Easiest Repair year 65, 70, 90,95,98,99????????

revedup

Member
Nov 18, 2005
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0
6
S.F. Cal,

Stangsters i got an 89 5.0 220,000 miles .
Just changed rack not fun, not sure of outcome yet.
I been working on cars for years gettin tired of it.
I thought i'd find an easier model to work on??
i wonder i know this is a 5.0 forum , am sure u all favor them.
i,m wondering if any of u have had or know which gen mustang design is a simpler to work on cause of accesability room for 1 makes things easier to work on
ect???????
I'm thinking 65 or 99 possibly any ideas comments recomendations experiences??
i feel the fox maybe a little cramped ???
What youre experience ect????:shrug:
 
I'm gonna say '89 is about the easiest year to repair. It's the one year with Mass Air, which goes better with added mods and such, but not the extra doohickies brought along in '90 (like the airbag system and that damned goofy Crown Vic-like steering wheel with the tiny horn buttons).

About my only gripe is where they elected to put the stupid PCV valve (back of the intake manifold), but otherwise, it's all good. Even my '90 Lincoln wasn't as easy to work on as my '89 Notch - I don't have to cut holes into my trunk just to access the top shock nuts on a Fox. :nice:
 
I'm gonna say '89 is about the easiest year to repair. It's the one year with Mass Air, which goes better with added mods and such, but not the extra doohickies brought along in '90 (like the airbag system and that damned goofy Crown Vic-like steering wheel with the tiny horn buttons).

About my only gripe is where they elected to put the stupid PCV valve (back of the intake manifold), but otherwise, it's all good. Even my '90 Lincoln wasn't as easy to work on as my '89 Notch - I don't have to cut holes into my trunk just to access the top shock nuts on a Fox. :nice:

Ever changed a steering rack on an 89??????????:bang:
 
simplicity will lead to easier repairs.

try a 65... carbed 289.. no extra crap to worry bout (fuel injection, ac, etc)

however... simplicity is usually found in the older cars... which.. with the catch 22... have had the longest time to develope problems.. so have fun.
 
Eh ... I dunno. A 94-95 GT versus any 5.0 Fox is apples to oranges, even if though they're both 302's. An SN95 is definitely more comfortable/quiet, has better brakes, nicer seats, the looks have more chick appeal (if that matters for anyone), and still doesn't have the stupid OBD-II headaches ... BUT, it's a bit more of a turd to work on, electrical-wise, and there's so many one-off parts that ONLY fit the '94-'95 years and/or require modification to make Fox 5.0 parts work on 'em.

A Fox (especially mine) feels at times like a tin can on four wheels filled loosely with chunks of plastic and a bit of cloth - EVERYTHING squeaks, rattles, pops, groans, and so on with them. Chasing those noises is a neverending exercise in futility. However, they're lighter, simpler, the aftermarket for 'em is still perhaps the largest of any production car EVARRRRR, and they just have a more balls-out feel to 'em, as far as performance goes.

An older one ... well, I can't really say much about old 60's and 70's Mustangs, but the other old Fords I've owned in the past (including a '76 Gran Torino that I'm still kicking myself for having sold long ago) have taught me that for all its cheap gains and relative simplicity, carb'ed motors are too much of a PITA for me to ever want to piddle with ever again. However, if you drop an EFI 5.0 into, say, a '67 fastback, I'll forever be a happy camper. :nice:
 
True dat. Nothing on my 4.6L TurdBird is rusted, inside or out. Water pump bolts on a 5.0, for example, are notorious for breaking off from corrosion; I've never had a single problem at all with the bolts on a 4.6 water pump (or the thermostat, for that matter, which is also a lot easier). Still, threading spark plugs straight into those deep holes through the valve covers can be a PITA, whereas a 5.0 lets you actually use your fingers to thread them in straight.

I dunno ... tradeoffs for each of 'em, but I'm sticking with my vote for the '89 - old-school for the most part, but with just enough technology to keep it reliable without needing constant attention. :nice:
 
Underhood space can be MADE. It's called "deletion of non-essential equipment" - A/C, power steering, smog, hiding of wires, etc. ... :D

What about people who live in Arizona, or Florida? They need AC

Power steering is a good thing!

What if its a street car and you need the emissions to pass inspection?

I guess you'll free up GOBBS or space by hiding some big bulky wires! :shrug: