a 1995 mustang gt is rated at 215/285.
a 1996 mustang gt is rated at 215/290.
you read too much on the internet.
the guys at the front of our class swap their 4V's for LS's or 2V's for the torque they make.
you raced a hurt, stock car against a mild bolt on car of the same type. if this was a run at a track, we'd have quantifiable data that could help us diagnose the issue - 60', 330', ET + mph. but we don't, because you're a high school kid street racing on someone's beep or arm drop. we'll be able to diagnose what's wrong with your car when your ghetto'd up modifications fail on you and your car is in a ditch, upside down, on fire.
if you can't see the running string of bad decisions, you're beyond help