Duncan's 5.0 Convertible Progress Thread

[Duncan McDougal]

I bought a 1988 5.0 convertible. She is completely virgin right down to the air snorkel. Has about 200k on her but only 70k on a rebuilt short block. There is not a bit of rust on the car. I did a compression and leakdown test before I bought her and everything is was within tolerances. I bought the car for $1600 in St. Ausgustine about a month and a half ago and conveniently just in time for convertible weather. The car did have its problems though, namely leaking gaskets (engine was covered in oil), a bad pressure plate, and the vert top and interior was gray and not white. So over the last couple of weeks I pulled everything but the heads off the car and replaced the seals and threw a little paint at the engine. Also I pulled the transmission and replaced the clutch, pressure plate, TOB, pilot bearing, rear main seal and the motor and transmission mounts. The last thing I did replace the bad shocks and springs with some FRPP B spring and some fairly new stock replacement shocks and struts off my friends 87. I think I am going to put the isolators back in because it is a little too low now. Ok then on with the pics.

 

[stykthyn]

stance is perfect. I'd keep it that way.

 

[Duncan McDougal]

Merry Christmas to me!!! My Mac catback exhaust was back ordered so that will be coming in a couple of days.

Below:
Ram HDX Clutch
Astroperformance 17lb Lightweight Billet Steel Flywheel
Convertible Motor Mounts
Transmission Mount
MGW Shifter (wish they still sold the blue handle like the one on my '01)
ARP Engine Mount and Flywheel Bolts

Not Pictured:
Kumho ASX (stock replacements, the yokos the previous owner put on the car are committed to killing me. These will have to do till the 5 lug conversion next fall.)
Mac Catback (Backordered, ships on the 18th . Gone is the stock exhaust)

 

[88mouse]

Nice

 

[Duncan McDougal]

Yeah I already have the car apart, I was just waiting on the parts to get here. Why does it seem I am always the last stop of the ups guy no matter where I live?

 

[Cobra912]

you sure we don't live side by side then?

Oh yeah you're driving a convertible while I'm wearing a parka right now.....probably not.

 

[Duncan McDougal]

you sure we don't live side by side then?

Oh yeah you're driving a convertible while I'm wearing a parka right now.....probably not.

Not to rub it in or anything. Yeah, I love Florida. I am going to drive the car tomorrow when I get it back together with the top down, it is going to be 80 degrees a week before Christmas.

 

[MY 85 GT]

I hate you......LOL...its going to rain here all week...I cant wait til spring to drop the top I bought mine at the end of summer I only had the top down once since i got it....By the way your car sits nice all that is FRPP 'B' springs with the isolators removed? How much higher would it sit with them back in??? Thanks

 

[Duncan McDougal]

I hate you......LOL...its going to rain here all week...I cant wait til spring to drop the top I bought mine at the end of summer I only had the top down once since i got it....By the way your car sits nice all that is FRPP 'B' springs with the isolators removed? How much higher would it sit with them back in??? Thanks

With the isolators back in the car, it would be a pretty close to a 1/4" higher all the way around.

 

[ryan218]

lucky. i havent really drove mine is 2 1/2 months..did take it out one night durning a heat wave of 51* for the night and went though 1 1/2 tanks of gas and only spent 36.00 with running 93 the whole time :

 

[red93gthb]

yea i'm in the middle of swapping my clutch too. sucks though today it was 40 degrees it was freezing! almost to cold to get it done but i pulled it through
tomorrow its going to be in the sixties

 

[MY 85 GT]

Do you have any before pictures of it before it was lowered so i can see how much the B springs brought it down?...Thanks...I still hate the fact you will have the top down tomorrow...LOL....

 

[Duncan McDougal]

Do you have any before pictures of it before it was lowered so i can see how much the B springs brought it down?...Thanks...I still hate the fact you will have the top down tomorrow...LOL....

You can really only see the front because the rear springs were blown out when I got the car, but the front and the back lower about the same with the convertibles from what I have seen.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

[1990Coupe]

Nice Car and nice work!

 

[UnderdogGN]

Nice car. I need those seats!!! Mine are tore up and cracked and I am dreading seeing how much it will cost to get them redone at the local upholstery place.
Any big plans in the future?

 

[MY 85 GT]

You can really only see the front because the rear springs were blown out when I got the car, but the front and the back lower about the same with the convertibles from what I have seen.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Thanks....My rear springs must be new my car sits like a 4x4 lol...its really high in the rear.....compared to the front im hoping when i lower it the car will look level....how does it ride? with those spring............

 

[Duncan McDougal]

Nice car. I need those seats!!! Mine are tore up and cracked and I am dreading seeing how much it will cost to get them redone at the local upholstery place.
Any big plans in the future?

I want to give it some ball but not to much. I am planing on doing a mild 331 or 347 stroker. I don't want to much because I want the car to be a nice cruiser. I bought it as a nice beach and sunny day car. So she sees no more than 1500 miles per year. I am on a tight budget for the next couple of years though, so I am going to pick up some GT40p heads and intake from my best friends dad next month since the engine that is in it now is in great shape.

Thanks....My rear springs must be new my car sits like a 4x4 lol...its really high in the rear.....compared to the front im hoping when i lower it the car will look level....how does it ride? with those spring............

It rides nice and not too harsh. A little smoother than the C springs on my '01.

 

[MY 85 GT]

Thanks for info...Enjoy the nice weather!!!! were getting 1-3 inches of snow...and i have to drive home from work in it.....

 

[BDASPNY]

wow sweet looking ride, keep up the good work.

 

[FrankenStang]

Your progress thread has been added to http://forums.stangnet.com/761371-official-progress-threads-thread.html in http://forums.stangnet.com/765506-5-0-sticky-stickies.html for easy finding.