Progress Thread 1996 mustang gt build

Adizzle843

Active Member
Mar 22, 2020
78
28
28
South Carolina
So I finally got the engine (2003 4.6) back from the machine shop. I had the shop do the following;
Bore 20 over
Install TFS stage 2 cams
Install the MMR head rebuild kit and new valves
Clean and polish the crank
Balance the crank (with the forged pistons and rods)
Deck the block
Line honed the mains

I have a question for you guys. Is it worth putting the high volume oil pump in while I have it apart?
I have heard about pickup tube to crank interference issues.
 
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No. There is no true "high volume" pumps for these cars. Manufacturers love using that pretense. The only true oil pump upgrade is having billit gears. You wont be make nearly enough power to warrant billit gears
 
No. There is no true "high volume" pumps for these cars. Manufacturers love using that pretense. The only true oil pump upgrade is having billit gears. You wont be make nearly enough power to warrant billit gears
Thanks for the insight. This is my first mustang build, and my first real project car, so I will probably have a lot of slightly dumb questions.
 
Gentlemen and Ladies, it now once again looks like an engine. I have it all assembled waiting for the car to get back from paint. Then it will be the tubular K member kit install, aluminum flywheel, clutch (still undecided on which one), aluminum drive shaft and 3.73 gears.
I have most of the parts here to finish it up. I can’t wait to have some space in the garage again!
 

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Time for an update. After the COVID delay, the car is getting close to being done at paint. These pics don’t do the color justice, but it’s going to look awesome when its done.
 

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Just got back from seeing the car, figured I’d post a couple more pics.
 

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Yes sir, it’s turning out better than what I thought it would. I also like the color more than I thought, because the blue that was on it before this wasn’t the same color.
It had 7 different paint jobs on it when it got sanded down.
 

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I think it is a pretty color. We have a moonlight blue 96 GT vert. With a white top. Bought it from a tow yard 6 years ago. It went thru a fence (DUI) and previous owner never came and got it. Had some body damage in the fenders but it ran good. Wife slid into a parked truck in the ice first year we had it and took out the passenger door. Broken glass scratched up the rear 1/4. Was lucky to find the same color door in the local pick n pull. Couple summers ago wife hit a dog on the way to work out in the country. Took out the hood, pass fender ( which was not good anyway) and the pass door again. I found a whole moonlight blue v6 car and swapped all the parts. Does not look back from a distance but the paint is not as nice as when I bought the car. At least the front end is straight now. My favorite 96 color is bright tangerine. Moonlight blue is my second favorite. I have a small bumper pinto hatch that is blue. I’m thinking it will be moonlight blue when I get to that stage. Anyway nice car
 
Put some new wheels on the car today, going to put the new k member and coil overs in next weekend.
Some before and afters that are out of order. It had cheap ass bullitt wheels that had a ton of corrosion, to the point the bead wouldn’t seat so they were always flat.
 

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Glad your here to show what can be done at home. My favorite color is blue, and that car is really blue. With all the money you saved you could have got a cool hood. 96 has some good ones
 
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Glad your here to show what can be done at home. My favorite color is blue, and that car is really blue. With all the money you saved you could have got a cool hood. 96 has some good ones
I was thinking about hoods and front bumper covers. I really like the cobra bumper cover, but I really don’t want it to look like a fobra. I have a bit of time to figure it out, because none of that is going on until the engine is back in the car.
 
Ok, so it has been a while since I have posted, or worked on the car. Aviation is back in full swing. So since my last post I put in a UPR chromoly k member and control arms. Also today I put in mm caster camber plates. I have the coil overs and strange struts for it. I’m currently trying to figure out what to do about brakes. I can’t put the single piston factory calipers back in. Any suggestions?? Anyways, here are some pics…
 

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I put 99-04 PBR calipers on my wife’s 96 GT vert and I am perfectly happy with the way it stops. For being a cheap swap and stock I think it stops pretty damn good in my opinion. I have a second tangerine 96 GT now that I am going to put PBR calipers on in a couple weeks when I am on vacation.
 
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So, it’s been a while since I have had 2 seconds to look at my car. I finally got some free time. I finished putting the K member, coil overs, bump steer and caster camber plates in. Fitting the headers and mounts so I can FINALLY put the engine in this weekend.
 

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