1997 Mustang GT Information:
Location: Hudson Falls, NY
Color: Black
Transmission: 5spd (T45)
Current Mileage: 68,400 mi
VIN: 1FALP42X6VF166351
Options: Spoiler, factory strut brace (rare), Premium factory sound (Mach 460), power seat, windows and mirrors
CT emissions passed: August 2013
Purchased date: May, 2008 with ~31,800 miles
Previous Owner (1st) location: Boston, MA
For pictures refer to the following photobucket site
[ame="http://s381.photobucket.com/user/modularmustang/slideshow/For%20sale%20pictures%20of%20mustang"]For Sale Pictures Of Mustang Slideshow by modularmustang | Photobucket[/ame]
Current power: dynojet confirmed 306rwhp/298rwtq (see photobucket link for dyno graph).
Maintenance items:
· Spark Plugs, changed with standard motorcraft copper plugs (2 years ago)
· Oil, changed religiously every 4500 miles with mobel 1 syn 5w-30.
· Transmission fluid, changed with red line automatic fluid (1 year ago)
· Differential fluid, changed with mobel-1 75w-140 (2 years ago)
· Coolant, changed and flushed (2 years ago)
· Fuel filter, changed 2 years ago
· Brake fluid flushed (2 years ago)
· Power steering fluid flush and change (2 years ago)
· Fuel filler neck rubber gasket (3 years ago)
· Ball joints, Moog, changed 5 years ago
· Inner and Outer Tie rods, changed 5 years ago
· Napa Legend Battery (spring 2008)
· Factory Engine mounts (3 years ago)
· Idler pulley (3 years ago)
· Serpentine belt (3years ago)
· Factory Transmission mount ( 3 years ago)
· Rear ABS sensor (3 years ago)
Modifications / Upgrades:
Engine:
1. 2004 Mustang GT Heads, commonly known as the PI (performance improved). Heads are Port matched with polished exhaust ports. Installed with a fresh machined surface, new brass valve guides and professionally machined valve surfaces (both valves and head surfaces). Note that PI heads on a NPI short block creates a compression ratio of ~10.4:1. (installed spring time 2012)
2. MHS stage 2 camshafts; professionally timed (most cam installs are not timed). Installed with trick flow crankshaft adjusting gears. Stock camshaft gears. Cam specs: 225/223@0.05”; 550/500 lift, 110/110 centerlines. (Installed spring time 2012).
3. 2004 Mustang GT intake, commonly known as the PI (performance improved) intake. Tap and died in additional coolant sensor location(96-98 have two coolant sensors, 99-04 have one) (installed fall 09)
4. Mac Long tube headers with O/R H pipe. Installed with rear O2 sensor by-pass circuit (removal of the cats causes a code to be thrown normally, simple bypass circuit tricks PCM to think the rear O2’s into thinking the cats are working). Installed with welded on fake cats (passed CT emissions twice like this).
5. 03 Cobra flowmaster 40 catback (installed June 2011)
6. Steeda under drive pulleys, crank and water pump pulleys installed. Pulley never installed on aftermarket alternator to prevent charging issues at idle. (installed Spring 2010)
7. Accufab 70mm Throttle body (installed Spring 2009)
8. Sniper Special Forces tuning software, professionally used and dyno tuned by Mongillomotors in New Haven, CT. Software and tuning hardware comes with purchase. (dyno tune was done 8/14/12)
9. FRPP 24# injectors (installed fall 2009)
10. K&N filter (installed spring 2008). Filter cleaned and re-oiled Fall 2012.
11. PA Performance High output alternator and wiring (installed summer 2013)
12. Screaming Demon coils (installed summer 2013)
13. Ford Racing Performance parts 8mm spark plug wires (installed summer 2013)
14. AEM air fuel gauge, installed on steering column. Requires new wide Band O2 to function 100% (see below section label “the bad”). (Installed fall 2009).
