Late '80s Mustang GT

[Masked Bandit]

I've always like the looks of that generation of Mustang and I might be looking to pick something up for cheap this spring. Does anyone know of any major problems that are regular to these machines?

[Sentry]

Four eyed or aero nose?

I love LOVE the four eyed stangs, especially the notchbacks. They're light as hell for something RWD with a V8. Something like 2800lbs for a notch.

Major problem I find is that the previous owner was either the Duke Boys or John Force. It's hard to find one that hasn't been dogged hard (and is cheap).

[inline6turbo]

Yup notchbacks are my absolute favorite. And they never came in a GT. GTs were the hatchbacks, which are ugly imo. I looked for a veryyyy long time before I found the perfect one, that wasn't ridiculously expensive of course. But the GT is the heavy model, if you want the lighter one but with options, LX is were it's at, notch or hatch alike :love:

[sillysod]

go to performance-shop.com forums.....

lots of mustang stuff on there.

All in all they are by far the best bang for your buck "sports" car you will find. Super cheap to fix, mod and find parts for.... which is important because Sentry is correct, they pretty much all have abused.

[Cos]

bastard, I love the fox bodies. If you get the 5.0L the only thing I know of is the ignitions have problems sometimes, rust, and ricer kids

[masoncgy]

Here's run down on the Fox body (79-93) Mustangs from someone who's owned a couple... ;)

The 1979-1986 Mustangs are those equipped with the quad headlights in the front, with the grille & light bezels changing slightly in 1983 & 1985.

The best performing 5.0L engine of these ones were the 1985-1986 models... both over 200 hp stock, the '85 was carbed & the '86 was fuel injected.

I wouldn't bother with a pre-1985 5.0L... plus in 1980-81 the 5.0L was replaced by a 4.2L V8 slug with 120 hp... your best bet for these ones is an '85 or '86.

The 87-93 Mustangs are the 'cat eye' models with the 225hp 5.0L... these are the best bet, performance wise.

...and yeah... get the notchback coupe... they are way cleaner looking and lighter... I had two of these... a 1980 coupe that was 2.3L 4... I converted to 5.0L... then I had a stock 1983 5.0L coupe.

My faves are the 1979-82 models... but that's just me... ;)

[Shlade]

the torque box.

Beat to shit and bagged on hard, I owned 2 88 Foxbody 5.0`s and they ripped hard but none of them were straight.. The torque box was fucked to shit and needed replacing.. so i got rid of it.


and like inline6turbo said.. Dont get the GT... heavy as tits and the GT kit is probably cracked to shit and chipped paint anywhere...


Honestly good luck finding an Notchback.. their one of the rarer ones.. Get an LX hatchback and youll love it! Bar none one of my favorite mustangs of all time.. Im still trying to look for the PERFECT one!

[Kloubek]

You'll probably have problems with them all, unless you manage to find one which has been babied.

Personally, I love the look of hte 87+ GT's. Maybe I'm partial because I had an 88 Cobra at one time...

[Cos]

edit nm sold

[Shlade]

yeah that ones sold...

personally id never get my hands on a salvaged foxbody.. EVER.

I had a salvaged fox and fixed everything that was possibly wrong with it.. still wouldnt pass.. Unless you have somebody on the inside you know from what ive learned... your car isnt getting off the salvage list if its a fox..

theres a reason a nudge on that car wrote it off.. they dont want them on the streets anymore.

[jonnycat]

I love foxes. some nice clean examples for fun.


http://www.chooseyouritem.com/classics/photos/98000/98065.1988.Ford.Mustang.jpg
http://www.gtscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/93-mustang-coupe1.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3176/2341/20438670099_large.jpg

[masoncgy]

I personally don't mind the GTs either... but those hatchbacks are heavy... and they squeak real bad over tiny bumps/etc.

Ahh... now I want another 5.0... ;)

[Skrilla]

I have owned 2 and still currently own my 1 owner 89.5 Anny 7-up edition with 50K original kms. Although the 7-up car is a vert, I still have fun with it, but my old hatch was a blast...

