So after owning 9 Fords, I have moved over to the dark side. I picked up an 03 GTP with 84k. It is extremely clean and has only been through one winter. I am mainly a mustang guy and have been into cars for about fifteen years.
While doing some research to determine how best to modify the GTP, I keep finding posts about people being concerned about Knock Retard. I know in the early mass air days, you could make some modifications and the computers would be able to "learn" and adapt to the new modifications. You usually had a limit to the modifications you could do before the car ran too lean. (exhaust and air intake) With most new cars, if you even put an air filter on them they need a tune to avoid running lean. I have seen many people talk about scanners and being very concerned about KR.
So my question is, if you get the car custom tuned, do you need to worry about KR? Are these cars any different than any other fuel injected vehicle when you go to modify them? I would like to put some headers, Downpipe and then possible go with a pulley. I would plan to dyno tune the car if I put on any of these mods. I can't imagine why these cars would be different but with so many people being concerned, I figured I'd ask. Maybe people are rolling the dice, but I would never imagine putting a smaller pulley on a vehicle without a tune. Even with the headers I would be concerned.
Is there something I'm missing?
Thanks