Are Late Model Mustang GT's Really That Slow??

I am not referring to Cobras, not yet anyway

But just last night there was this 2000 to 2002 Black GT with a young guy and his "Chick" in it.

He was driving a little aggressively, so I thought that I'd instigate something with my 2002 Z28 6 speed stripper-model.

We raced twice from stop lights. The first time I thought to myself as I grabbed 3rd "man, is he even trying??".

SO we get to another light. He is right beside me. His "chick" is staring at my docile looking Camaro. They are thumping bass, I have the radio off, listening to the engine.

I am staring at the other light, looking for red, knowing the delay before we get the green again.
As soon as the light changes he hits it, he has a 5 speed. I eased out of the hole then punched it. No burnt rubber, no clutch abuse.

What happened? It was boring! I heard his engine reving but was past him By The Middle Of First Gear! I grabbed a good second gear chirp, hit 3rd and let off.

I am thinking that these guys are figuring out that the Z is an LS1 (as I pull away) and just give up. Dunno...

 

You are a Buick guy,right? Not knocking just wondering why you bought a New camaro?o No:

 

Compared to the LS1, yes - they are that slow!

Someone who knows what they're doing in a newer GT should be able to get into the uppper 13's. That started in 1999's model (same body style as you mention).

The newer ones *should* be a little quicker, with mid 13's not too tough to hit.

But I race on an F-body club where basically everyone with a M6 LS1 is hitting trap speeds over 110mph - easily! The A4's are good for mid 13's, but are easily made to run into the 12's.

It sounds like the 2001 and newer LS1 intakes add a little over the earlier LS1's too.

I was doing a little research as there was a 2000 LS1 for only $14,986 a while back! It was around 39K miles with an A4. But I want to go down in cost for a daily driver, not up.

I just hope the new GTO gets spun off into a new GS with that LS1. That's a hard motor to deny on a daily-driver basis!

 

Hey, I'm a Buick guy, but that doesn't mean I would mind having a piece of new iron in the garage too! Of course, I can't AFFORD it, but....well, I would buy a 70 Stg car first, and maybe a 67 GS400 first too...and a 65.... Well, sooner or later I would buy something new too? o No: :laugh:

 

Yeah, I know what you are saying.
Not sure if you've ever driven one. If you have then you get an idea as to why I did the "dirty deed".

Here is why I did it:

I can get 30 MPG on the highway if I baby it. It's the last year of the F Body. I got a great deal, because I believe someone ordered it and then cancelled. No power windows, mirrors, seat, locks, antenna, cruise, or that silly traction control. I weigh about 150 pounds, so when I'm alone the car really isn't too heavy! And - less stuff to break later on.
I got it for Invoice less the 2k rebate!
They can do low 13's out of the box, especially the 2001 and 2002's as they have the LS6 intake, injectors and NO EGR.

Isn't it cool to see a 1970 Stage 1 4-speed with a bench seat and no options beside gauges and a tach? That is what my Z28 reminds me of.
No options Except Hurst Shifter, Leather Seats and Rear Defog. That's it!

 

I hear that! Unfortunately, I lost my job back in October! Damn good thing I had some $$ saved up. Unemployment barely pays the groceries!

 

Excuse me...question here

Not to get off the subject, but isn't Buick supposed to offer the LeSabre in rear-wheel drive next year. After all its only been 17-years since the Buicks last rear wheel drive car. Maybe Buick will stick the LS6 in that!!

 

Mustangs

Put a 455 against a mustang and it is humiliating for the mustang. I had a hot mustang with some kid pull up next to me and start goosing it, wanting to race. This kid didn't know what he had gotten himself into. We where doing about 35 so I decided since he was showing me what he had I'd show him what I had. When I jumped on it the the car roasted the tires till I backed off. When we got to a stop light he wouldn't even look my way. Race over before it started, he just slinked away.

 

Re: Mustangs

Way cool
I'd need nitrous in order to do that!

