Trying to get the car to be faster on the motor!

NOSstang08690 · 03-23-2002, 02:30 PM

I own a 97 Mustang GT. My cars best ET 12.42 at 108 mph.( ON NITROUS) I am looking to do something to make it faster on the motor. My boyfriend and I are very competive towards eachother whos car is faster. It has always been mine because he always had a firebird 305 with just a super charger. But he recently baught a 91 Mustang GT and he is doing alot of work to the car. We raced motor to motor( NO JUICE) and I beat him but it was alittle to close for me! I have 4:10 gears, a off road H-Pipe, MSD igniton, under drive pulleys, throttle body, WHAT TO DO NEXT??? Looked into a cam to much MONEY!! Not sure want to do something that is not just a few horsepower! Really wanted to put headers on the car! Let me know if you have any ideas.

Hammer · 03-23-2002, 06:24 PM

Are you still running the stock intake?
If so, be ready to see it grenade.... especially with the 150 shot...

At least there's a TSB on it and Ford SHOULD replce it with no problems...

Also, be aware that my T-45 is already toast.... so I would keep an eye on it, especially if you put it through a lot of track duty with slicks... (Drag radials were the bravest I got with a stock rear, differential, and axles...)

As far as your question...
I think it would be time to go with a 99-up PI head\intake swap...

Not cheap, but a good gain in power...

NOSstang08690 · 03-24-2002, 12:30 AM

I am still running the stock intake, I have done alot of runs at the track with slicks and the car seems okay. Nothing has broken yet. Have been running it with the juice for a few years now. It runs good, inspect the plugs and change them alot. Tune it and put good gas in it. The trans seems fine I drive the car daily.
I am looking to get away from the Nitrous because I think it will evenually mess some stuff up and looking to get more power out of the motor. I really want to do 99-up PI head/ intake swap, I know its expense, Want to find out alot about it before I rush into it
Know any info to help me out??????

What is a TSB???? How would Ford replace it????????

Hammer · 03-24-2002, 12:40 AM

There is a known defect with the 96-97 intakes...
They are known to crack even under normal driving conditions, much less any forced induction setup...

TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin.
In this specific case, I think Ford will replace the intake when it goes with the improved part #. (But you will have to wait until it dies.... They won't change it unless it breaks...)

You are luckier than I was, mine went bye-bye the day I put on my blower... (And although the part # is the same for the 98, the TSB does not include 1998 vehicles. So I was stuck buying a new intake...

)

As far as the intake\head swap, you'll want to talk to SD Wheeler... as he offers several different PI head setups...

SD Wheeler · 03-24-2002, 11:25 AM

Wanna kick sand in your boyfriend's face? Add the Ported PI Headswap Package and proceed to slap around the pushrod boys. PM me for details.

BTW........it's fully ported and $1500. Don't tell your boyfriend!

NOSstang08690 · 03-24-2002, 01:25 PM

Do you know how much it usually costs for a install of the heads???? Around how many hours?
Is there anything else I could do while they are working on the motor???? Are they hard to install??

SD Wheeler · 03-24-2002, 04:01 PM

Typical installs range from $850 to $1400. Since you're in New Jersey I would check with Larocca's Performance in Jersey........or Jade Performance in New York. There may be others but I'm not that familiar with Jersey. Install usually takes two days. Not really that hard to do the install yourself. If you have a good torque wrench and a Chilton's manual you can do it.

Another thing you should do when installing the headswap kit is to add a set of headers. Shorties are really easy. You simply bolt them onto the heads and then install the whole assembly. Longtubes aren't much harder to install. Place them in the engine bay from the bottom and tie wrap them out of the way. Also, since you are running nitrous then you should go with colder plugs like AWSF 22 or 12. A "must have" item for nitrous engines is the ARP head stud kit. The stock head bolts stretch by design............not something you want to have happen when you push the button.

