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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech

'89 Mustang turbo?

  • Thread starter Thread starter evintho
  • Start date Start date Jul 7, 2004

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Jul 7, 2004
#1
  • Jul 7, 2004
  • #1
Quick question. Was a turbocharger ever offered in ANY model of 1989 Mustang???? Please forgive my ignorance!
 

Asha'man

Founding Member
Feb 5, 2002
1,909
0
0
Denver
Jul 7, 2004
#2
  • Jul 7, 2004
  • #2
No.

Ash
 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Jul 8, 2004
#3
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #3
Well Ash, that sucks! The reason I wanted to know is, in California, to pass smog, I'd have to go to a referee for the visual inspection. If a turbo'd motor was offered in '89, I'd have a chance. With no '89 offering, I'm pretty much screwed! I guess I'm gonna have to pull the turbo and plug things up just to pass smog and then reinstall it. If I pulled the turbo, would that freak out the LA2?
 

Jugador

New Member
Aug 30, 2003
70
0
0
Jul 8, 2004
#4
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #4
the merkur was still available in 89...is there any way to say that you swapped the motor from that or is that also not allowed in california?
 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Jul 8, 2004
#5
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #5
My understanding is, if equipment was offered in the model year of the specific vehicle (turbo/'89 Mustang), then it is acceptable for the visual part of the inspection. The Merkur offered in '89, I'm not sure about, but it is a ray of hope! I'm going to call California Air Resources Board (CARB) tomorrow and get it from the horses mouth/ass? Damn California smog laws!!
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
24
118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Jul 8, 2004
#6
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #6
This has been discussed on TF...unfortunately I didn't pay attention because I'll never live there...worth searching for though.
 

mr_woodster

Active Member
Jul 28, 2003
1,314
0
36
Riverside, CA
Jul 8, 2004
#7
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #7
California smog laws , stink...but...you should be able to pull off a turbo swap in an 89'...read up.

http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Chevrolet_S-10_V-8_Smog.html
 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Jul 8, 2004
#8
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #8
Thanks Wood! Good article. I think I might order that book at the end of the article. I've heard it before and according to the article, it's true. The motor has to be the same year as the car or newer. Well, my motor is an '87, the car is an '89. How are they gonna tell what year the motor is? The year is stamped on the turbo side of the block, about 2 inches below the deck. Maybe, if I grind off the 87, plus the fact, it's covered by the exhaust manifold and turbo - how in the world would they be able to determine the year of the motor?!! I can just tell them I slapped on a turbo off an '89 Merkur (even though it's an IHI). They can't be that knowledgable! Maybe there's hope, after all! Thanks!
 

Ray III

New Member
Feb 10, 2004
586
0
0
fixin Boomhower's John Deere in Troy, NY
Jul 8, 2004
#9
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #9
Damn dude, I feel for you. Out east the saying is LIVE FREE OR DIE.
 
1

1fastfox

Member
Jan 18, 2004
113
0
16
Goose Creek, SC
Jul 8, 2004
#10
  • Jul 8, 2004
  • #10
i hear that. south carolinas saying is "we dont care if ya die just make sure its in a ford and ur with yer sister" "ah-yuk"
 

saleenx029

New Member
Jun 10, 2004
117
0
0
Cincinnati, Ohio
Jul 29, 2004
#11
  • Jul 29, 2004
  • #11
California emmissions suck the big one, it makes me want to go there with a twin turboed bigblock with giant cam, race gas, no cats and race everyone then come back home haha
 

My80Cobra

Founding Member
Oct 31, 2002
228
0
0
Spokane, WA
Jul 30, 2004
#12
  • Jul 30, 2004
  • #12
I take my 89 Turbo Mustang down to California (Sacramento, Stockton, Manteca mostly) every year in June, and I smile every time I pass a smog shop with my 3" exhaust with no cat and no emission stuff period. I pass in Washington with this set-up but they don't pop the hood up here..
 

stackz

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2001
1,352
7
58
james island, sc
Jul 30, 2004
#13
  • Jul 30, 2004
  • #13
bah, just gut your block and toss the guts and head from the turbo engine onto it, that way you technically have the same engine...yet not.
 
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