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Why do u guys think the 96-98 4.6's are a joke??

  • Thread starter Thread starter 94Blackwidow
  • Start date Start date Dec 18, 2004
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94Blackwidow

New Member
Dec 18, 2004
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#1
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #1
i just bought a 97 motor tranny rear with computer now ive been hearin that these things are a joke with out the pi heads and cams swap is this true where will i stand with just 410's and exhuast for now?
 

BlackenedSVT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2004
1,841
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New Jersey
Dec 18, 2004
#2
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #2
I had an automatic 98GT with flowmaster catback, mac H, 4.10s and a K&N and my new stock 02 GT will smoke my old 98. So they DO need the PI headswap to see real n/a gains.
 

squares98

Member
Aug 20, 2004
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Orange,ca
Dec 18, 2004
#3
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #3
well if this might help. Whne I got my 98 5 speed(stock) it was faster than my friends 95 5speed with full bassani headers to exhaust, a hypertech chip, and k&n filtercharger. Before it was even broken in. So with 4:10 you will be ok. I have 3.73's and i am ok.
 

Sick96Stang

New Member
Aug 20, 2004
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Dec 18, 2004
#4
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #4
96-98's are a joke without the PI Intake at least. I own a 96 so I can say that stock they run low 15's high 14's, but 96-98's definetely are not a lost cause. Just slap that PI headswap on there, keep the compression up and go out and spank 99+ GT's all day long. You can make the car fast without doing the PI headswap but it will take alot more work. Do yourself a favor and either get the entire PI headswap or at least the PI intake with adapter plates.
 

DBMSTNG

I fantasize about it being BIG!
Founding Member
Apr 23, 2002
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not quite here
Dec 18, 2004
#5
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #5
people consider them a joke because well, they were. they were slow compared to almost all other performance cars on the market. in 98, the GT was absolutely destroyed by the introduction of the LS1 F-bodies. 225 and hp 290tq vs. 350hp 350tq. with the stock heads, the 96-98 2V doesn't have nearly the mod potential of PI equipped engines.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,945
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Dec 18, 2004
#6
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #6
I'v never had a problem against the stock 96-98 GT's i have raced. Easy wins really.
 

TweekedGT

New Member
Jul 22, 2004
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Dec 18, 2004
#7
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #7
Before my headswap i used to get put through the spank machine by my friend with a 99GT. he used to laugh at me. After my headswap (and other goodies) I PIITB! I was at the track last year and a kid with an 04GT came over to my car and we started talking. When we each went through the first round we weere swapping timeslip numbers. He started saying how he couldn't break 15 and was hovering around 15.1. (at our elevation that's about right for a GT believe it or not). He made it sound as if my car must not be close to his times until i brought out my 14.6 slip. i think his face just about hit the floor. It was fun. Until I got murdered by an 04 Cobra.

Moral of the story 96GT before headswap =
96GT after headswap =
 

kj99

Founding Member
Sep 2, 1999
346
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Spartanburg SC
Dec 18, 2004
#8
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #8
Well running low 9s in the 1/8 is not to bad I think for a NPI car. IMO

But yes I do definatly need a headswap with all the bolt-ons so I'll be a little bit happy.......for a while
 

nickthegenius

Active Member
Dec 23, 2002
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Elwood, IN
Dec 18, 2004
#9
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #9
94Blackwidow said:
i just bought a 97 motor tranny rear with computer now ive been hearin that these things are a joke with out the pi heads and cams swap is this true where will i stand with just 410's and exhuast for now?
Click to expand...

99% of NPI motors are best used as boat anchors. There are a few hard-core PI-hating T-bird guys that have some decent times with ported/polished NPI-headed 4.6s, though.
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
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Dec 18, 2004
#10
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #10
I'll put it like this. I had 96 SOHC motor in my car, now i have a 99 4v cobra in there.

If you can sell everything for what you bought it for do it. Get yourself a used 4v or even a 99+ 2v.

When i was doing my swap i was going to get a 99+2v but i got lucky with money and get the 4v.
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Dec 18, 2004
#11
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #11
I don't think its a joke. Just wasn't as "finished" as 99+ 4.6 is all. Since you bought engine(which I assume that its out of car), Its MUCH MUCH easier to swapp P.I head in. Just need few things to make it just as potent as 99+
 
J

just some guy

Founding Member
Sep 23, 2002
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FL
Dec 18, 2004
#12
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #12
i ran 14.1 at 97 in my 98gt with just pulleys, h pipe and timing adjuster. Usually though, the problem with people and non-pi cars is they dont know how to drive them, because they are friggin morons and shift at 6 grand.

My 03 ran almost 1 second faster with just a few more mods than my old car.

that is why people think the 96-98 are a joke.
 
S

Srt_Overboost

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Dec 18, 2004
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Dec 18, 2004
#13
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #13
I like the mustangs that year with the 4.5 in em, but you are right people just dont know how to drive/launch them at all which makes them look terrible.
 

flashstang04

New Member
Jun 7, 2004
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Wichita Falls,Tx
Dec 18, 2004
#14
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #14
My 98 was getting beat by all the 99+ models, no matter what mods I was making (bolt on of course). So eventually I just bought one.
 

kj99

Founding Member
Sep 2, 1999
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Spartanburg SC
Dec 18, 2004
#15
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #15
Srt_Overboost said:
you are right people just dont know how to drive/launch them at all which makes them look terrible.
Click to expand...

Thats what I'm thinking
 

Sick96Stang

New Member
Aug 20, 2004
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Dec 18, 2004
#16
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #16
Srt_Overboost said:
I like the mustangs that year with the 4.5 in em, but you are right people just dont know how to drive/launch them at all which makes them look terrible.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping thats just a typo because no mustangs ever came with a 4.5L engine.

mity2 said:
I don't think its a joke. Just wasn't as "finished" as 99+ 4.6 is all. Since you bought engine(which I assume that its out of car), Its MUCH MUCH easier to swapp P.I head in. Just need few things to make it just as potent as 99+
Click to expand...

True, when you buy a 4.6L 2v GT you might as well just add 2K onto a 96-98 GT and call it even to a 99+ GT and then whichever is cheaper or a better deal buy that. This is why Ford started the modular motor so you could do stuff like the PI headswap.

flashstang04 said:
My 98 was getting beat by all the 99+ models, no matter what mods I was making (bolt on of course). So eventually I just bought one.
Click to expand...

I'm running a 14.4 with a few bolt-ons, if I was to do U/D pullies, TB & plenum, and timing adjuster I would be running with 99+ GT's.
 

Jackie Chan

I didn't read this.
Founding Member
Oct 17, 2002
2,507
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48
Orlando, FL
Dec 18, 2004
#17
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #17
96-98 mustangs that is funny





actually when the heads are p&p'd they flow as well as any pi head.
 

squares98

Member
Aug 20, 2004
852
0
17
Orange,ca
Dec 18, 2004
#18
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #18
what are pi swapped cars running in the 1/4. Since my 98gt turned a 14.9 stock, would it be a consistant low 13 high 12 second car.
 

tomustang

Psychotic Member
Founding Member
Jun 8, 2000
3,434
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78
McLean Hospital
Dec 18, 2004
#19
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #19
slightly faster than a 99+ GT. and yes 96-98 GT's performance sucks. but i got mine for the body style.
 

Milenko

Skid Mark Layer...only not fro
Founding Member
Nov 5, 2001
462
1
19
Boston, MA
Dec 18, 2004
#20
  • Dec 18, 2004
  • #20
People say that the cams and intake make a pretty decent difference aftermarket on our cars, and with the heads that the diffference is minimal.

True/false?
 
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