Off-topic, Mustang V6 tweak

[uncltodd]

All, I did not know where to post this.

Sweetness, my college girl, is driving an '03 Mustang ragtop with a V6 automatic.

We swapped vehicles for about 2 weeks, I grew fond of the little piggy. Lord, I love the wind in my eyebrows. And the sound system.

Injected, what, 3.8 Litre? V6. Auto, air, very cool ride for an airhead college girl.

The young studs I work with keep telling me about "power chips" and "programmer" stuff for the ignition.

Hey, I still remember that there are 23 critical adjustments on the Rochester Quadrajet carburettor.... kids today think carburettors only come on lawn mowers.

I'm an analog guy in a digital world.

I'm clewless.

Is the V6 worth tweaking? It seems to finally come up on the cam just about the time it redlines and shifts. No low end, so-so until 4 grand.

Where do I go to get info on this "power chip" thing?

Also, how about a "power chip" thing for my '98 4WD Expudition to help my 12.4 MPG? Gasoline, she is no cheap now. We call it the "Log Truck".

If there is a thread about this I couldn't find it.

If I should have posted on another forum, I apologize.

Hey, I belong to forums from Chinese Cuisine to Steroids, and clubcobra has to have the most informed, intuitive, and POLITE membership of any.

Thank you.

UT

BTW- OK Turk, I want my trophy thing, A favore. It really looks cool.

[clayfoushee]

UT

Yeah....definitely worth tweaking. I bought my daughter a 99 to learn to drive on. I added a cold air induction system, cat-back dual exhausts, and a chip with 3 settings (including stock), and it makes quite a difference....sounds sweet too. All these parts are available everywhere and reasonable. It's all very simple bolt-on stuff, easily done in the driveway.

It's still emissions legal too....just passed with flying colors.

[uncltodd]

Clay! My Man!

Should I do the chip thing first?

Tell me where to go look online. I can't "drive downtown" and buy this stuff. I'm 120 miles from Dallas/Tulsa/OKC.

Dual exhausts- all the way back custom or split after a single? I ain't gonna drive a V6 with "fart cans."

The only six-banger exhaust I really liked was from a red 1968 XK type E Jag that I used to service when I was trying to go to college.

Thanks Clay.

UT

[clayfoushee]

UT,

I don't remember which Mustang parts place I used (was about 18 months ago), but just do a Google search on "Mustang Parts" or "Mustang Performance." There are about a million outfits selling this stuff for Mustangs.

The chip is probably the single biggest improvement, second would be the cat-back exhaust system, and last the cold air intake. They do work together, but each independently adds something.

The cat-back exhaust system bolts on behind the catalytic converter then splits into 2 mufflers with an exhaust pipe on each side. They look almost identical to the chrome pipes on the V-8 GT (definitely not fart cans). It's only a little louder, but delivers a nice growl.

I finished my daughter's off with a set of repro. Bullit-style mags and 17 in. performance tires. Looks like a stock GT, and probably has about the same HP.

I bought all the stuff on the web and UPS delivered it to my door. I'd go look, but she has the car, I think I put the sticker of the company in the trunk.

[uncltodd]

Clay-

It seems most chip stuff is for GM vehicles or diesels.

Online I found a Ford Mustang V6 chip made by "Jet" that reportedly gives a 15 HP boost.

$240 on line, $290 from local auto parts place.

Could this be the one you installed? No mention of three settings in the description.

Thanks, Clay

UT

[clayfoushee]

UT,

I just went out and looked at the car, which happens to be here today.

I bought everything from:

www.rpmoutlet.com

Diablo switchable chip, Mac bolt-on cat-back dual exhausts and cold air intake. There is also a phone number on their site, and you can talk to one of their tech reps.

All you'll need is to pull the pass. footwell cover and read the code marked on the outside of the ECU case, so they can flash the chip for the right program for your car.

They claim 18HP for the chip alone in the 3.8 V-6, and I probably got another 40 or so with the cold air intake and exhaust system, for under $1K, not bad.

[uncltodd]

Clay, I repeat, You Da Man!

UT

[uncltodd]

Clay, have been round and round with the kids on my Oklahoma Mustang forum... they all like the Diablo Programmer as a first step.

Geez, $375...

Of course, they all want me to pop for a blower of some sort down the line.

I gently explained that a move like that would probably void my extended warranty...

Ah, to be young and stupid again...

Naaah. I like being old and treacherous.

But I truly enjoy my young friends.

UT

[LwCwb]

Hello again UT, my dad has a 99 GT, so I am geeting into helping him get a little more power, he has 3.73 rear gears, flowmaster exhaust, steeda suspension, cold air intake, 70mm throttle body, and finally, the "Diablo" chip. I think that the power programmers are set up to make max power with the stock settings. Brothers Performance out of Corona, CA has a lot of stuff for 87 up Mustangs (Im talking my dad into getting headers for his car from here) The "Hypertech programmer from them is $320 plus shipping, but I am looking at Januarys catalog, so the price may have gone up or down. The underdrive pulleys add a good amount of horse power for the money too. These programmers allow you to change the rev limits and top speed, and also unlock about. Hope this helps you out.

[uncltodd]

Mike, just ordered a Diablo programmer for $320, I really can't do any more mods because the vehicle WILL be traded in within 24 months and I FOR SURE don't want to mess with the high-dollar extended warranty I paid (paying) for with other mechanical mods. This car ain't a "keeper."

The "Stang is 40 miles away, I visit College Girl about once every two weeks and feed her and say Hi! to the ragtop.

BTW Mike... Rule #1 of college life- NEVER turn down free food.

Thanks for the PM

UT

[Edley Rondinone]

does the mileage suffer with these mods, does it stay the same, or get better?

[LwCwb]

Edley, the mods like the exhaust actually help the fuel milage, but the more radical you go with it, ex. a rear gears or cams, will make it suffer a lot, depending if you have the V8 or V6. Most of the little odds and end stuff like exhaust and air intake will improve it, while giving you more power. By the way UT, I tried and tried to make my dad's Mustang into a doner car for one of the new FFR kits, but he didn't like the idea I came up with. The only thing that I don't like about his car is that is an automatic tranny.

[clayfoushee]

Correct, with the mods I reported above and about 40 more ponies, you get more air in and out of the engine, and under comparable conditions, it's more efficient and get's slightly better gas mileage.

The only problem is once you do that, you want to see that new performance, so you tend to stomp on it more often. Then, it gets worse. There ain't no free lunch .

[ridelikehell]

Hey UT...
I've got an '03 V6, maybe I can shed some more light on the topic!...

Everyone so far who has recomended the DiabloSport chip is 100% correct, it's by far the best chip for the car...All the regular bolt-on's go well on the car (cold air, underdrive pulley, etc.) are all pretty decent...For exhaust I personally cut out my Y-Pipe and put in a custom 2.5" H-Pipe with 3.5" tips and MAC Flowpath mufflers and it sounds great...I would advise against Flowmasters on the V6 as they tend to really REALLY thin out in the high rpms...
By far the best mod to do on these cars however is swapping the rear end gears...I've gone with 3.73's in mine as well as putting in a T-Lok (the V6's don't come with them)...so those along with the chip is a good thing to do since the chip can re-cal your speedometer too...
Incase you're interested, my current mod list is as follows: Short Shifter, Custom H-Pipe with Flowpaths & 3.5" Tips, MAC Springs, 3.73's w/T Lok, DiabloSport Chip programmed to 91 octane, Cold Air, Strut Tower Brace, Subframe connectors, 25% UDP, Rear Sway Bar.

If you've got anymore questions I'd be more than happy to answer!
Good luck!