Don't bash me. I've been a pontiac guy since I got my license in '83. But I always liked the looks of the '87-'92 or whatever Mustang GT's. I'm thinking about buying an '88 convertible. Body is good, mechanically it is fine, pretty much bone stock. M5 trans. Needs interior work and a motor for the convert top and I can get it for $2500. What would it take to get one into the high 13's?
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2009 Silverado 1500
Last edited by 325trooper; 08-29-2009 at 06:59 PM..
No hate here. I like Foxbodies better than F-bodies.
Not much at all. I had a friend with a '92 hard top GT that managed a 14.4 with an offroad H-pipe, Flow 40s, a peg-legging differential and 170,000 miles. Of course convertibles are a tad heavier, but exhaust, gears and some good driving might just get you there.
Look up GT40-P conversions and how cheap used blowers are for these things. Under $2,000 is typical.
No hate here. I like Foxbodies better than F-bodies.
Not much at all. I had a friend with a '92 hard top GT that managed a 14.4 with an offroad H-pipe, Flow 40s, a peg-legging differential and 170,000 miles. Of course convertibles are a tad heavier, but exhaust, gears and some good driving might just get you there.
Look up GT40-P conversions and how cheap used blowers are for these things. Under $2,000 is typical.
And that was with 2.73 gears!
I don't like GT40-P heads anymore because it makes it impossible to change spark plugs..haha
I love Fox bodies. Even though the next motor in mine if I keep it will be an LSx.
__________________ 1990 Ford Mustang "7-up" convertible.
LS3 416 stroker build in progress. L92 Heads. Comp Cam. Lots and Lots of giggle juice.
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I was looking at Foxbodies early in the summer, they're probably the best Mustang you can buy, and they're cheap as hell.
__________________ 1968 Matador Red Camaro SS On hold. 1987 Burgundy Porsche 944 Turbo M5 The Beatermobile 2001 Bright Rally Red Camaro Z28 Totalled May 29, 2009
How weak are the autos? Will a stall transform them like LSX cars? I'm also looking at a nice '89 hatchback but it's not an M5.
The AOD's are hit and miss. Some last a while, some are like glass. Performance Automatic and (starts with an "L" but can't think of the name) make some bad ass AOD's. If you don't want to drop the coin for one of their AOD's, get a converter, shift kit/better valve body and gears(3.73s minimum, probably 4.10s especially with the 'vert).
The AOD's first gear is a 2.40 and the OD gear is .63(if I remember correctly, its lower then the 5 speeds .68 5th gear). Anyways.
Remove the air silencer, set your TPS to .98 and bump the timing up to 14* (might be able to go higher but that seems to be a safe number on most cars). You will have to run 91/93 octane though. Next, I would do an off-road H or X pipe and then subrames with the upper /lower control arms kit.
I'm in the same boat that you are. I'm looking into a fox body 5.0 to replace my TA and it's hit or miss here. Find something nice but not 87 with 150k nice for 6k+ or its either junk or tons of things done to it. I'll take an AOD at this point over a 5 speed but I'm not buying someone elses junk. Also, there are a few places that sell the T5 swap. Might want to check that out.
Good luck on your purchase, hopefully I'm not to far behind you with one.
__________________ DarkblueTA
Toy: 1998 TA T70, intercooled, alky-water, 12 bolt, forged 348. Was 10# 561rwhp/611rwtq. Now 16# no new numbers yet. - SOLD
5.0 Mustangs are cool cars, I like the 93 Cobras the most but 5.0 notches come in a close second. After having my 93 T/A for so long, I don't really want another late 80s early 90s performance vehicle. I like stuff really clean so your basically having to restore it as you go but unlike classics they aren't worth any thing. So, they become your for ever unless you want to throw it away because, once again they aren't classics yet, so no one wants to pay you decent money for them yet. The notches and Cobras are kind of exceptions but cost a bit to get in to a clean non ragged salvage titled car. Your better off finding a clean low mile car and paying more for it, then buying a not clean high mile car and then spending $10K to get it to where the clean car is, but you still have a high mile car in the end.
