Just got my 1st Stang - 2010 Mustang GT Premium

[Ksquared]

Just picked up my first stang. I purchased a used 2010 Mustang GT premium in sunset gold with a 5 speed and 3.73 factory rear end with 21K miles on it. I love it!

So, now the modding begins. You can never have a stock stang!

Exterior - With the sunset gold I'm first going to plastidip the wheels to black and the change the GT badges to black as well. I also plan to get some 1/4 rear louvers for the windows. Not sure if I'll leave these black or paint them to match. How about lowering - enough of a difference to justfy the change in springs? How hard is this to accomplish. I'm pretty handy and have done all my own car repairs in the past.

POWER - From some of the threads I have read I see a CAI and tuner is probably the biggest bang in HP followed by exhaust.

Any advice on where to start would be helpful.

Thanks,

Ksquared

[primer2tone]

Cool, welcome. CAI & Tunis cool but I'd go with opening up the exhaust first.

[KIDAGIN]

Take your time and make good decisions on what you want to do first. CAI Tune and exhaust maybe even gears

[SpectorV]

welcome

[Silversky545]

Post pic of your car... and I have a first Gen JLT intake I'll let go for $100 save u some money

[RedGT]

Originally Posted by KIDAGIN

Take your time and make good decisions on what you want to do first. CAI Tune and exhaust maybe even gears

Did you not read the op? He said he has 3.73s. Been doing a lot of junk posting if you ask me. Got anything good to contribute?

[LeviG2010]

Cai and tuner made a good difference on my 2010. longtube headers make a great change too.

[Ucfknight]

Congrats! I have the same car with the same gears. Had it for about a month now. I'm going on a big trip next month but afterwards my modding begins first with exhaust as then cai and tune.

[trumpet173]

I also recently got a 2010 GT Premium and I'm curious about the CAI. Didn't Ford add a CAI to the '10 model which is the main reason for the added HP over the previous years? I'm just curious how much difference an aftermarket CAI would make over the upgraded stock version.

[Ucfknight]

Originally Posted by trumpet173

I also recently got a 2010 GT Premium and I'm curious about the CAI. Didn't Ford add a CAI to the '10 model which is the main reason for the added HP over the previous years? I'm just curious how much difference an aftermarket CAI would make over the upgraded stock version.

I just wanted to say congrats bro. I almost brought a 2011 base 5.0 but wasn't impressed as I thought I would be and I found a 2010 premium that excited me more. Just a few mods to make it quicker but I dont need much as I don't go to the track and I nearly made my girl per he pants last night going from 0-80 so step on it and it'll get up and go already enough for me lol.

---------- Post added at 12:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Ucfknight

I just wanted to say congrats bro. I almost brought a 2011 base 5.0 but wasn't impressed as I thought I would be and I found a 2010 premium that excited me more. Just a few mods to make it quicker but I dont need much as I don't go to the track and I nearly made my girl per he pants last night going from 0-80 so step on it and it'll get up and go already enough for me lol.

Pee her pants... iPhone and big thumbs at 2am is a bad combination lol.

[Zaks06GT]

Originally Posted by trumpet173

I also recently got a 2010 GT Premium and I'm curious about the CAI. Didn't Ford add a CAI to the '10 model which is the main reason for the added HP over the previous years? I'm just curious how much difference an aftermarket CAI would make over the upgraded stock version.

I never seen a 2010 with a CAI from ford, I think the extra power is just tuning

[Artaz]

Every 2010 gt I've seen including mine has a factory cai. As for your question if changing it will make a difference yes it will. This is because the aftermarket (JLT, Steeda, ect) have a larger tube which takes in more air and are designed differently to increase performance. That's why most require a tune.

[NAVYGUY]

When you plasti-dip your wheels please post some lessons learned. I've watched some youtube videos and it looks easy. I'm leaning that way for an inexpensive and impressive mod. However, I really want to know how long it lasts as a DD? and how's the upkeep?

[maldog]

Congrats on your purchase....

[MedicDave]

Congrats on your 10 man it's a great stang, it's good to see another 10 GT, there aren't very many of us.

[Caster Troy]

Originally Posted by Zaks06GT

I never seen a 2010 with a CAI from ford, I think the extra power is just tuning

That's where the extra 15 HP comes from, the 2010's have the Ford racing CAI and tune, the same one that the Bullitt's come with.

[MikalMuh]

Would you please post a picture of this factory cold air intake? I want to compare it to what's on my son's car. I'm trying to figure out just what goes he have. Thanks.

[Caster Troy]

Originally Posted by MikalMuh

Would you please post a picture of this factory cold air intake? I want to compare it to what's on my son's car. I'm trying to figure out just what goes he have. Thanks.

