Well if it stil happens with high octane gas then it probably isnt pinging. Ive had my car at about 16* advance timing with 91 octane and on a really hot day it pinged once or twice. when it pings, the check engine light DOES come on trust me it happened to me. so if its pinging you should get a CEL. if no CEL then probably no pinging.
I knkow that my car sounds more rattley compared to my old civic but part of that is just the RWD setup... the power goes from flywheel to tranny to driveshaft to diff to axles then to tires so lots of parts gotta start moving and on top of that you got a tranny right next to your ***, not way up front near the bumper. When i put my tri-ax shifter in the car it definitely made lots more clicking and stuff but thats normal. Even if you dont have an aftermarket shifter you might still hear clicks.
If its a short thud or clunk when you smash the gas then it just might be your driveline smacking in when it receives power.
Why dont you go for a ride in an old 80s stang and listen for sounds??? then your new GT will sound pretty darn quiet HAHA
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2001 GT with Steeda u/d Pulleys, Steeda timing adjuster, 3.73 gears, and Tri-Ax short shifter.
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