__________________ 1993 Trans Am Reg Cab 5.7
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i just bought a bone stock 87 lx 5spd 5.0 hatch. in the few weeks ive had it i put shorties, x-pipe, dumped 40's, granatelli solid upper and lower control arms, steeda lowering springs, custom accel 90/90 (90 degree boot angles), all new brakes, tires, alignment, oil change, used but non leaking power steering rack with new outer tie rod ends, all new vacuum lines, intake gaskets, hurst shifter. all together i have roughly $1900 in to it including the $1200 i paid for the car! What im getting at is that these cars are cheap to mod, but god damnit are they slow!
^^ Agreed they are kinda slow, but they do sound damn impressive. Probably one of the only Mustangs I wouldn't mind having is a clean foxbody with a 5 speed with a 5.0
i personally think they are ugly but to each there own. They are easy and cheap to mod that's for sure but i just can't get past the looks. I would rather have a better looking car and slower then have a fast shitty looking Fox
These things are tons of fun. I always miss my old 87 Notch. It started life as a 4 cylinder. When all was said and done it had a v8/5 speed swapped in it with headers and flows. Sounded awesome and was a ton of fun. I loved the look and sound.....not too quick but later on I picked up a Vortech A Trim kit for it for next to nothing. I did an 8 rib conversion and overspun it to 13 psi.....it was a little terror but the motor couldn't take much unfortunatly! After a year of beatings.....I took it out one night and lined up against a GT Hatchback with either a small turbo or supercharger.....I ended up winning but I was blowing oil out the dipstick tube at full boost! But it still ran like a champ otherwise.
I had about 2500 invested in the car including purchasing it and the used Vortech. Parts for these things are EVERYWHERE. And usually CHEAP! I probably could have gotten another motor and it running back again in a weekend and for 500 or less. Hell I paid 25 bucks for a B303 cam for it haha.
__________________ 2002 Trans Am WS6 A4 - 12.84 @ 108.81 Before TEA Stage 2 5.3 heads, 221/221 cam, Lid, K&N, SLP Long Tubes, Loudmouth Exhaust, Random Tech Cats, TNT F1. 386.9/374.2 to the wheels.
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agree with everybody else.. yeah they are pretty slow, but i thought they are cool cars and sound good. i definitely thought about picking 1 up for a daily driver.
__________________ 2002 Z/28- advanced auto parts lid, autozone longtube headers/ory, napa auto "X" cam, oreilly ported & polished heads, tornado fuel saver TB, target true duals, costco 9" cowlhood, tinted with black tape, level 6 tranny built by sam's club, AAFES drag welds, AAFES drag radials, walmart rollback roller rockers,..
I have heard the 89 and up were better to tweak because of the MAF. I'm sure someone will tune in and disagree. I have been searching for a good low milage 91-93 Mustang lx myself. I LOVE these cars and who ever says there slow, Never under-estimate the fox body.
I just have no love for the styling, hatch, notch, convertible, whatever. Although they are probably the best all out drag car ever built, basically a tin can with a humongous engine bay.
I'll also give them credit in that they only offered one V8 option, and it was pretty damn stout for its day. None of that slow as balls carbed or TBI 305 junk GM put in the fbodys.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Stewart
I beat my junk because nobody beats my junk like I beat my junk.......
The AOD's are hit and miss. Some last a while, some are like glass. Performance Automatic and (starts with an "L" but can't think of the name) make some bad ass AOD's.
Lentech. 89 and up Mustangs have mass air which is more likely to handle mods than a non mass air.
I just have no love for the styling, hatch, notch, convertible, whatever. Although they are probably the best all out drag car ever built, basically a tin can with a humongous engine bay.
I'll also give them credit in that they only offered one V8 option, and it was pretty damn stout for its day. None of that slow as balls carbed or TBI 305 junk GM put in the fbodys.
Looking at an '88 Mustang GT 
