96-98 4.6 question

[splogan]

I have heard that the 4.6 in the GT's for these years is a little harder to mod than later years due to crappy heads/cam. True or false. Also if this is true than would a swap fix this. My thought was can the heads and such from the 05 stang be used on the 96-98 blocks. I would think that would make a fairly quick car. Sorry if this sounds stupid, my experience is with my 70 so I am pondering future projects.

 

[chimchim]

05 Headswap is do-able, but fairly complicated with the changing of the computer and what not, however you can put PI heads on there from a 99-04 GT and gain about 50HP to the wheels. Many threads on here about it. Search Headswap! Have fun!

 

[Sick96Stang]

05 Headswap is do-able, but fairly complicated with the changing of the computer and what not, however you can put PI heads on there from a 99-04 GT and gain about 50HP to the wheels. Many threads on here about it. Search Headswap! Have fun!

Yea, like he said 05 swap is do-able just not that practical. The difference between 96-98 and 99-04 is the heads, cams, and intake manifold. The intake manifold makes the biggest difference between the years. When people say a PI headswap they are generally referring to swapping the heads, cams, and intake. Dont plan on blowing it after the headswap though without some lower compression pistons.

 

[Roger_4.6_96]

If you get pi heads dont use power adder.

 

[splogan]

ok, so If I want to go blown I may as well rebuild the whole engine then, right. Kid next door has a 98gt with 55k miles I might be able to pick up for 7k, thats where these thoughts stem from.

 

[Sick96Stang]

ok, so If I want to go blown I may as well rebuild the whole engine then, right. Kid next door has a 98gt with 55k miles I might be able to pick up for 7k, thats where these thoughts stem from.

yea might as well. I mean u could get by with just doing the pistons because that lowers your compression but if u are thinking about running any kind of serious boost those rods will definetely need to go. Crank is good to around 450 hp or so. Never hurts to rebuild the engine though

 

[chimchim]

ok, so If I want to go blown I may as well rebuild the whole engine then, right. Kid next door has a 98gt with 55k miles I might be able to pick up for 7k, thats where these thoughts stem from.

I got my 97 with 53,000 for 7K. It's got PI heads and intake and many other goodies now and I'm putting down 249HP to the wheels. I got about $4,500 more in it with parts and labor. I'm ordering a tune, soon. I'm hoping for 260HP at the rear wheels. $12,000 for 260 at the wheels for a car that looks better than 99-04 ain't bad!!!

 

[AirWolf87]

yeah, an alternative to the Full PI head swap is just taking the manifold from the PI cars and bolting it to the NPI heads....the heads stull suck , but at least the manifold isnt as restrictive. they will respond better to changes. As for the 05 head swap....if you are going to do that, might as well swap the whole motor in.

 

[Darkhorse845]

You can get the 98 GT and do the PI Headswap that would be cool!

 

[splogan]

End goal is to have as much or more power then the TA. The TA was about 320rwhp stock (of coure 7k ft altitude mellowed that right out).

 

[MyEarsHurt]

End goal is to have as much or more power then the TA. The TA was about 320rwhp stock (of coure 7k ft altitude mellowed that right out).

good luck...its gonna take a lot of work on a 96-98. I am doing the pi swap with a 100 shot (wet). But to beat a TA with a 96-98 w/o a power adder is next to impossible without an overabundance of funds.

 

[AirWolf87]

End goal is to have as much or more power then the TA. The TA was about 320rwhp stock (of coure 7k ft altitude mellowed that right out).

to do this you have 2 choices.......juice it or blow it. If you go for a blower dont do the headswap. you might run into problems with boost and compression. In this case, just have your current heads ported to flow like the PI heads and you are good to go.