03-23-2002, 02:30 PM	#1
NOSstang08690 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 46	Trying to get the car to be faster on the motor! I own a 97 Mustang GT. My cars best ET 12.42 at 108 mph.( ON NITROUS) I am looking to do something to make it faster on the motor. My boyfriend and I are very competive towards eachother whos car is faster. It has always been mine because he always had a firebird 305 with just a super charger. But he recently baught a 91 Mustang GT and he is doing alot of work to the car. We raced motor to motor( NO JUICE) and I beat him but it was alittle to close for me! I have 4:10 gears, a off road H-Pipe, MSD igniton, under drive pulleys, throttle body, WHAT TO DO NEXT??? Looked into a cam to much MONEY!! Not sure want to do something that is not just a few horsepower! Really wanted to put headers on the car! Let me know if you have any ideas.

03-23-2002, 06:24 PM	#2
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	Are you still running the stock intake? If so, be ready to see it grenade.... especially with the 150 shot... At least there's a TSB on it and Ford SHOULD replce it with no problems... Also, be aware that my T-45 is already toast.... so I would keep an eye on it, especially if you put it through a lot of track duty with slicks... (Drag radials were the bravest I got with a stock rear, differential, and axles...) As far as your question... I think it would be time to go with a 99-up PI head\intake swap... Not cheap, but a good gain in power... __________________ Uncle Sam "What the hell is up with all the gauges? Calling Captain Kirk, your ride awaits... Phasers on stun...."

03-24-2002, 12:40 AM	#4
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	There is a known defect with the 96-97 intakes... They are known to crack even under normal driving conditions, much less any forced induction setup... TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin. In this specific case, I think Ford will replace the intake when it goes with the improved part #. (But you will have to wait until it dies.... They won't change it unless it breaks...) You are luckier than I was, mine went bye-bye the day I put on my blower... (And although the part # is the same for the 98, the TSB does not include 1998 vehicles. So I was stuck buying a new intake... ) As far as the intake\head swap, you'll want to talk to SD Wheeler... as he offers several different PI head setups... __________________ Uncle Sam "What the hell is up with all the gauges? Calling Captain Kirk, your ride awaits... Phasers on stun...."

03-24-2002, 11:25 AM	#5
SD Wheeler "The Game" Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Baytown, Texas USA Posts: 955	Wanna kick sand in your boyfriend's face? Add the Ported PI Headswap Package and proceed to slap around the pushrod boys. PM me for details. BTW........it's fully ported and $1500. Don't tell your boyfriend! __________________ SD Wheeler DTA Racing & Performance THE source for ModMax Components and Modular Power Packages FFW M/M #30-sponsored by Strictly Performance Moderator, Modular Motor & Big Block Forums Hardcore5.0

03-24-2002, 04:01 PM	#7
SD Wheeler "The Game" Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Baytown, Texas USA Posts: 955	Typical installs range from $850 to $1400. Since you're in New Jersey I would check with Larocca's Performance in Jersey........or Jade Performance in New York. There may be others but I'm not that familiar with Jersey. Install usually takes two days. Not really that hard to do the install yourself. If you have a good torque wrench and a Chilton's manual you can do it. Another thing you should do when installing the headswap kit is to add a set of headers. Shorties are really easy. You simply bolt them onto the heads and then install the whole assembly. Longtubes aren't much harder to install. Place them in the engine bay from the bottom and tie wrap them out of the way. Also, since you are running nitrous then you should go with colder plugs like AWSF 22 or 12. A "must have" item for nitrous engines is the ARP head stud kit. The stock head bolts stretch by design............not something you want to have happen when you push the button. __________________ SD Wheeler DTA Racing & Performance THE source for ModMax Components and Modular Power Packages FFW M/M #30-sponsored by Strictly Performance Moderator, Modular Motor & Big Block Forums Hardcore5.0

03-24-2002, 12:30 AM	#3
NOSstang08690 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 46	I am still running the stock intake, I have done alot of runs at the track with slicks and the car seems okay. Nothing has broken yet. Have been running it with the juice for a few years now. It runs good, inspect the plugs and change them alot. Tune it and put good gas in it. The trans seems fine I drive the car daily. I am looking to get away from the Nitrous because I think it will evenually mess some stuff up and looking to get more power out of the motor. I really want to do 99-up PI head/ intake swap, I know its expense, Want to find out alot about it before I rush into it Know any info to help me out?????? What is a TSB???? How would Ford replace it????????

03-24-2002, 01:25 PM	#6
NOSstang08690 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 46	Do you know how much it usually costs for a install of the heads???? Around how many hours? Is there anything else I could do while they are working on the motor???? Are they hard to install??

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