Cracked my intake... so is an exhaust system worth it?

Corbic · Nov 20, 2007

:lol:

Ok, I have a 1996 Mustang GT I recently picked up for $2,400. The car was in mediocre shape but ran good. I've so far rebuilt the rear calipers, changed out all the fluids. Currently both mufflers have holes (though they sounds good, just loud), it has blown shocks, and I just cracked my Intake.

I got coolant in the valley, its running super rich (fuel laced cloud at start up) and the engine won't hold an idle till warm up.

I have a lead on a updated NPI Intake for $70 to me, however I keep reading promising thing about going PI. However it feels pointless seeing I know I'll never get around to doing the cams (I'll just screw them up anyways) and with my 240's transmission on the way out, I need a daily...

So...

Will if I just go with the NPI intake, and swap in an exhaust, mid-pipe and set of exhaust manifolds, would I see any "Real" gains, something I'd actually notice, or will I just be wasting ~$700.

Also, I was thinking of getting the Ford Racing Suspension set (Mach 1), is it worth the $450? I really want this car to handle well, but there are just so many suspension options, and $$$ run up real quick.

Thanks.

AaRoN · Nov 20, 2007

Welcome to SN95!

jfor441 · Nov 20, 2007

do the PI intake if you have to replace the NPI intake. You dont have to do cams.

White 96GT · Nov 20, 2007

NPI intake=Cheaper for know.
put a catback on it and call that done, then get your engine to idle(how good of a machanic are you?) then get your shock strut issues fixed and get it to be good and reliable in general. Then rims/fresh paint to follow.

vermilion · Nov 23, 2007

... id give that baby a healthy tune up. theyres several post where this is all explained. changing the fluids was a good idea. id get a haynes manual or chiltons and do a major tune up. especially running rich. new spark plugs (imo... ngk v-powers). autolite spark plug wires, clean your idle air control valve, throttle position sensor and upper plenum. years of carbon build up and who knows what the last guy done? i just recently did mine and made a ton of difference. welcome to sn95. knowledgable group of people and willing to help you. cheers :drunk:

MustangMatt96GT · Nov 23, 2007

I would say for 100 bucks, get a PI intake. I think DFGPimpin has one for sale.

But if you dont have the $$ a NPI will work. But I always say doing headers vack is a benefitcal mod. The factory manifolds are so restrictive, the air intake side isnt really that restricitive, but the exhaust is.

mark8796 · Nov 25, 2007

if you gotta change the intake anyways, why not kill 2 w/ 1 and do the pi intake thing? the swap isn't that expensive at all. put a 180 t- stat in at same time. cams are a bitch...still don't have my car running right after i swapped mine.

Goldmember · Nov 25, 2007

+1 on the PI trust me you won't regret it! Full tune-up too, everything the other guys suggested + clean the MAF (VERY easy but often overlooked), O2's, and change the fuel filter. Water pump is a piece of cake to do when everything's apart for the intake. You can get a decent one for ~$50 and call it a day, takes all of 10 minutes to install.

I've found that since the PI upgrade my idle will hold, cold or warm, but occasionally it'll surge up a couple hundred RPM then fall again. From what I read when I was contempleting the PI swap myself this can happen thanks to the much bigger intake runners... but you'll love the better throttle response, better breathing, and better high RPM capability. I'm not doing the cams either- I know I'm not "that good" and the motor has 98K on it anyway. My car is a daily driver so reliability is my main focus when doing work/choosing upgrades.

Good luck with the new ride!!