Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum. Ive been using this site for info for a while so I figured I'd join. So I have a 1997 GT, auto (no sarcasm about the automatic transmission please) with 113,000 miles. Ive had the car since 65,000 miles and its all stock. After taking a ride in some of my buddies' mustangs, mine just really feels slow. I'd like some ideas for some cheap ways to bring life back to this old engine. I changed the plugs and wires just today, I'm gonna run some fuel system cleaner and I've checked all my filters. Any more ideas? Keep in mind I'm only a 2 stripper in the Air Force so I'm not rich.
1997 Mustang GT feeling sluggish
A1CGT
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Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum. Ive been using this site for info for a while so I figured I'd join. So I have a 1997 GT, auto (no sarcasm about the automatic transmission please) with 113,000 miles. Ive had the car since 65,000 miles and its all stock. After taking a ride in some of my buddies' mustangs, mine just really feels slow. I'd like some ideas for some cheap ways to bring life back to this old engine. I changed the plugs and wires just today, I'm gonna run some fuel system cleaner and I've checked all my filters. Any more ideas? Keep in mind I'm only a 2 stripper in the Air Force so I'm not rich.
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maybe a Custom tuner from Americanmuscle.com....belive it or not thouse auto's with the right tune and set up can out run thouse 5 speeds.....and there not expensive about 250 if i remeber correctly...glad to have another brother in arms on the fourm!
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First things first, lol auto's.
Just kiddin', had to do it.
What Mustang did you ride in that now yours feels like a slouch? If it was another auto trans 96-98 GT then it's a pretty fair comparison. If it was a 5 speed 99-04 car then yes, your car is a slouch by comparison.
All comparing mangos to guavas or whatever aside, the best things you can do for your car are as follows : 1) PI swap. If you can do the work yourself, you should be able to accomplish this for under $1000. 2) Gears. Don't listen to anybody's ******** about 3.73's and gas mileage, blah blah blah. 4.10's or 4.30's is where it's at. I know what I said sounds narrow minded, but it's the truth. Parts + install should run somewhere around $700. 3) Off road h or x exhaust midpipe. This is a cheap one and easy to d.i.y.; a decent one can be had for around $150. There's obviously a lot more you can do, but those would be the ones on my "hot" list to get out of the way before anything else.
Do your homework, as I only gave you a simplified version of those 3 things, but if you do those and start thinking about mild suspension upgrades soon afterward, you will run circles around mildly modded 99-04 Mustangs. Come up with a game plan or goal for your car, figure out what your budget is, and when you have those two things locked down reveal them to us here and we can begin to get more specific about what parts will work best for you.
Just kiddin', had to do it.
What Mustang did you ride in that now yours feels like a slouch? If it was another auto trans 96-98 GT then it's a pretty fair comparison. If it was a 5 speed 99-04 car then yes, your car is a slouch by comparison.
All comparing mangos to guavas or whatever aside, the best things you can do for your car are as follows : 1) PI swap. If you can do the work yourself, you should be able to accomplish this for under $1000. 2) Gears. Don't listen to anybody's ******** about 3.73's and gas mileage, blah blah blah. 4.10's or 4.30's is where it's at. I know what I said sounds narrow minded, but it's the truth. Parts + install should run somewhere around $700. 3) Off road h or x exhaust midpipe. This is a cheap one and easy to d.i.y.; a decent one can be had for around $150. There's obviously a lot more you can do, but those would be the ones on my "hot" list to get out of the way before anything else.
Do your homework, as I only gave you a simplified version of those 3 things, but if you do those and start thinking about mild suspension upgrades soon afterward, you will run circles around mildly modded 99-04 Mustangs. Come up with a game plan or goal for your car, figure out what your budget is, and when you have those two things locked down reveal them to us here and we can begin to get more specific about what parts will work best for you.
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I had a buddy with a '98, auto as well, lol, and he put 4.10 gears in, and he didn't lose any gas mileage. Anybody who went with 3.73 geares for better gas mileage is just mad because they wasted their money. lol
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Thanks for the info everyone. To answer one question, the car was a 98 auto. Granted, my buddy just got it, it was a one owner with only 16,000 miles so it was a young engine but still... I really do want a 99-04. Are they really that much faster? They for sure look better. I may just work out the kinks and trade it for a newer one (5 speed of course lol). Another quick one, the passenger front rattles so bad when I hit the slightest bump in the road. I've seen similar posts and have a few ideas but...any input?
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I couldn't agree more.
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