[BigSmith]

Hi yalls im new here and i recently picked up a nice 1996 GT and i am starting to mod it. I got a good deal on a BBK cold air intake, then i have a BBK o/r x pipe and the magnaflow magnapack catback on order. Im really wondering where i should go next. Im throwing in some 3:73's in the spring time (From Canada eh). And i have read alot of good things about the SCT flash tuner. American muscle has it listed under 96-98 GT's but i was wondering if i need OBD 2 because im pretty sure it doesn't have that port. I don't even know if it is worth it. Should i just save up and either swap in a PI motor or do the head swap on my 130,000mile motor? Im not really looking to get that serious yet. I just want to make sure my silly friends in their turbo cars can eat my dust. They already do but the boost is going up next spring because i made them mad haha cant beat that torque

[sharkbait]

The tuner is gonna help it out a good bit. You'll feel the difference.
Gears will also be a night and day differance.

Your car does have a port btw. Under your dash to the right by your right knee.

That mileage dosnt scare me one bit. Down the road you can always swap a pi motor in when yours finally goes.

[zdkel]

Of all the mods put on my 96GT, I felt the biggest difference with the tuner. I actually said to my self, should have got the tune first.

[mustang98ggt]

sct tuner is big help make sure u get sct alot of shops specialize in sct tuners its worth your money. I would change out the exhaust and get some 40 series or 44 series flow master muffler you will get a better tone from it. The cheapest upgrade u can do and easiest is under drive pulleys 80 bucks and half hour job for our cars. I would keep the motor if it dont knock dont change it and just do a pi head swap with pi intake. Ifs its a auto do 3.73 gears and if its a 5 speed do 4.10s with a poor mans locker all that is is you buy another clutch kit for the rear end and shim it up i know lot of guys who do this and you get a posi traction rear outta it good luck with the build glad to have you come over to the right side imports are a waste of time. I USE TO OWN ONE 2008 CIVIC SI JUNK.

[BigSmith]

Originally Posted by zdkel Of all the mods put on my 96GT, I felt the biggest difference with the tuner. I actually said to my self, should have got the tune first.

Can i use the tuner to clear codes? I don't really want to by Mil Eliminators for the x pipe..

[BigSmith]

Originally Posted by sharkbait The tuner is gonna help it out a good bit. You'll feel the difference. Gears will also be a night and day differance. Your car does have a port btw. Under your dash to the right by your right knee. That mileage dosnt scare me one bit. Down the road you can always swap a pi motor in when yours finally goes.

Haha yeah i guess so they are cheap enough. I guess i will go for the tuner then. I will most likely pick one up in the spring. I have heard alot of people suggest subframe connectors. Are they also worth it? Not very expensive

[mustang98ggt]

yea the sct tuner can bypass certain engine codes my friend has a sct tuner and stands by it . I wouldn't worry about subframe connectors unless your laying down some track speeds and have some serious horse power you will be fine without them if it was my car i would worry about motor trans and rear parts for now. I have a friend that has a 10 second fox body and has well over 500 hp and has the stock 89 gt springs and stock torque boxes and is still breaking tens at the track and he drives it there and drives it home after. If you want a cheap build and cheap parts that are name brand i will give u three names in the mustang industry, CJ pony parts inc. , Blue oval , Ebay and craigslist. They will be your best friend they are all online sites and cj"s have free standard shipping .

98 GT

[mustang98ggt]

Jun 10, 2010 10:27am | Facebook

This is my friend fox body running on stock suspension 500 hp plus and me racing my old 04 v6 like you can here my wife in the back ground its hopping with the stock 89 gt suspension u have hopping problems down the track so when your car gets to the 300 range get some frame connectors you will get a straighter launch and it will keep the body straight down the track.

[sharkbait]

Im at 374hp and 456 rwtq and on stock suspension doing just fine...

[mustang98ggt]

yea sub frame connectors are more for guys with problems on the track our year mustangs seem to do fine in those fields. This is why i got rid of an 04 for a 98 parts are cheaper and more plentiful

[OptionalStang]

id do as many mods as you can afford befor you get a tuner. The more mods you have the better a tuner/tune will help you...

