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hey I'm new here... any advice as what i should do?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rcombs18
  • Start date Start date Jan 27, 2009
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rcombs18

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Jan 27, 2009
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#1
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #1
hey, i'm ryan... this is my 97 GT 5 speed... basically stock performance wise, just cold air intake that i know of... does anyone have any tips as to an exhaust i should try... preferrably one thats kinda easy on the wallet... lol





 

Winters98GT

Whoop...whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop...GANGNAM STYLE!!!
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,520
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H Town
Jan 27, 2009
#2
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #2
Welcome to stangnet. Great guys here and lots of help.

Start out with an offroad h pipe. You should be able to get one for 150 bucks or so, and it sounds great with the stock mufflers. I would leave the mufflers alone for now, you won't get any performance change out of changing them. The hpipe is worth about 10hp on your car

Also, a nice shifter, and a set of under drive pulleys would be my next choice. Pullies will get you another 4-5hp.
 

streethorse

15 Year Member
Oct 8, 2005
1,042
6
58
Dallas Texas
Jan 27, 2009
#3
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #3
Nice car, those wheels look good. You could start with some weld in
mufflers like Magnaflows or Flowmasters with some 3.5" chrome tips.
At least you would have a better deeper tone over stock.
 

NitroDuck

I put out on the 1st date
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Aug 17, 1999
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Jan 27, 2009
#4
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #4
From a budget standpoint, the cheapest way to get the most gains/$$$ would be to replace the ridiculously restrictive 6-cat H-Pipe with an Off-Road H/X Pipe.

You can leave the stock mufflers (which don't flow badly for stock applications) and dump the midpipe and recognize the most gains within your budget. I did this, though I spent $400 on a catted H-pipe. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with the off-road H and saved $200-250, but I didn't want to mess with MIL eliminators (to avoid a check engine light from the lack of cats.)

You can weld in mufflers if you want to change the tone of your exhaust. Depending on the mufflers you buy and the shop that does the work, it may be wiser to spend a little more and install catback exhaust yourself (if you're capable of doing so.) Do this for the looks/sound, not for the performance gains (basically negligible in near stock applications.)

Other people may be able to chime in with affordable catback system, if thats what you're going for. The best bang for the buck, however, is to focus on the midpipe.
 

BlownStangGT

REPEAT
Founding Member
Jan 22, 2002
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Jan 27, 2009
#5
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #5
Yeah like they said, get an Off road H pipe. You can find them used cheap! Under $100! Look in the classifieds or on ebay. If you NEED to run cats, just get the off road pipe then go on ebay and order some High flow carsound cats. That is what I did on my old GT and it was a lot cheaper then buying a catted pipe!
 

superstang46

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Dec 10, 2004
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Jan 27, 2009
#6
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #6
I had an O/R X on my 96 gt. I think it was flow tech? I got it from Summit for about $150. If you are looking for something to make the car more fun to drive I would say get a new shifter. MGW, Tri- Ax, or whatever. I've had both the MGW and Tri-Ax and would recommend the MGW, it is a great shifter ($189 shipped).
 
A

anotherstangfan

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Mar 22, 2006
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Jan 27, 2009
#7
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #7
lets not forget a set of rear end gears if it doesn't already have some
 

98stangv8

Active Member
Oct 3, 2003
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Jan 27, 2009
#8
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #8
I have a set of pullies if you are interested...just pm me...I took them off when I put my blower on..
 
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rcombs18

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#9
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #9
alright thanks a lot guys! im probably gonna go with the off road pipe... any particular brands you would recomend?
 

SonicStangGT

Active Member
Mar 18, 2008
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King, North Carolina
Jan 27, 2009
#10
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #10
Welcome to stangnet. You have a great looking car, loving the chrome mach 1 wheels. Not many people go that way. Its different, so it stands out. Like everyone else, I agree. Either buy a o/r pipe or some gears. 3.73's or 4.10's, they are the best bang for the buck. I welded in flowmasters and did headers. Still have the factory catback. You can get any kind of muffler you want, magnaflow, flowmaster, borla and many more to change the tone.
 

LaserSVT

Got FB banned again for saying nards
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Jan 27, 2009
#11
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #11
Welcome to the site and so far everyone has givven the same advice I would of given. You can find MAC OR H-pipes on sale from time to time for $120 and they are a good pipe
The X-pipe will give your car a mean WOT scream while the H-pipe will give a deeper throaty tone I personally prefer the H-pipe. A better shifter like the MGW will make a world of difference in how it feels too. Another excellent cheap mod is full length sub frame connectors. The can be had for $75 for HPMs or $120 for the Maximum Motorsports (prolly the best one) and most people spend $70 to have them welded in. The difference in how the car handles will simply amaze you. It will ride better and get rid of alot of squeaks and rattles
 

superstang46

New Member
Dec 10, 2004
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Fernandina Beach, Fl.
Jan 27, 2009
#12
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #12
+1 on the sub-frame connectors, that is the next thing I have planned.
 

Crzyhrse

Active Member
Dec 23, 2004
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Seattle, WA
Jan 27, 2009
#13
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #13
I've got those same rims. They look really good on your GT too.
 

flstang65

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2007
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SE Georgia
Jan 27, 2009
#14
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #14
IMHO, one of the most important mods and it's free! PRACTICE!!! Learn your car and get good with the shifting and the reaction times.
 

EPIK

Member
Jul 3, 2004
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LEFT COAST
Jan 27, 2009
#15
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #15
WELCOME!!! The car looks great with those wheels. +1,000,000 for the Mac o/r H pipe....
 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2005
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Jan 27, 2009
#16
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • #16
damn nice lookin car man whats with all the newbs and their sn's?? anyway welcome to :SNSign: it's a great site with tons of stuff to learn.. bucha great guys and girls here

oh, ill be sellin my o/r H in about a month when i put my LT's and prochamber on... clicky the links in my sig to hear what it sounds like... and i'll let it go cheap
 

mazen189

Member
Jul 31, 2007
424
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16
I.E. southern california
Jan 28, 2009
#17
  • Jan 28, 2009
  • #17
a cold air intake is the only thing done that you know of?
i hope you know its lowered, and has a really nice stance.
welcome to stangnet bro, and as everyone says, get an o/r H or X pipe.
 

LaserSVT

Got FB banned again for saying nards
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
9,391
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Jan 28, 2009
#18
  • Jan 28, 2009
  • #18
mazen189 said:
a cold air intake is the only thing done that you know of?
i hope you know its lowered, and has a really nice stance.
welcome to stangnet bro, and as everyone says, get an o/r H or X pipe.
Click to expand...
I totally missed that! And its WAY lowered. That looks lower the Eibach Sports so H&R mabey
I bet that thing has some more mods. What RPM is it at in 5th while doing 60mph.... and is it actually doing 60 when the speeda says it is?
 
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rcombs18

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#19
  • Jan 28, 2009
  • #19
haha i knew it was lowered... i just was thinking engine wise... lol and i'm not sure about the rpm at 60... last time i was on the high way the person following me said i was going almost 80 when i was showing barely over 70... so not real sure about that...
 
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rcombs18

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#20
  • Feb 17, 2009
  • #20
just thoughti would add an exhaust vid for fun... not the best quality cause its on my phone... just flowmasters let me know what ya think, thanks!

YouTube - 97 mustang gt flowmasters
 
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