Stock Mods

[nickandersonLS01]

I'm really interested in modding my car, but for me, I'm dumping most of my cash into savings for a house, so I'm trying to keep my budget down. So I have a few questions on stock modifications.

I've read up on removing exhaust resonators, and I'll be doing that within the month. Also, I haven't quite looked under the hood that much seeing as it's been in the negative temps here, if there is intake resonators, which I'm sure there is, can they be removed without any serious consequences?

Now, I like how my car sits, but I'd like it to be 1" at the most lower, will cutting the stock springs be a bad idea? I hear of alot of people doing this, but not on a 4000lb car. Will the tension of the spring cause the car to dip farther than I want(turning, bumps, etc)?

I saw an article on the stock air-box modification and I'll be doing that hopefully when I get a chance to pull it in the garage.

Lastly, is there any sleek-looking splash guards? I'm from the chicago suburbs and they like to unload mounds of salt when it snows, and my car is black

Thanks!

 

[johntomferg]

I'm really interested in modding my car, but for me, I'm dumping most of my cash into savings for a house, so I'm trying to keep my budget down. So I have a few questions on stock modifications.

I've read up on removing exhaust resonators, and I'll be doing that within the month. Also, I haven't quite looked under the hood that much seeing as it's been in the negative temps here, if there is intake resonators, which I'm sure there is, can they be removed without any serious consequences?

There is a MagnaFlow kit (From reading other posts on this forum) for 00-02, possibly a kit for 03+ coming soon (but the 03+ is a better redesign to begin with)

Now, I like how my car sits, but I'd like it to be 1" at the most lower, will cutting the stock springs be a bad idea? I hear of alot of people doing this, but not on a 4000lb car. Will the tension of the spring cause the car to dip farther than I want(turning, bumps, etc)?

I saw an article on the stock air-box modification and I'll be doing that hopefully when I get a chance to pull it in the garage.

there is also the K&N Thunderbird Kit that works for the LS and KKM kits... check out www.lskoncepts.com

Lastly, is there any sleek-looking splash guards? I'm from the chicago suburbs and they like to unload mounds of salt when it snows, and my car is black

Thanks!

there are OEM Splash Guards available.

I'll jump in before Quick says "this has been discussed on the forum many times" and say it is too bad there isn't a quick 'sticky' for it with a quick concise list.

 

[nickandersonLS01]

I don't think you read the top line, I'm not looking to purchase any mods, I'm looking to enhance the stock features. I didn't just randomly post this thread, I searched and didn't find any useful answers. I read around about the mods and did the research, I would rather not live in my parents house than have performance mods for my car, when I could just modify my stock parts and get a little satisfaction, for now atleast.

 

[jrockcentral1]

I'm really interested in modding my car, but for me, I'm dumping most of my cash into savings for a house, so I'm trying to keep my budget down.

Magnaflow's and K&N's are IMO great mods and worth the cash in the long run, but for someone trying to keep tabs on the non-essential expenses, those products won't really help.

 

[Fla02LS]

The exhaust resonators can be removed. I beleive asserano just did it to his car, ask him how it went.

The intake can be modded for free by you to make it louder(air baffle) and more free flowing(airbox cutout). This combined with a k&n panel filter is about as good as you'll get with the stock intake.

If i recall it has been suggested to NOT cut your stock springs. Too much at risk there, i know they sell aftermarket, but your not wanting to spend $$$. What i did on my old '02 LS was get a bigger tire that filled up the wheel area.

There are stock mudflaps for the LS. I too have a black LS and was considering them before. I've seen pictures with them on and it doesnt look too bad.

 

[nickandersonLS01]

Thanks, thats exactly what I was looking for, as far as the air baffle goes, what exactly is that? I was going to do the air box mod this weekend, so if I can add something else to that, that'd be nice. I'll probably start a secret car fund and purchase some springs because aserrano inspired me to get my stock rims powder coated, and I already ordered my new rubber.

 

[NateRW21]

I'm really interested in modding my car, but for me, I'm dumping most of my cash into savings for a house, so I'm trying to keep my budget down. So I have a few questions on stock modifications.

I've read up on removing exhaust resonators, and I'll be doing that within the month. Also, I haven't quite looked under the hood that much seeing as it's been in the negative temps here, if there is intake resonators, which I'm sure there is, can they be removed without any serious consequences?

Now, I like how my car sits, but I'd like it to be 1" at the most lower, will cutting the stock springs be a bad idea? I hear of alot of people doing this, but not on a 4000lb car. Will the tension of the spring cause the car to dip farther than I want(turning, bumps, etc)?

I saw an article on the stock air-box modification and I'll be doing that hopefully when I get a chance to pull it in the garage.

Lastly, is there any sleek-looking splash guards? I'm from the chicago suburbs and they like to unload mounds of salt when it snows, and my car is black

Thanks!

DO NOT cut your springs; those coils are formed in a way in which provides for a progressive rate. Cutting the springs will cause the car to bottom out as the rate of progression is the same. Aftermarket springs have a higher rate of progression, which is how they can acheve the lower stance without bottoming out.

You can get new springs for like $200; that isn't a HUGE chunk of change, if you want a lower stance, just go that route. Search Ebay for "Lincoln LS Springs".

As for the rest of the stuff... go for it.

 

[nickandersonLS01]

DO NOT cut your springs; those coils are formed in a way in which provides for a progressive rate. Cutting the springs will cause the car to bottom out as the rate of progression is the same. Aftermarket springs have a higher rate of progression, which is how they can acheve the lower stance without bottoming out.

You can get new springs for like $200; that isn't a HUGE chunk of change, if you want a lower stance, just go that route. Search Ebay for "Lincoln LS Springs".

As for the rest of the stuff... go for it.

Yeah I wasn't sure about the springs, thanks for the feedback, I will be purchasing springs once I get my car back, and after this terrible winter is over I'm going to have my rims powdercoated

 

[lseguy]

For a 2001..if you change springs, you would most likely want to put in fresh shocks as well. (making changes to a car is NEVER as cheap as you first plan it out).

Since you are already removing the old ones, there is no labor cost to pop in brand new, fresh LS Sport Shocks. I did Eibach Pro springs and new LS Sport Shocks a couple months ago, and love it. (Already had aftermarket 18 inch rims). Ride quality has diminished maybe 5-10% at MOST. Handling and steering response has improved I'd say by 30-40%. The look is sleeker with the dropped, slightly more aggressive stance.

 

[NateRW21]

Yeah I wasn't sure about the springs, thanks for the feedback, I will be purchasing springs once I get my car back, and after this terrible winter is over I'm going to have my rims powdercoated

Good call on the powdercoating... I had my stock wheels done in flat black for my truck so they'd look good (were beat up) for winter use.

On the side note, depending on miles, that would be a good time to change shocks. But with shocks, often times it's more of a miles issue than age; just depends.

 

[nickandersonLS01]

I never expected it to be cheap! Does FLM consider shocks as wear items? I think it might be in my service brochure but I'm at work so I'll have to check when I get to the house.