Did They Make an SN-95 GT/SVO?I'm currently the owner of a black '96 Mustang GT with a five-speed transmission. When I bought this car two years ago, it had SVO emblems on it. One was on the trunk lid opposite the Ford emblem (in the same position I've seen SVT emblems on Cobras) and one was on each front fender under the GT emblems. I'm familiar with Mustangs and had never heard of an SVO/GT before. My first thought was the previous owner was trying to make the car into something it isn't. So I removed the emblems.
Recently, though, I came across another '96 GT with these emblems on it. The owner also doesn't know why his car has them. Our cars are identical except for the color. My car doesn't have any apparent Cobra parts, nor does it have any tags, labels, or stickers (other than those I removed) that indicate it's anything other than a standard GT model. The only other slight difference I've noticed is that my car's exhaust sounds more throaty than any other 4.6 GT I've driven.Tom ReeseAkron, OH
It sounds like the previous owners of your car and the other car simply did the same thing: installed SVO emblems that were used on the '84-'86 Mustang SVOs. I've seen similar emblems on other Mustangs. For that matter, I've even seen 5.0 emblems on Fox Mustangs that were clearly four-cylinder cars.
You are correct. There's no such thing as an SVO/GT Mustang made in any year, let alone an SN-95 car. The only SVO Mustangs were made from 1984 to 1986, and they were powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
If your exhaust system is only slightly throatier, it might be a variance from car to car. Otherwise, maybe it has an aftermarket system you can investigate. Put the car on a hoist so you can look closely at what's there. Some aftermarket systems are not much louder than a stock system, especially when they're installed after the factory catalytic converters, i.e., no H-pipe swap.
Exhausting DilemmaMy '83 Mustang GT convertible with a 5.0 and a five-speed is pretty much stock and I'd guess the engine makes about 200 hp. The current exhaust system, added by a previous owner, includes stock manifolds, the factory Y-pipe, a single catalytic converter that splits off into two glasspack mufflers, and a pair of 211/44-inch LX-style tailpipes.
My goal is better performance and a more throaty sound. I'm not going to get radical with this car, and I've chosen to keep it stock since it's an original 48,000-mile car that's used mainly for weekend cruising. Given all that, I'm still considering installing a true dual-exhaust system with 151/48-inch BBK ceramic-coated shorty headers, a high-flow H-pipe with cats, and a DynoMax Super Turbo or Ultra Flow after-cat exhaust system. DynoMax has a sizing chart that indicates a 211/44-inch exhaust is correct for a 302 with 200 hp.
I've come across many different opinions on whether to go with a 211/44- or 211/42-inch exhaust system. Some feel I will lose low-end torque with a 211/42-inch exhaust. Others say the 211/42-inch will work well with my car and the 211/42-inch will sound better than the 211/44. I've had comments that agree with the size chart that the 211/44-inch system is ample for up to 350 hp and that I do not need to go to a 211/42 unless I plan on additional upgrades. Maybe even the 151/48-inch BBK headers are too big; perhaps I should stay with a 111/42-inch header to restrict backpressure for low-end torque. What do you think?Tom MechBuffalo, NY
I agree with the DynoMax sizing chart. A 211/44-inch system-especially when it's a true dual setup all the way back-would be ideal for your car. You could go with the 211/42-inch, but it likely wouldn't make any more power with your stock engine. It wouldn't hurt, but since you're not running a stroker engine or a supercharger, it wouldn't help much either. Plenty of people are making upwards of 400 hp with 211/44-inch exhausts.