Can't go wrong either way, just trying to find a clean one is always an issue....

Good luck :thumbsup:

[Masked Bandit]

It's actually a GT convertible I'm looking for. I know the LX would be a bit lighter & faster but I've got the bikes for fast. I had a convertible as a rental for a week a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

[Cos]

or you can get a terminator.....

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j311/96lasersnake/My%202004%20Cobra/CBR39.jpg

:drool:

[G-ZUS]

Moe Man on here had 2 sexy fox bodies :eek:

[theken]

A friend of mines son has a white eighty seven convertible I think. He might be selling. I will ask him bill

[jonnycat]

Here are some leads

http://www.abmustang.com/forsale.htm

[masoncgy]

^ Not a single '79-'82 in the list... :(

[Shlade]

skrilla post some pics!!

Id love to see the car!

BTW OP whats your price range?

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Shlade


BTW OP whats your price range?

Nothing crazy. $5k - $10k ish.

[bourge73]

^^ have a good look on Kijiji lots on there in that range. I have had 3 of them 85, 88, 89 just dont make the mistake with these cars of ever getting an Auto....:barf:

[Shlade]

yeah auto is less fun...

Less beat on too.. Doing a 5 speed swap wouldnt be too hard tho.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by bourge73
^^ have a good look on Kijiji lots on there in that range. I have had 3 of them 85, 88, 89 just dont make the mistake with these cars of ever getting an Auto....:barf:


5 spd for sure. No auto allowed.

[Vanner]

Yeah, almost most of all 1979-92 - both four eyes and cat eye models are pretty much beaten, gone rusted or damaged. Nowadays ... it's rather HARD to find a clean solid body with the V8 original or setup. I know... I've owned a '79 V8 HB, a '80 notch (with shitty 4cyl), a '83 HB before - all sold.

My personal faves are the 4-eye models 1979-86 and currently still have my '86 LX V6. It's in winter storage to preserve its steel body. I hate to drive in the fickin' winter.
Come this summer, I'll swap for a 5.0 motor with WC T-5 trans.

If you're looking to do that swap, you'll need the A9L computer brain, 1986 LX or GT wiring harness (dashboard+engine). Of course, even the 1987-91 wiring harness would work but is bit more hassle IMO. With wire for a manual, for sure.

Personal fave is the '82 GT Corba in black/black, lol

[Skrilla]

Originally posted by Shlade
skrilla post some pics!!

Id love to see the car!

BTW OP whats your price range?

Will do...

[Dave P]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f195/cobra196/thStopTom.gif

[Moe Man]

Originally posted by G-ZUS
Moe Man on here had 2 sexy fox bodies :eek:

only one now, I am looking to sell it in the spring, but if your interested you can have a look at it.

The price is very fare compared to all the other ones people have listed.

let me know!

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v115/110/49/508126670/n508126670_225910_5164.jpg

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Dave P
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f195/cobra196/thStopTom.gif


Don't be hatin' on the ice-man!

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by Moe Man
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v115/110/49/508126670/n508126670_225910_5164.jpg

Teal?!! No offense man, but :barf: Just not my thang I guess. At least it is rare. (For a reason :) )

[masoncgy]

Originally posted by Vanner
Personal fave is the '82 GT Corba in black/black, lol

There was no 'GT Cobra' in 1982. Just the GT with the 'Cobra' being it's top-end 1979-81 predeceasor.

There wasn't an actual "Cobra" model again until 1993. Those 'GT Cobras' of the late 80s were just Canadian dealer sticker packages vs an actual model.

But I am with you on the 82 GT... absolutely one of my favorite Fox body Mustangs, just wish it was equipped with the 85 5.0L engine which was far superior than that 157 hp 2 bbl "HO" slug in '82.

[masoncgy]

Originally posted by Kloubek
Teal?!! No offense man, but :barf: Just not my thang I guess. At least it is rare. (For a reason :) )

That was a hot color in 1992... and for much of the early-mid 90s... look at how many other vehicles were painted teal in those days... ;)

I think it looks sharp. It suits the car just as much as the car suits the era, etc.

