2 questions for automatic 02 GT

[Vertigo]

1.) i'm at a loss for what gears to get for my 02 gt. it's got an automatic tranny and sees mostly highway time. i want something that will significantly increase my acceleration, without completely destroying my gas milage. any suggestions?

2.) second, i've heard that a cam is kind of a waste of money for this particular engine, that all that it will do is give an incredible loping sound, but not really add enough power to be worthwhile to buy. is there any truth to that statement? if it would be worthwhile, what cam would you recomend?

[speedfreak87]

1. 410's

2. A cam is good for any motor, given it's the right one and you have the other mods to support it (ie. exhaust etc).

[Vertigo]

all i have done so far is a JTL CAI, BBK off-road X pipe and flowmaster 40 series.

[speedfreak87]

you're probably going to want to do headers.

[Vertigo]

i do plan on it, i plan on doing a lot of things to it still, but it's hard to come by the extra cash for it right now, since i'm on my own just starting college.

[speedfreak87]

if you do cams, do the headers at the same time. but as far as a "low" budget mod, the gears will deffinatly get you going much quicker then the stockers.

[Dirty_SOHC]

Don't bother with the headers unless your planning to go with forced induction or a serious nitrous set up, the cost far out weighs the gain. If you decide to do cams, get a good set of stage 2 cams along with ported heads, you will not see the full potential of the cams with out head work. As for gears, find a set of 3.90 gears, not quite a 4.10 but better than a 3.73. Also, loose the flowmasters, and go with a an exhaust like bassanai, slp or magnaflow., you actually giving up power running the flows on a mod motor. Also for the street don't go bigger than a 70mm throttle body, you'll loose more low end torque than you'll gain hp. If you do cams get a converter, preferably something above 3k rpm, and get the car dyno tuned, both for the cams and the trans.

[03SVT]

^ i disagree sir, if you want to get gains from the cams headers are a must, same for the stall, if you read comp cams website for the stage 2 iirc exhaust/intake and stall are needed. basically i would free up the exhaust and intake side before i considered cams, also i would consder going FI before cams as well, cams may net you 25 or 30hp but a good FI setup can get you 100+ and for the amount spent on headwork, cams, springs, and install time itll run pretty close to the intercooled KB 9psi kit...
my 03 GT 5spd i had before the cobra had
3.73s
K&N CAI
steeda UDP
BBK LT's
O/R X pipe
borla stingers
accufab 75mm tb and plenum
JMS chip SCT dyno tune for 93 agressive street, 90 shot, 125 shot
compucar wet kit

car made 263/313 SAE off the bottle, and 390/474 sae on the 125 shot

[Dirty_SOHC]

^ i disagree sir, if you want to get gains from the cams headers are a must, same for the stall, if you read comp cams website for the stage 2 iirc exhaust/intake and stall are needed. basically i would free up the exhaust and intake side before i considered cams, also i would consder going FI before cams as well, cams may net you 25 or 30hp but a good FI setup can get you 100+ and for the amount spent on headwork, cams, springs, and install time itll run pretty close to the intercooled KB 9psi kit...
my 03 GT 5spd i had before the cobra had
3.73s
K&N CAI
steeda UDP
BBK LT's
O/R X pipe
borla stingers
accufab 75mm tb and plenum
JMS chip SCT dyno tune for 93 agressive street, 90 shot, 125 shot
compucar wet kit

car made 263/313 SAE off the bottle, and 390/474 sae on the 125 shot

I was talking about power compared to cost. I'm not gonna drop $1k just for 10 hp and maybe 15 ft/lb, two cars side by side testing, the only difference being he had long tubes and a o/r mid pipe, I just have an SLP mid-pipe, the car is identical to mine and that was the only difference, I couldn't see it being worth the extra 1k he spent. and if you gonna do headers, you might as well do a tubular k-member while your doing it, and if your gonna do the k-member, might as well do control arms and coi-overs while your at it.

[Shane361]

02 Auto GT, 4.10s are perfect for extra power and a good daily driver gear. The difference between stock and 4.10 gears in your car is like throwing a supercharger on there..well..ALMOST! I had an 02 supercharged GT with 4.10 gears before and after the SC install. Its crazy difference with just the gear swap. Stay with Ford Racing gears as they are warranted more than any other gear. Gears are the best "bang for the Buck" where as Headers are the worst. I wouldnt get headers on your car till you boost it or have just ran out of all other bolt ons. Headers will help...of course. If you buy some headers and put them on yourself sure why not. If you buy them and have some shop install them for gazillion bucks then of course not. Given your situation here is what I say you should have. Cold air(non metal), Accufab 75mm throttle body and plenum, 410 geas, mid pipe, cat back, tuner. About it for the basic stuff-Shane

[03SVT]

i lucked out on my header install, i took it to the midas on rivers and they quoted me 400 bucks (i know that typically header install on mod motor can be anywhere between 8to 14 hours depending) i told them i wanted it in writing, boom 12 hours worth of work later they hand me a bill for 1200 bucks, i then whipped out the qoute and told them im not paying a dime over what you qouted me.... needless to say they dont do headers anymore

[TrueBlueVenom]

yup. 4.10s. I had 4.10s on my '02 GT auto and loved 'em. At that time, it was my daily driver (in Austin traffic to boot) and no issues for me.

Slap on some L/Ts and be done. :)

[311-420]

thats the easiest question in the world to answer. 4.10s.

[TT_GT]

^^^

I have to dissagree on the 4:10 for the auto trans when you do alot of highway driveing. i had a auto trans in my car b4 i swaped it out with a tko 3550 trans. and the MPG was just god awfull. for and auto just stick with the 3:73 gears that one will work just fine