[OptionalStang]

Originally Posted by mustang98ggt sct tuner is big help make sure u get sct alot of shops specialize in sct tuners its worth your money. I would change out the exhaust and get some 40 series or 44 series flow master muffler you will get a better tone from it. The cheapest upgrade u can do and easiest is under drive pulleys 80 bucks and half hour job for our cars. I would keep the motor if it dont knock dont change it and just do a pi head swap with pi intake. Ifs its a auto do 3.73 gears and if its a 5 speed do 4.10s with a poor mans locker all that is is you buy another clutch kit for the rear end and shim it up i know lot of guys who do this and you get a posi traction rear outta it good luck with the build glad to have you come over to the right side imports are a waste of time. I USE TO OWN ONE 2008 CIVIC SI JUNK.

underdrive pullies fall in with plenum and throttlebody spacers...its a hit or miss depending on the motor..i just put on my plenum spacer and it eliminated my tiny chug between 5-7mph and alowed my intake to line up better..as far as gains lol nothing but its another mod i can add to my list just to make it longer...

[OptionalStang]

and do a head swap vs a motor swap..ulle have extra horses over a true Pi motor due to the upped compression but then will loose ability to run big boost..but hey n/a all day.

[BigSmith]

Originally Posted by OptionalStang id do as many mods as you can afford befor you get a tuner. The more mods you have the better a tuner/tune will help you...

Very true I really dont wanna waste money on stupid parts that free up 2hp here and 2hp there though haha. I was Contemplating doing headers but i think removing the cats will be good enough. I wouldn't dare try installing headers myself and to do it professionally it would probably be way to expensive.
Like I said im thinking now the gears and the exhaust+cold air intake with a tune should be enough to keep those kids with there stupid turbo 4 bangers crying haha. Im still in high school so while working part time doesn't leave me with alot of spending cash. Which is why i dont want to buy silly upgrades like a 300 dollar throttle body that will give me 5hp... Hell they are like 400 here in canada.. As much as i love this car a 302 would have been alot easier to get crazy power haha. I couldn't pass up the deal i got on this one though and the creature comforts and ride defiantly make up for it. It just feels like a much better built car.

[OptionalStang]

why dont you post adds on craigs list hiring out the work for cheap..i had some guy do my entrire fron suspension for 150 and im going to have some guy do my 410 gears for 175, and they both are certified mech's....im outta school but my car comes last when it comes to cash..4 kids and what not, its gets the lowend of the deal.But youd be amazed at how cheap i built this car..heres a start, dont spend like 100 on a stupid pos small alumi intake whne you could make a wayy better one ( wont look as cool) for under 20 bucks..i cant justify spending 250 bucks on a part that adds 3hp..but get em cheap and 4 horses here and 4 there suddenly ur upto 30 from boltons, and then a tune will throw it more over and increase drivablity...

typhoon manifold, brand new in box ( 250) ported my self
75mm Tbody and plenum (120) used but not one scratch or drop of oil in them BBK tbody and p&p plenum
PI cams plus install (100)
exhaust ( free from some guy on tccoa forum) and it had not one spec of rust
msd coil packs and msd 9mm wires ( 50) maby like 2000miles so plenty good
price that shit new and see what it cost, just gotta get searching, i mean sht im selling over 400$ if new of parts for 100 bucks..but they wouldnt do much for your setup as of yet

[BigSmith]

Pi cams and install 100 bucks? Thats pretty sweet. I would probably be able to do that my self. I have alot of experience working on Pushrod motors with my father so im trying to convince him to not be intimidated by this overhead motor haha. I would probably buy a set of comp cams however. Do you think it would be possible to do an entire PI swap for under a grand with a set of comp cams? I can get the heads and intake for 400 bucks with the entire motor... But i really want to keep my stock block because apparently a PI converted motor is better.

[blackout97]

Originally Posted by BigSmith Pi cams and install 100 bucks? Thats pretty sweet. I would probably be able to do that my self. I have alot of experience working on Pushrod motors with my father so im trying to convince him to not be intimidated by this overhead motor haha. I would probably buy a set of comp cams however. Do you think it would be possible to do an entire PI swap for under a grand with a set of comp cams? I can get the heads and intake for 400 bucks with the entire motor... But i really want to keep my stock block because apparently a PI converted motor is better.

comp cams are 600 new plus headswap kit is 115-120 bucks plus there will be small things come up 1500 maybe thats with the 400 motor you can get

[1996 GT]

Just out of curiosity, what part of Canada are you from? I'm also from Canada too haha. 3.73's are awesome, sinks you into the seat hard everytime. hahahaha.

[BAzombie]

Originally Posted by BigSmith Can i use the tuner to clear codes? I don't really want to by Mil Eliminators for the x pipe..

No need to buy mil eliminators, make you own. It cost me under $7 for all parts needed from Radio Shack.

Read this .... How to Make MIL Eliminators for your Mustang

[OptionalStang]

personally i think these motors are easy to work on..they go together like lego's..and its so simple to see how things work..if you just sit back and look at it for a min ulle figure it out..ive done all the work my self on my motor and befor this car all i did was intakes and mufflers,lol