help my 96 go faster

96GTfanatic · 07-17-2001, 11:40 AM

I've been doing some research for 96 GT's. I currently have a 96 GT 5-speed stock. I believe they run about a 15.2 in the quarter mile. I would like to improve on this time, hopefully to under 14 some day. I plan on getting Flowmaster American thunder 2-chamber exhaust, headers (not sure what size yet),cold air intake and either an x or h-pipe.
Heres my question.
Would getting the K&N (aircharger i think its called?) cold air intake, not for street use, smog illegal be overkill? Also would an x-pipe or h-pipe be best (without cats)?
I am afraid if I open the exhaust up too much, I will gain some hp, but loose torque. I want my car to be fast off the line and not be tuned for high end speed. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Green96GT · 07-18-2001, 12:05 AM

As for the cold air intake, I have the MAC kit w/ a K&N filter. It looks great, doesn't improve performance much...maybe 2-3 horsepower at most, but it improves gas mileage a bit and it's perfectly street legal. As for the H or X pipe, the MAC Prochamber H pipe is good for quite a bit of HP and TQ, plus it has a great sound to it. The Bassani X pipe is also a very good product, but I personally prefer the MAC. One of the best improvments you can get on your 96 are gears and a shifter. I would do that before you put in exhaust. A set of 3.73 gears seems to be the best for our cars. The flowmaster cat-back system is a good one, but it won't give you much performance, just sound. The MAC and Dynomax systems are both also very good. To keep from loosing any back pressure and loosing torque and HP, go w/ 2.5" pipes from your headers back and you'll be fine, but don't even worry about replacing the headers, they aren't worth the cost and labor for the 3-4 HP you would get. A few other good parts to consider are the Steeda Underdrive Pulleys and the Steeda timing adjuster. These two work together really well and if you notice, are used by many of the guys on this message board. Hope this helps.

96GTfanatic · 07-18-2001, 07:18 AM

Thanks for the help. I do know that the exhaust does give more than 2-3 horsepower, but I do now realize gears are the way to go. Do you happen to know what kind of gas mileage I'll get with a 5-speed and 3.73's. Thanks again

91LX2Bfast · 07-18-2001, 09:47 AM

Mods:
1) 3:73's
2) Aftermarket shifter (I recogmend Kirban or Steeda)
3) H or X-pipe. Offroad will sound meaner and be worth a few more HP, but you will need a $60 set of Mil eliminators to shut off the check engine light. And if you have emissions to worry about, you will have to swap back for that every year.
4) underdrive pulleys
5) cat-back
6) Bigger MAF w/ whatever "cold air" kit you want to rig up.

That should put you deep into the 14's.

As for the gears, its going to depend on your driving style. If you do a lot of highway driving, you may lose 2-3mpg. But if you do a lot of stop and go driving you may actualy pick up some mpg. I picked up 2mpg in my 5 spd 5.0. Thats because I could use 5th gear alot more on the 40mph roads. I also picked up another 1 mpg w/ my offroad x-pipe.

96GTfanatic · 07-18-2001, 11:38 AM

thanks for the help, I'm definately going to follow your suggestions. I live in center city Philly but will be driving home to connecticut every once in a while. I'm not worried about a few mpg, I figured it was almost 10mpg. 1 more question....what RPM do you most of you run at with 3.73's at 65mph?

SD Wheeler · 07-19-2001, 11:36 AM

My '98 GT automatic has 3.73 gears and my mileage is great. I get 20 mpg in town and anywhere from 24-27 mpg on the highway. Rpm's at 70mph are less than 2500. She actually gets better mileage when I lock the cruise control at 80mph! Gears are the first thing you should do.

------------------
SD Wheeler

M/M #30 '98 GT
MV Performance
Blade Runner Racing

"The Game"

46stang · 07-22-2001, 11:40 PM

get gears (373's) and a h or x pipe and you'll crack into the 14's. the mufflers aren't hindering you at all at this point. they will mostly be for sound. If you want 13's get some 99 heads or a 99 motor

I still get 20-23mpg even with my mods

good luck!

