Just bouight a Mustang ???

[airplane100]

Hello, I just got my 1st Mustang and I am pretty happy so far, 8 hours or so of ownership. It is a 1998 GT with just about every option. My 1st question is, does anyone know of any web site where by VIN # I can look at the original window sticker and or just see the actual specifications on the exact car I purchased? I would like to know the HP and what items were options and things like that? I was told this year had two different 4.6 engines and that one put out well over 260 hp while the other put out only 230? Thanks for any help with this question.

Chris

[boosted331]

Originally Posted by airplane100

Hello, I just got my 1st Mustang and I am pretty happy so far, 8 hours or so of ownership. It is a 1998 GT with just about every option. My 1st question is, does anyone know of any web site where by VIN # I can look at the original window sticker and or just see the actual specifications on the exact car I purchased? I would like to know the HP and what items were options and things like that? I was told this year had two different 4.6 engines and that one put out well over 260 hp while the other put out only 230? Thanks for any help with this question.

Chris

If you have a 98 GT the car has a 225 horsepower 16 valve V8. Only 98 4.6 mustang with over 260 horsepower would be the cobra, with the 32 valve 4.6 making 305 horsepower. 99+ GT's make 260 horsepower.

[Los]

Hello, I just got my 1st Mustang and I am pretty happy so far, 8 hours or so of ownership.

Congrats.

It is a 1998 GT with just about every option.

I had a v6 with every option. It was a dream!

My 1st question is, does anyone know of any web site where by VIN # I can look at the original window sticker and or just see the actual specifications on the exact car I purchased?

No such thing; though you might want to check autotrader. Look for your buildsheet. I know in the Bullitts, they were almost always ontop of the gas tank.

I would like to know the HP and what items were options and things like that? I was told this year had two different 4.6 engines and that one put out well over 260 hp while the other put out only 230? Thanks for any help with this question.


The 94-97 GTs were rated at 215 while the 98s were at 225. The reason behind this is the exhaust... That's all I can remember at four in the morning. The 99 to current 03 models are rated at 260 but they have different heads than the one you have. Its something to invest some time and money into; the PI heads swap has been reported to as much as a 55 rwhp gain over stock first gen (4.6 nonPI) heads. The Cobras have 305 from 96-98 but they have, too, a different set of heads, pretaining to the 4v setup instead of the GT 2v head set. In other words, you have two cams while the Cobra has 4.

[rerun]

theres gotta be ea bin numebr somehwere there loads for 60s mustangs. And congrats... oh yea... you mgiht wanan cheack out car fax:
http://www.carfax.com

[airplane100]

Originally Posted by rerun

theres gotta be ea bin numebr somehwere there loads for 60s mustangs. And congrats... oh yea... you mgiht wanan cheack out car fax:
http://www.carfax.com

Hey ,thanks for all the good information. I was going to do the CarFax thing before I bought the car, but I had a deal already and think I know what I bought, now I am somewhat afraid to check Carfax, just would be fun to see the window sticker for what options the car has and how much it was new and all that. This car is somewhat of and odd deal for me. I have always wanted a Mustang GT, but always had the family minivan. Recently my business had a severe downturn and income was and is strapped, so we got rid of our $400 car payment and replaced it with this car. I think I got quite a deal on the car. It looks like new inside and out. I spent a full day having things checked out by mechanics to make sure I was not getting into a money trap. Turns out all they could find was the Rear End has some grinding going on and the cost to repair should be about $400.00. The reason I am explaining some of this is, I will not be able to invest a lot in the car other than the needed repair for a while. But there are things I do want to do and I would not mind getting the opinions of folks here that seem to be more experinced than me for sure. After the rear end repair ( DriveShaft Bearings ) I want to spend a few dollars on a gauge surround kit. I like the silver rings that surround the gauges the most. Before I bought the car I found some on Ebay for $15.00, now I can not find them listed on Ebay, just lots of white gauge faces and glow stuff. I just want the silver rings that go around each guage. Makes it look real nice to me. Anyone knows where to look for these at a fair price let me know? I searched some Mustang online places and keep coming up with the white faces and glow stuff as well. My other question is, if all goes well with my business? I would like to do minor upgrades to the Engine for more HP, but I do not want to do any upgrades that will cause extra wear on the Engine or Overheating issues. The car has 77000 miles on it. From what I have read I can do the following things safely and inexspensively? Let me know your thought and if anyone knows about how much HP and Torque each upgrade really adds let me know. Let me mention I am not a mechanic and will probably have to pay for all labor.

