i have an 1987 ford mustang im a kid trying to make this beastly four cylinder mustang faster and im coming up with nothing so if you all can give me some help it would be greatly appreciated. i dont have money for a 5.0  

I'm not a professional mechanic or stock racer, but I can help maybe pep your ride on a budget.  I would like to say also that you may come across asses who want to make bad remarks or joke about your four banger but it is because they are idiots and probably are jealous you are doing something with your ride and they are not (if they even have one) a respectable hot rodder has probably been in your shoes with a "starter car" and will respect what you are doing and be glad to help.  Four cylinders or cheaper economical and good to learn on.  4 cyl can run great (just ask a "jdm tuner") or check out some of the japenese market hod rod mags and you will see and get some ideas.  With that all said, this is where I STARTED with a tight budget and a four cylinder.  very simple bolt on stuff.   Start with a Haynes Manual for your car. Buy one at any auto store and study it back and forth, look at your car and be able to id any part you look at.  Then follow the directions and give your car a good tune up and change the fluids.  During which you may get new plugs, rotor, cap, and invest in a better air intake.  You will by then know more about not just your car but any car than any of the jerks  who cracks on you.  Next you may want to check on an easy install air intake like spectre and a k&N filter.  No need yet for expensive 'tuned intakes' .  Next try a bolt up performance exhaust system, which can be done a piece at a time.  Look for deals, such as ebay or ask a local old timer greaser if he knows where you may find a good set of headers or someone who would weld a muffler on for you for cheap. (My first car I acually ran a tiller in an old mans garden while he welded a piece under my car in his backyard as a trade off. He was happier than me with the deal and he was crackpot, while I mauled half a row of his peas)  In the mean time study all types of books (lots at the library sit around at barnes and noble whatever ) and research.  Use the manual and remove seats, dash components etc and detail the crap out of your car in and out and detail the engine. Expensive wheels and low profile tires, carbon fiber hoods and spoilers etc are cool but the SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY would can buy new spark plugs, plug wires, wiper blades, fluids filter,  shocks and brake pads and the tools,  jack stands, etc needed to work on your car for a lifetime .  ALL of THOSE for the same price of the mentioned  "luxury items".  You can do the work yourself with the Hayes manual to follow and I guarantee if you get stuck on any of these jobs, some old motorhead would be more than happy to assist you out of your problem after seeing you putting on brake pads, shocks and plugs underneath some steel wheels and hubcaps!  Keep on keepin' on...  In my experience it is a hell of a lot more fun blowing by some tricked out car with a clean old ride.  Plus, it become's your car and not the car you bought. You'll see what I mean. Cars are like women, when you fall in love with one you don't give a damn what anyone else thinks  

Hello, I was in the same boat as you last year. I can tell you this right now, find a good forum that helps you and doesn't really make fun of you (I can name a few to go to and to steer clear of..)

Anyways, I'll tell you right now, buy a Chilton's manual as well, and learn what everything is called and what it does.

Now as for the power aspect the true question here is what do you want and how much do you want to spend?? I can tell you right now that the 2.3 N/A wont make lots of power without major money being thrown at it, but if you take your time you can do most of the things on your own...

I would tell you to get a intake or gut your air silencer (PM, or e-mail me for more info on how to do it) get a 94-95ish ranger 2.3 N/A header and a ranger roller cam (1989-1995 rangers).

I can name many things you can do so either e-mail me or respond in here  

thanks guys keep the help coming i need all i can get  

Theres nothing wrong with what you got we all have to start somewhere. ITs good to see young man like yourself getting in to the hobby of mustangs welcome to the family.And good luck  

Hey man. Congrats on the mustang. My advice to you would be to go to some nmra races. They normally have huge swap meets where you can find tons of stuff for cheap. If you're wanting to stick with the 2.3 i'd say find a turbo kit out of a turbo coupe. Gank everything you would need for it. At the world finals this year I saw turbo and all the hot parts for 100 bucks. Make sure there are no cracks. Sometimes people like to paint over that stuff so they can make a buck. If you wanted to go long term I'd say buy ya a 5.0. You can get those cheap at a swap meet as well. Take the time to build it. Who cares if it takes you two years. Trust me you will be crazy proud when you get it done.  

first i'd like to say welcome to my world. i've owned nothing but 4 cyclinder mustangs 7 in total. i've been down this road of finding stuff for a 4 banger, and let me tell you for along time there was far and few parts to build power short of a rebuild. walsh racing has a website for all your motor parts blocks, pistons, cranks, cams, you name it they got. some of it is expensive for word of advice find a donor car and take your time and rebuild a motor. have the head done, bore it out 30 over is good 60 is driving a grenade. k&n filter good call but now mrbodykit has a air intake made for the car and it isnt very pricy. flowmaster muffler and highflow cat are also good calls and also pick up 5.0 lx tailpipe for the drivers side or have the muffler shop run it down the passengers side for better flow. good spark plugs and ford racing plug wires and new distrbutor cap (not a cheap one) is a must. you can have the flywheel shaved but then again it is a gernade waiting to happen. 95 gt sway bars help alot and will fit. you can use headers off of mid 90s rangers but if you can find one even better would be a pinto header. if you want to have some fun change it to carborated you can do all the same stuff but you can throw on 2 barrel carborator tons of power then or be more inventive and find a old supercoupe motor and steal the turbo and the intercooler and computer tons of fun there. but the one thing to remeber ask the stock car boys they have been there and done it all they will be able to tell you everything you want to do and where to get it done cheaper then anyone else thats how i learned. trust me it took me nine years messing around with them and getting married to get my first five liter.