 

I raced one at the track last weekend. He ran a 13.8 to my 13.0.:grin:

 

Re: Excuse me...question here

Obviously you've never heard of a RoadMonster

LT1, 260 easy RWHP and G80 Posi rear end.

Ohhh and you can haul the coal too with the Wagoone

Last made in 1996

 

Yeah some GT's are pretty slow. I took my wagon to the track on Saturday and had some fun. It was the crappiest track I have ever seen, but it was still a good time. I still have no idea how long the track was, one person said 1/8th mile, another 800 ft, and another 1000 ft. The Wagon was running right at 9 seconds....however long it really was. I raced a 96-98 Mustang GT that sounded pretty good and never even saw it except in my rear view. Also wasted some done up old Chevy truck, a fartpipe Honda (no surprise), and a late 80's Monte Carlo SS that had been all done up...he gave me the best race, got a way better launch, then dead even, but when my tire finally hooked, I took him in 2nd when I hit around 4000 rpm and seriously started walking away after that. After that run everybody came up asking how much N02 I was running....I laughed pretty good, popped the hood and showed them the absence of any plates or extra lines on the carb, and the presence of one mild looking Naturally Aspirated All Motor Buick 400 (hey read the repro-valve cover and air cleaner stickers, they don't lie!). Of course...I just went with the Buick 400 story....nobody around here has to know how much a 430 can be bored to. Nobody could believe how hard the Wagon ran....including me! I'd have to say this car is definitely in the 13's with the new carb...now if I could just get traction (help I need a 3.42 posi!). No other Buicks showed, but there was an old Pontiac TA there with street slicks, a Buick 455, and a 100 shot. He was running 8.5 seconds...just barely ahead of me. Oh I did lose to a 96 Camaro Z28 that had a built 396 and slicks, but only because he got the hole shot and no wheelspin, dead even after that. Now if I could only find a 1/4 mile track....

-Andy
69 Sport Wagon 455

 

The 96 - 98's are complete and total dogs. They need superchargers to see anything respectably in the mid 13's. The Cobras from those years are quicker (not quick, just quicker), but the GT's are a joke.

 

my brother has an '01 GT. He runs a 13.9, with exhaust upgrade as his only modification.

 

I stomped one like a bug one day a couple years back in a little signal to signal run. Gotta spot 'em a few car lengths just to make it interesting.

 

I still lose to some preludes... stock 2bbl 350 and highway gears :bglasses:

 

Yeah, but your car is way cooler.

With a 4bbl and manifold dual exhaust, I think that would all change! If you don't want to tear into it, consider a 500 CFM Holley 2bbl and duals.

Your car will thank you!

 

I've been trying to save up for a Ta Stage 1 intake and 4bbl... and the stock single exhaust that is rotting out doesn't help much... it is in desperate need for intake/headers/dual exhaust... I know I'd be a threat to my import friends then :grin:

Speaking of, how was the 5 speed install and was it as insanely expensive as I expect?

I get side tracked and have stuff break on me... like a brake line as I exit the bottom of a scenic mountain

 

A stick conversion is a lot of man hours but not all that difficult. The main cost (obviously) is the trans. I sunk about 2K in the conversion, and that was with a USED trans.

Unless you're nuts about shifting gears, I'd save the pennies for a 200R4 conversion and 3.73 gears in the rear end. That would be a great performance mod!

 

Back in 93 or 94 when my Skylark was clad in the original Sandalwood paint and 2 different shades of grey primer, any 5.0 mustang that came next to me at the stoplight usually saw nothing but my rear-bumper and a pair of Supertrapp racing mufflers until we hit the next stoplight.

Ahhh... those were the days. When it was more important that the car ran so good that the radio was useless and the paint didn't matter. If you had any extra cash you used it on new rubber for the rear and 103 octane at the pump.

When I get mine back on the road, aside of straightening a quarter panel, I'm dumping every extra penny into the mechanicals. I figure green and a few different shades of grey primer should be good for the soul.

-Phil