15. (16) New Trick flow lash adjusters (installed fall 2010)
Suspension:
Front:
1. Koni yellow single adjustable struts, Maximum motorsports coiler over kit with 300# springs (installed summer 2012).
2. Maximum motorsports C&C (Caster and camber) plates (installed fall 2009)
3. Energy Suspension poly Front control arm bushings (installed fall 2010)
4. Energy Suspension poly sway bar end link bushings and sway bar main bushings (installed fall 2010)
5. 2003 Cobra Steering Rack, quicker ratio and decreases turn radius over stock GT rack (installed fall 2010)
Rear:
1. 1999 Cobra Independent Rear suspension (IRS) swap (installed June 2011)
2. Full Tilt Boogie Racing Bushing kit. Includes Delrin Upper control arm bushings and sleeves, Delrin lower control arm bushings and sleeves, (8) grease fittings , UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) Sub frame bushings, aluminum front differential supports with shimming washers to set pinion angle, Delrin rear differential support, front differential torque brace, and hardware. This is, without a doubt , the best bushings you can buy for the cobra IRS. (installed June 2011)
3. OEM bilstein Cobra 04 specific shocks (installed June 2011)
4. Eibach Pro kit springs for 2004 cobra coupe (installed June 2011)
5. Maximum motorsports Adjustable rear tie rods (installed June 2011)
6. Full Tilt Boogie Racing adjustable sway bar end links (installed June 2011)
7. Billetflow differential brace (installed June 2011)
8. Billetflow differential brackets (welded and installed spring 2012)
9. Cross axis joint boots replaced (installed June 2011)
10. Wheel bearings (installed June 2011)
11. Low profile subframe bolts
12. ¼” rear wheel spacers
13. Rolled rear fenders (Last set of rear tires were 315/35/17, they easily fit without rubbing)
Chassis:
1. Maximum motorsports full length subframe connectors (welded and installed fall 2009)
2. Custom 14 gauge 2”x1”+2”x1” steel rectangular upper subframe connectors. 2”x2” total size starts inside the stock uni-body frame near where your feet are while sitting in front and connect to the bulk head with 2 gussets (see photobucket link for pictures). With the lower subframes this is a massive upgrade in terms of chassis stiffness. Griggs racing has a kit for sale that this replicates. (welded and installed spring 2010)
3. Factory front Strut tower brace (stock, only came on the 1997 mustang GT)
Drivetrain:
1. Stage 1 Ram clutch and pressure plate, installed with freshly re surfaced stock flywheel, FRPP HD throw out bearing, FRPP pilot bearing, red line transmission fluid, new clutch fork and transmission mount. (installed spring 2013)
2. Pro 5.0 Short throw shifter (installed spring 2009)
3. Hurst Pistol grip shifter, I have the stock knob if you’d rather have that installed instead. (installed spring 2009)
4. FRPP 4.10 final drive gear, installed with new FRPP bearings and seals. Rebuilt differential clutch packs, mobel 1 syn fluid. (installed June 2011)
5. Speedo calibration box, better then the 23 tooth speedo gear fix for 4.10's (installed June 2011)
Brakes:
· Replaced and flushed Brake fluid with ATE Super Blue DOT 4 brake fluid (Installed Spring 2012)
Front (1997 GT OEM size; 10.6” vented):
1. Brembo drilled rotors (installed spring 2009)
2. Hawk ceramic pads (installed spring 2009)
Rear (1999-2004 Cobra spec ; 11.6” vented rear brakes):
1. Brembo OEM plain rotors (installed June 2011)
2. Hawk HPS pads (installed June 2011)
3. Cobra calipers (installed June 2011)
Tires:
· Front: 245/45/17 General Exclaim UHP, 30% tread (installed spring 2010)
· Rear: 275/40/17 Yokohama S. Drives, 85% tread (installed spring 2013)
Wheels:
· Replica FR500 Wheels, Silver. Wheel weights installed on the inside of the wheel. Rims have minor scuffs (installed spring 2010)
· Front: 17x9
· Rear: 17x10.5 (deep dish)
Miscellaneous modifications:
1. Factory AUX connection, DPTP switch installed for switching between radio and AUX-in. (installed fall 2012)
2. Black billet Fuel filler (black) (installed June 2011)
3. Locking fuel cap, two keys included (installed spring 2008)
4. Aftermarket Cobra style head lights (installed fall 2012)
The Bad:
· The AEM wide band O2 sensor needs to be replaced (mentioned above)
· The Drive side CV boot has a small hole in it. I have a full CV axle replacement but haven’t gotten around to replacing it. New CV axle comes with car. Hole is small enough that you could drive on it for years without issue (however you shouldn’t).
