Hey everyone, names chad. I'm 21 and own a 96 gt. Bought it last summer, it was a 1 owner with 36k miles on it and now has 48k. Its completely stock but I'm in a predicament. I want more power(of course) but I'm trying to decide if its better to keep this 96 and build it up or start with a new platform that will respond to upgrades better? I know the 2valve is really weak but since the car is basically new its hard to get rid of it and end up getting a newer model with more miles...My goal is simple for now, nothing crazy, I'd like to come as close to 300hp as possible without adding any forced induction for right now. I know ultimately its my choice of what I should do but I'm just looking for some opinions on what you guys/gals would do? I can have engine work done for free by my uncle so thats a plus, but it just seems like it takes so much money to get one of these 2 valves up to my hp goal
Need Suggestions. Upgrade My 2valve?
- Thread starter armychad
- Start date
Hey everyone, names chad. I'm 21 and own a 96 gt. Bought it last summer, it was a 1 owner with 36k miles on it and now has 48k. Its completely stock but I'm in a predicament. I want more power(of course) but I'm trying to decide if its better to keep this 96 and build it up or start with a new platform that will respond to upgrades better? I know the 2valve is really weak but since the car is basically new its hard to get rid of it and end up getting a newer model with more miles...My goal is simple for now, nothing crazy, I'd like to come as close to 300hp as possible without adding any forced induction for right now. I know ultimately its my choice of what I should do but I'm just looking for some opinions on what you guys/gals would do? I can have engine work done for free by my uncle so thats a plus, but it just seems like it takes so much money to get one of these 2 valves up to my hp goal
03_TrueBlue_GT
Active Member
That's a sweet looking Stang man! I wouldn't say the 2v is weak, it just takes a different approach to get the hp you want compared to Chevy motors... There are guys that have put turbos, and superchargers on their 2v's that are making some impressive numbers. Also some have done full bolt ons with H/C and have got some good power out of a 4.6. I have read though that if you want to stay n/a the price is a little more.
Are you wanting 300hp at the crank or wheels? Either way do the P/I swap first if you want a nice power gain, then go with long tube headers, some bolt ons and gears to wake the car up a bit. Also working on the suspension helps a lot if you are concerned about 1/4 mile times.
Congrats on the car its really clean like I said before.
Are you wanting 300hp at the crank or wheels? Either way do the P/I swap first if you want a nice power gain, then go with long tube headers, some bolt ons and gears to wake the car up a bit. Also working on the suspension helps a lot if you are concerned about 1/4 mile times.
Congrats on the car its really clean like I said before.
trinity_gt
10 Year Member
LOL @ the 2V being weak
Well, let's be honest: A stock 96 was kinda weak when brand new. If it's still basically stock it hasn't gotten any stronger in the last 16 years.
Having said that the 2V is pretty stout. The NPI engines weren't heavy breathers from the factory but they were built pretty tough and take well to upgrades. OP, if you want 300HP you're basically looking at a PI swap (intake, cams and heads from a 99-04 car). With a tune you're at ~265 to 270HP assuming everything else about the engine is sound. Add in some long tubes, swap out the stock PI cams for Stg 1 Comp (for example) 262AHs and a decent intake and you'll be knocking at 300 crank HP.
If you have your sights set on 300 rear wheel HP you're going to need another 50HP at the crankshaft. For that you're going to have to dig significantly deeper or look into a small shot of N2O.
sneaky98gt
10 Year Member
Which body style do you like better? Your current or the 99-04 (new Edge)? Or are you talking about a newer S197?
If you like your current car, go for a PI head swap (PI heads, cams, intake) or swap in an entire PI motor. PI headswap will make more N/A power (by about 15 hp) because of the raised compression (which is good for nitrous...), while an entire PI motor with it's lower compression ratio will leave room for blowers or turbos in the future.
You can find entire PI motors (low mileage) from junkyards for <$700 (I've done it). You should also be able to get some PI heads from junkyards and/or online classifieds for a few hundred bucks. www.car-part.com Be sure to check out the Lincoln Towncars and Mercury Grand Marquis; after 2001, they have the exact same PI motor the 99-04 Mustangs do, but at about half the price for some reason. And if you really wanted to knock out a couple of birds with one stone, look for 2002-2005 Explorer/Expedition motors; they have the same heads/cams/intake/rotating assembly as all the other 2-valve 4.6s, but with an aluminum block, which knocks about 90 pounds off the nose of the car (which is very good in every performance aspect of a car).
Depending on what your budget/goal is, I'd throw in a set of cams and long tubes while you have the heads off/motor out. If a PI head swap, set of decent cams, and long tubes didn't make 300 rwhp (~350 crank hp), it would be right there at it. And trust me, a car with those mods runs well. Should be a solid high 12/low 13 second car depending on tires and driver ability.
If you like your current car, go for a PI head swap (PI heads, cams, intake) or swap in an entire PI motor. PI headswap will make more N/A power (by about 15 hp) because of the raised compression (which is good for nitrous...), while an entire PI motor with it's lower compression ratio will leave room for blowers or turbos in the future.
You can find entire PI motors (low mileage) from junkyards for <$700 (I've done it). You should also be able to get some PI heads from junkyards and/or online classifieds for a few hundred bucks. www.car-part.com Be sure to check out the Lincoln Towncars and Mercury Grand Marquis; after 2001, they have the exact same PI motor the 99-04 Mustangs do, but at about half the price for some reason. And if you really wanted to knock out a couple of birds with one stone, look for 2002-2005 Explorer/Expedition motors; they have the same heads/cams/intake/rotating assembly as all the other 2-valve 4.6s, but with an aluminum block, which knocks about 90 pounds off the nose of the car (which is very good in every performance aspect of a car).
Depending on what your budget/goal is, I'd throw in a set of cams and long tubes while you have the heads off/motor out. If a PI head swap, set of decent cams, and long tubes didn't make 300 rwhp (~350 crank hp), it would be right there at it. And trust me, a car with those mods runs well. Should be a solid high 12/low 13 second car depending on tires and driver ability.
TylerByers18
Member
+1 to all of that pi swap, cams, lt headers, throw a track heat intake on there while you at it, the plastic intakes on the pi intakes leak, and alllllll the bolt ons you can think of, throttle body, intake, pullys, tune, do it all
I thought about adding that in my post but didn't bother.
stock 96 NPI 2V's are weak.
1fun281
Member
Keep it that condition and low miles are hard to come by, get a set of used PI heads, and clean them maybe a little port work and put some stage 2 cams in them, with that NPI bottom end and pi heads you will have ported heads with cams and a little bit more compression, and throw some longtubes and 4.30;s in her and all the other basic boltons tb plenum and pulleys and tune and you will be right at 300, with a stout running car
