looking to get a 5.0 what's a good and bad

jcint

jcint

Member
Mar 30, 2005
168
2
16
wellington florida
#1
So i'm looking to get a nice 5.0 not sure of the year yet but I did see a few nice ones out there. So what do I need to look out for? What year is best what do you recommend? I have owned a 96 GT a 99 GT but never had a 5.0.
 
#2
89 is the best if you want the answer, 87-88 were speed density (not mass air) and you end up converting them anyways, 89 is the last year without airbags so they had tilt wheel and low coolant, oil , ect lights. 90-92 is your second bet, they have smaller headrests that look better but they have airbags and no tilt wheel. steer clear of 93s they didn't have forged pistons. as long as you avoid 87, 88, 93, your pretty straight. unless you find an 87 t-top (made halfway through 87) then get one of those for sure...
 
#3
that was def your opionion. I personally think a 1990-1992 are prefrable with black interior. I have owned many fox bodies and have found that you will always make good money on a fox with black interior and A/C.

You can always pay too little for a foxbody, but you can never spend too much.

I wont buy a stock fox like this for more than 4,500 bucks unless it has some crazy low miles. Anything over 90k is high millage. There a tons of these cars out there so keep moving, dont settle find something you like.
 
#5
yes, there are plenty of cars on the market, especially now. My preference is my 86 GT vert. I wanted: #1 an 86 fuel injected 5.0 and #2 a vert.
love them, hate them, I like 4 eye cars better then aeros, but don't settle.
It took 6 years to get my 86 and I went through 3 cars settling (and wasting money). Learn from my mimstakes. buy once.
 
#7
wow thanks everyone. I did find a nice 90 hatch with mods, looks clean and has A/C. He did say that at first start it shuts off but after that it warms up has no issue. looked at a bunch online and honeslty the engine bay is clean and looks well taken car of. I have a few local for sale but they don't look this sharp. I'm driving over 2 hours to look at this car I hope its what i want.
 
#8
Stableboy said:
yes, there are plenty of cars on the market, especially now. My preference is my 86 GT vert. I wanted: #1 an 86 fuel injected 5.0 and #2 a vert.
love them, hate them, I like 4 eye cars better then aeros, but don't settle.
It took 6 years to get my 86 and I went through 3 cars settling (and wasting money). Learn from my mimstakes. buy once.
Click to expand...

There are very few 87-93 Mustang 5.0's for sale. if anything the 1988 seems to be the hardest year to find yet they made the most GT's in 1988.:shrug:
I looked in the Ford auto trader and there are few foxes for sale.:shock:
 
#9
Some good advice here. I will 2nd the statement "Don't Settle!" If you want a coupe, hold out for one, or it you wanted a GT or an LX, wait until the right one comes along. Same deal with a 5 speed or an automatic, no compromise, get what you want. They literally made about a million of these things, so make sure you get the one that YOU want! 1989 was the premier year, IMO. In every aspect, except for interior (read: no black) The later airbag years are big and ugly, and non-tilting. Headrests can easily be swapped out from any year Fox car. If you can get a 1989, in your body style preference, you will be very, very happy.
 
#10
fivespeedsteed said:
89 is the best if you want the answer, 87-88 were speed density (not mass air) and you end up converting them anyways, 89 is the last year without airbags so they had tilt wheel and low coolant, oil , ect lights. 90-92 is your second bet, they have smaller headrests that look better but they have airbags and no tilt wheel. steer clear of 93s they didn't have forged pistons. as long as you avoid 87, 88, 93, your pretty straight. unless you find an 87 t-top (made halfway through 87) then get one of those for sure...
Click to expand...

The 1988 models that went California had mass air flow sensors.:Track:
 
#15
There's nothing wrong with any 5.0 really. A lot of guys nitpick small features and options not available other years and favor them. The general consensus is 1989 is "the best", but i wouldn't pass over a clean low(er) mileage 1990 just because it doesn't have tilt. These days, it's all about the quality of the car vs what small minor differences it has. If you want to nitpick details and options and such...you should have bought one back when they were brand new.

WIth that said, 87-93 are the popular years. There are "minor" differences between the years, but nothing I would avoid...even speed density. I've owned my car for 12 years, tossed every single bolt on you could imagine on it, and it's still Speed Density. I wouldn't have passed it over back when i bought it for a Mass air car just because.

So just concentrate on finding a nice, clean model. I tend to follow the rule "As new and least miles as you can find". I'd have no prob buying a 1993 as it will have most of the "updates" and be the youngest so "hopefully" in the best shape
 
#19
 
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