1986-1993 Lx Mustang Identification?

What year is this car that you are looking at? That would help tremendously. Up to 1986, available engines included the 2.3L 4-cyl, a 3.8L V6 and of course the 5.0 V8. From 87-93, it was only the 2.3 or the 5.0. Wheels are fully interchangeable between all models from 79-93 as long as the car maintains its factory 4-lug setup, so wheels are not a concrete indication of anything. All rear ends in non-5.0 cars were 7.5 open rears, so no traction lock, and all transmissions were weaker and had different ratios than those paired with 5.0's. The C3 non-overdrive automatic trans was common in 4 and 6 cyl cars up until 86, and from 87-93 was the A4LD. Manual transmissions included the SROD 4-speed and a lighter duty version of the T-5. The real wild card here is that the K member is different than 5.0 cars. The 4-cyl can be adapted for V8 use, but the V6 cars had a totally different setup.

If you plan on ripping out everything and building a purpose built drag car, it doesnt matter what you start with as the only original part of the car will be the body. If you are looking for straight up ease of work without swapping countless parts, find an original 5.0 car to start with. Just please dont cut up a clean 5.0, pick up one that is solid for your purpose but needs work. Either way, good luck, its going to be a fun project.

4cyl and V8 K members are the same. The only one that was different was the one for the inline 6's that were optional during the early-mid 80's.

BTW, 93gtmustang, you forgot to post the link you mentioned.

4 banger K's are not as wide as the v8 K's, but will work.

If it has those wheels, it's definitely a 2.3 car. Those are "polycast" wheels and they suck.