New to the game
 

I am new to the game of modifications as the title suggests. I am have a '96 GT Automatic. What research I have done has left me with the following list:

1. Cold air intake $100 - $200 new
2. Exhaust (Either Flowmaster or Broiler) $300 - $400 new
3. Underdrive pullies $200 - $300 new
4. Superchip $250 - $300 new
5. Supercharger $3000 - $4000 new
Total $3850 - $5200

any opinions on this list from someone with expeirence will be greatly appriciated

You forgot the most important one BY FAR, gears. For an auto, I would suggest 4.10's. Ditch the CAI, do some research on this forum, general moral is low w/ that subject. Exhaust, switch that stock 6-cat crap. Get a high flow h/x pipe. As for the chip, it's useless w/out the charger, and the charger is useless w/ the 96-98 crap intake. You're looking at a grand to up that intake (that you will blow in a matter of days if you leave stock). And finally, don't forget abou the suspension. 350+ horsepower is awesome if you can harness it.

I agree with Titan. Don't waste money on a CAI. The best one you can get is at Home Depot for $15.

I agree with 4.10's as well. I have a 98 GT with 3.73's and wish I would have went with 4.10's. DON'T FORGET THE SPEEDO CALIBRATOR! It's very easy to install and your odometer will thank you.

If I had to do it all over again with a 96-98 GT, I would postpone the rinky-dink bolt-on route. Here's what I would do:

1. Gears
2. Head-swap
3. Intake manifold
4. Vortech supercharger
5. Tires, rims, suspension and bolt-ons

I think most people here will agree that you will see a solid performace gain from each one of these steps.

If you could do that and still keep your engine, i would be very surprised. When you do the 99+ headswap, it raises your compression (12:1 I think). If you then bolt on a supercharger, your stock block will die. In order to do that, you would have to rebuild everything inside...forged everything...I don't even know if the stock block could hold that kind of compression.

Your best bet is to choose one or the other. The headswap is about 1.5k for around 50-60 hp, where as the supercharger is 3-4k for 25-50% more hp. Depending on your budget and what you feel like doing in the long run, those are your pretty good options.

Check w/ hammer, he and stoplight seem to be gods of the bolt on chargers...they will know best.

Gears, Gears, Gears
 

I've had almost every item you listed done to my car and next to the super charger the gears made the biggest seat of the pants difference. My exhaust upgrade made a noticeable difference but only under the hardest excelleration , and really only on the upper rpm range (I'd say an entire exhaust system is almost the least bang for the buck upgrade, at least on my '00 GT, however I think just new mufflers are one of the best upgrades because the car sounds great with them, and for only $200 installed it's about the cheapest for making a real noticable difference in your car, not necessarily performance difference though). Gears you feel all around and under all driving situations. I really think it is by far the biggest bang for the buck upgrade you could do. I really come close to saying I get almost as much fun from the gear upgrade as my Vortech upgrade (almost, but not quite, and the two are a wicked combination). Good luck!

Gears
Underdrive pulleys
Chip from, and only from www.fordchip.com and an 80mm or 90mm MAF from a Lightning.
Exhaust

ammendment to initial posting
 

I want a beefed up daily driver not a street goliath that will eat all in its path! heh.. Not yet at least. Ill need all the help i can get I am having reservations as to tinkering with my car.... i dont want to screw up royally. although its not primary car I dont want to put it to sleep!!

Gears will Beef you up!
 

Gears are a pretty miled upgrade in terms of tinkering with the car. Heck, you're not even touching the engine. You definitely said it right, the car really does feel beefed up once you've had the gears done. One thing I've read over and over again though concerning gear upgrades, and that is it is a very precise upgrade, so only have the best perform it for you, because if it's done wrong you could be spending lots of $$ getting it corrected.

apenn check your messages
 

heh hey apenn check your messages... in case you never do ill ask my question out here. in your opinion i will see the best increase with a gear upgrade and surpercharger? and what gear uprage and what charger? remeber i have a 96 auto trans

not getting it corrected, getting it to SHUT UP. If you have some unexperienced person do it, they will whine....and whine...and whine so bad you'll drive your car off a cliff. I know you think you'll be getting ripped (I know I did), but it's worth paying $300+ to get somebody to do it right.

Oh ya, DON"T forget that stupid speedo gear. My odometer hates me...my speedometer reads about 25 mph over what I'm actually doing. It racks up the miles...quickly

3.73s, roots blower, and a custom tune would make that 96 sing like a bird... ;)

Hey Hammer, how much do those uprages cost.. roughly

3.73s - $200
Roots Blower - $3000-$4000
Custom Dyno tune with chip - $500

Smile on your face when you hit the gas.... Priceless...

Seriously, You'll also need to go with a high flow fuel pump and probably some 30 lb injectors. Sometimes they'll come with the blower kit... Sometimes not...

The best thing is that the blower will get rid of that crappy stock intake...

Messages?
 

Blue - What did you mean by checking my messages? I'm obviously missing some other feature on this site. I have a Vortech S-Trim supercharger and 3.73 gears. From all I've read 3.73's are the gears to go with if you have or plan to get a supercharger. In terms of your question about type of supercharger there are two main design's for a supercharger, a Roots style and a Centrifugal. Roots makes more torque than hp and a Centrifugal does the reverse, more hp than torque. Check this website out http://www.motorsportsdigest.com/tech.htm it will explain the different brands and designs much better than I can. This site heavily influenced my decision to go with a Centrifugal and Vortech supercharger.

Apenn

there is a private message feature provided my the site. you at least one waiting from me

my site = by the site
you at least one waiting from me = you have at least one waiting from me..


forgive my horrid sentence structure its early

First of all I would forget the head swap in your case. You sound like the type that would have to have it installed(no offense) and that would add a lot more money. Plus it results in 11:1 compression.

I would suggest......
Roots blower & CUSTOM chip to tune the blower(do NOT by a generic one)
4.10 gears
off-road h-pipe
2.5" cat-back
shift kit
3000-3200 stall converter

As for cold-air induction...dont' waste your money. Bigest rip off going.


91LX2Bfast 80 or 90mm Mass-air meter....BWHAHAHHAHAHAHHA......are you retarded???

SteveGT A PI 99+ head swap and a blower on a 96-98 woudl for sure make the car quick......quick to blow the motor. 11:1 compression and a blower don't mix.