Took it for a short drive tonight. I didn't notice the ticking, but it did have an exhaust leak at startup that slowly got quieter. Need to go back and tighten everything up.... It didn't run too bad. Has a little bit of a stumble off idle and a slight bucking at low rpm sometimes. I figure that's all due to running the MAF open with no filter. I should have that fixed tomorrow. It also sounds like it has a small vacuum leak I need to track down. And my transmission sounds like a race unit, tons of gear noise. It shifts good though. I don't have the boot on yet, so that should help some.
Back to stock build thread
- Thread starter 1slow95
- Start date
Still cant believe you went back to stock from where your car was. Hope you get your issues sorted out so you can enjoy the car.
If it bucks and surges after all this I'm guessing you'll push it off a cliff. Going back to stock is ok, but the stock induction should have been bigger (Edelbrock Performer, 65MM TB and bigger MAF), I got 40HP out of all this with no driveability issues. Going from 449HP to 225HP is rough.
Even with the few issues it has right now it's still better than it was with the old engine. But yeah, if it bucks and surges now I'm finding the nearest cliff and dropping it off.
I didn't really care about losing power, but man I forgot how slow a stock Mustang is. I might have to start looking for a used s-trim or build a turbo kit....Or look for a 03/04 Cobra.
I didn't really care about losing power, but man I forgot how slow a stock Mustang is. I might have to start looking for a used s-trim or build a turbo kit....Or look for a 03/04 Cobra.
Feeling much more optimistic tonight. 
The headers had a bunch of loose bolts so I went around and tightened everything on the exhaust. That seemed to take of all but the tiniest exhaust leaks. Fixed my vacuum leak, which wasn't a vac leak but a problem with crankcase ventilation. Now I just need to get my air filter installed and I'll be good to go.
I think the reason it's so slow must be a problem with the ECU...Maybe it's still learning, or the lack of air filter is throwing off the MAF readings. It feels like it's bogged down, then it'll stutter and take off. I also used some old O2 sensors... They only had 1000 miles or so on them but my 420w was hard on O2's so maybe I need to break down and replace them.
The headers had a bunch of loose bolts so I went around and tightened everything on the exhaust. That seemed to take of all but the tiniest exhaust leaks. Fixed my vacuum leak, which wasn't a vac leak but a problem with crankcase ventilation. Now I just need to get my air filter installed and I'll be good to go.I think the reason it's so slow must be a problem with the ECU...Maybe it's still learning, or the lack of air filter is throwing off the MAF readings. It feels like it's bogged down, then it'll stutter and take off. I also used some old O2 sensors... They only had 1000 miles or so on them but my 420w was hard on O2's so maybe I need to break down and replace them.
MysteryMachine
Active Member
BlackVert
15 Year Member
I thought I read earlier that you had worked out the bucking ... 
I have some new O2 sensors sitting in my garage that I never used. If you want them, Let me know.
I have some new O2 sensors sitting in my garage that I never used. If you want them, Let me know.
I could mostly work out the bucking, but it would always come back.
I drove the car a lot today and man it's nice having a civilized car again. I went ahead and got some new O2 sensors and I'll change those out tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that's the problem...It's fine under WOT but part throttle feels bogged down and occasionally backfires under load. It also seems to run better at first startup, then acts up after a minute. I cleaned the MAF and that had no effect.
Here's the MAF adapter I fabbed up. It doesn't look great, but it works.
And the engine bay. I'm not happy with the intake setup, but it'll work for now.
I drove the car a lot today and man it's nice having a civilized car again. I went ahead and got some new O2 sensors and I'll change those out tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that's the problem...It's fine under WOT but part throttle feels bogged down and occasionally backfires under load. It also seems to run better at first startup, then acts up after a minute. I cleaned the MAF and that had no effect.
Here's the MAF adapter I fabbed up. It doesn't look great, but it works.
And the engine bay. I'm not happy with the intake setup, but it'll work for now.
Fixed the problem with the car running rough, which was just me being stupid and plugged the O2 sensors in wrong. Drove the car to Putnam Park in Indiana Thursday, raced all day Friday then drove home. Over 700 miles and no problems....Other than the paint truck painting lines in the rain. My car got blasted with white paint. Spent about 4 hours today with the clay bar, wash, and wax. The clay bar destroyed the white paint and the car looks great now.
I'm missing the power a little, but man it's so nice to drive now. I got stuck in construction traffic for probably an hour and if I still had the other engine in it I might have left it on the side of the road and started walking. Stock engine, idling at 650 rpm in first gear with no bucking or anything is so nice.
Oh yeah, track times. Ran a best time of 1:30.8 at Putnam Park, the same time my cousin ran in his 440rwhp KB'd 2000 GT.
I'm missing the power a little, but man it's so nice to drive now. I got stuck in construction traffic for probably an hour and if I still had the other engine in it I might have left it on the side of the road and started walking. Stock engine, idling at 650 rpm in first gear with no bucking or anything is so nice.
Oh yeah, track times. Ran a best time of 1:30.8 at Putnam Park, the same time my cousin ran in his 440rwhp KB'd 2000 GT.
buscg
New Member
Sweet write up! You should throw on a supercharger and you'll be good to go for sure. Thanks for all the good pics with your posts, makes it a better thread.
Canary94GT
Member
Looks nice! Glad you're enjoying it back to normal. I kept thinking it looked like something was missing in the engine bay... then realized you relocated the battery.
What gear ratio do you have in it?
What gear ratio do you have in it?
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