96 gt engine swap options?

Mstang96 · Apr 4, 2010

And it begins, owner of a 96 mustang gt for a year and already on the hunt for power lol...This hobby is addictive. :headbang:

Anyways like stated have a 96 gt and looking to do a engine swap with a budget between 2-4000$ Am thinking a P-I Engine swap with F/I in the future, But am loving the idea of a cobra powered GT. I know i am not going to be able to do a 03/04 32V swap under 4000$ and still have it reliable and a clean job but how Much work is a 96-98 cobra engine swap and can the engine be bolted right to my stock 5 spd tranny. How much h/p Can these 96 T45's Handle??

Thanks for any help!

DropTopPony · Apr 5, 2010

Are you able to do the work yourself? That would save $$$$ and let us know how much you really have to spend on parts.

Blind · Apr 5, 2010

I bought a wrecked 4v donor car for $800 and ended up parting it out for $2500 and I kept the 79k mile engine which is in my `97 GT.

I think I did pretty good, car makes ~290rwhp after I got the stock GT computer dyno tuned using an SCT programmer by bottle blown racing local to me.

granted, I do all of my own work, if you have to pay someone to do it...it would cost quite a bit.

Lee12609 · Apr 5, 2010

dont feel bad i've owned my 96 for just over a MONTH and already ordered spent in the area of $5000 on it...... car isnt even CLOSE to worth what i have in it now, but i plan to keep it so whatever.

i dont really see the need to go 4v unless you want REAL serious power. a built and boosted 2v will cost TONS less and make close to as much power.

spend thousands swapping in a STOCK 96-98 4v and make 250-290whp, or spend that money on a built 2v that is NEW and capable of much more power.

figure out how much power you'd be happy with, then do a "virtual build", see which one comes out to be the better choice.

i LOVE 03/04 4v swaps, but i think its much more sensible to just buy a 96-98 cobra if youre looking for a N/A 4v UNLESS you find a deal like BLIND did ^^^^ cant really argue with his setup versus money invested/made, LOL

Mstang96 · Apr 5, 2010

All work would be done by myself and father, Have just about every tool we would need as he is a mechanic and has a Private buisness fixing Recreational vehicles out of his house and luckily this wouldnt be his first swap and or build up. (although he moslty built chevys lol may be his first ford)

Anyways i have saved up some money over the winter and will be taking 2 week holidays june/july ish would be perfect time for work to be done. So many options to chose from that im sure will all satifie my needs but what would be the one that makes most sense?.

1 - Keep Npi motor as it has 37 000 miles, swap in some Pi cams, Lower intake, Plenum and a Vortech V3 H/o System

2 - Swap in a Pi motor and vortech system alittle later on when funds allow

3 - Fined a 96-98 Cobra donor and that motor can possibly see a Super in the Year following

things to keep in mind are that this Will be a summer DD, Riliability is a must and what would be the best bang for buck.

Lee12609 · Apr 5, 2010

option number 1 with the possibility of swapping in a PI engine later since you could swap the Npi front cover to the new engine and not have to change ANY part of the vortech kit to make it work.

option 2 gives you 45ish more horsepower now, and the possibility of alot more later.

option 3 well, cost alot more but just like option 2 more power now with the possibility for ALOT more later.

depends on the time you want invested, for bang for buck now option 1 would be my choice. option 2 doesnt make any sense to me. and option 3 is a good choice if you can get the parts cheap, but good luck with that, most 96-98 4v's have a good bit of miles on them by now too.

DropTopPony · Apr 5, 2010

Coolness factor would be the 4V swap, but unless you can find one at a steal it can get pricey.

Most of the time finding a low mile PI engine is the way to go BUT your stock engine is only 37k, thats just getting broken in.
I'd do a PI swap on that and enjoy the extra 40 or so hp for awhile and then go for there.

Mstang96 · Apr 6, 2010

Thanks guys for the input, its greatly appretiated. This would be my first supercharger car and what can i expect for it as a dd with option 1, in drivability and reliability.

again will be purchasing a vortech v2 or v3, leaning more into the v3 cause of the self contained unit

Lee12609 · Apr 6, 2010

self contained is junk, frequent oil changes at $20ish a pop gets old. its nothing to run a feed and drain....

with a good tune daily driving wont change just a bit more power when in boost.

Mstang96 · Apr 6, 2010

Right on, so what supercharger would you recomend, Vortech, paxton, procharger......? and better to go with a oil feed aposed to a self contained?

Lee12609 · Apr 6, 2010

i'd rather tap my pan than have to spend endless amounts on blower oil changes anyday yes. for that reason i dont even THINK about the procharger (even though they are very capable blowers just not worth the hassle on a daily driver that puts some miles on them quick).

between paxton and vortech i prefer vortech but thats because i can afford one, finding a used NOVI is hard. if you were looking to buy new and comparing apples to apples (T-trim vs novi 2000) i'd take the novi anyday, but i still prefer vortech S trims if your goal is under 450ish WHP... they are cheap, easy to find used, and very reliable.

voidfinger · Apr 6, 2010

Anyone looked into the trick flow setup? just wondering.

98GTnSC · Apr 7, 2010

i havent! outta my price range! lol

voidfinger · Apr 7, 2010

lol yeah pretty pricey but sounds like it might be worth a look. Wonder what real world numbers their H/C/I swap are putting down

Mstang96 · Apr 7, 2010

Thanks for all the info guys, much appretiated. Sorry for the noob questions but i have questions and this is where there going to be answered.
Got a pair of pi cams and intake, installing those then will be looking for a super very soon. Going to try and find a used V2 Vortech but will buy new if i cant. I wonder what Number i can expect?

blown98gt · Apr 8, 2010

take a 351w and stoke the b!tch till it your pockets are empty and then call it a day

Mstang96 · Apr 11, 2010

Already bought pi cams and livernois intake kit, Doing the swap soon with c&l plenum and 75mm mid throttle body, Then hopefully Charge her up by mid summer or earlier if i can find a decent kit.

Thanks for all the input. Lots of knowlegable people on here!