96 stang.

[gvr4ever]

Please don't flame too much, but I don't know too much about the first 4.6L stangs.

Do they have any problems for the first year? I didn't think I would want one, but I test drove one the other day and I enjoyed it. It was too beat up to buy, but I'm going to look at what I think is a clean one tomorrow.

The main question(s) I have is, what trans is in it (5sp,GT)? Did they revise/fix anything in 97?

I think the one I'm going to be looking at has 7xK miles and it's suppost to be clean and the asking price is in the right range. I hope things go well. I acually called about another one and the sales guy was honest enough to tell me that it was used for drag racing and not in the best shape, but they had a clean stocker. I found the worst sleezy dealer the other day, so I hope tomorrow goes better.

Thanks

 

[Steve777]

Please don't flame too much, but I don't know too much about the first 4.6L stangs.

Do they have any problems for the first year? I didn't think I would want one, but I test drove one the other day and I enjoyed it. It was too beat up to buy, but I'm going to look at what I think is a clean one tomorrow.

The main question(s) I have is, what trans is in it (5sp,GT)? Did they revise/fix anything in 97?

I think the one I'm going to be looking at has 7xK miles and it's suppost to be clean and the asking price is in the right range. I hope things go well. I acually called about another one and the sales guy was honest enough to tell me that it was used for drag racing and not in the best shape, but they had a clean stocker. I found the worst sleezy dealer the other day, so I hope tomorrow goes better.

Thanks

My '96 has 80,000 miles on it and this is what I'll tell you...

-the stock intake manifold is almost guarunteed to crack and will need replaced
-the low oil light tends to come on randomly, even when the oil isn't low (I read that this is from a problem with the sensor and/or its location)
-Not really a problem, but there is a lack of performance in the 96-98 models due to their restrictive intakes/heads/cams (later improved in the 99+ models). Many people with these years end up doing a headswap for significant power gains

 

[TGJ]

The 4.6L is a good reliable motor. As pointed out, the above is only real flaw. The 96 - 98 heads are not that restrictive compared to the 99+ 2V heads, it is the cams and intake on the 98- cars that are the restriction.

 

[DropTopPony]

I like mine, i am the original owner and have only ever had 1 part fail and that was a $50 part IAC valve and was an easy 5 minute swap. And this happens to all 4.6 gt's. If the price is right go for it.

 

[gvr4ever]

I was aware of the 99 upgrades. I really don't care so much about that. In fact, I'm hoping to save money by going with the unpopular years. I test drove one and while it wasn't fast, it was fast enough to get me to work and back. I just need a cheap daily driver right now and I want a RWD car, and cheap Ford parts. I acually will do suspention mods first and the 96 comes with a strut tower brace stock. While it's not much, it's a start and since I only care about how the car handles and stops at first, I acually want the slower 4.6L stangs. It looks like they dropped the strut tower brace in 98 tho Oh well. Lower miles is all I really care about, and while it's getting harder to find, I think I found one worth checking out.

I didn't know about the intake manifold. I wanted to know if the 96 had the older T5 style trans that the 5.0s had, or the tremic from the 99s+ that have issues. I test drove one junky 96/97 stang the other day and the trans shifted just fine. The engine seemed fine too, it's just someone didn't take care of it at all.

 

[Mike97gt]

I was aware of the 99 upgrades. I really don't care so much about that. In fact, I'm hoping to save money by going with the unpopular years. I test drove one and while it wasn't fast, it was fast enough to get me to work and back. I just need a cheap daily driver right now and I want a RWD car, and cheap Ford parts. I acually will do suspention mods first and the 96 comes with a strut tower brace stock. While it's not much, it's a start and since I only care about how the car handles and stops at first, I acually want the slower 4.6L stangs. It looks like they dropped the strut tower brace in 98 tho Oh well. Lower miles is all I really care about, and while it's getting harder to find, I think I found one worth checking out.

I didn't know about the intake manifold. I wanted to know if the 96 had the older T5 style trans that the 5.0s had, or the tremic from the 99s+ that have issues. I test drove one junky 96/97 stang the other day and the trans shifted just fine. The engine seemed fine too, it's just someone didn't take care of it at all.

all the 96-01 1/2 4.6 mustangs got the t-45 tremec.

