The late John Germanson (pictured) helped us with this Paxton Novi 3000-boosted Fox for a cover shot back in the day. It wasn't a budget combo, but it certainly didn't miss. While pushing the envelope is cool, it can be expensive. If saving dough is your game, going with a proven package is a much safer bet.
Horse Sense: Establishing budget parameters is always the most difficult aspect of modding a Mustang. A good practice for setting and adhering to a budget is to research and calculate a total price for the parts you want to install. If you're not skilled in the garage, also factor in the cost of labor for bolting on the improvements and determine a realistic timeframe for building the grand total you need to get everything done. Although it may be frustrating, don't spend money until you have money to spend. In these tough times, using credit cards to buy now and pay later for Mustang upgrades isn't a good idea. Cash is king right now, and you'll enjoy your pumped-up Pony a lot more when it's just the way you want it and you don't owe anyone a dime.
We're fairly certain most of you are concerned about the sluggish state our nation's economy has been in for the last two years and its effect on our beloved hobby. The rising cost of food and other commodities, coupled with gas prices closing in on a $4-per-gallon average for 87-octane unleaded, has forced most of us to refrain from making many of the 'Stang parts purchases that once were automatic. We seriously weigh the difference between our wants and absolute needs for our Mustangs before we outlay our hard-earned cash for upgrades.
When it comes to buying aftermarket goodies for our Ponies, emphasis on getting the best bang for the buck is at an all-time high right now, and enthusiasts are doing a lot more calculating than they've ever done, trying to score the best dollar-stretching deals possible on the Internet, at retail or wholesale performance parts suppliers, and even directly through manufacturers.
Let's face it: With all of the parts that are out there for improving every aspect of a Mustang (drivetrain, appearance, handling, and so on), obtaining them can sometimes be frustrating, especially when your heart is set on a specific upgrade that may be on the pricey side. It's sort of like wanting the finest champagne but only having enough money to buy a bottle of screw-top wine.
Shopping la carte for new 'Stang gear can be expensive. However, one way to beat the high price of shopping for individual components is to consider some of the great package deals that many vendors and manufacturers offer. That's right: Buying preselected combinations is a more effective method of acquiring all of the upgrade pieces you need. One-stop shopping spares you the expense-in money and time-that comes with scrambling in all directions to find the same things separately.
With performance being the name of the game, enthusiasts are interested in the latest engine and driveline packages for 5.0- and 4.6-powered 'Stangs. To address the go side of 'Stangbanging, we presented various performance-focused killer combos in our Sept. '07 issue ("Power Trippin'," p. 168).
In this report, we once again looked at performance, but we also include packages that deal with other areas of a Mustang, such as interiors and suspensions, among other things. We asked experts from 'Stang shops and aftermarket parts providers for their thoughts and suggestions on can't-miss combinations priced at $3,000 or less for Fox, SN-95/New Edge, and S197 Mustangs. Check out these values!