Small mods

[Reaper948]

Hey guys, Happy Independence day first and foremost --

I'm having a little trouble again deciding on where I should go for some small modifications.

Ive read many people had PHP intake and intake spacer and then I've seen JLT (also an intake provider) as another source. Steeda and PHP also offer U.D. Pulleys for our car..... Just looking for that peak performance--

I could go PHP all the way but Im skeptical that the intake spacer gives a claimed 3-5 hp on their website...

:help:

IM ALSO LOOKING FOR A CHIP! -

[Pat]

I see you have a full Kooks exhaust system. That's one expensive item out of the way. An Air intake upgrade is an inexpensive mod that will enhance future mods. Two other items I would recommend done at the same time is a "chip" or hand held tuner, (your choice) and a 4:10 rear end gear set. If budget constraints preclude concurrent modifications then I would do the chip/tuner first then the 4:10's. Several fine selections for these upgrades are offered by vendors on this site and they are but a phone call away. Of course the ultimate mod is a supercharger kit also offered by vendors here, but I think you said "small" mods.

Good luck and take all you can, give nothing back. (Pirate's of The Carribean)
See, were Marauders.

[Reaper948]

How's that JLT Air intake? I was deciding between that and PHP---

The dyno claims seem to be quite good on the website... Have you taken your car to the strip with all your mods on?

Thanks for the response!!!

[QWK SVT]

Hey guys, Happy Independence day first and foremost --

I'm having a little trouble again deciding on where I should go for some small modifications.

Ive read many people had PHP intake and intake spacer and then I've seen JLT (also an intake provider) as another source. Steeda and PHP also offer U.D. Pulleys for our car..... Just looking for that peak performance--

I could go PHP all the way but Im skeptical that the intake spacer gives a claimed 3-5 hp on their website...

:help:

IM ALSO LOOKING FOR A CHIP! -
It sounds like you're looking at pretty much the same modification path that I'm following... I can't really speak about the spacer, as I don't have one. I think the spacer is a puzzle piece that may be needed down the road, but there are other, bigger impact mods on my list, first.

I do have a JLT intake. I'm really happy with it and haven't really had the rubbing issues some have reported. For the price, I think it's a good buy. Plus, it certainly won't hurt, but should help future mods. I have felt, and documented a nice little performance increase through same-day testing.

I just followed that up with an Xcal2, from Lidio. The performance increase is great! The car is much more responsive, and the transmission now acts the way Ford should have set it up, right from the start. Again, I've documented a pretty healthy increase (a fair bit more than from the intake), on same-day testing.

My next mod will be Steeda under drive pulleys. They're cheap and easy (just how I like my women, too :D). I've had other cars (included a 4.6L SOHC) with pulleys installed, and there's a decent increase in power - especially given the price.

I think with the three mods, you'll have a healthy pick up in performance, that won't break the bank. You could also keep the mpg in check, with 3.55's in the rear, and still have the 4.10's available, the next time you're looking for a kick in power.

[Rider90]

Reaper, I'd hate to say it, but it really is the best suggestion you will EVER find in anyone that will reply to this thread.

Do a search buddy.

It's been covered, often in lengthy reviews that will never be repeated due to lack of interest by the person who wrote it. Any threads you stumble upon that were created by me, and have message deleted in them, ignore it and move on to the next :mad2:

I found everything I needed to know from searching the archives and if I needed to know more, I brought it up so the next person can search and find it. I have 4.10s, Diablosport Predator, K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit & Drycharger Wrap, and some other stuff. If you have a question about something I've got - just send me a PM and I'll get back to ya.

Happy Searching!

[valleyman]

What he ^^^^^^ said. True words. Wealth of information. :2thumbs:

[SergntMac]

All the mods you mention provide small increases in power, but also provide more latiude in tuning. It's a situation where you have to let the 3-this and 4 that add up.

I tested the Steeda UDPs on my N/A Marauder a few years ago, they deliver true "bang for the buck". Good choice, thumbs up.

I testsed Paul's intake spacer last year on my S/C Marauder, and I can't really say it's good, or, bad. Very narrow gains that could be attributed to other conditions. However, for the money involved, it can't hurt. I've had the opportunity to take the spacer off during other changes, and I haven't, so, I guess it's worth something.

I like the PHP cold air kit. Slowpoke has one and it not only looks good, but really performs well with a dyno tune. I like it more when it's married to the upper half of the JLT kit. With your Kook's in place, anything you can do to lower air temps and increase air volume going into the MAF, and smooth out the air path after the MAF, will have a very positive result in performance gains. After you decide what to add, start saving for a dyno tune. Then you'll see the 3-this and 4-that add up. Happy motoring!

[fastblackmerc]

All the mods you mention provide small increases in power, but also provide more latiude in tuning. It's a situation where you have to let the 3-this and 4 that add up.

I tested the Steeda UDPs on my N/A Marauder a few years ago, they deliver true "bang for the buck". Good choice, thumbs up.

I testsed Paul's intake spacer last year on my S/C Marauder, and I can't really say it's good, or, bad. Very narrow gains that could be attributed to other conditions. However, for the money involved, it can't hurt. I've had the opportunity to take the spacer off during other changes, and I haven't, so, I guess it's worth something.

I like the PHP cold air kit. Slowpoke has one and it not only looks good, but really performs well with a dyno tune. I like it more when it's married to the upper half of the JLT kit. With your Kook's in place, anything you can do to lower air temps and increase air volume going into the MAF, and smooth out the air path after the MAF, will have a very positive result in performance gains. After you decide what to add, start saving for a dyno tune. Then you'll see the 3-this and 4-that add up. Happy motoring!
You might want to change to a colder thermostat and speark plugs. You may not see a big increase in HP & torque, but they are cheap, easy to install and can't hurt.

