[97v6]

Ok guys I have been viewing these threads for a while getting some great ideas for my stang!! First off I would like to thank you all for being so helpful and informative to the new members now for my question. I have a basically stock 97 3.8 (only thing I have done is a k&n air filter) with about 140,000 miles on it. It has been a great car to me and I would really like to trik it out but last year I had some problems and had to have the the heads machined rerouted the radiator, new water pump, and although minor a new thermostat. when all of this was done I lost some of the get up and go in my car which really sucked. I am on a really tight budget and would really like to get this car tricked out I am wondering if it is worth it or if I should sell this car and upgrade. Also since all that work was done I had some problems with the thermostat sticking and vapor locking the engine so I yanked it (thus causing the check engine light to be on ever since) should I put the thermostat back in and is this a common problem because that is what caused the trouble in the first place. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated thanks again guys!!!

[HMUSN]

Welcome to the forums.
any car is worth keeping if you really want to.
if your on a tight budget your not going to be going fast anytime soon.
how tight are we talking?

[96GtGoodz]

+1 and depending on your budget i would sell and get a gt whatever year

[nes]

id keep it and put a ported eaton on it, with basic boltons, a tad bit more boost and solid tune could run with bolton pi gts, and s/c'd nonpid gts...

but i would reccommend not "tricking" it out in fear of looking like an idiot for putting 22s and a big spoiler on a mustang. i would say give it a clean subtle look.

[Drick]

A budget will not suport a ported Eaton. Along with all the other things that need to be done for S/C

[97GT4.6]

Originally Posted by nes but i would reccommend not "tricking" it out in fear of looking like an idiot for putting 22s and a big spoiler on a mustang. i would say give it a clean subtle look.

I totally agree. That's the stupid way to trick out a car. For Mustangs, wheels, paint, lowering springs, lights etc.. no underglow, stickers, 15 foot tall spoilers, 22's..

[kennyGT]

alright buddy, what you need to do is put in a 99+ V6 motor in there, it will b best bang for buck for you. with having that motor in your car, it will b almost as fast as a 97 GT, with bolt ons it will move for ya i've seen a dyno read on a 01 v6 motor with short bassani headers o/r pipe , exhaust, CAI, dyno at 198rwhp 203rwtq which put u a bit faster than a 96-98 GT probally good for 14.8's compared to what your running now... probally mid 16's no insult intended

EDIT: with the money you used to fix your old motor you could have gotten a 99+ v6 motor they are fairly cheap couple hundred, if not free lol

[nes]

Originally Posted by 8t6gt A budget will not suport a ported Eaton. Along with all the other things that need to be done for S/C

a ported m90 off of a tbird? swap could be done for very cheap (500 bucks) if u buy stuff off ebay, then imagine 500 for a tune. like i said it can be done

eBay Motors: THUNDERBIRD COUGAR SUPERCHARGER INTERCOOLER ASSEMBLY NR (item 180191073325 end time Dec-14-07 17:00:50 PST)

basic stuff,then get it ported, now get a maf and injectors( i have some 24lbs and a cobra maf for 100, sales pending though) and then a tune, so about 1k for everything and run with npi gts, then do boltons(include headers) and see where your at...

o0o and i see that one comes with a maf...

[nes]

and as far as tricking it out goes, do basic mods, no wheels larger then 18s, do some gears, maybe, just MAYBE a saleen s281 or steeda spoiler lower it, maybe change the badges, do new headlights. basic stuff, u dont need lambos to be cool.

[Onemanzu]

you should post in the sixxer section ... we know what we are talking about too

so you wanna know if you should put more money into your six... your best bang for the buck is gears to tell you the truth... gears and a T-lok ... if you want the best prices around on those PM me...

if you want to upgrade then you will want to get an F150 motor with low miles... from a 97-03 and get an upper and lower intake of a new edge mustang... these parts are all a direct swap as they both use essex block ... grab some low milage ones and just swap it over...

also put a thermo back in ... try a 180 one... if you don't have a t-stat in there you could be doing a lot of harm to it... due to the engine not getting to the right heat and the internals not warming all the way up like they should...

if you have any questions PM me i am more then happy to help with your V6 needs

[Onemanzu]

Originally Posted by nes maybe change the badges. basic stuff, u dont need lambos to be cool.

change the badges?? to what chevy bow ties?? be proud of what you got 4, 6 or 8

[nes]

Originally Posted by Onemanzu change the badges?? to what chevy bow ties?? be proud of what you got 4, 6 or 8

i dont like the pony badge with flag in the back(w.e the fuck it is) i would do a 232 badge or somthing. no cobras or gts though. i never said dont be proud but will say put somthing else on there for christ sakes....

[Onemanzu]

really i love them ... i just think they really represent the mustang ...

its just you find a lot of people false badging there car trying to hype it up when its just a plain jane solid car to start with... (referring to the honda nature)

[nes]

Originally Posted by Onemanzu really i love them ... i just think they really represent the mustang ... its just you find a lot of people false badging there car trying to hype it up when its just a plain jane solid car to start with... (referring to the honda nature)

very true, i prefer the shaved look the most, maybe the nitrous purge to come out of the hole where the badge wants was to hurt some feelings

[Onemanzu]

the only down side to removing the badge is you have a nice hole there...
a 232 badge wouldn't be bad though like you said ... or a V6 3.8L

[97v6]

I appreciate all the suggestions. As far as the tricking out thing I didn't want to go too extreme I was thinking 18's with the BW3 hood and BW2 body kit (I found the kit direct from ground designs full kit for about $600) and just drop the rest in the engine and exaust. As far as the budget is concerned it is really as tight as I want it to be...I am a corrections officer and at my jail (as in most) there is all the overtime I want...for overtimes I am making about $200 in an 8 hour shift double that on holidays. So if I really wanted to work my butt off I could have as much money as I could ever need...I just prefer spending some more time with my family.

[HMUSN]

hmm your body kit and hood(he means black widow guys) are not my thing but it's your car. mod it as you wish.
I would start with the engine and exhaust myself.

btw .. tell my Brother I said whats up

[MustangMatt96GT]

agreed I would drop the money in the motor


And doc you bro is in jail?

[HMUSN]

since 1997

[Onemanzu]

10yrs ouch ... tell him kidnapping is wrong...

i agree with most others... put your money in to making the six stupid fast...