 

[the98stang]

I guess since you don't want the extra 40Hp, you can stick to the pre 99's. Just make sure you get it carfaxed and have the compression checked before you buy it

 

[jcint]

I have a 96 gt for almost 2 years now and still love to drive it. never had any issues with it, runs very strong and it's stock. My airbag light stays on all the time but that don't bother me. Consider one of the slowest stangs out there but but when i floor it it pushes me back into my seat

 

[Miles]

My 97GT is almost 10 years old, and it is still my baby. Same deal w/ the IAC valve, but used carb cleaner and it has held up for the last 2 years ($50 part anyway).

A short-throw shifter and gears made the car a lot more fun to drive... not to mention the overhaul of the entire exhaust.

Great car and very affordable as they are becoming the old old model

 

[reeber]

I like the '96's because people expect you to be slow. I'll pull next to a '99-up stang and they are sure that I am going to lose.... Until the light turns green... I love to see the look on thier faces.. then again, I love the "sleeper" look.

 

[gvr4ever]

all the 96-01 1/2 4.6 mustangs got the t-45 tremec.

Acually, I will look at the 99-01 1/2 then too. I just don't want the problematic tremic 3650. I don't want to gamble with the problem and I HATE transmissions that are clunky and grindy.

Is there a web page that I could do a VIN search on the 01s, or a production cut off date that would have the t-45 trans?

 

[ACSPONY]

The Mustang GT in 2001 had both the T5/T-45 and 3650 Transmissions. Check the driver's door for a sticker and look under "TR" for a "K". If it has a "K" then the car has the 3650 Transmission.

 

[poorcollegekid]

you can really open them up just putting a full exhaust on it...take off the 6 cats...thatll be the biggest difference. i had one...it was reliable...though i did crack the intake manifold. my radiator also cracked, but it was not a common problem, and i had my valve seals replaced...but that was my choice to do...it was starting to smoke if id sit in a place for awhile then move...it wouldnt have been noticable if i hadnt removed the cats. but theyre nice cars...IMO the rear end of a 96-8 is the best looking rear end ever put on a mustang. and a 96-8 with side exhaust looks SICK!

 

[DTNODYA]

It looks like they dropped the strut tower brace in 98 tho Oh well.

Yep, and also no dash clock. I have a 98 and love it! (but I wish it had a dash clock lol) ....

 

[cltgt]

Hope you get the car. You will enjoy it!

 

[Dan_Soprano]

The 96 - 98 heads are not that restrictive compared to the 99+ 2V heads, it is the cams and intake on the 98- cars that are the restriction.

i beg to differ. the 99+ heads flow much better then the 96-98's.

 

[DropTopPony]

i beg to differ. the 99+ heads flow much better then the 96-98's.

Not by much, its the exhaust flow where they excel over NPI's. It really is the PI Intake/PI Cams that make the difference for 99 up GT's.

 

[TGJ]

i beg to differ. the 99+ heads flow much better then the 96-98's.

That is fine, beg to differ all you want! I disagree!

 

[gvr4ever]

Thanks for all the post guys. The one I was looking at today was a bust too. I found another clean one that looked awsome, but the miles were just under 100K. I'm going to hold out for something a tad younger.

The market seems dry right now for the years I'm looking I hope something comes up in the next few months.

I also found a ford racing intake manifold from summit racing for under $200. It still sounded like it had plastic in it, but it would be a cheap fix. I'm not looking for anything heavly modded. I just finished one car project, and I just want something simple (close to stock) to drive during the week.

 

[DropTopPony]

Thanks for all the post guys. The one I was looking at today was a bust too. I found another clean one that looked awsome, but the miles were just under 100K. I'm going to hold out for something a tad younger.

The market seems dry right now for the years I'm looking I hope something comes up in the next few months.

I also found a ford racing intake manifold from summit racing for under $200. It still sounded like it had plastic in it, but it would be a cheap fix. I'm not looking for anything heavly modded. I just finished one car project, and I just want something simple (close to stock) to drive during the week.

That intake is just a stock mustang intake. Now there is a Ford Racing aluminum intake but it costs @ 1800 so i know thats not it just by the price.