FAQ: Free / Cheap / Easy Mods

The following mods have been mentioned as being free / cheap (under $50). Please feel free to suggest more.

Note: Changing seats at $50 p/ seat does not equate to a cheap mod - so do not suggest a mod like that.


Aesthetic
Antenna - non-powered to powered, chrome base to black & vice-versa
Badging / Debadging - add, remove
Brake light - overlay/cutout
Bumper, front - remove plate & fill holes
Bumper, rear - sag fix
Calipers - paint
Center console - 98+ to pre-98
Clear corners
DETAIL! - wash, wax, vaccum, etc.
Door sill plates
Engine bay - colored couplers & tubing, engine braid kits
Eyelids
Grilles & oval - change, paint, mesh
Headlights - eyebrows, paint/"Hightower"
Interior - paint trim pieces
Knauberize
Mirror bases - paint
Pedal covers
Rear valance - paint
Sail panels - 98+ or pre-98
Shift knob
Sidemarkers
Steering wheel - Ford logo from Focus
Stickers/decals/overlays/vinyl - PM CEGer parkedcar
Taillights / rear reflector - paint, tint
Trunklid - swap w/ someone who does/does not have wing/spoiler
Wheels - chrome valve stems & caps

Duratec Maintenance
A lot of maintenance is inexpensive - plugs, wires, etc.
MAF - clean
Oil separator / catch can - create & install
Run Berryman's / Seafoam
Throttle body - clean
Throttle hang fix

Duratec Performance
Exhaust - SVT for non-SVTs
Heatshield - make
Intake - K&N drop-in
Intake snorkel - remove
Pre-cats - gut
Throttle body - optimize
Y-pipe - optimize

General Mods
Clock - install for those that do not have one
Cupholders - revised
Hood struts
Hoodliner - remove
Shifter - cut, remove reverse lockout
Steering wheel - cover

Electronics
Daytime Running Lights - install
Fog lights - "fog light mod", change bulbs
Footwell lights - front, rear
Headlights - change bulbs
LED changes - window switches, gauges, etc.

Suspension
Bushings / inserts - Energy Suspension, PRT roll resistors

Aesthetic

Black out B-pillar w/ vinyl (should be less than $10 for high-performance vinyl. Anymore and you're getting screwed)

Duratec performance

you can make your own poly filled rear trans mount for $30. Buy a 1lb. poly kit from mcmastercarr. It can be done from start to finish in a weekend.

poly front mount bushing and rear sway bar bushings can also be found really cheap.

Cold cathodes as a replacement for underdash lighting

http://www.xoxide.com/coldcathodes.html


Make a proper trunk liner (mdf and subwoofer box carpet) cost me a total of $35 Canadian (if you have wood working tools)

You can also add Cold cathodes to trunk roof for better (or cooler) lighting

paint your own dash kit. How-TO found here

Replace turn signals with chrome bulbs. They cost about $5 a pair and they still light up yellow.

Paint the grille is a toughy. First I painted it and it cracked when the chrome cracked... Peeled off the chrome, and the grille itself cracked. I'd be careful with that one. :shrug:

i found an 1998 svt contour for sale... hell of a deal on it cuz it needs a little bit of work on the body, was wondering what most people do in terms of jack plugs as this one is missing them and i cant find any anywhere lol.... could i just take off the side skirt and fiberglass the holes make it flush and off i go? i assume the plugs are there for a reason... such as the frame rails caving when using them to jack up the car, but figured it would not hurt to ask, also i noticed im not the only one with the problem of tryin to find jack plugs so i figured maybe it could be an easy mod to solve the problem of losing them/not being able to get them to sit flush

Make your sunroof open and close by one touch of the button. Also the sunroof switch lights up just like the power window switches. It's a simple install that anybody can do with a very basic set of tool and no electrical knowledge is needed as long as you can follow easy step by step instructions. If you are interested shoot me a pm for more information on how to order one.