------------------
96 stang,ported 99 heads, 99 intake, 99 cams,Steeda power pullies,Kirban adj.reg.,Pro-m 87,24#inj.,70mm t/b,BBK longtube headers,Bassani x-pipe w/cats, Dynomax ultraflow catback,iat mod, home depot ram air, k@n,
373's,cobra brakes,fms spings, lakewood 90/10's and 50/50's tri-ax shifter.
best et 13.80
best mph 103.3
bfg street tires,bakersfield, ca

07-17-2001, 11:40 AM	#1
96GTfanatic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 93	help my 96 go faster I've been doing some research for 96 GT's. I currently have a 96 GT 5-speed stock. I believe they run about a 15.2 in the quarter mile. I would like to improve on this time, hopefully to under 14 some day. I plan on getting Flowmaster American thunder 2-chamber exhaust, headers (not sure what size yet),cold air intake and either an x or h-pipe. Heres my question. Would getting the K&N (aircharger i think its called?) cold air intake, not for street use, smog illegal be overkill? Also would an x-pipe or h-pipe be best (without cats)? I am afraid if I open the exhaust up too much, I will gain some hp, but loose torque. I want my car to be fast off the line and not be tuned for high end speed. Any help would be greatly appreciated

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07-18-2001, 12:05 AM	#2
Green96GT Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 3	As for the cold air intake, I have the MAC kit w/ a K&N filter. It looks great, doesn't improve performance much...maybe 2-3 horsepower at most, but it improves gas mileage a bit and it's perfectly street legal. As for the H or X pipe, the MAC Prochamber H pipe is good for quite a bit of HP and TQ, plus it has a great sound to it. The Bassani X pipe is also a very good product, but I personally prefer the MAC. One of the best improvments you can get on your 96 are gears and a shifter. I would do that before you put in exhaust. A set of 3.73 gears seems to be the best for our cars. The flowmaster cat-back system is a good one, but it won't give you much performance, just sound. The MAC and Dynomax systems are both also very good. To keep from loosing any back pressure and loosing torque and HP, go w/ 2.5" pipes from your headers back and you'll be fine, but don't even worry about replacing the headers, they aren't worth the cost and labor for the 3-4 HP you would get. A few other good parts to consider are the Steeda Underdrive Pulleys and the Steeda timing adjuster. These two work together really well and if you notice, are used by many of the guys on this message board. Hope this helps.

07-18-2001, 07:18 AM	#3
96GTfanatic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 93	Thanks for the help. I do know that the exhaust does give more than 2-3 horsepower, but I do now realize gears are the way to go. Do you happen to know what kind of gas mileage I'll get with a 5-speed and 3.73's. Thanks again

07-18-2001, 09:47 AM	#4
91LX2Bfast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 694	Mods: 1) 3:73's 2) Aftermarket shifter (I recogmend Kirban or Steeda) 3) H or X-pipe. Offroad will sound meaner and be worth a few more HP, but you will need a $60 set of Mil eliminators to shut off the check engine light. And if you have emissions to worry about, you will have to swap back for that every year. 4) underdrive pulleys 5) cat-back 6) Bigger MAF w/ whatever "cold air" kit you want to rig up. That should put you deep into the 14's. As for the gears, its going to depend on your driving style. If you do a lot of highway driving, you may lose 2-3mpg. But if you do a lot of stop and go driving you may actualy pick up some mpg. I picked up 2mpg in my 5 spd 5.0. Thats because I could use 5th gear alot more on the 40mph roads. I also picked up another 1 mpg w/ my offroad x-pipe.

07-18-2001, 11:38 AM	#5
96GTfanatic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 93	thanks for the help, I'm definately going to follow your suggestions. I live in center city Philly but will be driving home to connecticut every once in a while. I'm not worried about a few mpg, I figured it was almost 10mpg. 1 more question....what RPM do you most of you run at with 3.73's at 65mph?

07-19-2001, 11:36 AM	#6
SD Wheeler "The Game" Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Baytown, Texas USA Posts: 955	My '98 GT automatic has 3.73 gears and my mileage is great. I get 20 mpg in town and anywhere from 24-27 mpg on the highway. Rpm's at 70mph are less than 2500. She actually gets better mileage when I lock the cruise control at 80mph! Gears are the first thing you should do. ------------------ SD Wheeler M/M #30 '98 GT MV Performance Blade Runner Racing "The Game"

07-22-2001, 11:40 PM	#7
46stang Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: moorpark ca Posts: 340	get gears (373's) and a h or x pipe and you'll crack into the 14's. the mufflers aren't hindering you at all at this point. they will mostly be for sound. If you want 13's get some 99 heads or a 99 motor I still get 20-23mpg even with my mods good luck! ------------------ 96 stang,ported 99 heads, 99 intake, 99 cams,Steeda power pullies,Kirban adj.reg.,Pro-m 87,24#inj.,70mm t/b,BBK longtube headers,Bassani x-pipe w/cats, Dynomax ultraflow catback,iat mod, home depot ram air, k@n, 373's,cobra brakes,fms spings, lakewood 90/10's and 50/50's tri-ax shifter. best et 13.80 best mph 103.3 bfg street tires,bakersfield, ca