· Like most manual transmission cars, the transmission is hard to shift when it’s cold. This is a common problem with 5 speed mustangs. After a mile or two the shifting is smooth.
· The stage two camshafts the idle is rough compared to stock, cold starts and idling are surprising fine however the warm starts sometimes cause issues holding an idle. This only happens during the first 20-30 seconds or so during its “warm up” stage after recently being driven.
· The paint, some clear coat is coming off on the front bumper, see pictures.
Conclusion:
This mustang was meticulously maintained, any issue that came up was taken care of with zero corners cut. With the suspension upgrades this will easily out handle and surprise many people who think pony cars can’t handle. With 300+rwhp; ~350horse at the crank assume ~15% drivetrain loss; you won’t be disappointed. There was countless hours of research on each modification so they work together perfectly.
Kelly Blue Book rates this car at 6.1k at very good. Given that, I’m looking for $9500. I think this is very reasonable given the cars history and performance.
Pictures:
Fall 2013 right before i stored it away
Dyno: 08/16/2012
IRS suspension:
Fancy Full tilt Boogie Racing bushings:
Custom Upper Subframe Connections:
First week I had it:
Location: Hudson Falls, NY
Color: Black
Transmission: 5spd (T45)
Current Mileage: 68,400 mi
VIN: 1FALP42X6VF166351
Options: Spoiler, factory strut brace (rare), Premium factory sound (Mach 460), power seat, windows and mirrors
CT emissions passed: August 2013
Purchased date: May, 2008 with ~31,800 miles
Previous Owner (1st) location: Boston, MA
For pictures refer to the following photobucket site
[ame="http://s381.photobucket.com/user/modularmustang/slideshow/For%20sale%20pictures%20of%20mustang"]For Sale Pictures Of Mustang Slideshow by modularmustang | Photobucket[/ame]
Current power: dynojet confirmed 306rwhp/298rwtq (see photobucket link for dyno graph).
Maintenance items:
· Spark Plugs, changed with standard motorcraft copper plugs (2 years ago)
· Oil, changed religiously every 4500 miles with mobel 1 syn 5w-30.
· Transmission fluid, changed with red line automatic fluid (1 year ago)
· Differential fluid, changed with mobel-1 75w-140 (2 years ago)
· Coolant, changed and flushed (2 years ago)
· Fuel filter, changed 2 years ago
· Brake fluid flushed (2 years ago)
· Power steering fluid flush and change (2 years ago)
· Fuel filler neck rubber gasket (3 years ago)
· Ball joints, Moog, changed 5 years ago
· Inner and Outer Tie rods, changed 5 years ago
· Napa Legend Battery (spring 2008)
· Factory Engine mounts (3 years ago)
· Idler pulley (3 years ago)
· Serpentine belt (3years ago)
· Factory Transmission mount ( 3 years ago)
· Rear ABS sensor (3 years ago)
Modifications / Upgrades:
Engine:
1. 2004 Mustang GT Heads, commonly known as the PI (performance improved). Heads are Port matched with polished exhaust ports. Installed with a fresh machined surface, new brass valve guides and professionally machined valve surfaces (both valves and head surfaces). Note that PI heads on a NPI short block creates a compression ratio of ~10.4:1. (installed spring time 2012)
2. MHS stage 2 camshafts; professionally timed (most cam installs are not timed). Installed with trick flow crankshaft adjusting gears. Stock camshaft gears. Cam specs: 225/223@0.05”; 550/500 lift, 110/110 centerlines. (Installed spring time 2012).