Better Air Filter

Better Spark Plugs and Wires and Coils?

Cold Air Kit ?

Computer Chip ?

UnderPulleys ?

[Los]

K&N is a definate go. So are underdrive pulleys. I don't think you can get a better coil pack but wires you can up to 9mm or so (If I'm thinking correctly, I haven't looked under a 98 hood in a while). Cold Air kits give you some pull while gears often seem to be a racer's first choice. Be wise and don't get a chip until you're completely satisified with ALL the mods you'll be getting. Then you won't have to get the damn thing reburned everytime you add something new.

[airplane100]

Originally Posted by Los

K&N is a definate go. So are underdrive pulleys. I don't think you can get a better coil pack but wires you can up to 9mm or so (If I'm thinking correctly, I haven't looked under a 98 hood in a while). Cold Air kits give you some pull while gears often seem to be a racer's first choice. Be wise and don't get a chip until you're completely satisified with ALL the mods you'll be getting. Then you won't have to get the damn thing reburned everytime you add something new.

Thanks again for the answers. So UnderDrive Pulleys and the K&N are good 1st choices. Does anyone know how much HP and Torque they will each add to the base 230HP? Does anyone recomend a site to look at a fair priced version of these 2 items?

Is the K&N just the new filter or is this the cold air kit?

Chris

[HiFlow5 0]

Better Air Filter
Get a K&N drop in filter, and remove the air silencer.

Better Spark Plugs and Wires and Coils?
I have always been happy running autolight spark plugs, and was never a fan of the platinum plugs. Although I have heard good things about NKG plugs. For wires, FRPP makes a 9mm wire for the 2V motors, only thing is wires for the mod motors get expensive.

Cold Air Kit ?Only thing a cold air intake will do is add to the looks of the car. Won't really do anything for you power wise.

Computer Chip ? WORTHLESS, unless you have a good amount of mods done to the car. On an otherwise stock or nearly stock car, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

UnderPulleys ?
Yes, good bang for the buck. Won't notice too much in the low band, but you should fell a little more pull higher up.

A couple things that you should think about are gears, and exhaust. Although these mods can get expensive, they are the best bang for the buck and will give you the most noticable gains.
Gears=3.73:1, will make the car accelerate a lot quicker even though no HP is gained. This should be #1 on your list of mods!
Exhaust, a good set of headers, high flow cat h-pipe, and a less restrictive muffler would make your motor breathe a heck of a lot easier. This should be #2 on you list of mods.

[airplane100]

Can this item be purchased at local stores like Pep Boys or do I need to order it online. Seems like a really easy and cheap upgrade for me to start with?

Chris

[Los]

Originally Posted by airplane100

Thanks again for the answers. So UnderDrive Pulleys and the K&N are good 1st choices. Does anyone know how much HP and Torque they will each add to the base 230HP? Does anyone recomend a site to look at a fair priced version of these 2 items?

Is the K&N just the new filter or is this the cold air kit?

Chris

Your base is somewhere closer to 220, not 230 unless you're running a set of flows already. Pulleys and K&N might give you 10 to the wheels; not a really significant difference but you'll definately feel the pull with the pulleys.

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally Posted by airplane100

Can this item be purchased at local stores like Pep Boys or do I need to order it online. Seems like a really easy and cheap upgrade for me to start with?

Chris

Yup, just about all auto stores will have them instock. If not they can order them very easily.

[airplane100]

Originally Posted by airplane100

Hello, I just got my 1st Mustang and I am pretty happy so far, 8 hours or so of ownership. It is a 1998 GT with just about every option. My 1st question is, does anyone know of any web site where by VIN # I can look at the original window sticker and or just see the actual specifications on the exact car I purchased? I would like to know the HP and what items were options and things like that? I was told this year had two different 4.6 engines and that one put out well over 260 hp while the other put out only 230? Thanks for any help with this question.

Chris

I just read about Big Mouth Air filters, do those add the same HP as the K&N? Do they fit in the standard air filter area as well?

Also saw a fella that did the underpulleys and now has a check engine light issue. Which set of underpulleys is the easiest and safest to use without causing alternator and battery issues?

Thanks again for all the input.

Chris