A few rookie questions

[hogdaddy77]

I am new here..so hello all...
I was thinking of gettign a classic and fixing her up, but saw how quickly I would be broke....so on to plan B
I am thinking of getting a late 90's gt...given the car has no problems, what would be the easiest and most cost effictive way to gain power (besides a less restrictive intake and exhaust)? The car will be my daily driver, so mods that can be done over a weekend are a must!
Would spending the extra money on a cobra or a newer mach be worth it...or could I make up the difference in power with mods to a gt for less $$?
Thanks guys...any advice will be greatly appreciated

I have access to a pretty decked out garrage here on base ( Im Air Force) so I plan to do most all of the work myself, or with help from buddies....

 

[DocG]

If you're budget allows....get the newer 03-04 Cobra. That'll be the best bang for your buck over a Mach or late 90's GT. The late 90's GT's have the non-pi heads too...so a little less power than the later GT's.

From what I gather around here, most cost effective mods are a few hp here and there, but do add up. You want lotsa power quick, supercharge it, hence just starting with the Cobra to begin with. You can supercharge the GT and get lots of power, but a late 90's...you're looking at a possible head swap...might need to build the engine up since its likely to have pretty high miles...don't get a 6spd out of the deal, etc. 03/04 Cobra likely about 22-25k...late 90's GT...probably 10k maybe....so for 12-15k thats a lot of mod money, but you'd have to do a lot of mods to get that much power from the GT and have it be as reliable as a newer Cobra. You buy late 90's GT and start doing that many mods you're gonna start running into this and that breaking probably....so may not be the most reliable daily driver.

 

[DocG]

BTW----welcome!

 

[03ghoststang]

first off welcome. Try and getting the 99+ GT over the late 90's less mods needed to make it faster as far as the PI head swap is concerned, but if you have the money might as well go with the 03-04 Cobra or a mach 1.

 

[hogdaddy77]

Ive got a line on an "00 gt for under $10K(with low miles)...and personally, I would rather build up the performance instead of buying a cobra right out of the box...
I will be done with college soon and need a project to keep me occupied
thanks for the welcomes- and if all goes right, y'all will be hearing a lot from me soon.....as hopefully Sunday I will have my GT

 

[USMstang]

Dude, I love my car but I'd love it more if it had 4V heads!!! Look for a Mach but you'll never regret a 99-04 GT either.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Welcome, if you can afford ~27,000 get an 03/04 Kebra

 

[hogdaddy77]

well..I am under the $10K budget for the near future...til my Grand Cherokee sells

 

[RedDaemon]

so get a GT, then use the money from the cherokee to get urself a built engine, or, build one up urself

welcome

you can look at two highly reputable names on this site to give u an idea of what it would cost for a custom built engine, www.modularpowerhouse.com and ww.vtengines.com

 

[triggz]

since it sounds like you're on a budget, i think the most rewarding thing youd enjoy is a 99-04 GT (preferably with the FIXED 3650 tranny, search for "3650 tsb"), drop in some 4.10 gears, new springs, mgw shifter, weld-in mufflers, cut off the cats, and maybe spray or supercharge it and find a reliable tuner to make sure its running safe.