School me on these 5.0's Mustangs

[03_TrueBlue_GT]

School me on these 5.0 Mustangs

Hey guys I have a 03 GT and I dont really know much about the 5.0 Mustangs. Reason I ask mainly is bc I have a buddy who has a 1995 GT automatic with 4.10's, bbk shorty headers, CAI, chip thats tuned from American Muscle and a Mac o/r H pipe with magnaflow magnapack catback. The car sounds amazing and is definitely faster than it was when he got it stock, he used to run 15.6-15.5's stock at the track. Now it runs 14.6's this summer *that was without the bbk and mac o/r H pipe* consistently which I think is a big improvement but my question is what more does he need to do to his car to see low 14's to hopefully 13's?

I was just wondering bc every time I go with him to the track ppl say that his car is definitely faster than my 2v 4.6 if he does a little more work to it but every time we run I smoke him bad, no offense. Basically am I screwed when he gets some more mods done to it or will his car still need more work?

Btw I did not start this to instigate a flame war against the 5.0 and 4.6 engines. I just want an honest answer as to how fast can you get a 5.0 with bolt ons and how it would fare against a 4.6 2v with similar mods.

 

[Adam95GT]

Depends all in what you consider a bolt on... If your considering basically anything on stock block then it depends if your car has a teksid or Windsor block. On stock block we are safe till low-mid 500's. Where if you have a teksid you can handle quit a bit more. (im pretty sure your car has a WAP block though)


My car with a cold air intake ran 14.4 stock.

HCI car your talking high 12's-low 13's depending on the combo.


His trans is going to hurt him a tad with where the car is at now.


With stock heads/cam/intake its gonna be a bit harder to lay down 13's with an auto. Not impossible though.

 

[revhead347]

I'd say bolt on for bolt on the 2v 4.6 with the pi heads that your car came with is always going to be faster. Changing heads is technically a bolt on, bit most people don't count that. With a stock automatic adding more power is a waste of money. I've seen my fair share of 400 hp cars run 14.4 because the owner never bothered to upgrade the transmission.

Kurt

 

[revhead347]

I'd say bolt on for bolt on the later model pi equipped 4.6 will always be faster. If your friend has a stock automatic, then that is what's holding him back. I've seen a good number of 400 hp cars run a 14.4 because the owner never bothered to upgrade the stock automatic.

Kurt

 

[revhead347]

Sorry about the double post. I'm at my in laws bored out of my mind and my thumbs are tripping over each other trying to post on this new smart phone thingy which I haven't entirely fogured out yet.

Kurt

 

[03_TrueBlue_GT]

I guess I meant mods like cold air intakes, headers, midpipe, gears and throttlebodies. Didn't think much about heads lol. Would a shift kit be the best option for his transmission or a stall?

Keep the info comming guys I really appreciate it.

 

[BlackVert]

after the intake and exhaust upgrades, the stock heads on the 302 are gonna be the biggest bottleneck for him. PI heads will outflow our E7s all day long. that is where your advantage it. now if heads were in the mix, then it is a different story.

probably a shift kit at this point would help him get more of the power to the ground

heh, a 408 windsor is a bolt in too.

 

[Zero Signal]

I'm surprised it managed to go even that fast. Those mods don't do much for power and the auto is terrible.

 

[Bullitt95]

I guess I meant mods like cold air intakes, headers, midpipe, gears and throttlebodies. Didn't think much about heads lol. Would a shift kit be the best option for his transmission or a stall?

Check out my garage. I have a 1995 GT automatic that runs mid 13's.

 

[revhead347]

His best mod will be something for the transmission. A shift kit won't to much, it really needs a full transpack. The kits aren't that expensive, but onstallation can be expensive. I would only bother with the converter if it was getting a rebuilt transmission.

 

[Bullitt95]

A shift kit won't to much

You'd be surprised. A shift kit could shave off 2-3 tenths at the 1/4 mile.

 

[revhead347]

You'd be surprised. A shift kit could shave off 2-3 tenths at the 1/4 mile.

I think that's mainly because people say they have a shift kit when they really have a trans pack. Most people confuse that.

Kurt

 

[99FiveOh]

does a 5 speed conversion count as a bolt on? lol.. seriously, no other mod on a stock AODE equipped Mustang will make a bigger difference. This is why if I ever have to buy an automatic 94/95 a 5 speed swap is in the plans the moment I get the title in my hands!

 

[Bullitt95]

Don't rush to ditch that automatic just yet. A shift kit, higher rpm stall converter, and 3.73 axle gears will make it a very different animal. I have two out of the three (still have stock converter with 2200rpm stall).

I think that's mainly because people say they have a shift kit when they really have a trans pack. Most people confuse that.

I gained 0.34sec and 2.7mph at the 1/4 mile after I had my Transgo HD2 shift kit and Ford Racing driveshaft installed.

 

[revhead347]

I honestly think the Automatics are just as fast as the 5 speeds when they are set up correctly.

Kurt

 

[99FiveOh]

Don't rush to ditch that automatic just yet. A shift kit, higher rpm stall converter, and 3.73 axle gears will make it a very different animal. I have two out of the three (still have stock converter with 2200rpm stall).

True, but now you're talking about well over 2 grand for what you described there and that doesn't even include rebuilding the tranny (which it probably needs anyway). This is exactly why I don't mess with them. And after all that, it is best to get a tune to make the AODE behave properly.

I once had a buddy who built himself a 347 stroker and ordered a built AODE from one of the big performance transmission outfits you see in the magazine (can't remember which at the moment) Anyway, he could never get it to where he was happy with it. They ended up sending him a replacement a couple times because of issues and he spend like 2500 bucks for it! Even with a PMS he couldn't get it to shift right. It was truely a nightmare, one that could have been avoided with a T5, TKO or better yet a T56 swap! Hell the T56 would have saved him money and been virtually bullet proof!

 

[03_TrueBlue_GT]

Don't rush to ditch that automatic just yet. A shift kit, higher rpm stall converter, and 3.73 axle gears will make it a very different animal. I have two out of the three (still have stock converter with 2200rpm stall).



I gained 0.34sec and 2.7mph at the 1/4 mile after I had my Transgo HD2 shift kit and Ford Racing driveshaft installed.

He isn't in a rush to swap a 5 speed manual in yet, he figures once he gets out of college and gets a real job he will get that done. Ideally he said he just wants a 13 second car. It doesn't have to be a flat 13 sec car either. He just wants the car to be a lot better than it was stock.

I knew that the AODE transmissions aren't that spectacular but I didn't realize that they are that big of a problem for getting 1/4 mile times. I thought a shift kit and the tune with 4.10's would help him out.

Also he had ordered a 1993 Cobra intake manifold with a 70 or 75mm throttle body, basically the top end of a stock 93 Cobra and had it installed on his GT but the manifold cracked so he put the stock one back on. He told me that the manifold made the car a whole different animal but sucks that he had to take it off.

 

[Bullitt95]

True, but now you're talking about well over 2 grand for what you described there and that doesn't even include rebuilding the tranny (which it probably needs anyway).

The shift kit, gears, and converter would cost just over $1000 but the OP could upgrade the converter later on when he has more money, and he already has gears.
I got where I am with a pretty modest budget but unfortunately I've run out of cheap performance mods that I can do. Anything I need from here on is expensive.

 

[Adam95GT]

If i wanted a fast car id put an auto in it. It would be a glide or a built c4 though...

 

[99FiveOh]

If i wanted a fast car id put an auto in it. It would be a glide or a built c4 though...

Wonderful auto trannies.. as long as you stay off the interstates..