My Dream: Beating a Mustang GT

[TurboMan]

I have been an import fan basically my whole life. I used to drive an MKII Supra, a 93 VTEC Prelude, and now, I am driving a MSP. Throughout most of my adult life, I have always wanted to beat the Mustang GT (the recent generation, not the 5.0s or early 90s version) in a drag race. I realize that my two previous ride choices were probably not the best choices for achieving this goal, as they were both naturally aspirated and thereby somewhat limited in their potential. However, this being said, I am curious about the realistic tuning possibilities of the MSP. I, myself am not a very rich man. Over the course of the time I plan on owning the MSP, I plan on throwing about 2000-2500 into it in mods. I am wondering whether this would be enough to get me to the point where I could have a good shot at beating a GT. I have compiled a list of the major mods I think might help me get there and are within my price range. Please share your opinion about whether you think it is possible to achive my goal, given my means. Also please provide advice if you're in the know.

1. MBC
2. Spool's Emanage
3. short ram
4. downpipe
5. exhaust
6. ?

Please don't flame and say something cliche and typical like, "The MSP is not meant for drag racing, it's meant for handling, auto x..." Blah, blah, blah. I really could care less about what it was meant to do

 

[JDM Sam]

Catless downpipe and boost controller @ 10 psi with some slicks. happy launching! eat those bitchstangs alive. BTW all you had to do is hook up a 75 shot on your prelude $ 499 plus installation and $30 NO2 fill up and you would be pony hunting.

 

[JDM Sam]

Practice launching better and finding the ideal shift points and try to find a GT thats an auto, convertible, some idiot who can't launch or shift, or run them from a roll in 2nd. You'll be surprised at what your car can do. Our 4.11 final drive is there for a reason.

 

[AZDriftR]

u should have stuck with the supra and added a turbo set-up u would have been smashing gt's, even though thats not really that much of an unreachable goal, they arnt that fast ( not that my car is either...hehe). they make alotta noise but thats really it. they can pull hard but they run outta breath quick.... unless yer talkin bout S-281(s351) thats a different story...

 

[loj68]

contrary to popular belief a stock mustang GT isn't that fast. 260hp and about 3300lbs plus a lot of redneck kid owners who can't drive. Also they're mostly automatics. With some boost and some tuning you might take a stock one. Besides, you could beat one easily even with your stock MSP......if you just invite him to an Auto-X and watch him try to powerslide that heap through the course

 

[jaymode]

dont they run mid 14's? If so I think a msp with a boost controller, motor mounts, and slicks should take one.

The motor mounts would be a really good idea because wheel hop seems to be a big issue with the msp.

 

[Pure Insanity]

Ill add my 2 cents agreeing that Stangs arent as fast as people think they are. W/ the right driver they can be, but most people just put the tires up in smoke.

And besides, even if they are fast, they dont corner worth a damn in stock form IMO.

 

[kwiktsi]

I have been an import fan basically my whole life. I used to drive an MKII Supra, a 93 VTEC Prelude, and now, I am driving a MSP. Throughout most of my adult life, I have always wanted to beat the Mustang GT (the recent generation, not the 5.0s or early 90s version) in a drag race. I realize that my two previous ride choices were probably not the best choices for achieving this goal, as they were both naturally aspirated and thereby somewhat limited in their potential. However, this being said, I am curious about the realistic tuning possibilities of the MSP. I, myself am not a very rich man. Over the course of the time I plan on owning the MSP, I plan on throwing about 2000-2500 into it in mods. I am wondering whether this would be enough to get me to the point where I could have a good shot at beating a GT. I have compiled a list of the major mods I think might help me get there and are within my price range. Please share your opinion about whether you think it is possible to achive my goal, given my means. Also please provide advice if you're in the know.

1. MBC
2. Spool's Emanage
3. short ram
4. downpipe
5. exhaust
6. ?

Please don't flame and say something cliche and typical like, "The MSP is not meant for drag racing, it's meant for handling, auto x..." Blah, blah, blah. I really could care less about what it was meant to do

I had an MBC, K&N and FPR kit in mine and I pulled a convertible pretty good from a roll when I was in FL. Then when my car had my MBC, FPR and FCD along with an exhuast, when I traded it in for my GT, I let the salesman drive the MSP and I drove the Stang- my MSP DESTROYED my Stang . If that is your only goal, you will have no problems acheiving that .
Joe

 

[JTP]

What about a 99 Cobra Convertable 5 speed? Is that an attainable goal to reach. Cause I would love to just smash this guy at work that always brags about his Mulletstang.

 

[kwiktsi]

What about a 99 Cobra Convertable 5 speed? Is that an attainable goal to reach. Cause I would love to just smash this guy at work that always brags about his Mulletstang.

