The time has come
12-18-2003, 01:46 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 2
The time has come
The time has finally come to do something interesting with my wife's 98gt. She wouldn't let me tinker with it while it was under warranty, but now the car is paid for and the warrantys dead. Of course, now the valves are starting to rattle above 4k rpms and the engine needs some work. It's got good gas in it.It's been run low on oil several times and it's got 95k miles on it. Tonight the wife asked me to fix it and hop it up while I'm at it. She did everything short of handing me the cash. : )</P>
So what are your suggestions? My budget is about $5-6k, and I have a totally stock but worn 98gt with a 5 speed and I think a 3.78 rear. I need the car to still get reasonable gas mileage and be drivable every day. I am considering adding a supercharger to it at some point, and maybe no2.</P>
Thanks,</P>
Arioch</P>
12-18-2003, 02:02 AM
#2
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 9,587
The time has come
well everyone around here will suggest exhaust, headers,h or x pipe,i personally prefer the H they sound better and some mufflers, im partial to flowmasters but we all have or preference. also maybe change out the gears, bigger throttle body, shifter, pullies, bigger maf, and cold air. im sure i forgot a basic mod to do but u get the point<edited><editID>mustang30240</editID><editDate>37973.0021990741</editDate></edited>
12-18-2003, 02:04 AM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location:
Posts: 212
The time has come
You're going to have to get those heads taken care of before you put onany power adder. The way I see it you have a couple options.</P>
1.You could get some hi rev springs, new valves, and PI cams. Then you'd have money left over for the supercharger. You could probably have enough for an aftermarket exhaust as well.</P>
2. Get a set of PI heads and an intake. Get them Ported and polished. Don't forget the oversized valves, hi rev springs and cams. You'll probably have enough for exhaust too. It's the best time to do it. </P>
Option 1 you'll be able to get your supercharger or use nitrous. </P>
Option 2 you'll havea higher compression ratio due to the smaller combustion chamber with the PI heads. It will be around 10.5:1 and you won't be able to add any type of power adder unelss you rebuild the bottom end first.</P>
If you haven't gotten a shifter yet (Tri-ax or Pro 5.0) be sure to add that in there too!</P>
12-18-2003, 02:20 AM
#4
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 1,404
The time has come
If you can rebuild the engine yourself, do that, but definitely spend the money on a PI head and intake swap. It's always best to start at the bottom and work up. The heads on a '98 are such a restriction, you should definitely do that. Then, keep your 3.73 or whatever you have, since you want good mileage still, but get a complete exhaust, headers back. Aftermarket shifter (Steeda Tri-Ax), cold-air intake, K&N filter, pulleys. All that will still leave you enough for a blower if you shop around, but definitely beef up the bottom end before you try any kind of forced induction. Best to do it now than be sorry you didn't later.
12-18-2003, 10:46 PM
#9
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 1,128
The time has come
Well i'm sure you realized thisby know the heads on the98s, suck. so you might want to upgarde your heads and intake to a portedset of pi heads, with stage two cams.All this would run you around 2,500.00.If i were you i would start out with that.I own a 98 i did all this, and on the dyno i went from 218 rwhp to 311 rwhp. But there is one problem withputting the PI heads on a 96 to 98 motor.And that is unlike the 99 and newer motors the pistions have a little of a dish to them to lower the compression. But the96 to 98 motors have more of a flat pistion, and when you put the PI heads on there your compression jumps from10:1 to 12:1.Which is good, unless you want to put a supercharger. With the high comp. and a s/c. Your bottom end won't last to long. If youare ever lookin for a good short block, gotoD.S.S. I got my block off them. Withall forged parts, and lower compression( fora supercharger). </P>