deal, and the tranny too. IMO I would rather sink 10k into this car then 10k into a newer one and then have the urge to fix the new one up.

Whatever route I do go first, I will be getting the interior fixed in the same process. There are just some plastic peices that are wearing overtime that need to be replaced.

Im most likely heading for the performance route right now. But I thought I would see what the general consensus of ATOT was.


Thanks,
Josh

 

[Zim Hosein]

<-- Waits for notfred to post

 

[NutBucket]

351 Crate engine?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Performance. Looks don't make it go.

 

[TheAudit]

Fix the looks then go for the internal mods.

 

[GasX]

Performances mods first.

Nothing is cooler than the roar of a tweaked out 302 in a car covered in bondo and primer...

 

[zixxer]

make it look decent first. unless you live in rural alabama

 

[3chordcharlie]

Make it go, then paint it. That should lessen the chances of messing up your new paint job while you make it go.

 

[SilverTorch]

Performance first.

or you can do cosmetic first and have it sit all nice a pretty in the driver way

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Make it go, then paint it. That should lessen the chances of messing up your new paint job while you make it go.

This is what Im mainly basing my decision of off......

Mwilding, I already have Mac full lenth exaust, offroad on the car. It already roars!!! But the paint on it is fine lol, some clear coat is peeling off, and a rocker panel needs to be fixed from where the chrome Cobra R wheels where stolen off it before. So when it gets painted that will be replaced/repaired. But also the molding is going to be replaced when its painted as some of its fading/deteriorating.

Josh

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Performance. Looks don't make it go.

yep

 

[Insane3D]

A fellow fox body owner?!?! Same year as mine...

IMO, it depends on how you use the car, the shape the motor is in now, and how much you will be doing yourself. If the paint/body is still in relatively good shape, I would put off the paint/wheels for now. As for your motor upgrades, I would drop the valve springs, rocker arms, and camshaft until you do the heads/intake. You'll save on labor, and assuming you aren't going the bare head route, you won't be needing new springs. It would be kinda silly to do the springs now, then in a couple months put on new heads with new valvetrain. The cam I would do when I did heads, that way you can get a cam that will better work with the intake/head combo you will be putting on, instead of with the stock setup.

Here' what I would probably do. I would make sure you have the air intake and exhaust upgraded so when you throw on the new heads/intake, they won't be hindered by poor airflow in, or poor exhaust out. I would do the TB and a mass air meter, as well as a cold air kit that puts the filter in the fender. On the exhaust side, I would throw on some decent ceramic shorty headers (NOT equal length), and possibly upgrade the H-pipe if you are running stock.

Once you put on the heads, intake and cam, they will work much better with good airflow, and a good exhaust path.

One more thing...you will find unless you do the 5 lug conversion, you're rim choice will be limited to pretty much the SVT Cobra-R's.

Feel free to shoot me a pm if you want to talk cars...

Oh, and here's my '92 GT.



Almost forgot....in you don't know about it already, check out 5.0 Resto. It's a great site that has tons of hard to find parts.

 

[Tiamat]

Performance first. Its all about peeling off and smoking the car next to you with the 12" high 3 tired wings.

 

[GasX]

I jest, but I still think performance comes first.

The finishing touch that will truly finish your car is getting new headlights. Yours are probably rather yellowed by now and that touch will really show off the new paint job.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I jest, but I still think performance comes first.

The finishing touch that will truly finish your car is getting new headlights. Yours are probably rather yellowed by now and that touch will really show off the new paint job.

Voilla

also...

All Clear

or...

"Ultra Clear"

or...

"Projector" <--Overpriced and ricey...IMO.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
A fellow fox body owner?!?! Same year as mine...

IMO, it depends on how you use the car, the shape the motor is in now, and how much you will be doing yourself. If the paint/body is still in relatively good shape, I would put off the paint/wheels for now. As for your motor upgrades, I would drop the valve springs, rocker arms, and camshaft until you do the heads/intake. You'll save on labor, and assuming you aren't going the bare head route, you won't be needing new springs. It would be kinda silly to do the springs now, then in a couple months put on new heads with new valvetrain. The cam I would do when I did heads, that way you can get a cam that will better work with the intake/head combo you will be putting on, instead of with the stock setup.

Here' what I would probably do. I would make sure you have the air intake and exhaust upgraded so when you throw on the new heads/intake, they won't be hindered by poor airflow in, or poor exhaust out. I would do the TB and a mass air meter, as well as a cold air kit that puts the filter in the fender. On the exhaust side, I would throw on some decent ceramic shorty headers (NOT) equal length, and possibly upgrade the H-pipe if you are running stock.

Once you put on the heads, intake and cam, they will work much better with good airflow, and a good exhaust path.

One more thing...you will find unless you do the 5 lug conversion, you're rim choice will be limited to pretty much the SVT Cobra-R's.

