83 GT Convertible 5.0 from Montana

Voxstang · Apr 13, 2022

H, New member to this form. I just picked up a 88 convertible this Monday. The cars in rough shape as a tree fell on the drivers side door. The engine is great though. It started right up and is very torquey. The previous owner straight piped it and it came with a post rear differential. The clutch seems to slip a bit.

Look forward to learning on the forum as I start restoring the car.

I'm looking at getting the following to start with:
1) https://www.americanmuscle.com/ford-gasketkit-302.html
2) https://www.ebay.com/itm/STAGE-3-CL...d=link&campid=5335821607&toolid=20001&mkevt=1
3) https://www.ebay.com/itm/DOT-4X-4x6...d=link&campid=5335821607&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Any guidance here?

Also, I managed to locate a local 88 T-body that's being scrapped. I'm planning on taking the drivers side door and side mirrors from it - is it a direct replacement for the drivers side door of my 83 convertible?

Thanks everyone!

General karthief · Apr 13, 2022

I moved this to the 79-93 fox forums to get you some advice from the members here.
Welcome to stangnet.

Voxstang · Apr 13, 2022

Voxstang said:
H, New member to this form. I just picked up a 88 convertible this Monday. The cars in rough shape as a tree fell on the drivers side door. The engine is great though. It started right up and is very torquey. The previous owner straight piped it and it came with a post rear differential. The clutch seems to slip a bit.

Look forward to learning on the forum as I start restoring the car.

I'm looking at getting the following to start with:
1) https://www.americanmuscle.com/ford-gasketkit-302.html
2) https://www.ebay.com/itm/STAGE-3-CL...d=link&campid=5335821607&toolid=20001&mkevt=1
3) https://www.ebay.com/itm/DOT-4X-4x6...d=link&campid=5335821607&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Any guidance here?

Also, I managed to locate a local 88 T-body that's being scrapped. I'm planning on taking the drivers side door and side mirrors from it - is it a direct replacement for the drivers side door of my 83 convertible?

Thanks everyone!

A couple of typos in my post. I realize that I cannot edit my post.
I have an 83 manual GLX 5.0 with a posi rear differential.
The donor car for my drivers side door is a 88 T-top. Wondering if the door will be a direct fit. I have power windows the donor car has manual windows. I hope to able to use the power window components from my existing busted door.

limp · Apr 13, 2022

Clarify again please.. Do you have an 83 or 88?
If you have an 83, the newest that will interchange is 86......

Voxstang · Apr 13, 2022

limp said:
Clarify again please.. Do you have an 83 or 88?
If you have an 83, the newest that will interchange is 86......

I have a 83 Convertible. Are you saying that a door from a 88 T-top will not fit? Attaching some pics of my car and the donor.

General karthief · Apr 13, 2022

Window good?
t top are different than convertible windows.

Mustang5L5 · Apr 14, 2022

Do you have a pic of the 88 ttop doors?

Early ones had flush mount mirrors but midway they changed to the 1988+ convertible style doors. Ford switched to the “hockey puck” style mirrors that year. They will differ from your mirrors and all the seals will be different.

Here’s the 88 ttop door/mirror

Also keep in mind the door molding is different as well as the dew wipe. The glass is also different and you’ll need to swap your converivle glass in.

For the sake of simplicity, an 83-86 convertible door would be easiest unless you have access to the entire 88 ttop car and can take both doors and all the associated seals and trim to make the pedestal mirrors work. Essentially you are converting your car to 1988 style convertible doors.

limp · Apr 14, 2022

My glass experience always said that if the glass changed the door did....
So 5L5, you are saying the 88 door will work if he changes the door glass to 83-86 convertible glass?

General karthief · Apr 14, 2022

Yes and no.
there are differences, outside trim on top of the door for instance, location of arm rest, power door lock switch, outside mirror style,
The 87-93 door will bolt on and function.
Wiring, braces things like that are different.
At least I believe I'm being accurate but I don't have a 79-86 door to compare, I do have a pair of 88 T top doors and a pair of 90 vert doors.

Mustang5L5 · Apr 14, 2022

What he said.

It will work, but there’s a lot of little odds and ends and quirks you’ll need to account for as well. The 86/87 transition is hard to cross cleanly.

General karthief · Apr 14, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
What he said.

It will work, but there’s a lot of little odds and ends and quirks you’ll need to account for as well. The 86/87 transition is hard to cross cleanly.

well you could hit me with a thumbs up or a wrench, not that often I'm dooling out info that is close to accurate.
I'd even take one of those 'pork roast' things and I don't even know what it means

Voxstang · Apr 15, 2022

General karthief said:
Window good?
t top are different than convertible windows.

My windows gone. I'll need to use the door and window from the T-top.

Voxstang · Apr 15, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
Do you have a pic of the 88 ttop doors?

Early ones had flush mount mirrors but midway they changed to the 1988+ convertible style doors. Ford switched to the “hockey puck” style mirrors that year. They will differ from your mirrors and all the seals will be different.

Here’s the 88 ttop door/mirror

Also keep in mind the door molding is different as well as the dew wipe. The glass is also different and you’ll need to swap your converivle glass in.

For the sake of simplicity, an 83-86 convertible door would be easiest unless you have access to the entire 88 ttop car and can take both doors and all the associated seals and trim to make the pedestal mirrors work. Essentially you are converting your car to 1988 style convertible doors.

That's great information. I do have access to the entire 88 T-top minus the front end. Here's a pic of the drivers side door of the T-top.

Voxstang · Apr 15, 2022

General karthief said:
Yes and no.
there are differences, outside trim on top of the door for instance, location of arm rest, power door lock switch, outside mirror style,
The 87-93 door will bolt on and function.
Wiring, braces things like that are different.
At least I believe I'm being accurate but I don't have a 79-86 door to compare, I do have a pair of 88 T top doors and a pair of 90 vert doors.

Ok, will take a close look at the 88 Top door in person before diving in. Visually it looked similar based off the pics. It's a 6 hour drive to check out the 88

ChaseRoads · Apr 15, 2022

The pictures you posted are NOT an 88 but rather an 86 or before. that said, the glass is worth some coin. The door will work in your car but the glass will NOT.

Mustang5L5 · Apr 15, 2022

Yup. That wrecked car is not an 88.

However that’s good news for you as it’s “more compatible”

limp · Apr 15, 2022

Voxstang said:
My windows gone. I'll need to use the door and window from the T-top.

The door glass from an 83-86 convertible is the ONLY glass that will work... I just went through this as I needed a door glass for my 83 vert... I looked for months and finally one came up on EBAY......... The T-Top and Hardtop door glass will NOT work. ( I had to take back the hdtop glass the wrecking yard sold me).

manicmechanic007 · Apr 15, 2022

Omg
Simple answer is to get a 83 vert door right?
Search the ffing town down

General karthief · Apr 15, 2022

You need to get the 87-93 vert or t-top door, convertible glass, t-top glass will not work.

90sickfox · Apr 15, 2022

Limp is correct. The ttop door could work but there are things that need to be swapped like Carthief mentioned

Yes, getting a donor door from an 87 88 89 convertible would be best and easiest.

Edited post...thanks Thief. I'm at work and was all discombobulated.

83 GT Convertible 5.0 from Montana

New Member

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

New Member

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

New Member

Attachments

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

New Member

New Member

Attachments

New Member

do I need to lube this area?

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

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