need more power

The SN-95 mustangs have always been my favorite body style and just recently I finaly found one in good shape with decent miles that wasn't overpriced. It is a stock 1998 GT with 78,000 miles.  I want to make the car faster only problem is I don't know much about engines so im not really sure what to do or where to start.  If I could get some advice on what to do or some issues of the 5.0 magazine I could order from primedia covering my car that would be great. Thanks in advance for any info I might recieve.  

The only way to make this car faster is to bolt on a turbo or blower, and/or install the power improved heads the later new edge cars have on them. The 96-98 cars had the pathetic 4.6L in them, 210 horse (if you're lucky) that couldn't breath to save it's life unless you installed a blower/turbo to force feed the motor air.

To make it faster, the first thing to know is what's your budget? Is this your only car, or do you have a daily driver you can use while this one is down?  

That sucks.  My budget isn't the greatest right now, for the next couple years the most I would be able to afford would be a regular little bolt on or two each year.
My friend is looking at a 99 gt and after telling him about my cars breathing problems he was wondering if the 99 was a decent platorm to build on. Even though it was bad news thanks for informing me of my ponys short windedness.  

The '99 is a good platform to work on, that was the first year for the power improved heads being installed form the factory. Those engines have a much better response to bolt ons.

For your car, you can help some with a good exhaust, a tune, and a cold air kit. Any little bit's gonna help.  

After owning a 96 I won't make the same mistakes I did last time. There are some bolt ons that I wouldn't waste my time on again because they have little to no effect and the money would have been better elsewhere.
To do over again this is what I would have done:
O/R X or H pipe(if local laws permit)
Catback, but since you are on a budget just get some weld in mufflers.
PI Intake and cams(complete swap if possible)
3.73's or 4.10's

That is good grounds for a nice little street car.  

the 96-98 GT is known as the slow pony.  I own a 98 and future plans are complete internals and twin turbos.  I would start from the ground up making the car able to handle the new power.  No reason for all those new ponys' and break something.  just save your money and buy the Hellion twin turbo kit...  my buddy has it on his 98, and WOW....true street terminator.