New need some help

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 07:27 PM

First off let me introduce myself, I just recently bought a 1997 mustang gt with 1 owner and only 80,000 miles on it. After a few months of driving a check engine light came on and im having trouble fixing it. the code was catalyst effencicy below acceptable level, and according to my books this could be almost anything wrong with the car. so far i have replaced the plugs, the COP's, cleaned the IAB. So whats next?

Also this has confused me too... My car has an X as the 8th digit on the vin meaning windsor if im not mistaken, but the cam covers have 11 bolts meaning romeo if im not mistaken. Also this car seems to be alot quicker than other SN98's i have ran into. My buddy has a 98 that i recently blew off the road, so any thoughts there?

sorry for the long post, im just a new owner thats confused lol

thanks

HMUSN · May 17th, 2008, 07:37 PM

welcome to the forums... sounds like it has a PI swap done.

oh and the code.. replace your 02 sensors.

Muscletang · May 17th, 2008, 07:40 PM

Yup. Here is something that will help. This guy needed mil eliminators which go along with what HMUSN said. The computer is telling you the O2 sensors are reading dirty air.

Pony Express Performance MIL (merged thread) [Archive] - NASIOC

If you can talk to the previous owner it would be good to find out if he has done a PI swap. It is nothing bad if it has been done. Just one less thing to worry about debating later about which way to build power.

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 09:19 PM

wow thanks for the replies. the problem is i bought the car of a lot so the previous owner isnt going to happen. I looked at the window sticker and it said Optional rear axle ratio

Like i said im new (this is my first mustang) so im trying to figure things out. Was i right about the X in the vin and the valve cover bolts? thats what i was told

thanks again

MustangMatt96GT · May 17th, 2008, 09:38 PM

The X in the vin means nothing other than its a 4.6 SOHC. and the valve cover bolts will be romeos, but it doesnt show if its PI or not.

Where does the front runner of the intake go after the aluminum coolant cross over? Drivers or Passengers?

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 10:16 PM

it looks to me like it goes to the passenger side

MustangMatt96GT · May 17th, 2008, 10:18 PM

okay then it would still have a NPI intake on it. Is the oil fill on what side? Drivers or pasenger? Anyway of taking a picture?

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 10:34 PM

maybe these will help...

MustangMatt96GT · May 17th, 2008, 10:36 PM

Yep that intake is NPI. I bet you have a 4.10 in the rear end. Cuz you dont have the singes of a PI swap. And BTW your IAC doesnt have its vaccum hose hooked up.

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 10:38 PM

yeah i know about the IAC i unhooked them for better pictures. By the way thanks for all the replies i do appreciate the help

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 10:43 PM

If this helps, i run 70mph at about 2300rpms. the car is an auto

MustangMatt96GT · May 17th, 2008, 10:49 PM

you have a 3.73 in that rear end if you run stock sized tires.

bkg97gt · May 17th, 2008, 11:02 PM

yep stock rims and tires. like i said as far as i know the car was stock, but the option sheet had that rear end and all these other options in it...

MustangMatt96GT · May 17th, 2008, 11:04 PM

yeah its not stock with that rear end. you couldnt get that from the factory.

May 17th, 2008, 07:27 PM	#1
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	New need some help First off let me introduce myself, I just recently bought a 1997 mustang gt with 1 owner and only 80,000 miles on it. After a few months of driving a check engine light came on and im having trouble fixing it. the code was catalyst effencicy below acceptable level, and according to my books this could be almost anything wrong with the car. so far i have replaced the plugs, the COP's, cleaned the IAB. So whats next? Also this has confused me too... My car has an X as the 8th digit on the vin meaning windsor if im not mistaken, but the cam covers have 11 bolts meaning romeo if im not mistaken. Also this car seems to be alot quicker than other SN98's i have ran into. My buddy has a 98 that i recently blew off the road, so any thoughts there? sorry for the long post, im just a new owner thats confused lol thanks

May 17th, 2008, 07:37 PM	#2
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	welcome to the forums... sounds like it has a PI swap done. oh and the code.. replace your 02 sensors. __________________

May 17th, 2008, 07:40 PM	#3
Muscletang Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 SVT Cobra Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 2,221 iTrader: 1 reviews	Yup. Here is something that will help. This guy needed mil eliminators which go along with what HMUSN said. The computer is telling you the O2 sensors are reading dirty air. Pony Express Performance MIL (merged thread) [Archive] - NASIOC If you can talk to the previous owner it would be good to find out if he has done a PI swap. It is nothing bad if it has been done. Just one less thing to worry about debating later about which way to build power. __________________ Last edited by Muscletang; May 17th, 2008 at 07:45 PM.

May 17th, 2008, 09:38 PM	#5
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	The X in the vin means nothing other than its a 4.6 SOHC. and the valve cover bolts will be romeos, but it doesnt show if its PI or not. Where does the front runner of the intake go after the aluminum coolant cross over? Drivers or Passengers? __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

May 17th, 2008, 10:18 PM	#7
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	okay then it would still have a NPI intake on it. Is the oil fill on what side? Drivers or pasenger? Anyway of taking a picture? __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

May 17th, 2008, 09:19 PM	#4
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	wow thanks for the replies. the problem is i bought the car of a lot so the previous owner isnt going to happen. I looked at the window sticker and it said Optional rear axle ratio Like i said im new (this is my first mustang) so im trying to figure things out. Was i right about the X in the vin and the valve cover bolts? thats what i was told thanks again

May 17th, 2008, 10:16 PM	#6
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	it looks to me like it goes to the passenger side

May 17th, 2008, 10:34 PM	#8
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	maybe these will help...

May 17th, 2008, 10:36 PM	#9
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	Yep that intake is NPI. I bet you have a 4.10 in the rear end. Cuz you dont have the singes of a PI swap. And BTW your IAC doesnt have its vaccum hose hooked up. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

May 17th, 2008, 10:38 PM	#10
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	yeah i know about the IAC i unhooked them for better pictures. By the way thanks for all the replies i do appreciate the help

May 17th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#11
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	If this helps, i run 70mph at about 2300rpms. the car is an auto

May 17th, 2008, 10:49 PM	#12
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	you have a 3.73 in that rear end if you run stock sized tires. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

May 17th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#13
bkg97gt Regular Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 202 iTrader: 2 reviews	yep stock rims and tires. like i said as far as i know the car was stock, but the option sheet had that rear end and all these other options in it...

May 17th, 2008, 11:04 PM	#14
MustangMatt96GT Proud American 1996 Mustang GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 10,689 iTrader: 3 reviews	yeah its not stock with that rear end. you couldnt get that from the factory. __________________ RIP Travis Billings Special Thanks to: Andrews Racing Transmissions Baseline Suspensions 25.3 SFI Chassis Build Never Lift Racecars

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