Drive Outside The Lines: Why Not To Stay Stock If You Drive a Mustang

During the 1960s, Americans' obsession with tinkering with cars reached a new level. Car modding has been around since cars were invented, though. This new era of muscle cars and squeezing out more performance has really catapulted it, however.

Not to be confused with sports cars, muscle cars carried a unique level of heavy, drag racing capabilities. What it's like to drive a Mustang is totally different than a Porsche, even though they're both race cars. Modding American muscle cars are arguably more accessible than your average sports car, anyways.

It's because of these factors that entire communities were built around modding the most iconic muscle cars. Let's take a closer look at what makes a mod for one of the most popular, the Ford Mustang, so attractive.

Generations of Modding

The Mustang makes a perfect vehicle for modding for a variety of categories. One can refer to the now infamous Gone in 60 Seconds for inspiration. In the film, our lead actor steals a beautiful Shelby GT500, the proverbial street racer of all street racers.

It inspired many new Mustang owners to modify their own stock Mustang into a race car. There aren't very many car models out there that have the capacity of performance upgrades as the Mustang. Most of these upgrades are possible without needing a mechanic's license too.

From sick body kits to tuned-out engines, many owners have succeeded in carving out their own niche in automotive history. If you need some help deciding where to start, we can help break things down. Let's cover the most popular 2019 Mustang mods, in no particular order.

Front Splitters and Chin Spoilers

They say first impressions are the most important when meeting someone new. Well, let that be the case for the front-end of your Mustang. You can get your Mustang to match your personality with a front-end mod.

The front splitters add a nice tweak to the already strong Mustang front profile. Going for the chin spoiler creates a more aggressive look while also providing useful down-force while hitting top speeds.

Wheels and Rims

If you're an owner of the new 2019 Ford Mustang, you're probably good with the factory set. Aesthetically, we can't complain, but they're not going to steal too many looks.

Performance-wise, you can do a lot better with a wheel upgrade. Some nice SVE wheels and a set of chrome rims are a classic touch for the Mustang.

There are a bunch of great wheel kits to choose from to match your car's color and personality.

Side Scoops

This is the iconic body mod found on a lot of 90s Mustangs and classic Shelby GTs. You see them a lot less these days on newer models, for various reasons. These classic cutouts of the Mustang body do serve a purpose on older models.

They provide much-needed cooling to the rear brakes of the heavy 'Stang. There is no denying how cool they look, like the big gills of a shark. Your average person won't know whether your scoops are functional or not, unlike other ridiculous body mods out there.

Cold Air Intakes and Tuners

Making your Mustang go faster feels good, whether you plan on drag racing or not. Introducing a cold air intake does make your engine look badass while adding more horsepower. How much you can expect to gain will depend on the setup, though.

A cold air intake will need a tuner to take advantage of the higher RPMs, though. Thankfully, you can find cold air intake and tuner kits to kill two birds with one stone. Driving a newer 2019 Mustang with automatic transmission begs for a tuning, anyways.

Shifting Mods

For those who are driving a manual, shifting gears is done so often that a slight upgrade in comfort goes a long way. Shifting mods can do more than changing the actual knob, they can adjust the pivot point. This will reduce the amount of work you need to do to get into gear.

Steeda and Hurst knobs are examples of great, short shifters that will close the distance needed to switch gears.

Headlights + Taillights

This upgrade is two-fold: improvement in visibility and presence of your Mustang. Stock headlights and halogens can't compare to the effectiveness of LED lights. When it comes to your turn signals and emergency lights, LEDs shine brighter and fuller.

We can say, with confidence, that a pair of LED headlights will improve your overall enjoyment while driving at night. On top of better visual clarity, LED lights will last forever.

Exhausts

Did you hear that? That distinct rumble, the roar of a wild, untamed animal out on the road. The sound a Mustang makes is part of the experience as an owner.

The stock exhausts of most Mustang years aren't bad, but they could use improvement. Aftermarket exhaust pipes look sharper and deliver a healthier crank. You'll need to know which type of exhaust is compatible with your engine, but the Cat-Back system is your bread and butter.

These exhaust systems are more than presentation, they also improve performance. A worthwhile investment for anyone who thinks their stock Mustang is lacking a bit more bite.

Hood Struts

If you plan on doing a lot of modifications and all of your own maintenance, hood struts are a must-have. Not only do they look cool, but they also allow for maximum clearance while working under the hood. Hood struts are powered by pneumatic shocks that hold up the hood without the use of the standard props.

They're really easy to install on Mustangs, new and old. The setup doesn't require a power drill,  and it’s possible to complete the job in about 20 minutes.

Suspension

If you've ever visited a Mustang car show, you'll notice the vast majority of show cars sit much lower than stocks. The Mustang's body was made to sit lower; that wheel gap ruins the continuity of its curves. It also makes gains in braking, reduction of body sway, and balance during acceleration.

If you want to get yours lowered, you'll need to invest in a suspension kit. Which type depends on what you expect to get out of them. Air suspension kits make the most sense, as they allow you to customize exactly how you want your car to sit.

Somewhat cheaper alternatives out there, like coil-over springs, don't get you there when it comes to performing over real-world conditions. Unlike coil-over springs, air suspension allows you to close the gap around your wheelbase while keeping stock clearance. An air suspension kit reduces the weight of the car by providing a more balanced distribution among the tires.

Nothing fancy is needed to add air suspension to your Mustang. Basic handheld tools to get the job done, so don't worry about needing to take it to a "specialty" mechanic.

Superchargers & Turbos

Pure, raw power is what most Mustang owners are after. Who can blame them, though? Mustangs are the original American muscle car.

A Mustang without a supercharger is like playing house. It looks the part but doesn't play the part. A proper supercharger can add over 100 horsepower to your car. You'll need a few prerequisites to install one, but both root and centrifugal superchargers will deliver the goods.

Now, finding a turbocharger on a Mustang, namely a classic one, is more of a rarity. Turbos are associated more with smaller Japanese cars, due to their great efficiency and lower stress placed on the engine. These things are important for smaller engines, not-so-much for the big boy engines in Mustangs.

From a completely unbiased and objective POV, though, turbochargers will get the job done if you want speed. Turbos can exceed the top capabilities of the best superchargers. They do, however, come with an inherent "turbo lag" that delays the process of climbing the dials.

It's a toss-up between which flavor of Fast & Furious Mustang you're going for.

Rear Spoilers

Serious racers (and those who want to appear like one) will need a rear spoiler. It adds vital downforce on the rear wheels to give your wheels more grip. That grip is important in both acceleration and taking corners.

You'll need to hit 60+ miles per hour to really take advantage of this downforce, of course. Driving in the city or peeling out of your driveway, you're not going to feel any difference. The shape of the spoiler will also contribute to how effective it is in either wooing the ladies or keeping traction.

Drive a Mustang with Pride

It's hard to encapsulate the feeling of modding your own car in one sentence. The best way to describe what it's like to drive a Mustang is the way someone can describe being on a rollercoaster. No matter how many times you ride that roller coaster, you'll never get tired of it.

Smile like a kid again every time you pull out your Mustang from the driveway. Our store has a wide variety of mod kits and aftermarket parts for Mustangs, old and new.

If you're new to car modding or you have any special requests, contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.