Boris65

Hi!
As a newbie here on the forum I tried to find something about this before this post, but no luck.

I have a quick question:
A lot of discussions about the -99 4,6L if it really has 260Hp or it still is on 225Hp? (With friends and even a couple of technicians at a shop.)
Looking everywhere on internet and it says that it was improved, but the code in VIN says X which is the code for 225Hp engine. Isn't there anyone who has a Ford broschure from 1999 that states that it really has..... X Hp??
Or is a Dyno the only possibility to be sure??

Hoping to finally get an answer....

"Recently an owner of a 99 Mustang", (x-mas gift from my wife).

TRUEBLUE3934

260 flywheel HP which is right around 225rwhp on a manual trans car.

mustangmancp

^Yep..

Boris65

Thank you!
How big is the difference between manual and automatic?

Cheers

Rockwell28

thats a debatable questions that will get you many Different anwers. be better of researching that instead of getting ppls good or baised opinions/answers/theories towards it. there will be a greater loss of power with the auto it has its pros and cons

tightdogal

Powerwise, manuals tend to put down 10 more HP to the ground than the automatics. (I believe automatics put down 215-220 stock while a manual can put down 225-230 rwhp stock) Also, the automatics in these Mustangs aren't made for performance like the new ones are in the newer Mustangs. If you have an automatic and don't like the "minivan-like" automatic, get a shift kit or a tune to help with the laggy stock auto tranny.

Boris65

Thank's everybody!

H0SS302

your looking at about 15% drivetrain loss for a 5 speed and around 20% loss for an auto. Granted this is give or take a little depending on what you have done to the car.

cliffyk

There is a ton of mis-information on the web about the VIN engine code (the 8th digit)--fact is that it has nothing to do directly with the particular HP rating of the engine, or for that matter where it was made...

Here is the engine VIN decoder from Ford (click here to see the whole thing), for the 2002 models:



and for the '04s:



The net brake HP numbers are what Ford reported to the DOT/EPA when the basic engine was introduced--they probably didn't bother to change the VIN charts when the PI engine was introduced.

The X just means that it's a 4.6L used in the Mustang, this is true from 1996 to 2004--the '05+ models have an H engine code.

The 5.0L was engine code E...

Boris65

What can I say. Where to got to except to the origin of the goodies!
Asked around a lot here, but didn't get an answer that made me feel quite sure.
Now It feels much better.

Speaking of power, in what order do y'all suggest one should start to improve the car without spending the money for a new car. Small improvements that clearly makes a difference? Yes I got the idea to change from auto to man, but I really want the auto. Been driving man the last 25 years since it's only about 10% of the cars that has auto here. My wintercar, (Volvo Polar) has man so...
But other ideas. Does it make a difference with Cold-air-intake and so on.

Thanks, once again.