Progress Thread 1985 Gt I Finally Have A T Top Car.
- Thread starter GroverDill
- Start date
Gawd! New parts are an extra special thing, even if they're not mine!Catback arrived
Ed Curtis on Stang Net? Hot damn! We don't get a lot of professionals around here...
Ed I'm gonna buy a cam from you some day... Some day.
@GroverDill that exhaust looks great. I like the tips on the MagnaFlow system.
Yeah that sport compact warehouse place was $100 less than everyone else, and turned out to be legit.
Ed has approved the combo! aww hell yeah.
Wonder if I should buy the stuff piece meal or the kit, I know I could get a better cam but I think there is a few bucks to be saved buying the kit.
Basic figures https://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-k525-432-370/kitcombocontents
$2500 for the kit, TFS-K525-432-370 Heads, cam, rockers, push rods, gasket set, timing gear set and head bolt kit
$330 for the RPM air gap
$340 for the 600-cfm performer carb, Is this a good carb? I want a plug n play carb, remember folks this is a street car that I am not trying to squeeze every last bit of power out of. I want reliable power.
Ed has approved the combo! aww hell yeah.
Wonder if I should buy the stuff piece meal or the kit, I know I could get a better cam but I think there is a few bucks to be saved buying the kit.
Basic figures https://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-k525-432-370/kitcombocontents
$2500 for the kit, TFS-K525-432-370 Heads, cam, rockers, push rods, gasket set, timing gear set and head bolt kit
$330 for the RPM air gap
$340 for the 600-cfm performer carb, Is this a good carb? I want a plug n play carb, remember folks this is a street car that I am not trying to squeeze every last bit of power out of. I want reliable power.
EDC
Founding Member
Pre-packaged kits are done for convenience, not for making power. They make more money for the seller because it's a no brainer, a Chinese menu. One from column A and one from column B... etc.... Why do they use the same, obsolete Stage 1 camshaft for everything? EFI and carb? Truck or car? Stick or automatic? Because it's easy.
I'd hate to see a fellow four eye, T-top Mustang surrender to a Honda Civic at a stop light, just to save a few bucks. *evil grin*
Having done the kit before (and I've said this a few times), I'd use the kit pack list for reference and then find better options. 11r heads instead of the 170s, the better felpro gaskets, a better cam (either ots or custom), different rockers (wasn't thrilled with the tfs ones), vc's you don't have to drill (stock will work without baffles), etc.
Ed and all I really appreciate the input, and I am not against spending a few more dollars to end up with an overall better end result.
Now the question is what parts should I pick, keeping in mind I am looking for proven reliability and ease of use. I really would be happy as can be with 300 rwhp, anything over that is of course welcome. This car needs to maintain good street manners, will be keeping the A/C, the smog recently fell of and is not a concern where I live.
Existing mods are minimal.
shortie headers (1 5/8 un-equal length)
off road X
Magnaflow street ( the mello one ) catback
8.8 with t-loc and 3.27 gears
no smog
A/C is staying
T-5
Now the question is what parts should I pick, keeping in mind I am looking for proven reliability and ease of use. I really would be happy as can be with 300 rwhp, anything over that is of course welcome. This car needs to maintain good street manners, will be keeping the A/C, the smog recently fell of and is not a concern where I live.
Existing mods are minimal.
shortie headers (1 5/8 un-equal length)
off road X
Magnaflow street ( the mello one ) catback
8.8 with t-loc and 3.27 gears
no smog
A/C is staying
T-5
I obviously know nothing compared to Ed. I will say that with the 11r heads you can run a slightly more aggressive cam profile. For an example the custom cam I had was 223/227* @.050 w/ 525 lift on int and exh. That was with the 205cc head with 2.08x1.60 valves. All on a stock 89' shortblock. It was designed for a street strip combo with an emphasis on max street able manners.
I am not 100% sure if the 85 pistons are the same as the 86 but if they are you will get a slight bump in compression compared to the newer eyebrow pistons. They do cause a slight ptv issue vs the eyebrows. I'd highly recommend a custom. I know of a few 190 11r combos that are over 340rwhp and one that dyno'd over 350.