[Reaper948]

Im glad to be hit up by the Macdaddy--
After staying up to a ludicrous time in the early morning last night, I've decided to go with the JLT kit. Reinhart's site posts it at 250, and JLT sells it at 155 shipped. I'm 20 years old and its that 95 dollar difference that makes me willing to give in for a cheaper price. As the Kooks is already in place, any kind of Air induction would be better to have and will prove to be more effective than stock. Will the PHP Spacer work with the JLT intake? I'm not sure I know what a spacer is exactly. Next step is an Xcalibur, Steeda pulleys and perhaps ill go with thermostat and plugs...... thanks

PS Still need to get all this properly dynotuned!

[Dennis Reinhart]

Im glad to be hit up by the Macdaddy--
After staying up to a ludicrous time in the early morning last night, I've decided to go with the JLT kit. Reinhart's site posts it at 250, and JLT sells it at 155 shipped. I'm 20 years old and its that 95 dollar difference that makes me willing to give in for a cheaper price. As the Kooks is already in place, any kind of Air induction would be better to have and will prove to be more effective than stock. Will the PHP Spacer work with the JLT intake? I'm not sure I know what a spacer is exactly. Next step is an Xcalibur, Steeda pulleys and perhaps ill go with thermostat and plugs...... thanks

PS Still need to get all this properly dynotuned!
You information is not quite right, my price for the Paul's Cold air kit was 250.00 this is not a JLT kit not even close, but unfortunately Paul has discontinued selling this, and this is a far better looking Cold air kit than any I have seen so far, the steedas are on back order I have PHP spacers in stock as well as X cal 2, I amy try and have the PHP cold air kit made by another company

[snowbird]

Also, You might want to look at the classified on this site. Recently, there was a guy selling a PHP filter and spacer kit :)

[Reaper948]

Also, You might want to look at the classified on this site. Recently, there was a guy selling a PHP filter and spacer kit :)

Really? I checked - i found nitrous, flowmasters, and other stuff
no luck on a filter/spacer

[snowbird]

Really? I checked - i found nitrous, flowmasters, and other stuff
no luck on a filter/spacerCheck on page 2, in the 2003 and up used parts. I'm the guy !

[SergntMac]

Reinhart's site posts it at 250, and JLT sells it at 155 shipped. I'm 20 years old and its that 95 dollar difference that makes me willing to give in for a cheaper price. As the Kooks is already in place, any kind of Air induction would be better to have and will prove to be more effective than stock. Will the PHP Spacer work with the JLT intake? I'm not sure I know what a spacer is exactly. Next step is an Xcalibur, Steeda pulleys and perhaps ill go with thermostat and plugs... Just some minor corrections to your mod rationale...

First...I believe there are two JLT kits, or, a base kit with options. One just mates between the MAF on the stock air box assembly, and another that replaces the stock air box with a concial filter and heat shield. This may explain the costs difference you point out. Send me an e-mail at SergntMac@aol.com for additional 411.

Second...Yes, the PHP intake spacer works with any of the induction kits, including the JLT, though the increased upper manifold height may cause some rubbing against the hood lining under WOT. You see, the elbow that connects with the throttle body is rubber, and normal engine bay temps cause it to become quite flexible. It can baloon up when hot and under WOT. I have the JLT installed right now, and this rubbing appears inconsequential to me, IMHO. The 4" OD PVC induction pipe and smooth path to the throttle body are quite an improvement over the stock induction bellows.

Third...The advice on colder Denso IT-20 plugs and lower 180 thermostat will provide some additional SCT tuning headroom, however, as a stand alone mod, I do not recommended them. These mods serve to lower engine temps and improve the combustion process, but will not change anything by themselves. Do not use them unless you are using/intend to use an SCT based custom tune, they have not been tested with Diablo tuning, therefore, I cannot recommend them with Diablo tuning either. If you're planning on SCT tuning, with plugs and stat in place, the tuner will have some additional headroom to work with.

Finally...If you follow the SCT tuning plan, balancing engine temps per cylinder is important to getting the best tune and avoiding detonation. I suggest you consider adding the Reinhart/Cobra head cooling kit. This mod restores a missing coolant circulation path that causes the 7 and 8 cylinders (last two on the driver's bank) on a Marauder to run hotter than the remaining cylinders. Every failed Marauder engine I have seen to date, lost the 7 and 8 cylinders, and I believe detonation is the culprit.

I can't call this a performance mod per se, but it will balance engine cooling temps between cylinders. Think about this. If you have one or two cylinders running at 180 degrees, and one or two running at 190 degrees on the opposite side of the engine, you're not going to get even combustion across all eight cylinders. With each cylinder combusting at different temps, the power delivered by each cylinder will be uneven, and that's just not good.

Stabilize cylinder temps and you'll run smoother, and produce more power safely under WOT. I've had mine in place almost two years now, and along with the 180 stat, and my engine maintains a stable 183-185 coolant temp I'll call normal under all but the most extreme conditions, and all year around too. Stable coolant temp is important to avoiding detonation, which can kill your engine faster than most will say.

If you're considering the mods spoken of here, and plan to run your MM hard on hot days, please stay up one more long night to research this mod with our search function?

[Reaper948]

Just ordered the 4.10s from Mr. Reinhart - Ive been convinced since the first day I joined this site that I needed them - now that I actually have some time I will finally be able to put them in -- Sarge's point in getting the cooling kit is valid - But i think Ill have to wait on that -- For now, Ive just ordered new 10000K HIDs, the JLT Intake, and 4.10s.......i think theyll go well with my Kooking :)

[Reaper948]

MAN if i had known ..........I already ordered my JLT -- plus ive never been a fan of used stuff anyway :)... but if youre willing to let that spacer go id love to know how much