3. 2004 Mustang GT intake, commonly known as the PI (performance improved) intake. Tap and died in additional coolant sensor location(96-98 have two coolant sensors, 99-04 have one) (installed fall 09)
4. Mac Long tube headers with O/R H pipe. Installed with rear O2 sensor by-pass circuit (removal of the cats causes a code to be thrown normally, simple bypass circuit tricks PCM to think the rear O2’s into thinking the cats are working). Installed with welded on fake cats (passed CT emissions twice like this).
5. 03 Cobra flowmaster 40 catback (installed June 2011)
6. Steeda under drive pulleys, crank and water pump pulleys installed. Pulley never installed on aftermarket alternator to prevent charging issues at idle. (installed Spring 2010)
7. Accufab 70mm Throttle body (installed Spring 2009)
8. Sniper Special Forces tuning software, professionally used and dyno tuned by Mongillomotors in New Haven, CT. Software and tuning hardware comes with purchase. (dyno tune was done 8/14/12)
9. FRPP 24# injectors (installed fall 2009)
10. K&N filter (installed spring 2008). Filter cleaned and re-oiled Fall 2012.
11. PA Performance High output alternator and wiring (installed summer 2013)
12. Screaming Demon coils (installed summer 2013)
13. Ford Racing Performance parts 8mm spark plug wires (installed summer 2013)
14. AEM air fuel gauge, installed on steering column. Requires new wide Band O2 to function 100% (see below section label “the bad”). (Installed fall 2009).
15. (16) New Trick flow lash adjusters (installed fall 2010)
Suspension:
Front:
1. Koni yellow single adjustable struts, Maximum motorsports coiler over kit with 300# springs (installed summer 2012).
2. Maximum motorsports C&C (Caster and camber) plates (installed fall 2009)
3. Energy Suspension poly Front control arm bushings (installed fall 2010)
4. Energy Suspension poly sway bar end link bushings and sway bar main bushings (installed fall 2010)
5. 2003 Cobra Steering Rack, quicker ratio and decreases turn radius over stock GT rack (installed fall 2010)
Rear:
1. 1999 Cobra Independent Rear suspension (IRS) swap (installed June 2011)
2. Full Tilt Boogie Racing Bushing kit. Includes Delrin Upper control arm bushings and sleeves, Delrin lower control arm bushings and sleeves, (8) grease fittings , UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) Sub frame bushings, aluminum front differential supports with shimming washers to set pinion angle, Delrin rear differential support, front differential torque brace, and hardware. This is, without a doubt , the best bushings you can buy for the cobra IRS. (installed June 2011)
3. OEM bilstein Cobra 04 specific shocks (installed June 2011)
4. Eibach Pro kit springs for 2004 cobra coupe (installed June 2011)
5. Maximum motorsports Adjustable rear tie rods (installed June 2011)
6. Full Tilt Boogie Racing adjustable sway bar end links (installed June 2011)
7. Billetflow differential brace (installed June 2011)
8. Billetflow differential brackets (welded and installed spring 2012)
9. Cross axis joint boots replaced (installed June 2011)
10. Wheel bearings (installed June 2011)
11. Low profile subframe bolts
12. ¼” rear wheel spacers
13. Rolled rear fenders (Last set of rear tires were 315/35/17, they easily fit without rubbing)
Chassis:
1. Maximum motorsports full length subframe connectors (welded and installed fall 2009)
2. Custom 14 gauge 2”x1”+2”x1” steel rectangular upper subframe connectors. 2”x2” total size starts inside the stock uni-body frame near where your feet are while sitting in front and connect to the bulk head with 2 gussets (see photobucket link for pictures). With the lower subframes this is a massive upgrade in terms of chassis stiffness. Griggs racing has a kit for sale that this replicates. (welded and installed spring 2010)
