how can i beat a 98 v8 mustang

[flyguy86]

what mods should i get to be able to keep up and beat this car. A friend of mine always wants to race. I kno whe will beat me now but is there anything i can do to beat it. I have a 97 v6 firebird with a CAI.

[YogsVR4]

Unless you get forced induction and/or a heafty shot of nitrous, there isn't much you can do.

[flyguy86]

are u sure because looking at the specs my fire bird only has 25 less hp. the torque is 225 to the 290. the mustang weighs 3,278 and the firebird weighs 3,311. everything is pretty close except the torque and u are sying there is nothing i can do but get forced induction or a shot of nitrous???????????????????????? i cant believ that

[Jays_sho]

There are a few things you can do..... Ramair, custom chip, exhaust, intake work, head work. But it will probley take a few of thease things to cut about a sec off your 1/4 mile time because thats what you will need to do to keep up with the Stang. The easy way.......just get a 75hp shot of the funny stuff. And torque has alot to do with getting the car moving thats why the GT will go 0 to 60 in 6.4 sec and the V-6 Firebird in 7 somthing. Also gearing plays a roll, GT is probley gear'd lower than the Bird that helps in the 0 to 60 area. But all in all just get the bottle it's the cheapest way.......

[DVS LT1]

I agree about gears - going with at least a 3.73 setup or 4.10 will make a dramatic improvement even for a stock car. I wouldn't go over 3.73 if its an auto, and if it is, then you have to start looking at a high stall torque converter that would allow you to launch the car at anywhere from 2500-3500 RPM.

It IS possible to achieve what you want, but it will cost you lots of $$$. Doing nitro would be the cheapest route.

[flyguy86]

its a 5speed. Which gearing should i switch to and how do i do this?

[flyguy86]

how much of gain would i see with the gear switch?

[DVS LT1]

When you go with a numerically higher gear ratio you are literally multiplying your engines torque - it is an actual equation. Think of it this way: numerically higher gears enable your engine to produce its peak power sooner.

The amount of gain you will notice will depend on how low your gearing currently is. Just to give you an idea, my 4-speed automatic Z28 is running 2.93 gears and pulls high 13's consistently on the street (no launch or even off-the-bat flooring required). My cars second gear ends just before the 1/4 mile finishes. For everyone else, they're either running out third gear at the finish or just shifting it into fourth.

If I swapped out my 2.93's for a 3.73 my car would be shifting into fourth gear at the finish instead of third. My car would be getting up to its "old" speed SOONER (thus have time left over to go FASTER!). My Z28 would be looking at almost a full second drop in ET.

However, my top speed of over 160 Mph would come down significantly, my fuel economy would get worse, and there would now be more stress being put on my rear end and tranny.

I'd go to a well know shop that does rear axle's and ask them for advice (this isn't a mod I would try to do myself).

[flyguy86]

my gears are stock. What are they now and what are some possible changes? how much do they cost?

[DVS LT1]

Look at the options sticker inside your glove box and check for one of these codes:

GEAR RATIOS

GM1 = 2.59
GU2 = 2.73
GW9 = 2.93
G44 = 3.07
GU4 = 3.08
GU5 = 3.23
GU6 = 3.42
GM3 = 3.45

You might have 3.08's. Like I said going with a 3.73 would be a good start (maybe 4.10 if you had the 6-speed). You would have to go to a shop to find out how much it would cost - I know for my car it would be over a grand (Canadian $$$) easy, but the place I went to is very reputable and makes sure all the bearings are replaced, etc...

Shop around.

[PWMAN]

I agree 3.73 gears are the way to go. Another mod he needs is exhaust, that would help a lot. Chipped ECU is good improvement too. Either VENOM or JET chips are good. I think JET is better, but thats my personal opinion.
How much in american $ is 1000 canadian $?

[DVS LT1]

$1000 CAD is around $650-$700 USD. That may sound like a lot for gears, but we pay 15% sales tax up here (in Ontario anyways). Gears alone I could get for about $300-$350 USD, a bit more for bearings, and labour would be another few hundred bucks. You slap 15% on top of that and in my face and you've got a bill for well over $1000 CAD.

I know this must sound brutal (and it IS!), but you appreciate it anytime you go to the hospital or doctor and never have to see or deal with a bill.

[flyguy86]

im going to check to see what gears i have. Thanx for the info

[99' Z-28]

Yes, 3.73 ratio is the way to go. That is a 41 tooth ring gear and a 11 tooth pinion. DVS LT1, that is way too much for gears. I have seen them cost around $200 for his rear-end. If you decide to do this, you might as well buy a aluminum spool. That way you will have posi. You will get an awsome launch off the line without alot of wheel spin. You can find spools for around $140.

I wouldn't race him just yet tho, you can buy a 80 series flowmaster muffler. This muffler is proven to be the best for Firebirds and Camaros. I have about 3 used ones that will fit up to your firebird that are in very good shape. Or a ravin #RA554259 muffler.

Look into weight reductions. Things you can do yourself. Take your spare tire out. That is a good 30lbs. Make sure you gas tank is close to Empty. I would say 1/8 of a tank. Windshield Washing Fluid Tank, it can be removed for an hour can't it? flyguy86, do you have a K&N filter with your Cold Air Induction?

If you do these mods. i see you gaining 12 HP which makes you 13HP less than your buddy. Lossing around 100lbs. Your torque will go way up if you make the gear change and muffler mod.

You should be very close to keeping up with him if you do this. BTW, is his a 5 speed?

[DVS LT1]

Originally posted by 99' Z-28
DVS LT1, that is way too much for gears. I have seen them cost around $200 for his rear-end. If you decide to do this, you might as well buy a aluminum spool. That way you will have posi.

I know thats steep for my gears, and I should hope it would be way cheaper for a V6 F-body - but like I said this was a price I got from a well known rear end shop in the GTA called Stingray Auto Tech. I could easily get a buddy of mine who is a mechanic at a local Chevy dealership to install gears for me on a weekend, or get the service manager and a local Pontiac dealership(whose a client of mine) to have it done for me as well for less.

But whats this about a spool? I've heard of this before and don't get what you said about posi? My differential's posi clutch is actually worn out right now, and I'm debating whether to get an aftermarket performance replacement that will accomodate my stock 2.93 gears - or get a new one along with new 3.73 gears. But are you saying these would NOT give me posi traction??? I "had" that originally, why wouldn't I get it from a new differential (or what?). A 3500 high stall torque converter is another thing on my to-get list.

And hell ya buddy is going to need a lot more than gears to beat out a V8 Mustang - I just think gears is as good a place to start cause on its own it would probably seem to make the most noticable difference for a stock motor.