1986 vs. 1994 mustang
 

i went for a ride in my brother's 1986 5 speed mustang lx convertible today, and it seemed alot faster than my 1994 automatic mustang gt coupe. his doesn't have any modifications and mine has 3.73's, x pipe, flowmasters, cold air intake and timing at 12 degrees. the 1986 is only about 250 pounds heavier than mine and goes sideways in second gear, while mine does little more than a chirp in second. is there something wrong with my motor, or does a manual transmission make that much difference? will a higher stall converter have any effect at high rpm?

In my experience's I've noticed that mostly all cars with a stick vs an auto 'feel' faster. With a five speed you have more control of the type of shifts you do.. A five speed would naturally feel faster due to the fact that when you shift you lose all the hp to the wheels and are just 'rolling' and when you go into the next gear you can just drop the hammer and your back into full throttle. Whereas a auto makes more of a smooth transition while shift. While the 5 speed may feel faster... those shifts take time and that adds up fast. I also think that an auto 'absorbs' more hp due to its internals. As far as your question about the stall converter I would have any knowledge there... I've always been a fan of the five speed:D

-Mike5p0

The gearing on T5's is also a lot better than AODs. Depending on the T5 first gear could be 3.35:1 which would mean if he had stock 3.08 gears his final drive ratio in first gear would be 10.318. Where as in the AOD, first gear is I think 2.40:1 (thats what it says on www.baumannengineering.com) so if you've got 3.73s your final drive ratio in first gear would be 8.952 Which basically means the AOD car even though you have a more wicked gearset, feels like it has a crappier gear in first just because first gear is such a crappy gear in the AOD. Make sense? That's why when everyone asks what gears to get, people say, AOD or T5? AOD's really need 4.10s when T5's need 3.73s in my opinion. But then when they're both in over drive (5th for a T5, 4th for an AOD, but both 0.68:1 ratio) the T5 would get better gas mileage and cruise at a lower RPM.

Re: 1986 vs. 1994 mustang
 

The '86 is 250lbs. heavier than your '94 GT w/ an automatic? Hmmm...I'd imagine they'd be pretty close in weight...as the '83-'86 5.0 Mustangs are lighter than the '87-'93 5.0s...as much as 200-300lbs. lighter than your '94. I guess it's possible that the extra weight of the '86 conv. might put you around the same weight... I don't have a link to back that up(anyone else??)...just going off what I remember. I used to have an '84GT and it was definitely lighter than my '90GT. But yeah, a 5-speed always feels faster than an auto...unless their mods are way different and not at all comparable. You should race him.

Re: Re: 1986 vs. 1994 mustang
 

The foxbodies always seem to feel faster, thats what i love about them.:)

And i dont see how the 86 would be heavier??? it cant be.

edit: i keep misunderstanding this whole post...sorry.

oops!
 

i'm sorry, i meant to say my 1994 is heavier by about 250 pounds. i accidentally typed it wrong. so are you guys saying that while the 1986 mustang with a 5-speed may feel faster than my 1994, my car is probably faster? i talked to a friend of mine on the phone and he told me the same thing. he also mentioned lebanon valley having an open day on the 24th, and i'm thinking of running my car and getting numbers.

Well, I will have to agree with the guys here who say that year for year (with comparative hp and torque #s), the manuals do feel faster (and actually are) than the autos.

In your case, here's a solution: you guys go find a nice stretch of road in the country and run each other. Then you can be sure which one is faster. ;)

BTW, what does your username mean? Just curious....

I have to chime in on this...

Having been in many a Foxbody, and owning a '94 Cobra, it really does feel like the Foxbodies are faster. Took an '86 GT for a ride once, and it felt faster than my Cobra! Don't know what else to say about this phenomena....

BTW, what does your username mean? Just curious.... [/B][/QUOTE]

my username is simply my last name followed by my first name, my first name being nate. perhaps i will race him sometime. i had the opportunity to race an ls1 camaro today, but it was just too intimidating. i don't have that kind of power yet.

Yeah swap out the 3:73's for some 4:10s. Then take them to the track. As is he would probably beat you the way your car stands .