Not going to happen easliy. I have seen them go 11's with a pulley, tires and exhaust and high 12's stock. Depends on driver also- I have also seen them go low 14's, high 13's with morons driving .. Even with a horrible driver, they will pull away from even an "aggressively" modded MSP. It would take a turbo uprade, built motor, standalone, etc. to run the MPH that a cobra will..
Joe

 

[ND4MSP]

JTP-seeing how people(a couple have, sorry) are starting to break into the thirteens on this board with similar mods that turboman plans on plus some decent fuel management, 99 stock cobra kill might not be that far fetched. Any one now how heavy the convertables are?#6 tires or clutch maybe?

 

[instylz]

Get some Nos....might be your last run with the MSP but it will go out with a bang...

 

[SuperSpud]

yeah dude, GT's arent all that fast.. boostin 10psi you can hang with one from a roll.. I imagine getting an exhaust or any other bigger mod will put you ahead....

 

[kwiktsi]

JTP-seeing how people(a couple have, sorry) are starting to break into the thirteens on this board with similar mods that turboman plans on plus some decent fuel management, 99 stock cobra kill might not be that far fetched. Any one now how heavy the convertables are?#6 tires or clutch maybe?

Just hit me that he said 99.. I was thinking of an SC cobra. A 99 Cobra is going to be tougher than a regular GT, but it is more feasible..
Joe

 

[MP3skaterNC]

Theres alot of rednecks with mustangs around here. And most of them have gone down to the mp3-t. If its a near stock/stock automatic gt, its not really a challenge. The more modded ones though, thats a different story. Mostly because modding to the hicks around here means spraying n20. I took a 99 cobra down on a highway roll, Im just guessing the guy was a bad driver though.

 

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

Get forged internals a MBC 104oct gas and some fuel management. Then whoop some ass take the money from the ass whoopings buy the ION turbo upgrade and some slicks.
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM.

 

[kwiktsi]

Get forged internals a MBC 104oct gas and some fuel management. Then whoop some ass take the money from the ass whoopings buy the ION turbo upgrade and some slicks.
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM.

Forged internals won't make it faster- just stronger . While it will help it hold together at high HP levels, I don't see the stock turbo setup pushing it past it's limits as long as it is tuned right...
Joe

 

[bwing2003]

I have a 2003 mustang gt and a 2003.5 msp right now and if you plan on beating any 99-04 stangs your going to need alot of work. I put 2000 in the stang and the only loss i have so far is to a 03 cobra and were not going to even talk about how crazy those are. But my goal as well is to make my msp as fast as my stang I think i have a strong set up in mind just a matter of money. so good luck and let me know how things go.

 

[kwiktsi]

I have a 2003 mustang gt and a 2003.5 msp right now and if you plan on beating any 99-04 stangs your going to need alot of work. I put 2000 in the stang and the only loss i have so far is to a 03 cobra and were not going to even talk about how crazy those are. But my goal as well is to make my msp as fast as my stang I think i have a strong set up in mind just a matter of money. so good luck and let me know how things go.

I have owned both- trust me- the GT in't much of a challenge if you know what you are doing with the MSP (or any turbo car for that matter). Boost, exhaust and a K&N will make an easy task of pulling on a stcok GT from a roll. From a launch, if there is a good driver behind the wheel of the MSP, the MSP will smoke the GT. I am not saying the MSP is the greatest, it is actually pretty weak power wise and durability wise for a turbo 4, but it does have the potential to EASILIY and CHEAPLY anhilate a stock GT... Hell, like I said above- I pulled one pretty hard (had to lift to not hit him when I was behind him, then walked him once in front ) with just an MBC, FCD and filter . A turbo car isn't like an NA car when it comes to modding- a few simple yet brutally effective mods is all it takes to make about 75+ hp over stock. NA cars- no bolt ons in the world (aside from power adders like nitrous or blower) will make that kind of increase.

I have an 03 GT right now and I cannot believe that ford has the balls to put the GT badge on it .. At least the Cobra is capable of holding it's own .
Joe

 

[blu_msp]

I love mustangs, I've owned about 8 so far, everything from a 88' Saleen to a 93' Cobra. I've owned convertibles and coupes - loved every one. I have to agree with Joe on the fact that beating a mustang in a MSP is very attainable. Yesterday I raced a 99' GT (5-speed) with a K&N and Flowmaster Cat-back Sys. We raced from a 3rd gear roll and we were bumper to bumper all through 3rd and 4th gear. Then again from a 1st gear roll and after 3rd gear had only pulled me by a fender (my front bumper was at his door). My MSP is completely stock and unflashed. The guy asked me to pull over at a gas station. He was suprised but knew about the MSP. All of my mustangs ran NA in the 13's with the exception of my 88' coupe, it ran mid 12's but had heads, cam, intake and whole lot of stuff. It basically comes down to the driver and how well he/she knows their car. I've watched a friend repeatedly run 15's in his coupe and letting me drive resulted in a 13.90. Case and point, my sister has an 03' GT and I pull her easily. Just for the info my friend has a 99' Convert. Cobra and consistently runs 13.80's with a X-pipe and K&N.