[Zaks06GT]

This is a 2010 (no cold air intake)





This is a 2008 Bullitt (has cold air intake)

So please tell me how the 2010's have a cold air intake? I have never seen one from the factory

[Zaks06GT]

Originally Posted by Caster Troy

That's where the extra 15 HP comes from, the 2010's have the Ford racing CAI and tune, the same one that the Bullitt's come with.

No I don't think the 2010 comes with a CIA

[trumpet173]

This article seems to spell out the main changes to the 2010 model when it came out. It says things like this...

The single-overhead-cam, three-valve aluminum engine is pumped up to 315 horsepower from 300 last year, by using cold air induction that also raises torque to 325 pound-feet at 4250 rpm. Half-inch larger exhaust tips too.

http://www.oncars.com/news-blogs/sto...atest-pony-car

[Ucfknight]

They are calling that black box on the right a cold air intake. The air is being delivered differently from the front of the car in true ram air style but idk if it qualifies for true cai. On the box itself it says "cold air intake" .

[MedicDave]

Yea there is a tube that runs under the box that goes out to the back of the grill and sucks the air in, it's a true cold air.

[Ucfknight]

Originally Posted by MedicDave

Congrats on your 10 man it's a great stang, it's good to see another 10 GT, there aren't very many of us.

I agree, it's like a small club. We have the best made and last made 4.6 which is kinda special. Also what has caught me off guard as this is my first GT is people always randomly trying to race me! Have u experienced this? I had a V6 stang before and that would happen maybe once every couple of months, but in the GT it happens almost everyday. It's crazy because half the time I am not paying attention until the other person peels out next to me or zooms by! I never get this from other stangs, just camaros mostly and ricers, oh and a dude on a motorcycle once lol.

[Caster Troy]

Originally Posted by Zaks06GT

No I don't think the 2010 comes with a CIA

I never actually seen what it looks like I just went by what I read as to how the 2010's has a little more power than the 2005-2009 model which is a CAI and tuning similar to that of the Bullitt. Go read about it.

[Ucfknight]

Originally Posted by Caster Troy

I never actually seen what it looks like I just went by what I read as to how the 2010's has a little more power than the 2005-2009 model which is a CAI and tuning similar to that of the Bullitt. Go read about it.

I have a 2010 and that's exactly what it says on the filter box "cold air induction" with a little snow flake graphic. I think people are looking for the more traditional open cai which I am sure yields more HP.

[Caster Troy]

Originally Posted by trumpet173

This article seems to spell out the main changes to the 2010 model when it came out. It says things like this...

The single-overhead-cam, three-valve aluminum engine is pumped up to 315 horsepower from 300 last year, by using cold air induction that also raises torque to 325 pound-feet at 4250 rpm. Half-inch larger exhaust tips too.

http://www.oncars.com/news-blogs/sto...atest-pony-car

Thank you for posting this it says exactly what I was saying.

[Zaks06GT]

My brothers 2011 5.0 also says Cold Air Intake, ford gets the extra hp from tuning, the air box is designed the same as a 05-09 with just a little hose tube on the bottom witch has carried on to the 11-13 mustang, but not anymore then 1-3hp with that, the rest is tuning

[NAVYGUY]

Here's a picture I found what my intake looks like:

[Caster Troy]

Originally Posted by Zaks06GT

My brothers 2011 5.0 also says Cold Air Intake, ford gets the extra hp from tuning, the air box is designed the same as a 05-09 with just a little hose tube on the bottom witch has carried on to the 11-13 mustang, but not anymore then 1-3hp with that, the rest is tuning

Regardless of what it looks like, the point of the matter is that it is a CAI all be it a pretty ****ty one at that.

[V6 stang]

Lucky. Enjoy your new mustang, that's a great first mustang and new! Become a mustang addict

[MedicDave]

Originally Posted by Ucfknight

I agree, it's like a small club. We have the best made and last made 4.6 which is kinda special. Also what has caught me off guard as this is my first GT is people always randomly trying to race me! Have u experienced this? I had a V6 stang before and that would happen maybe once every couple of months, but in the GT it happens almost everyday. It's crazy because half the time I am not paying attention until the other person peels out next to me or zooms by! I never get this from other stangs, just camaros mostly and ricers, oh and a dude on a motorcycle once lol.

Haha, I get all kinds of different cars, iv had vans, pickups, camaros, ricers you name it. I have never had that before this car and this is #5 lol. People just want to see what she's got I guess, ones I have my cams installed I'm sure it will be worse lol but I love it.

[MikalMuh]

Thanks. That's what the one on my sons car looks like.