The TFS1 is an ok profile along with plenty of ots options that will make 300 and have good street manners. I just think a custom is the best option. Also like Chuck stated there are better upgrades with piecing a kit together.
I am not 100% sure if the 85 pistons are the same as the 86 but if they are you will get a slight bump in compression compared to the newer eyebrow pistons. They do cause a slight ptv issue vs the eyebrows. I'd highly recommend a custom. I know of a few 190 11r combos that are over 340rwhp and one that dyno'd over 350.
The TFS1 is an ok profile along with plenty of ots options that will make 300 and have good street manners. I just think a custom is the best option. Also like Chuck stated there are better upgrades with piecing a kit together.
I am just concerned about this spiraling out of control, have you seen my 93? 
I have to drawn the line somewhere and I refuse to get drawn into the snowball of mods this time.
With that in mind I will continue looking at options, good point on the stock 85 pistons, I need to take that into account.
I have to drawn the line somewhere and I refuse to get drawn into the snowball of mods this time.
With that in mind I will continue looking at options, good point on the stock 85 pistons, I need to take that into account.
My old 302/tw/stage2/rpm2 made 330rwhp (graph in the sticky thread), most of the kits I've seen are right around 290-300 depending on how much support was there. Could probably have gone with a better, more aggressive cam but didn't want to change springs (which ended up biting me anyway). The 11r's have a much better spring package than my old tw's had.
No idea how the carb intakes stack up.
No idea how the carb intakes stack up.
I think you might be miss understanding what kit I am referencing the kit I am considering has the 11r heads in it.
https://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-k525-432-370/kitcombocontents
https://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-k525-432-370/kitcombocontents
Yeah, I hadn't seen that, or even knew that they actually started selling a 170cc version of the 11r yet (saw alot of talk asking when they were coming though) let alone in a kit. Still just looks like the same old tfs kit otherwise though with the exception of the lack of an intake. They say 430HP out of it, but don't say what size motor, compression, intake, carb, etc.
My advice still stays the same though, piece something together. 190 heads look to be the same price/head on summit, and that cam is still the same old tfs1 and is a bit cheesy these days (decent, but better options exist).
My advice still stays the same though, piece something together. 190 heads look to be the same price/head on summit, and that cam is still the same old tfs1 and is a bit cheesy these days (decent, but better options exist).
I thought one of the big selling points with this car was the fact that is was an easy driver being a stock fox.
Why not just keep it simple? Intake and carb, full exhaust, and enjoy full drivability?
You do have your '93 to play with for a modded car. Just need a tune right?
Why not just keep it simple? Intake and carb, full exhaust, and enjoy full drivability?
You do have your '93 to play with for a modded car. Just need a tune right?
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
I am just concerned about this spiraling out of control, have you seen my 93?
I have to drawn the line somewhere and I refuse to get drawn into the snowball of mods this time.
With that in mind I will continue looking at options, good point on the stock 85 pistons, I need to take that into account.
and so it begins....
Because in stock form this car will get beaten up on by accords and v6 camrys.
I don't like get'n beat up by toyotas and such neither but the fact remains that car will get more attention than your neighbors camry, so who cares, tell them you'll bring out that 93 or they can find a 84 camry to put against it, good luck with that!Because in stock form this car will get beaten up on by accords and v6 camrys.
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
That was my point too. If someone wants to get squirelly with me, I'll get the 90 vert out and blow them away. The 86 is for cruising and having ( as much as possible with these cars ) low maintenence fun, Plus , I'm sure your 85 gets as many thumbs up as your 93. IF i was to add hp to a basically stock 5.0 like mine or yours.. I'd just put on a V3.. 100hp and it is completely bolt on .. when you are not in the boost your car drives like stock.
EDC
Founding Member
Here's the deal.... The better flowing heads (actually the entire induction tract) allows you to utilize a more "mild" camshaft profile to obtain similar or even better results than a mediocre induction system and a larger cam. Think LS7 engines with large cross section heads and mild cam timing.
I can definitely provide everything you need to make this a real gentleman's touring car with plenty of "usable" power across a wide RPM range but - it's not sold as a "kit" and requires a bit of planning and additional expense than a single catalog part number.
Keep in mind, average power rules on the street so keep the dyno results for tuning... not bragging...