[Cos]

Originally posted by Moe Man


only one now, I am looking to sell it in the spring, but if your interested you can have a look at it.

The price is very fare compared to all the other ones people have listed.

let me know!

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v115/110/49/508126670/n508126670_225910_5164.jpg

wow long time no post. When I used to work on Barlow I remember seeing that car. So sick.

If you hate the colour that much, just get it painted. Honestly I would rock it as is. So nice :thumbsup:



It is supercharged or something isnt it?

[Moe Man]

Originally posted by Cos


wow long time no post. When I used to work on Barlow I remember seeing that car. So sick.

If you hate the colour that much, just get it painted. Honestly I would rock it as is. So nice :thumbsup:



It is supercharged or something isnt it?

The entire project of my car was that I wanted to be different, if it was black or red it would have just been another fox body mustang. Calypso green was great color combo and had good contrast with the white and black interior.

Ya its supercharged!

[thetransporter]

http://danjlovesthe90s.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/vanilla-ice.jpg

[Cos]

Originally posted by Moe Man


The entire project of my car was that I wanted to be different, if it was black or red it would have just been another fox body mustang. Calypso green was great color combo and had good contrast with the white and black interior.

Ya its supercharged!

Cool, yeah sorry I meant that the people complaining about the colour should paint it (easy part) not that YOU should paint it.

I wouldnt.

[Vanner]

Originally posted by masoncgy


There was no 'GT Cobra' in 1982. Just the GT with the 'Cobra' being it's top-end 1979-81 predeceasor.

There wasn't an actual "Cobra" model again until 1993. Those 'GT Cobras' of the late 80s were just Canadian dealer sticker packages vs an actual model.

But I am with you on the 82 GT... absolutely one of my favorite Fox body Mustangs, just wish it was equipped with the 85 5.0L engine which was far superior than that 157 hp 2 bbl "HO" slug in '82.

Good catch, you're right. It's just a hood decal for 'Corba' - more of a brand name than the actual product. I've drove this model once. Goes good but not enough power! The '79 Mustang I had years ago - had the 5.0 engine dropped in from a mid-80s Ford LTD... I think it was like about 200-225 hp something that.

Funny, the V6 in my '86 LX has the factory rate of 200 hp which to me is plenty enough lol. Well, not for long when I pick up my new 5.0 engine in BC this summer.

Yup, I'm looking for a clean '82 GT to buy but real, real tough hunting around... :banghead:

[bourge73]

ok now I want one again, ballz. Here we go again....

[Moe Man]

Originally posted by Cos


Cool, yeah sorry I meant that the people complaining about the colour should paint it (easy part) not that YOU should paint it.

I wouldnt.

I was directing that statement to Kloubek, just wanted to answer your question about it being supercharged.

[masoncgy]

Originally posted by Vanner
Good catch, you're right. It's just a hood decal for 'Corba' - more of a brand name than the actual product. I've drove this model once. Goes good but not enough power! The '79 Mustang I had years ago - had the 5.0 engine dropped in from a mid-80s Ford LTD... I think it was like about 200-225 hp something that.

The '85+ 5.0L HO puts out between 200-225 horsepower, depending on the year, with the 87+ models at a base 225 hp.

The standard 5.0L (non-HO) was 165 hp... this particular engine was also mated to any automatic equipped 5.0L Mustangs, instead of the HO, which was 5 speed only.


Originally posted by Vanner
Funny, the V6 in my '86 LX has the factory rate of 200 hp which to me is plenty enough lol. Well, not for long when I pick up my new 5.0 engine in BC this summer.

The 3.8L V6 was 120 hp in 1986. These engines didn't push out anywhere near 200 hp until post-2001.


Originally posted by Vanner
Yup, I'm looking for a clean '82 GT to buy but real, real tough hunting around... :banghead:

Yeah, there's not much out there right now. I've been trying to find a decent 79-82 notch and haven't seen too much... a couple examples but they haven't been ideal.