The 50 Best Ford Mods

In the wide world of performance parts, it can often be overwhelming trying to figure out what comes next. Whether you’re working with a dead stock vehicle or a 1000hp+ mean machine, there is always something that can be improved and with new parts hitting the market almost every day, it can be quite difficult to figure out where to begin.

The guys over at Street Fords understand how daunting this seemingly endless selection can be and have put together a top 50 list of must-have parts hitting the market in 2012. Now we would love to give you the whole list but Street Fords Ed. Roy Velardi is adamant that it stays under wraps until issue 94 hits shelves on April 18th. Performance Garage loves taking you guys behind the scenes though so while he was out at lunch, we managed to sneak into his office and get a quick glance at the list.

So here it is, an exclusive sneak peak at what the aftermarket industry has to offer in 2012!

T-REX CYLINDER HEADS

You may remember a couple of weeks ago, the Performance Garage team along with Street Fords editor Roy headed to Trick & Mansweto racing to check out a couple of the market leading CNC-ported alloy heads. Ever since then, Roy has been raving about the T-Rex heads from Affordable Racing Parts.

They are, in his opinion, the best bang for buck option on the market. They made great horsepower on the dyno and allow you to run off the shelf headers with great results. They would certainly be our pick for an off the shelf head if we were building up a tough Ford V8.

ARP offer these heads in a whole heap of configurations depending on cam and valve train choice. For more information, check out their website.

WILWOOD BRAKE KIT

The Wilwood name has been synonymous with quality braking systems for about as long as quick cars have needed them. Coming into 2012, they have again released a product that makes putting some whoa on your go a bit easier.

The Dynalite Big Brake kit provides a bolt on brake upgrade for pretty much any Ford model you can think of. This kit provides drastically better braking performance over stock while still being fully compatible with OE master cylinder output and retaining factory ABS functionality in the later models.

This presents a simple way to increase stopping power and definitely worth a spot on your upgrade list. Summit Racing have a whole heap of the kits in stock so head to their website for pricing and more details.

FORD STRAIGHT 6 ITBs

Jim Mock Motorsport (JMM) have just released a series of individual throttle bodies and manifold sets, a trick bit of gear if we’ve ever seen one! Available to suit EA to AU or BA onwards Falcons, this intake artistry is sure to free up a couple of extra kW combined with a nice cam and a free flowing exhaust system.

The throttle bodies themselves are available in 45mm, 48mm and 52mm configurations and the gorgeous mesh covered ram tubes come in custom lengths depending on your application.

There really is nothing like the sound of an N/A screamer wolfing down air through individual throttle bodies and the ones from JMM make this mechanical concerto easily achievable. Hit up their website for more details.

DIAMOND RACING PISTONS

Diamond Racing have provided quality, race-ready pistons for over 40 years and are constantly striving for a better product. 2012 is no different, with a new line of nitrous pistons available that will help your bottled beast keep it all together.

These new pistons are forged from super strong 2618 aluminium and have a couple of little trick to distinguish them from their conventional counterparts. Small gas ports transfer combustion pressure to the first ring groove from the piston crown, forcing the rings outwards for a tighter seal that allows you to really get the giggle gas going.

Diamond Racing have a huge catalogue that will not only suit your Ford applications but most others. Head over to their website and check out what they’ve got to offer.

TCI ULTIMATE MASTER OVERHAUL KIT

One you begin tinkering around under the bonnet and squeezing a couple of extra ponies out of your preferred powerplant, the drivetrain is obvious going to start getting a bit of a beating. If you happen to own a 1980-93 Ford equipped with an AOD box, TCI has you covered with this comprehensive overhaul kit.

Designed for heavy-duty strength against the stresses of higher-horsepower applications, this kit features premium-grade Alto Red Eagle friction clutches and Kolene-treated steel clutches as well as a Kevlar overdrive band that improves the ‘apply and release’ functions along with reducing wear. It’s really the ideal improvement for a tough streeter, allowing you to give the factory drivetrain a bit of a beef up rather than going to a whole new ‘box.

For the peace of mind it offers, this overhaul kit is great value for money. Head over to the TCI website for details on how to get your hands on one.

That's all we could get away sharing for now so keep an eye out for issue 94 of Street Fords to see the full list, on sale April 18th. Until then, we want to hear what parts you'll be purchasing in 2012. Let us know in the comments below