I am trying to do some more performance uprgrades to my 97 Gt. I obviuosly don't have much mechanical knowledge but i am still interested in getting the most out of my mustang. Many people are telling me to geta PI Intake or PI Cam Swap. I have several questions though,
What is it and what does it do?
What is a good estimate on price and labor?
What are good brands?
And what kind of gains can i expect.
I already have a cold air intake, and a X-pipe flowmaster exhaust, as well as a holley performance fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator. Thanks everyone!!!
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1997 Mustang Gt (woodward dream cruise edition), Auto,BBK Cold Air Intake, Strut Bar, X-Pipe, Flowmaster 40series mufflers, sideexhaust, BBK fuel press. reg,15inch JL Audio, Eclipse soundsystem, pioneer head unit, GPS,
If I were you I would go with gears. 4.10's will wake your car up more than a set of PI cams or an intake will. Both of those are great mods, but they won't have the impact that a set of gears will.
I have recently purchased a PI intake from Parkway Ford, and I have a set of PI cams. I plan on doing the PI intake myself, but I wasn't going to tackle the cam install. A good mod mechanic here told me he would charge me 300 dollars in labor to install the cams. If I went aftermarket cam and new springs, it would be 400 in labor. You can usually find PI cams for about 100 dollars on Corral or someplace. With aftermarket cams, you are usually looking at between 450 and 600 dollars, plus springs (depending on how agressive the cams are) which are around 200 dollars, and maybe even new cam gears (there is a line of thought concerning adjustable cam gears and degreeing that sounds very reasonable to me, I wouldn't take a chance) which would cost between 100 and 200 dollars a set (I've heard, may no be totally correct). With a PI intake and cams, I have seen claims of 20 rwhp, but I don't know for sure if that's true. I've not seen the dyno numbers. I read a couple of threads on another site where a guy who changed out to a PI intake and some Comp Cams and springs claime 36 rwhp gain. Again, his words. I didn't see a dyno sheet, but he was going to post it.
Gears on the other hand, are around 150 dollars shipped, and the labor is around 150 to 200 to install. Your car will feel like a beast aftward, and the acceleration will be amazing compared to your stock gears. The only issue I ran into with my 4.10's was that I really had a hard time with wheel hop and spin on a good hard launch. I corrected this by changing our my rear control arms and adding a pair of Nitto Drag Radials. Never underestimate the value of good sticky tires.
Best of luck.
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'97 GT with 80mm C&L MAF, C<rue-Flow CAI, MAC 70mm TB, Superchip, 180 thermo, B&M Ripper, King Cobra Clutch, FRPP aluminum quad/adj cable, MAC O/R H pipe, MIL's, Flows, Granatelli Solid control arms, FRPP 4.10's, FRPP aluminum driveshaft, Fidanza aluminum flywheel, FRPP 9mm wires, TMD aluminum U/D pulleys, Steeda full length SFC's (welded in), and 17" polished aluminum Cobra wheels with Nitto 555 Extremes, Kenwood/Alpine sound. Waiting for install: PI intake.
Do both, you'll feel an amazing difference after those mods. I'm local to you, and can install the cams and intake for $350.
Yes besides gears, money for the gain and on a budget like me the PI cam swap and PI intake swap cant be beat!! I think u will notice more with the cam swap as the PI intake swap seems to help the top end really, as the cams help mid to top but both are worth it completely.
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1998 Mustang GT automatic stock gears, some mods...sold
Best et 14.690@94.37 with a terrible 2.24 60ft
New ride 2000 GTP, gutted air box with K&N, 180 thermo
Best Et 14.57@93.35
*mods after run, Autolite 605s, GMPP STB , MPS 3.7
Why is no one mentioning PI heads? With highing flowing heads, he'll have the same amount of HP as the 99+ stangs. You can get the PI intake mani, cams, and heads all in one package. That would run you about $1500 I believe. Or you can always keep your stock heads and slap on a S/C or spray. Nitrous is a great bang for your buck.
Actually I read a great thread that Mark started and is now closed, but it talked about some of the reasons the heads aren't all that important to swap. More the intake and cams.
