Might be in a '98

[Phatt_daddy]

Hey all, I have a few tech questions just incase this trade I am working on goes through. I might be getting into a bone stock '98 gtwith notyhing but a set of pipes added to it. What would be the best bang for the buck for the first upgrade? I know that parts arent cheap but I need to go as cheap as I can seeing as how I am the only one working and I have two kids to support. Also what is the worst problem and the most common problem that the sn's have with the 4.6? Some ideas for me to look out for when I go tho see it...


Thanks,
Nate

 

[85 Coupe 5.0]

One of the most common problems for the 4.6's from '96 to '01 was the infamous cracking intake mainfold. The original manifold on that car had a plastic water crossover, the area right behind the alt, and would crack out. This would leave you stranded, and at worst if you somehow didn't notice that the engine was overheating, cost you a motor. There has been a class action lawsuit against ford about this, and I believe that a '98 is still covered, but you need to check. Do a search here on stangnet or maybe somebody will chime in.

That year is rated at 225HP, and will usually crank out around a 15.00 1/4 to a 15.5 or so depending on weather, auto or stick and how well you can drive, probably capable of a high 14 on most days with a stick car.

As far as upgrades, you say it has pipes, does it still have the factory converters on it? if so, get those out of there for a good off-road h-pipe and O2 simulators, or a tune to keep the check engine light happy.

i'm sure there are some things i'm missing, but someone will take it from here.

 

[COramprat]

Check my garage for my mods...

Most of my mods were used from this site or others. It is a good way to mod on hte cheap, especially if you do it yourself.

 

[Tim2002GT]

I would recommend a gear swap as your first and best bang for the buck mod. Try some 3.73's or 4.10's, depending on your personal needs. I prefer the 4.10's, but I am a little partial! I think the 98's may have came stock with 2.73's, so gears would really wake the car up!

 

[Phatt_daddy]

Thanks for the replies so far. The car is a stick, as for the pipes the guy didn'ttel me what kind he just said he had some pipes put on. Of course he also said that the 4.6 was the slowest piece of crap he had ever driven which is why he is willing to trade even for a '87 gt. How hard is it to put a set of PI heads and a PI intake on these engines? I mean with the timing and all. I am leaning more towards the 3.55 gear instead of the 73's or the 4.10's. And how about a little gas on it, how much will it saftely handle in stock form? you know , not blowup.

Thanks,
Nate

 

[COramprat]

You would be under gearing with 3.55 I promise. With a PI intake swap and cams you could realize some really nice gains without the extra expense of a complete head swap.

 

[03redgtstang]

4.10's FTW

 

[Twista]

yep there slow as hell. I would just save up for pi heads/cams and intake..

 

[2002BLGT]

1st mod - shifter
2nd mod - gears 3.73s
3rd mod - offroad H pipe and catback
4th mod - programmer or chip you wont need the O2 simulators this way
5th mod - underdrive pulleys
6th mod - upper plenum and TB
7th mod - PI intake swap from livernois and PI cams
8th mod - upgraded fuel pump and 100 shot of nitrous or supercharger

this would be the order I would mod it

 

[StangYellow]

Unless you are partial to that body style, try for a 99+. You already get the better PI intake, cams and heads. Its rated at 260 and isnt a "dog" like the 96-98 4.6's. Once you step into the 98 and drive it, you will want to spend money trying to make it faster..... SO instead of buying aftermarket heads, cams, intake, bolt ons.... you are better off going with a 99+. Thats my opinion and suggestion. Just dont buy a Honda.

 

[blckstng96]

pi headswap is like night and day difference.if i were you id do that first.its killing 2 birds with 1 stone anyway because your getting more hp because the heads,cams and intake plus youd be swapping on a new intake with aluminium crossover to prevent you from having a cracked one in the future since its bound to happen.then id go with gears,4:10 without a doubt and really its not even as bad as you would think on gas.this isnt like throwin 4:10s in a 5.0. deff dont do anything less than 3:73. if your interested i actually have a set of PI heads for sale right now because im buying stage 2s. the install isnt that bad if your mechanically inclined at all.i just got an all data print out of the timing and you just follow the steps.pm me or email at [email protected]

 

[blckstng96]

also PI swaps on 96-98 motors results in higher compression ratio as well.

 

[Phatt_daddy]

Well I do like the '99 up carsbut I have no extra money to put with one right now and I dont think ne one will be willing to trade even with me for one either. As for the pi stuff reason being is that I could get a complete engine out of a '99-'04 gt for around 400 bucks. Oh yea and the car has 100,000 mi on the clock. why would 3.55's be undergearing it Yall gonna have to teach me on thatone cause in the 5.0 it was the perfect match. Also is the tranny in that car a T5 or a T45? andwhat is the diff?

Thanks,
Nate

 

[LI98GTStang]

98s came with the T45, similiar to the T5s, but a little stronger. 4.6s make their hp/torque numbers higher up in the rev range compared to the 5.0s, that's why the numerically higher gear ratios are in order. My 98 came with the optional 3.27 gears and actually stuck with them for quite a while before, I felt the need for an upgrade.

 

[Phatt_daddy]

Well I am now officially a sn95 owner. Which brings up a new question........what would cause the ignition key switch to not be able to turn back enough to cut the engine? the whole housing rotates instead of just the cylinder, do I need to replace the whole column or is it a simple fix?

Nate

 

[tomustang]

Thanks for the replies so far. The car is a stick, as for the pipes the guy didn'ttel me what kind he just said he had some pipes put on. Of course he also said that the 4.6 was the slowest piece of crap he had ever driven which is why he is willing to trade even for a '87 gt. How hard is it to put a set of PI heads and a PI intake on these engines? I mean with the timing and all. I am leaning more towards the 3.55 gear instead of the 73's or the 4.10's. And how about a little gas on it, how much will it saftely handle in stock form? you know , not blowup.

Thanks,
Nate

trust me, I had 3.73's in an auto 98, not much of an improvement, get the 4.10's at least

 

[LI98GTStang]

Well I am now officially a sn95 owner. Which brings up a new question........what would cause the ignition key switch to not be able to turn back enough to cut the engine? the whole housing rotates instead of just the cylinder, do I need to replace the whole column or is it a simple fix?

Nate

Whole column? Not likely. Probably just the ignition switch.

 

[Mel96GT]

Well I do like the '99 up carsbut I have no extra money to put with one right now and I dont think ne one will be willing to trade even with me for one either. As for the pi stuff reason being is that I could get a complete engine out of a '99-'04 gt for around 400 bucks. Oh yea and the car has 100,000 mi on the clock. why would 3.55's be undergearing it Yall gonna have to teach me on thatone cause in the 5.0 it was the perfect match. Also is the tranny in that car a T5 or a T45? andwhat is the diff?

Thanks,
Nate

Go with 3.73 if you plan on going PI. I went with 3.55 gears and they worked okay with the NPI cams but the PI cams moved the torque curve to a higher rpm range. I drive a lot on the highway so they are fine with me. Regardless, some better gears are a must. The best bang for the buck are some used PI cams and PI intake (about $300). I bought a lot of used Mustang parts on Stangnet and other internet sites. Modifying these cars is fairly cheap.