3. Factory front Strut tower brace (stock, only came on the 1997 mustang GT)
Drivetrain:
1. Stage 1 Ram clutch and pressure plate, installed with freshly re surfaced stock flywheel, FRPP HD throw out bearing, FRPP pilot bearing, red line transmission fluid, new clutch fork and transmission mount. (installed spring 2013)
2. Pro 5.0 Short throw shifter (installed spring 2009)
3. Hurst Pistol grip shifter, I have the stock knob if you’d rather have that installed instead. (installed spring 2009)
4. FRPP 4.10 final drive gear, installed with new FRPP bearings and seals. Rebuilt differential clutch packs, mobel 1 syn fluid. (installed June 2011)
5. Speedo calibration box, better then the 23 tooth speedo gear fix for 4.10's (installed June 2011)
Brakes:
· Replaced and flushed Brake fluid with ATE Super Blue DOT 4 brake fluid (Installed Spring 2012)
Front (1997 GT OEM size; 10.6” vented):
1. Brembo drilled rotors (installed spring 2009)
2. Hawk ceramic pads (installed spring 2009)
Rear (1999-2004 Cobra spec ; 11.6” vented rear brakes):
1. Brembo OEM plain rotors (installed June 2011)
2. Hawk HPS pads (installed June 2011)
3. Cobra calipers (installed June 2011)
Tires:
· Front: 245/45/17 General Exclaim UHP, 30% tread (installed spring 2010)
· Rear: 275/40/17 Yokohama S. Drives, 85% tread (installed spring 2013)
Wheels:
· Replica FR500 Wheels, Silver. Wheel weights installed on the inside of the wheel. Rims have minor scuffs (installed spring 2010)
· Front: 17x9
· Rear: 17x10.5 (deep dish)
Miscellaneous modifications:
1. Factory AUX connection, DPTP switch installed for switching between radio and AUX-in. (installed fall 2012)
2. Black billet Fuel filler (black) (installed June 2011)
3. Locking fuel cap, two keys included (installed spring 2008)
4. Aftermarket Cobra style head lights (installed fall 2012)
The Bad:
· The AEM wide band O2 sensor needs to be replaced (mentioned above)
· The Drive side CV boot has a small hole in it. I have a full CV axle replacement but haven’t gotten around to replacing it. New CV axle comes with car. Hole is small enough that you could drive on it for years without issue (however you shouldn’t).
· Like most manual transmission cars, the transmission is hard to shift when it’s cold. This is a common problem with 5 speed mustangs. After a mile or two the shifting is smooth.
· The stage two camshafts the idle is rough compared to stock, cold starts and idling are surprising fine however the warm starts sometimes cause issues holding an idle. This only happens during the first 20-30 seconds or so during its “warm up” stage after recently being driven.
· The paint, some clear coat is coming off on the front bumper, see pictures.
Conclusion:
This mustang was meticulously maintained, any issue that came up was taken care of with zero corners cut. With the suspension upgrades this will easily out handle and surprise many people who think pony cars can’t handle. With 300+rwhp; ~350horse at the crank assume ~15% drivetrain loss; you won’t be disappointed. There was countless hours of research on each modification so they work together perfectly.
Kelly Blue Book rates this car at 6.1k at very good. Given that, I’m looking for $9500. I think this is very reasonable given the cars history and performance.
Pictures:
Fall 2013 right before i stored it away
Dyno: 08/16/2012
IRS suspension:
Fancy Full tilt Boogie Racing bushings:
Custom Upper Subframe Connections:
First week I had it:
Last edited:
