1997 vs 1998

sxystev0 · Jan 5, 2004

What are the differences between a 1997 and 1998 stang
Also how can u tell the difference looking at them?

hioc1098 · Jan 5, 2004

sxystev0 said:
What are the differences between a 1997 and 1998 stang
Also how can u tell the difference looking at them?

I don't know of anyway to tell the difference between the 96-98 Stangs visually. As far as differences:

- 98 has a unique fuel system (it was an intermediate step between return and returnless systems). The piece that would be considered the fuel pressure regulator is built into the fuel rail. The fuel pump has a basket that must be modified for the Walbro 255.
- 98 has more parameters that can be adjusted in the computer. The J3 terminal on the 98 is thinner and sometimes doesn't like chips (mine)
- 98 has a slightly different console.

I can't think of anything else right now.

Tim

Sam98 · Jan 5, 2004

sxystev0 said:
What are the differences between a 1997 and 1998 stang
Also how can u tell the difference looking at them?

96-97 Mustangs have a strut tower brace, 98 doesn't.

96-97 Mustangs have a fuel pressure regulator that bolts onto the fuel rail on the driver's side. On the 98 it is integrated into the fuel rail and is not removable.

98 does not have the clock on top of the dash as some of the 96-97 Mustangs do.

The hangers for the exhaust pipes under the rear bumper are parallel to the exhaust pipe, they are perpedicular on just about every other year.

There are a number of other subtle differences that you may or may not be able to readily detect - PCM is different, PATS is different, speedometer is fully electric (no cable from the transmission). I probably missed a couple of things but that is pretty much it.

GoBabyVroommm · Jan 5, 2004

Wow i thought the heads were the only difference in the 98s.

RysRed96GT · Jan 5, 2004

the heads are the same. the 17" split spoke rims are polished on the 98s. the rear lower bumper is color-matched on the 98's, but flat black on the 96, 97's.

AdamantiumKnot · Jan 5, 2004

not all 17" split spoke rims are polished. mine aren't. i thought only 96's had the flat black on the rear bumper also. who knows.

stangman · Jan 6, 2004

well half of the 98's made that year had the exhaust hangers like the previous years, the other half had them like on the newer cars, they changed a bunch of stuff like that mid-year, beacuse they were prepping for the 99's. fuel system is another.
and as for the flat black on the bumpers, i thought only the 94-95's had the black on the bumper & the 96+ had it all the same color

Sam98 · Jan 6, 2004

c2see21 said:
well half of the 98's made that year had the exhaust hangers like the previous years, the other half had them like on the newer cars, they changed a bunch of stuff like that mid-year, beacuse they were prepping for the 99's. fuel system is another.
and as for the flat black on the bumpers, i thought only the 94-95's had the black on the bumper & the 96+ had it all the same color

If so, they did it early because my car was built in Feb 98 and it has everything I mentioned.

stangman · Jan 6, 2004

Sam98 said:
If so, they did it early because my car was built in Feb 98 and it has everything I mentioned.

wouldn't that have been in the middle part of the build year

68Stang · Jan 6, 2004

98s also don't have a hood light.

Every 95-96 I have seen has the black out on the bumper. The anytime I ask somebody what year their car is, the 95s and 96s have the black, every other year I've seen has been color matched.

I've got a 96, and the black on the bumper is the ****zle!

Yellow4.6 · Jan 6, 2004

My 98 was built in late 97 and it dosen't have the painted black on the lower rear bumper.

The easiest way to tell the difference visually is the clock pod on the dash. 94-97 have the pod 98's don't. I believe some 96's had a honeycomb mesh in the grille as well, not like the 99-up's but hardly noticable. I've seen some w/ the grille this way.

GoBabyVroommm · Jan 6, 2004

LOL I couldn't understand why my 96GT had a red bumper and at the buttom it was black. When i would see other GTs im' like why the hell is there bumper one whole color? Personally i have no problem with the blk because i live in the city and usually other cars plates hit into.

mrvax · Jan 6, 2004

Sam98 said:
There are a number of other subtle differences that you may or may not be able to readily detect - speedometer is fully electric (no cable from the transmission). I probably missed a couple of things but that is pretty much it.

I believe the speedometer is identical from 96-98. The 99+ models went all electric. All 1998GTs I've worked on still have the speedo gear.

The fuel pump changed in 1998 also.

68Stang · Jan 6, 2004

GoBabyVroommm said:
Personally i have no problem with the blk because i live in the city and usually other cars plates hit into.

WHOA! What city do you live in? Can'tdriveville? LOL! That's terrible! I'd start parking off in BFE if I were you.

GoBabyVroommm · Jan 6, 2004

68Stang said:
WHOA! What city do you live in? Can'tdriveville? LOL! That's terrible! I'd start parking off in BFE if I were you.

I'm in the lincoln park area. That is not to far from downtown. My area has a lot nice places to eat, bars, and clubs so people come from all over and hit my car. My back bumper doesn't look that bad honestly but the front bumper I don't even wanna talk about this anymore.

pinski · Jan 6, 2004

RysRed96GT said:
the heads are the same. the 17" split spoke rims are polished on the 98s. the rear lower bumper is color-matched on the 98's, but flat black on the 96, 97's.

I've got polished split spoke 17"'s on my car and it's a '97. My rear bumper is all one color too!

I really want the 1998 console though, the damn cupholder flopping out of the console in the pre-98's sucks.

JLstang351 · Jan 6, 2004

I thought the split wheels went something like this......96 were dull looking, 97 was polished w/ black inserts in between the spokes, and 98 were fully polished! my build date on my car was 10/98...i guess I have one of the later 98 gt's!

asthmaticZeater · Jan 6, 2004

i have a very early built 96 (built october 14th 95) and my back bumper is blacked out at the bottom.

but i would hate to have it any other way. i really dont care for the color matched part down there.

i also have the honeycomb crap in the grill on mine. and on every other 96-98 ive ever actually looked for it ive never seen it. and actually i never even noticed it, a buddy did and commented on how i had it and he didnt (a 96) and ive always thought it was kinda funny. it dont bother me cause you really never tell its there until you actually look.

redlined50 · Jan 6, 2004

interesting

SilverHorse · Jan 6, 2004

Another dead on way to tell is that there is no clock on the top of the dash.

1997 vs 1998

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