Impressed by the 97...

[bhuff30]

I have a dead stock 97GT stick with 115k miles on the clock. It is dead stock to the paper filter, 6 cats, silient muffler and 3.23 gears. I took her to the track tonight, knowing it is in good tune from the attention she has gotten.

Second run out, I ran a 14.675 @ 93.98mph with a moderately good 2.241 60' time. That was in full street trim, with 32psi tire pressure all around, spare tire and subwoofer in the trunk.

After that run, I pulled the spare tire, sub, added some pressure in the front tires for less rolling resistance, and waited for the cooler air to come in from nightfall. When I got back to the track, my favorite left lane had turned into an oil slick, and I could only muster some ****ty arse 2.5 60's , but my trap speed rose to 94.8mph with a sorry overall time.

On the last run, I finnally got the right lane, but was expecting bad tire spin, and ended up bogging 60' a bit wth a 2.3 for an overall [email protected]. My gas gauge showed empty and time was running out, so I packed up and went home without pursuing a better time. However, I really had to question the track prep considering I was getting a nice bark from the powershift to 3rd.

Overall, I'm very please with the pig. Makes me wonder how it'd run with an O/R H pipe. hehe. For now, a PI swap is out of question.

 

[BurningRubber]

Sounds pretty good for stock. Most guys put the non-pi's at high 14's for a 5 speed.

I think the 3.23's helped out a bit on that one.

 

[gtstangau]

6 cats? mine only had 4.

 

[four six]

6 cats? mine only had 4.

96-98 had 6 I donno why. six cats OMG

 

[Roger_4.6_96]

Depends on the states and emission laws. Ca cars have 6 and others have 4.

 

[98blackstallion]

Depends on the states and emission laws. Ca cars have 6 and others have 4.

Not true, My car has never seen Ca and its only been in the state of arkansas where there isnt an emission test but yet mine still had 6 cats on my 98 Gt.. MY buddies 97 has 6 cats as well.

 

[BLK_ROUSH]

Agreed .. 98. 6 cats.
Mine was purchased in FL at a time of no emissions.

Good times, btw.

 

[DropTopPony]

i think all 96-98 had 6 cats...and they are nice times for a high mileage bone stock 97.

 

[gtstangau]

Dang that sucks I thought 4 cats was ridiculous.

 

[GoBabyVroommm]

96-98 had 6 I donno why. six cats OMG

ZERO CATS! :SNSign:

 

[stangGT97]

96-98s had 6 cats. Those are really nice times for a bone stock, 115k mile '97! It sounds like you know how to drive, a lot of people can't get out of the 15s. Makes me wonder what I could run with my car...

Nice looking car BTW...

 

[BlackenedSVT]

3.23 gears? I know there were a few options of gears in 96-98 including I THINK: 2.87, 3.08 and 3.27s

So did you mean 3.27s? or it really has 3.23s?

Not bad times by the way. Next time deflate the rear tires down a little. Maybe 20psi and GET SOME MODS!!!

 

[Mustang5L5]

Some very early '99's also got the 6-cat pipe as Ford tried to use up spare parts

 

[Smeech]

I thought it was 4 cats and 2 resonators?

Anyways, those are impressive numbers!

 

[bhuff30]

Thanks Guys, I was pretty impressed, but I am still willing to bet the times are at least slightly improved by a lean condition, as it will still ping on base 87.
UDTBadkarma: Yeah, I'm sure you are right that it is 3.27's. I am used to dealing with the 7.5" rear ends, which I beleive have 3.23s. Either way, it is much more favorable than the 2.87s or 3.08s
Also, I was always under the impression that lower tire pressure wouldn't help street radials at all, but in fact would more likely hurt traction. The tire would get too much support from the sidewalls instead of air pressure, and cause the center to cup inward, thus reducing the effective area for gripping the road. If it was drag radials, hell yeah.

 

[Tally_4.6]

I wonder what i could pull in my '98 if i knew how to drive. Yeah 6 cats on the bitch, the stock H-pipe is sitting in my garage. LOL

 

[BlackenedSVT]

Thanks Guys, I was pretty impressed, but I am still willing to bet the times are at least slightly improved by a lean condition, as it will still ping on base 87.
UDTBadkarma: Yeah, I'm sure you are right that it is 3.27's. I am used to dealing with the 7.5" rear ends, which I beleive have 3.23s. Either way, it is much more favorable than the 2.87s or 3.08s
Also, I was always under the impression that lower tire pressure wouldn't help street radials at all, but in fact would more likely hurt traction. The tire would get too much support from the sidewalls instead of air pressure, and cause the center to cup inward, thus reducing the effective area for gripping the road. If it was drag radials, hell yeah.

Perhaps you're right for street tires...

But i personally would take some PSI out to get more contact patch on the rear tires to the road. More contact patch on the road = better traction = better times. Try it next time. Take the PSI down to like 18-20psi and tell me what times you ran then with just the psi change.