97 GT now im my garage
 

Well after searching high and low I have finally purchased a virgin 97 GT Coupe, 5-speed, in laser red; now that I'm a grown-up (kinda) I think I deserve a V8 :D The car is pretty basic interior and exterior, notice not even a wing. I'm looking around for new rims and tires and leaning toward the Bullitt style in the original color. Whats the consensus about size, 17X8 or 18X9 (use=daily driver/street race/canyon blasting)? And after the tires, what would be the 1st engine/drivetrain mods you guys would go for (not planning on supercharging or NOS....yet)?

I'd go with 17x8 bullit rims...

First mods:
3.73 gears and a shifter

Congrats on the purchase.
I'd stick to 17's for the rims and tires.
Hammer is right on with the gears and shifter for your first mods. After that you can go with a H or X-pipe, mufflers or catback, bigger MAF, and U/D pulleys.

Thanks for the info! I've decided on the pulleys from Steeda, and I'll probably go with the 3.73s, but does anyone know what kind of rpms I'll be turning at around 75mph? The new shifter seems to be a must! The oem seems to be a POS, especially 2nd to 3rd. Anyone have an opinion between the Steeda Tri-Ax and the Pro 5.0?

If I could keep myself out of the Stang I could reply quicker :D

Try this site for the answer...you can play around with a bunch of options.

http://www.corral.net/tech/gearcalc.html

Getting the gears, shifter and pullies is a nice start. Faster starts, better shifts, and a little added power on the cheap. Nice. I'm doing the same myself.

Thanks for the link, it actually answered another question I had been wondering about also. I figure I need to keep it cheap the first few months so the wife doesn't have fit when I tell her what I really want....TDC Stage II:D btw how do you like your Tri-Ax?

I love it!:D

This is one of those no-brainers. The stock shifter really is feeble, so it needed to go. The Tri-ax in nice because it has stops that protect the shift forks and action that is crisp and precise. The 2-3 shift can happen by simply looking cross-eyed at the shifter, it's that easy!

The Tri-ax is one mod that I have NEVER heard a bad report on. Usually someone has had a bad experience with pretty much everything, but not with the Tri-ax.

I have a 97 five speed too !!!!
 

GREAT BUY !!! I love my 97 stang and have done a lot of mods too it !! I have put 373 in mine and the rpm did not change much at all , must say that when I was going to have the 373 put in I was thinking of the rpm's too , but by far out of all the mods I have done the 373 is the best mod. But a shifter is a must too. And I would stay to the 17x8 unless you are setting your stang up for show then the 18's will be nice , I have 17x8 cobra's rims and the ride is nice and look is just right for are year of stang! i will tell you this all so , the mods for this car cost ALOT and seems to be a never ending story but if you love your car like I love mine you will drop the cash!!! Let me know if you have any other questions southernstang@hotmail.com! Here is a list of my mods so car

steeda shifter , mac power pulleys , 373 gear . 80mm c&l maf , 70mm throttle body , bbk fuel reg , Mac cold air kit with k&N filter , Ford motorsport short headers , mac off road h-pipe, 2 1/2" mac cat-bac system,ford motorsprot alum driveshaft , ford motorsport lowering springs ( 1 1/2 in.) , Mac cast/camber plates, superchip , Mac white face gagues , 17x8 cobra rims

NOw saving for the pi heads swap !!!

sweet.. yah i put a Tri-Ax shifter on my stang, and it made shifting so much more clean. the feedback was great.. i dont know anything about the Pro 5.0, but im going to definately recommend that you get the Tri-Ax..

Thanks for all the comments. I ordered the Tri-Ax from Steeda, called around and found a garage that specializes in installing gears and has done a ton 3.73s in Stangs, so that will go in next week :D

I'd have to say Tri-Ax. I love it. My friend Budman94GT has a pro 5.0. I'm not to crazy about it. Guess my Steeda spoiled me.