96GT performance upgrades

jtlinn · Sep 17, 2004

I recently bought a 96GT and was wondering about some performance upgrades. I was thinking of putting a performance chip in but am not sure what chip to go with, how difficult it is, and can I really screw up my car if I do something wrong as far as programming goes.

The car already has a cold air intake, and a flowmaster exhaust. Not sure if it is the factory MAF sensor or not. I have looked into a set of PI heads but I'm not financially ready to make that investment yet. Not sure if there is a performance intake available for these cars yet?? All the past cars I have worked on were pre-1972 so this engine is pretty foreign to me, any suggestions will be appreciated.

w00t · Sep 17, 2004

Get a midpipe, gears, pullies and a short throw shifter.

ironmedic · Sep 17, 2004

chips=no

P51 Intake=yes
PI Heads=yes
gears=yes
midpipe=yes
short throw=yes

w00t · Sep 17, 2004

Chip will not do you any good until you get plenty more upgrades.

TweekedGT · Sep 17, 2004

Definetly go with gears first. They are fairly inexpensive and will give you the most bang for your buck. I would suggest 3.73's. I know a lot of guys like 4.10's but if your going to do a lot of commuter driving do the 3.73's. Once you start modding you won't be able to stop. It is addicting.

squares98 · Sep 18, 2004

do a chip ,i did one on my 98 and am pleased,much better power and sound quality/feel. And gears are a must. If you can get gears and the chip done at the same time, do so. You can get a good tune on you current setup, then reflash down the road if you add a blower, etc. My chip is a Diablosports' CMR. Just make sure you have your chip done on site and you will be pleased. I dont know if i could say the same with mailorder.

stang9gt · Sep 18, 2004

If you do get a chip, do not get a mail order...I had tons of probs with my Diablo...get a custom dyno tuned chip...

COramprat · Sep 18, 2004

Gears...4.10's...you will thank me.

Snydaleid · Sep 18, 2004

Get gears and a short throw shifter.

jtlinn · Sep 18, 2004

i was thinking of going with Ford Racing Parts gears and a Steeda short throw shifter and pullies

thanks for the input everybody

Back2Mustangs · Sep 18, 2004

jtlinn said:
i was thinking of going with Ford Racing Parts gears and a Steeda short throw shifter and pullies

thanks for the input everybody

Ford Racing Parts= overpriced

You can get better/equal quality out of Strange or Richmond. Just look around to find the best pricing. I recently bought my first Mod-Motor Mustang. (96 GT also) To get up to the power I'm used to, I have no options other than a blower. I already hava a set of PI Heads, aftermarket cams and intake, but I'm waiting to get the heads worked and gather up forged internals before I put them on the car. I'll bullet-proof the bottom end at the same time for the blower. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you can buy PI Heads used for around $300-$375??

chevyboy_z28 · Sep 18, 2004

whatever you do dont do pullies u will regret it in the end. u will do more harm than good by changing the pullies, especially if you have aftermarket stereo equipment. leave the pullies alone and do more sensable mods like gears, shifter, and clutch, as stated.

tangerine · Sep 18, 2004

Ok first of all pullies is one of the best bang for the buck mods on a 4.6.they used to make you battery charge funny and things like but not anymore because of r&d. I have had mine for over a yearand never had any problems.. The gears will acually slow you down at the track if you don't have nay drag radials. If you want to make it faster on a short budget go ahead with a PI intake and PI cams. These are the best bang for the buck mod. If you are only going with bolt ons only then I would go with pullies,timing adj. plenum and tb, longtubes,x-pipe, PI cams and intake, and get a custom chip to correct you a/f after you get the intake installed. after all of this get a set of gears.

tangerine · Sep 18, 2004

Back2Mustangs said:
Ford Racing Parts= overpricedQUOTE]

Ford racing gears are the best to get and if you order them through GEFracing.com they are about 130. This is way cheaper than you will ever find for richmond or strange.

Back2Mustangs · Sep 18, 2004

tangerine said:
Back2Mustangs said:

Ford Racing Parts= overpricedQUOTE]

Ford racing gears are the best to get and if you order them through GEFracing.com they are about 130. This is way cheaper than you will ever find for richmond or strange.

Click to expand...

No intended, but what info do you have to show that Ford Racing gears are better than Strange or Richmond or any others. If you have some facts, please share so that I will no longer be retarded in my way of thinking, if I am indeed being so.

GEFracing.com must be giving head to Ford for those prices.

crazystang05 · Sep 18, 2004

A short thro shifter is the first thing oyu should do. Then i would get a h pipe or x pipe and then get a fender mounted air filter kit and then save your money and get pi heads

Back2Mustangs · Sep 18, 2004

In this order:

o/r H-Pipe
Cat-Back or weld-ins
Gears
PI Heads, cams and intake

if you're worried about a few horsepower from pullies or cold air, then go ahead with those but IMHO they are a wast of money. They won't mean the difference in beating quicker cars on the street. I'm coming out of two Z28's into this stock GT so I gotta get some real GO into this gas-pedal. The 5.0 GT's I've had in the past were way easier to get more power out of than this Mod4.6.

n.j.gt · Sep 18, 2004

gears, mid pipe, pro 5.0 shifter. then supercharge it. dont waste your money on pullys, throttle body, plenum. put all the extra money towards a blower. trust me i know from experience. all the bolt ons i mentioned dont even come close to my supercharger. gears first without a doubt. i like my 3.73's. complete your exhaust next. then supercharge her good luck!!

Green4.6GT · Sep 18, 2004

being an owner of a 96 GT... the gears absolutely killed the exaust in terms of preformance.. the exaust makes your car sound cool as hell... but in terms of preformance anyone who tells you the exaust is better is drunk

gears (4.30s whoo )
then exaust..
shifter
PI swap (intake at least, heads if you can afford it)
drag radials + nitrous

simple.. cheap... 11 second ets

as before mentioned, the maf etc are all pretty much usless until you run out of other stuff to do.. 300 bucks for 2 hp IMO is a huge waste of money.

edit: there are tonnes of other small things you can do to help yourself out without wasting money also.. move the battery to the trunk.. take off your upper intake and port it.. ditch some weight.. etc.. your car wont have more power, but it will be faster, and its free.. so hey why not right

-ryan

Steve777 · Sep 18, 2004

I have a 96...

Got the exhaust so it sounds mean.
Got the gears so it's fun to drive.

I am happy with it now ...just need to work on the looks department - need headlights that arent yellow, and some new wheels would be nice

96GT performance upgrades

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