AC Bill
17 posts
Sep 17, 2008
11:18 AM
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I have been trying to configure what components that I need to round up to build my FFR Roadster. I see the term "SN95" used frequently when describing certain parts. What does this mean? Serial Number 95 year model Mustangs?
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Joe Wicked
47 posts
Sep 19, 2008
6:33 AM
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SN95 stands for Sportscar North america 1995. It is the designator for all Mustangs 1994-2004. The 99-04 are often referred to as "New Edge" but they are still SN95. All SN95 cars also share the Fox platform as the 79-93 Mustangs as well as the late 70s Falcon/Futura cars. Edit for more info: The body was originally supposed to launch in 95, but they moved it up for the 30th Anniversary launch. If you get a 96-98, be careful. The intake manifolds on the GTs are plastic and have an issue with cracking and catching fire. The 94-95 are 302 EFI, the 96-04 are the 4.6 Modular motors. The 96-98 GTs also had some serious performance issues with the heads. This was corrected in the New Edge PI heads. If you are going with a New Edge car, I would recommend a late 01-04 GT as the heads were changed again mid year 01. If you are going with the Cobra, The 99 was recalled, and no 2000 was built. The 01 is a DOHC 4.6 that is good. There was not an 02. The 03-04 is the Supercharged 4.6 DOHC. The 96-98 DOHC Cobras perform about the same as the 01-04 GT but with a bit more torque. I have owned a 94 30th Anniversary edition GT and I now drive a 03 GT. The 03 has a much better throttle response, but the 94 with a 302 had a more "old school" feel to it. The 4.6 idle is smoother, with the same/similar cam setup. Also, as soon as I touch the throttle it responds. The 94 had that bit of lag that was the same as my 66 Mustang, i.e. the more traditional comment. Hope this helps. If you need more info or want specifics on something, just ask. If I don't know, I do know who to ask. A friend of mine is a local expert on the 4.6. Everything I learned, I learned from him. He is the EFI guy while I am the Carb guy.
Last Edited on 19-Sep-2008 6:46 AM
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Ron75
SENIOR MEMBER
615 posts
Sep 19, 2008
7:44 AM
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Joe, I am not very familiar with the Mustangs at all, but weren't some of the after 2000 model engines wider than the older ones? It seems to me that Guessford or someone put a drawing over on CC in some post with the outlines of three different engines superimposed over each other and that the newer ones were somewhat wider at the top. Ron
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Ron Widener 
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Nomad
SENIOR MEMBER
356 posts
Sep 19, 2008
4:16 PM
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AC Bill, there is no such thing as Dumb Questions, just dumb questioners........ er, at least that what they always tell me at work. Can I be excused now? My brain is full.
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Airplanes don't kill people, gravity does.
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Joe Wicked
49 posts
Sep 20, 2008
3:52 AM
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Ron,
The wider engine is the 4.6 starting in 96. Now the heads on the DOHC are much larger than the SOHC GTs making the overall package wider as well. The 01 Cobra heads are wider than the previous Cobra as well but the blocks are the same. That may be what you are thinking about. Now the 4.6 is a wide motor, I have seen a 302 and a 4.6 side by side and while the 4.6 is 281ci, it is a good 20% larger.
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Ron75
SENIOR MEMBER
617 posts
Sep 20, 2008
4:54 AM
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Thanks Joe, That was what I was trying to remember. I tried to find that thread over on CC with the three engines outlined from a frontal view but had no luck. I just remember they had them drawn in red. blue, and green I think it was and as a front view of them. I should have copied that post and saved it. Ron
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Ron Widener
Last Edited on 23-Sep-2008 3:44 AM
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Joe Wicked
50 posts
Sep 22, 2008
1:42 PM
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Not a problem Ron. I have been around the SN95 Mustangs since they have been out. I bought a 94 30th Anniversary SE, then a 2000 Vert V6 and then my current car an 03 GT coupe. When I gave up on my dream of owning a Cobra in 92, I shifted my focus to Mustangs, and bought a 66 Mustang coupe that was stolen. I then went to the new cars. When my dream was re-kindled last year, I was mainly looking at FFR only as they were Mustang based and that is something that I know inside and out. I was planning a SN95 build from the start. The only thing that bothered me was the back end. I am just not a fan of the "perky butt". I can't say what it is, it is not ugly, just not for me I guess. Right now, I will probably end up with a hurricane, because I like the car and the overall package. Edit: I remember the post you were talking about and I think it was linked to the FFR forum.
Last Edited on 22-Sep-2008 2:18 PM
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Ron75
SENIOR MEMBER
624 posts
Sep 23, 2008
5:54 AM
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Joe, I see a lot of the Factory 5 spec racers at the track and I never really liked the perky butt either. But they are darn good cars. Their Daytona Coupes are very good and mostly true to the originals. Wonder why they didn't do the same with the roadsters. Ron
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Ron Widener
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Joe Wicked
51 posts
Sep 23, 2008
6:13 AM
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From my understanding it was to fit the Fox body Mustang gas tank. They had to modify the back end, so to make it look a little better they designed it like that.
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Ron75
SENIOR MEMBER
626 posts
Sep 23, 2008
7:31 AM
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I guess that makes sense. But it seems they could have just designed a gas tank and not changed the car outline. I have been spending sometime over on the Shelby site and it seems the new Shelby GT-500s have had some problems with transmissions and rear ends. Also with the stripes and other odds and ends that shouldn't happen on a car that expensive. Ron
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Ron Widener
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AC Bill
18 posts
Sep 23, 2008
7:51 PM
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Thanks Joe, for the SN 95 info! I have decided to go with the 302 engine, for my build. For one thing I can use the leg/foot room, and the 302 gives a slight amount more in the FFR foot well area, then the 4.6 allows. So with your experience, are the 93-94 Mustangs the best year choices for the 302 EFI engines?
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Joe Wicked
52 posts
Sep 24, 2008
3:48 AM
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I am not real sure about the 93, but the 94 and 95 are the same. Only changes to the cars were just a little cosmetic differences. A Cobra will get you the most horsepower out of the stock motor, but it is not anything that cannot be done aftermarket. The GT is 215 HP, while the Cobra is 240. There was also a 300 HP Cobra R in 95 that was a 351, but production was very limited. Here is a good site for specs if you want to do your own research http://www.mustangspecs.com/years/95.shtml
Last Edited on 24-Sep-2008 3:50 AM
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