#2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD PARTS UPGRADE#

The Borla system is constructed of stainless steel and boasts a one-million mile warranty. The mufflers that are part of the system are less restrictive than the stock mufflers, allowing exhaust gases to flow more efficiently. ‘Cat-Back’ refers to the fact that the system installs behind the Thunderbird’s stock catalytic converters.

The Borla system is a bolt-on, ‘cat-back’ exhaust system that replaces the stock exhaust system. The most popular performance exhaust system for the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird is the Borla performance exhaust. Just as your Thunderbird’s performance benefits from more efficient air intake, improved exhaust can also increase power and enhance performance. Cold Air Intake systems can boost horsepower by as much as 15 HP. Air flow is regulated by an MAF or ‘Mass Air Flow’ sensor, typically included with the CAI system. Essentially, CAI systems provide a more direct, and less restricted supply of air to the engine using a tube and specially-designed air filter that replaces or bypasses more restrictive tubing and stock air filter. Cold Air Intakes, or CAIs, help a car’s engine performance by making it ‘breathe’ more efficiently. SCT’s X4 promises increased torque and improved shifting and can read and diagnose various ‘error codes.’ The SCT unit claims a horsepower increase of up to 28 HP, and performance can be further enhanced by custom tuning and dyno tuning at authorized SCT dealers.Ĭold Air Intake systems.

#2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD PARTS UPGRADE#

The X4 is the latest generation of handheld tuners from SCT Flash, and unlike the early models that required your car’s VIN and downloading of performance programs via your computer, the X4 comes with programs pre-loaded, making the upgrade quick and easy. Which one to buy? A number of companies offer hand-held ‘flash’ tuning devices most priced at under $ 500. In fact, there is no ‘hardware’ installation or change involved, only remote re-programming of the ECM or PCM unit. These hand-held devices are not ‘chips’ as they are sometimes referred to. Just follow simple instructions on an LED readout and upon restart, your engine will deliver the increased horsepower, up to 28 HP for some devices. So what are your options to increase horsepower on a 2002 or a 2003-2005? The simplest and least-expensive option is an aftermarket ‘tuner.’ Tuners are hand-held ‘flash’ devices that plug into the lower dashboard’s diagnostic port and ‘re-flash’ or reprogram the Thunderbird’s on-board computer. So beginning with the 2003 model year, Ford re-programmed the 3.9 liter V8 and added variable valve timing (VVT), to boost the engine’s output to 280 HP. Why the change? Some owners and reviewers felt that the 2002 Thunderbird was underpowered at only 252 HP. The 2002 engine is rated at 252 horsepower, while the 2003-2005 has 280 HP, roughly a 10% increase. The 2002-2005 Thunderbirds all came with a 3.9 liter V8 engine. Let’s discuss power/performance upgrades first. In addition to power upgrades to add more horsepower, torque and better acceleration, there are also suspension upgrades for improved handling and better ‘road feel.’ So you own a 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird but aren’t completely satisfied with the power and performance? What can you do? The good news is that there are a number of aftermarket performance upgrades for the 2002-2005 T-Bird, and most are simple and relatively inexpensive ‘bolt-on’ modifications that don’t require any permanent change to your car.

2004 ford thunderbird parts