Feel free to shoot me a pm if you want to talk cars...

Oh, and here's my '92 GT.



Almost forgot....in you don't know about it already, check out 5.0 Resto. It's a great site that has tons of hard to find parts.

Yea. I have bene getting parts from 5.0 Resto, great company.

BTW I already have a 75MM Mass Air Meter, with a Mac Cold Air Induction in the fenderwell, BBK Shorty Heads, and Mac Offroad Exhaust the rest of the way Back, H-pipe. I will be doing all the engine work myself. Reason im doing the Cam/Throttle Body/Rocker Arms now is that I start back to school this week so my funds will decrease slightly. Im not 100% sure how long it would be for heads/intake so I want to go ahead and get something it it to satisfy me for a while. I will get a cam based on my intake/head choice that way when I do drop the instake and heads on it will bring it to life . Im just a really impatient person too lol.

Josh

BTW nice looking car. Im fixing to go wash mine then ill post some pictures.

Josh

 

[Insane3D]

Ahhh...cool. What heads you going with? I've put the FMS GT40-X's on awhile back...

Is this your daily driver, or just a "summer car"?

<--Drives his year round for the past 11 years...including these rough winters here in New Hampshire.

:Q

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I jest, but I still think performance comes first.

The finishing touch that will truly finish your car is getting new headlights. Yours are probably rather yellowed by now and that touch will really show off the new paint job.

Yellowed??? I think not, They better not be just put the new ones in last weekend .

I have did alot to my car lol. Its not stock I have tried to replace stuff that needs replacing.

I have put a whole new frontend in the car since I got it basically - motor.

Rack/Pinion,Ball Joints,Power Steering Pump,Alternator, etc..... Energy Suspension Bushings, Shocks, Struts, And Everything else Boy I have put to much into this car but its starting to come togather good.

Josh

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Ahhh...cool. What heads you going with? I've put the FMS GT40-X's on awhile back...

Is this your daily driver, or just a "summer car"?

<--Drives his year round for the past 11 years...including these rough winters here in New Hampshire.

:Q

Daily Driver Had it two years. Been Working on it every weekend since doing little things.....

Im not 100% sure on heads. I have been looking around but idk what I want to go with nor do I know what intake.

As for cam im looking for something like the Ford E-303, or F-303. I want a rough idle in my car so you can tell its got something going on . Im not set on anything. I just want the car to talk to me, and keep the power range mid-high.

Josh

 

[Mellman]

performance....performance....performance....unless you have a show car...then i dont give a rats ass about what your car looks like, if it sounds good and can high tail it outta there...then you have a sweet ride...i drive a stock 83 elky, with the exception of custom headers and back...and damn it sounds hot...the warlock mufflers i installed have the cutouts so it goes straight through the muffler...that'll wake up anyone...especially if it hits around the 2000 rpm mark

if your worried about needing an engine rebuild...and a tranny rebuild...go ahead and take care of that first. I speak from experience. If you put too much power through that old stock tranny...you'll be wishing you didnt when it decides to take a dump on you. if you plan on keeping this car for a long time, which it sounds like you do, go ahead and get a nice built tranny (T-56!!!!!!!!!!!) and then drop in a built 351, if you are all the way, SC it...you'll enjoy it.

I'm not much of a ford guy..i hate em actually, but if i see one that has some nice mods done to it ill respect it. on the other hand i hate seeing these kids with the ricer mindset and what they do to their mustangs...

good luck and if you are in the richmond va area hit me up...my car club has shop access

 

[nakedfrog]

Dump it and get a newer model. You have one of the ugly Mustangs. I HATE that body style, ESPECIALLY for a performance car. It's just fugly. 2nd ugliest Mustang design ever.

Or just buy the performance stuff, because you apparently don't think it's ugly.

 

[halik]

ummmm "cosmetic mods on a 90 5.0" is an oxymoron... those cars are one of the fugliest 80s relics on the road. However they haul some major ass...

If you want a fast car, throw money at the power ttrain. If you want a 'nice' car, get something else

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: Mellman
i hate seeing these kids with the ricer mindset and what they do to their mustangs...

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHH!!

Don't even get me started ont hat, its amazing how easy this people can ruin a car with aful body kits and huge wings and stickers!@

 

[Mellman]

dont let these haters rag on your 5.0....i lub chevy but even i enjoy the fox bodies....the NEW mustangs are the fugly ones.....

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Dump it and get a newer model. You have one of the ugly Mustangs. I HATE that body style, ESPECIALLY for a performance car. It's just fugly. 2nd ugliest Mustang design ever.

Or just buy the performance stuff, because you apparently don't think it's ugly.

Riiiiiiiiiight. Because you hate it, he should dump it. Gotcha.

:roll: