96 GT vs 99GT vs Cobra

Duck069 · Oct 5, 2009

Hey all, long time reader first time poster. I bought a 96 gt a little over a month ago with plans to bring it back to life. The car overall is/was in pretty good shape. I paid 3500 for the car and have put about 1,000 into it with wheels, tires, etc, nothing major. My question is it worth doing a PI swap and putting a KB on it or should I just upgrade to a 99 or new GT or pick up a 94 or newer cobra? I'm really just wanting something fun to drive on the weekends and nice days. I don't want to be driving just another mustang that 'sounds good'. Any and all help or info would be much appreciated.
Thanks

4tun8 · Oct 5, 2009

3500 seems steep for a car that needs that much work. I bought my 97 GT with Patriot stage 2, long tubes, gears, etc etc etc (tons of things done, even an ipod radio) for 5k.....

Duck069 · Oct 5, 2009

Yeah well, I may have made the car seem worse than it was. It really is a good looking car and runs and drives fine. My big hang up is just the lack of power in the car.

Kilgore Trout · Oct 5, 2009

How are we supposed to answer the question of which car is best for you? What is your plan? What is your budget? What will the future bring? WTF?

Also, not tech...

Duck069 · Oct 5, 2009

Ok here's tech...
my plans for the 96gt were to do a PI head swap and then bolt on a KB, but I can only run so much boost because of the stock internals - or so I'm told. These were the big plans, obviously I would add a CAI, new cams, etc. So is it worth the time and money to invest into this car or should I buy a 99 and up gt, therfore saving time and money on the PI swap or should I just pick up a cobra and then go with the KB and other items. I would like to take it to the track every once in a while but don't plan on entering any NMRA events.

ScortLX · Oct 5, 2009

Duck069 said:
Ok here's tech...
my plans for the 96gt were to do a PI head swap and then bolt on a KB, but I can only run so much boost because of the stock internals - or so I'm told. These were the big plans, obviously I would add a CAI, new cams, etc. So is it worth the time and money to invest into this car or should I buy a 99 and up gt, therfore saving time and money on the PI swap or should I just pick up a cobra and then go with the KB and other items. I would like to take it to the track every once in a while but don't plan on entering any NMRA events.

Just an FYI, you are going to end up with the same motor in the '96 or the '99 and up GT if you do the PI swap on the '96. Though, you may raise the Compression ratio with the swap onto the '96 car. Not sure on that though. Either way, they will both still have the weak rods which won't last if you go into the 400's for rwhp. There are cars that break below that and above that, but that is the generally accepted range of power. So, the real difference will be the cost of the PI headswap for the '96 compared to the difference in price between the '96 and the '99 and up car. I'm not sure about the rods in the '99 4V, so I'm hoping someone chimes in. Though the KB for that car is pretty expensive, plus it cannot be purchased intercooled. Just wanted to send some info your way. Hopefully more people will chime in.

junkman306 · Oct 5, 2009

If I could choose, I'd go 03+ cobra anyday of the week, but if you have a budget like mine, 96 GT. The 96 will make more power than the 99 after the PI swap. A PI swap is always worth it. You can generally get all the parts needed to do a PI swap for the same price as aftermarket cams. I like the looks of the new edge (99-04) cars better, especially wingless. Parts are easy and fairly affordable on either option, but you'll have more parts money with the 96 since the other 2 will cost more.

Duck069 · Oct 5, 2009

Thanks for the responses, I was aware of doing the PI swap would essentially give me a 99gt, but I wasn't aware of the compression. It sounds the KB really isn't the smartest way and I am shooting for at least mid 300s rwhp. I did find someone close to me offering a 4.6 PI motor with a teksid block. I know that the block can hold plenty of HP but the rods and cylinders are stock soooo I guess again I have the dilemma of breaking if I try to put out to much HP. Thoughts???

tonytaylor85 · Oct 5, 2009

KB on a PI swapped 96-98 may not be the best option. Higher static compression can get dangerous under boost.

twogts4us · Oct 6, 2009

Kilgore Trout said:
How are we supposed to answer the question of which car is best for you? What is your plan? What is your budget? What will the future bring? WTF?

Also, not tech...

What? Not tech? "My question is it worth doing a PI swap and putting a KB on it..." Sounds pretty techie to me...?

And the bigger question is why do you have to be such a #%$*, especially to newbies? He's got a legit question, and I'm sure now he's oh-so sorry that he didn't fill out the Kilgore questionnaire before opening this thread...so, WTF right back at ya.

twogts4us · Oct 6, 2009

ScortLX said:
I'm not sure about the rods in the '99 4V, so I'm hoping someone chimes in.

The rotating assembly in the early Cobra is nearly the same as the Mach 1 - crappy, though they both have forged crankshafts (but the auto Mach didn't get one). Furthermore, the crank isn't really going to be your weakest link anyway...it's those powder rods and hyperpuke pistons.
But you can make mid-300RWHP with the stock bottom end with any of the mod motors. It's when you start breaking that 400 RWHP limit when you have to worry about rods exiting the block. (Even 400 can be safe if your tune is safe, you don't beat the living snot out of it, etc...heck, you'll find people with 425 or more out here...but the higher you go, the more likely their life span is getting shorter by the mile.)
A good swap for you would be a 03-04 Cobra engine. One step down from that would be the Mach 1 engine. These seem to be readily available on the internet, but caveat emptor. I'd tend to think you'd be more apt to find a decent Mach motor than an un-abused 03-04 Cobra motor, even though the Mach is much more rare...it's for this reason (the rarity) that I'd think you'd be able to find a well taken care of engine. Still, there are exceptions to the rule, and I fall back to the above, let the buyer beware...

Best of Luck!

Kilgore Trout · Oct 6, 2009

twogts4us said:
What? Not tech? "My question is it worth doing a PI swap and putting a KB on it..." Sounds pretty techie to me...?

And the bigger question is why do you have to be such a #%$*, especially to newbies? He's got a legit question, and I'm sure now he's oh-so sorry that he didn't fill out the Kilgore questionnaire before opening this thread...so, WTF right back at ya.

Sorry you got so butt hurt at my response. Perhaps you should put me on your ignore list? My questions got him to provide a lot more information which was absolutely needed and now he is getting the information he needs. Mission accomplished from my point of view... I am not going to tolerate many more personal attacks here before I start getting mods involved. Just an FYI to you and all the other Kilgore haters...

fast97gt · Oct 6, 2009

Better becareful kilgore gonna take hims ball and go home, hell he might tell on someone. But if he read the post more than once, and if he had any bit of common since, he couldve answered without bein such a dick. Oh what are you nerd still trying to be cool "all you kilgore haters". Come on man grow up and get some common since.

Kilgore Trout · Oct 6, 2009

Why don't y'all whine at me via PMs, this is the tech section...

98Teksidcobra · Oct 6, 2009

A motor swap is probably the most expensive option here, and unneccissary for your goals.

Best bang for your buck, IMO, is the PI swap. Gets the PI heads worked over, get aftermarket cams, the PI intake, and Exhaust, And you'll have a very good daily driving car (simplified). From there, I would eventually swap to a higher class mustang. You could make your 300ish whp. Many mustang magazines have done this swap and gotten great numbers from that underdog of a motor N/A.

If you're considering Going F/I, It would definitley be worthwhile to build your bottom end, otherwise (to quote someone) you'll be on borrowed time.

twogts4us · Oct 6, 2009

There is a reason that there are so many Kilgore haters dude...get a clue. And for the record, it's not a personal attack. Christ, look at how you answered the thread starter. But whatever, go tell someone, I couldn't care less...

And fast97gt, well gosh, what can I say that people can't figure out for themselves? I mean, most of the folks out here do have common since.

Duck069 · Oct 6, 2009

Ok, so I think I'm going to go with the PI swap. Will the stock plastic ford PI intake hold up ok or should I buy a typhoon, trick flow, etc?

junkman306 · Oct 6, 2009

Duck069 said:
Ok, so I think I'm going to go with the PI swap. Will the stock plastic ford PI intake hold up ok or should I buy a typhoon, trick flow, etc?

There hasn't been anyone that makes an aftermarket PI intake that makes enough power over stock to justify the price. Stock is just fine.

twogts4us · Oct 6, 2009

For the money, I'd stick with the OEM design, but be sure you get the latest version with the aluminum crossover.

fast97gt · Oct 7, 2009

Well than maybe some people need to use there common sense, it'll probably be a better place
Posted via Mobile Device

96 GT vs 99GT vs Cobra

Duck069

New Member

4tun8

New Member

Duck069

New Member

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?

Duck069

New Member

ScortLX

junkman306

New Member

Duck069

New Member

tonytaylor85

Member

twogts4us

twogts4us

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?

fast97gt

Active Member

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?

98Teksidcobra

New Member

twogts4us

Duck069

New Member

junkman306

New Member

twogts4us

fast97gt

Active Member

Similar threads

96 GT vs 99GT vs Cobra

New Member

New Member

New Member

Fried or Broiled ?

New Member

New Member

New Member

Member

Fried or Broiled ?

Active Member

Fried or Broiled ?

New Member

New Member

New Member

Active Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency