convert 96 to 99+ body?

ctrout71 · Mar 7, 2010

I am currently in the market for a GT. I LOVE the styling of the 05+ models but just won't be able to afford one of those for at least another 10 years on the used market. There are a few 99-04 models available that are ALMOST within my reach but just not quite cheap enough. I found a REALLY nice 96 GT with 80,000 miles that I can grab tomorrow if I want but I was wondering if it is possible to make the car look any more aggressive, more like the 99+ models. How about that hood that I see on the 99-04s? Would it fit? I know that I would probably be further ahead financially to just hold out for a 99 but I want a car now and don't mind getting a car that I can pay cash for and then doing mods later as money becomes available. Taking out a loan is not really an option unless I find a screaming deal like a clean Mach 1 with less than 80,000 miles for $8000 or something.

D-BOI · Mar 7, 2010

How much money do you have to work with? There is really good deals on 99-04 mustangs seeing as how the 99 model is 11 years old now. I dont think you will find a mach 1 for that price however.If you like the hood of the 99 and up there is more then enough aftermarket hoods you can put on the 94-98 SN's.

Here's the picture thread, maybe it will give you some ideas

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/605976-official-4-6-liter-mustang-photo-thread.html

ctrout71 · Mar 7, 2010

Thanks for the link. I'm sure that will help. I am working with $5500 cash. The 96 I found is really in amazing shape with 80,000 miles. It has full exhaust, underdrive pullies, 10mm wires, lowered, 18" tasteful chrome wheels, and 31 spline axles. The owner is in his 40s and has taken VERY good care of this car. He's asking $5000 and I don't think that's terribly unreasonable for the condition of this car but I have also seen an 03 GT in awesome shape for $7000 and an 03 Mach 1 on here for $9900. If only I had twice the money. There is a kid (I'm 38) in one of my college classes who has a 96 white convertible GT with an auto that I bet I could pick up for $4000 or so but I haven't taken a look at it because I don't like white or autos. Maybe if I could get him down to $3500?

brtnstrns · Mar 7, 2010

I got my totally stock 99 with 106k miles for $5000. If you've got a 96 with only 80k for $5000 I would definitely pursue that. That sounds like an awesome deal to me for a car with under 100k miles.

D-BOI · Mar 8, 2010

What i believe is that the 96-98 with low miles and in great shape is more valuable at least to me than a 99 or 2000 model year. Very rarely do you see clean 96-98 SN's anymore. 5000 sounds like a really good deal considering a nice set of conservative 18" wheels and tires will cost at least 1000, a catback system is about 500 an h pipe another 200 then you have to install it. The lowering springs if eibach are about 250 bucks then you have to get those installed. I think if this is a car that was not abused id be all over it. What you have to remember however is that the 99 and up mustang has the PI motor in it which makes almost 50 more horsepower than the 96-98 body. If you are fine with that then go for it, i did i bought a 97 and love it, unless you start taliking about a cobra of the same year lol, then things change.

for example id sell one of my kidneys for this here lol
1998 with 1936 miles

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-S...ewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item3caad7ec60

or this 1994 with 40 miles (wowwwww)

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...9icmE,__&keywordsrep=099111098114097&engine=8 Cylinder&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=171199&showZipError=y&make=FORD&keywords_display=cobra&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=48310&advanced=y&end_year=1998&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=273&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

Midnight2V · Mar 8, 2010

Guys, I gotta disagree. Where I am at you can find a good 96-98 for 2-3000. But that being said, the only reason to ever consider it is if you LOVE that body style. Otherwise just get a 99+ for around 4000, because when the mod bug bites...and it will, you will have a LOT more options. Even considering the shape of this 96 you are thinking about, how many of the extras it has will you actually keep in the long run?

Just something outside the box to think about. Don't get me wrong, I have a 96 myself and love it. But from what you said, I don't think its your best option.

lang williams · Mar 8, 2010

Just keep looking an remember cash talks. I had $5K an got a 97 cobra in great shape last year. It needed tires an the bumper covers needed painted. It had just under 90K. I was also looking at 99 up gt's an anything well maintained an in good shape was 7K

ctrout71 · Mar 8, 2010

Good advice, thanks. I just looked on Craigslist for my area and found a black (the color I REALLY want) 95 (5.0 woohoo!) GT 5 speed convertible with 74,000 miles in awesome shape for $5150. It has all the power options too which the 96 I'm looking at doesn't. There's also an 01 Cobra in excellent shape for $8500 and an amazing looking 03 GT for $7000. I'll keep looking.

SaleenGT2001 · Mar 8, 2010

the 5.0 is nothing to be excited about. the 4.6 will make more power with less mods than a 5.0

ctrout71 · Mar 8, 2010

For much more money though so I'm told.

D-BOI · Mar 8, 2010

SaleenGT2001 said:
the 5.0 is nothing to be excited about. the 4.6 will make more power with less mods than a 5.0

Please tell me how!!!!!!!, my buddy was driving in my mustang today after i put insurance since it hibernated for 5 months, and he kept saying how slow it was compared to his 95 gt and oh man was it making me mad.

I have a CAI, 3:73 gears, H pipe, Flowmaster catback, and its very very weak. I don't see how you can make this car fast unless you change to PI heads, Pi intake and PI cams. thats about a 2000 dollar swap at least though.

On my 95 that i had i put a upper and lower intake, cold air intake full exhaust minus the headers and a cam and it was stupid fast.

Modulars suck as far as the 96-98 goes, someone please tell me how i can gain some power haha

ninjastang125 · Mar 8, 2010

Stock for stock a sn95 5.0 and a sn95 4.6 is a drivers race. A slow race but a drivers race

SaleenGT2001 · Mar 9, 2010

a PI swap can be done easily for under $600

i sold my old heads and cams for $250. a new intake is under $200. then you just need gaskets.

try making over 500 rwhp on a 5.0. lets see how long it takes till you need a $2000 block. a 4.6 can be safely in the mid 400 range for around 4K

D-BOI · Mar 9, 2010

SaleenGT2001 said:
a PI swap can be done easily for under $600

i sold my old heads and cams for $250. a new intake is under $200. then you just need gaskets.

try making over 500 rwhp on a 5.0. lets see how long it takes till you need a $2000 block. a 4.6 can be safely in the mid 400 range for around 4K

So pretty much have to be on the lookout for some PI heads and cams because i found PI intakes for about 190 bucks on rockauto.com, the thing with the PI heads on the NPI block is compression issues especially since i want put a supercharger in my 97 a little later on. I have read that there's a company out there that makes gaskets to reduce compression to where its same as the NPI heads. What about porting the NPI heads? has anyone on here done that and if so what would be a ballpark price of what it would cost?

007 · Mar 9, 2010

Buy a 99+ with PI heads and save yourself all the hassle. Cobra is even better!

ctrout71 · Mar 20, 2010

I ended up getting the Black 95 GT convertible. Been driving it for a week now and I LOVE it. It really is 100% original with only 74,000 miles. the top has one small hole that looks like it might let the tiniest bit of water in if the car ever sees rain but I don't plan on driving it in bad weather and it will stay in the garage otherwise. I'll be replacing the top before it ever becomes an issue. I already ordered a set of 93 Cobra heads with 7,000 miles on them. I ended up giving $4750 for this car and got the heads for $425 shipped.

D-BOI · Mar 20, 2010

thats awesome man that is one great deal, post up some pics when you can

ninjastang125 · Mar 20, 2010

congrats............. should have went mod motor.

ctrout71 · Mar 20, 2010

I can reach my goals for the car for much less cash with the 5.0. Besides, I couldn't find a black 4.6 convertible with this low of miles, in this good of shape, for this low of price. This car was by FAR the best bang for my buck that I found in my area.
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ninjastang125 · Mar 20, 2010

At least it came with the tri-spoke wheels. But on a serious note congrats, a stang is a stang... unless your throw a gtr badge on it. Looks clean though.

convert 96 to 99+ body?

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