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'97 GT with 80mm C&L MAF, C<rue-Flow CAI, MAC 70mm TB, Superchip, 180 thermo, B&M Ripper, King Cobra Clutch, FRPP aluminum quad/adj cable, MAC O/R H pipe, MIL's, Flows, Granatelli Solid control arms, FRPP 4.10's, FRPP aluminum driveshaft, Fidanza aluminum flywheel, FRPP 9mm wires, TMD aluminum U/D pulleys, Steeda full length SFC's (welded in), and 17" polished aluminum Cobra wheels with Nitto 555 Extremes, Kenwood/Alpine sound. Waiting for install: PI intake.
Actually I read a great thread that Mark started and is now closed, but it talked about some of the reasons the heads aren't all that important to swap. More the intake and cams.
Yep... PI heads are marginally better than NPI's in stock form. No sense in spening $1000 on heads, plus labor for 5hp. Spend that money on real mods.
Mark, regarding cam swaps, you give me the key things to think about wtih regard to cam changes? I have seen you recomend the VT Stage 2's, adjustable gears (source for purchase), valve springs....anyting else?
What about the Stage 1's? My mechanic is recommending those so I can keep my stock valve springs. However, I do have a backfire from time to time when racing and shifting at high RPM's? Does this sound like a weak vavle spring?
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'97 GT with 80mm C&L MAF, C<rue-Flow CAI, MAC 70mm TB, Superchip, 180 thermo, B&M Ripper, King Cobra Clutch, FRPP aluminum quad/adj cable, MAC O/R H pipe, MIL's, Flows, Granatelli Solid control arms, FRPP 4.10's, FRPP aluminum driveshaft, Fidanza aluminum flywheel, FRPP 9mm wires, TMD aluminum U/D pulleys, Steeda full length SFC's (welded in), and 17" polished aluminum Cobra wheels with Nitto 555 Extremes, Kenwood/Alpine sound. Waiting for install: PI intake.
Mark, regarding cam swaps, you give me the key things to think about wtih regard to cam changes? I have seen you recomend the VT Stage 2's, adjustable gears (source for purchase), valve springs....anyting else?
What about the Stage 1's? My mechanic is recommending those so I can keep my stock valve springs. However, I do have a backfire from time to time when racing and shifting at high RPM's? Does this sound like a weak vavle spring?
Might wanna create your own thread and ask about this, as this one partains to the PI cam and intake swap. Not being a jerk, just keep it on topic
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1998 Mustang GT automatic stock gears, some mods...sold
Best et 14.690@94.37 with a terrible 2.24 60ft
New ride 2000 GTP, gutted air box with K&N, 180 thermo
Best Et 14.57@93.35
*mods after run, Autolite 605s, GMPP STB , MPS 3.7
Mark, regarding cam swaps, you give me the key things to think about wtih regard to cam changes? I have seen you recomend the VT Stage 2's, adjustable gears (source for purchase), valve springs....anyting else?
What about the Stage 1's? My mechanic is recommending those so I can keep my stock valve springs. However, I do have a backfire from time to time when racing and shifting at high RPM's? Does this sound like a weak vavle spring?
Personally, if you're going to dig in there to do cams, you might as well do the valve springs too. They are a royal PITA to install, i agree, but well worth their weight in gold. Comp springs, Manley and Nextek all make good springs, with Comp being the cheapest of the three.
For cams, VT stage 2's are good. Adjusable gears can be found from Triangle Speed shop in Texas, or through Fidanza. Fidanza is more readily available to the public than the others. You'll be looking at ~$300 for the gears.
Your problem could be a valvespring or many other thigns, it's really hard to say.
I had a 98 GT a couple of years ago that i did the whole PI swap on and it wasn't that hard as long as you have money for extra stuff cus you go breakin into something that deep and you'll run into somethin you'll need and make sure you read all the write ups on the net and print them they helped me out alot, as far as power goes i was able to hang with a buddy of mine with a 2000 GT and his was pretty stock and all i had was mufflers. if i had a 96-98 gt i would do it all over again it was fun knowing that i made all that power happen, good luck!
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2003 GT K&N - C&L intake w/ 85mm MAF- 70mm TB - MAC Longtubes - bassani on road X-Pipe - Magnaflow Cat Back - Diablo Sport - U/D Pulleys - Baer big brakes up front
PI Intake or PI Cam Swap, Help 
your own thread and ask about this, as this one partains to the PI cam and intake swap. Not being a jerk, just keep it on topic
