Advice On Buying A 89 To 93 V8 Turbo Mustang.
- Thread starter tsipe225
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Will check stickies and research (not buying anytime soon). Just wish I came to forums before I bought my previous car for advice. I can turn a wrench but not a guru at anything. Any advice or links would help. Mexican 306 or 347 stroker, gt40 heads or something else, stinger or pimp stand alone. That's kind of what I'm looking for for info or advice. Something streetable but super fast. I have plenty of time to shop just need some direction.
What's the game plan?
Buy a car that's done already
Or
Buy a decent car and finish it.
Stinger sells the Pimp ecu it's a megasquirt product. Easy to tune with some help.
What exactly are you looking to do?
Buy a car that's done already
Or
Buy a decent car and finish it.
Stinger sells the Pimp ecu it's a megasquirt product. Easy to tune with some help.
What exactly are you looking to do?
I would not under any circumstance buy someone used turbo foxbody.
Rarely is a turbo fox done right and when it is, it's an extremely expensive project.
Over the years I've seen so many for sale, people usually say "just needs to be tuned", which is short for "It's all F'ed up and it's gonna be your headache now".
Find groverdill's car on this forum to see what a turbo car done right looks like.
So when you start looking at $10,000 turbo cars you will see how poorly they are done compared to his.
A budget Mexican build (which means nothing to me) with gt40 heads is silly.
Any turbo car that isn't a ticking timebomb with have a dart or R block, good aluminum heads and either have a custom kit or something from the like's of hellion turbo systems.
Looking to buy someone's used turbo fox is nothing short of gambling with 10 grand.
Want a turbo fox?
Build it from the ground up with high end parts.
Or do it on the cheap and get some flashy jackstands.
Rarely is a turbo fox done right and when it is, it's an extremely expensive project.
Over the years I've seen so many for sale, people usually say "just needs to be tuned", which is short for "It's all F'ed up and it's gonna be your headache now".
Find groverdill's car on this forum to see what a turbo car done right looks like.
So when you start looking at $10,000 turbo cars you will see how poorly they are done compared to his.
A budget Mexican build (which means nothing to me) with gt40 heads is silly.
Any turbo car that isn't a ticking timebomb with have a dart or R block, good aluminum heads and either have a custom kit or something from the like's of hellion turbo systems.
Looking to buy someone's used turbo fox is nothing short of gambling with 10 grand.
Want a turbo fox?
Build it from the ground up with high end parts.
Or do it on the cheap and get some flashy jackstands.
91TwighlightGT
20+ Year Stangneter 
I'll be honest, when you say you can turn a wrench but aren't a guru... to me, it is a disqualification on trying to buy a car like this. When (not if) this thing breaks, who is going to fix it? No regular shop will touch the car, and even a shop that specializes in this sort of thing will probably be leery of working on a problem child that they know nothing about. If they do accept it, be prepared to pay to rework the car to how they think it should be done, which will then cost you a bunch more money to make right.
It's just my opinion, but if you are going to buy a highly modified car then you have to be mentally, physically, and/or financially prepared to work on it.
Thanks for the advice. Just looking for a fast fun car to play with (drive) on the weekends that would qualify for antique plates. If I can't find a good running one that's somewhat reliable for around 10k not going to go for it. Maybe I'll find a decent non turbo one just thought the turbo would be badass.
If you really want a reliable turbo car, you really need to up your budget. $15k+ or so will get you one considered reliable. $10k might get you a car that you spend a considerable amount of time under the hood wondering why you are having specific issues.
$10k is what clean N/A engined cars are at these days.
You haven't detailed out your level of mechanical experience. The fox cars are hobbyist type vehicles these days requiring a bit more automotive knowledge.
Not trying to talk you out of it, just don't want you to make a $10k mistake
$10k is what clean N/A engined cars are at these days.
You haven't detailed out your level of mechanical experience. The fox cars are hobbyist type vehicles these days requiring a bit more automotive knowledge.
Not trying to talk you out of it, just don't want you to make a $10k mistake
You know the old saying, it's not that I don't trust you, I just don't trust anyone?
That's how I see purchasing a heavily modified car, unless it comes from a reputable shop with proof of everything.
For the record, a hci fox is fun in itself.
They are extremely light by modern standards, no antilock, no traction control.
I know what your mechanical skill is has been asked, but what about your driving experience?
If you haven't owned one before going straight to a turbo fox may not be best for more than just reliability reasons.
There isn't anything on one of these cars to protect you from yourself.
With all that said, a vortech fox would be easier to find a mechanic, probably run better, cost less money and be as much or maybe more fun.
I'd guess the mass majority of guys on this forum aren't just in it to own and drive the car. It's a hobby like mike said.
Fixing and upgrading is part of the experience and it has to be, because that's exactly what's going to happen.
- Mar 2, 2015
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My turbo car is far from the best but I wouldn't sell for 10k at this point. I've got that in the intake to oil pan.
Buying someone else's turbo car could turn into a serious headache. I see what a lot of NA cars go through and can only imagine what some of the turbo cars are like.
In order to keep one of these cars running you'll have to know about their specific glitches. Without doing the work yourself you can end up with some serious repair bills.
Like mentioned....you also need to know how to drive well. We don't need any more crowd issues.
Mustangs tend to get crazy real quick. The best advise I can give is to find an open lot and drive the hell out of the car so you know what it'll do in certain situations. And record video and post here....
Buying someone else's turbo car could turn into a serious headache. I see what a lot of NA cars go through and can only imagine what some of the turbo cars are like.
In order to keep one of these cars running you'll have to know about their specific glitches. Without doing the work yourself you can end up with some serious repair bills.
Like mentioned....you also need to know how to drive well. We don't need any more crowd issues.
Mustangs tend to get crazy real quick. The best advise I can give is to find an open lot and drive the hell out of the car so you know what it'll do in certain situations. And record video and post here....
As mentioned, given your limited wrench-turning skills, don't buy one that isn't absolutely complete, turn-key, and without issue. That'll eliminate 95% of the turbo foxes you'll find. It's going to take you a long time to find this car, btw. Know every component in the build, including H/C/I, turbo kit, turbo, exhaust system, computer/tuner, fuel system, & ignition system. If you see any shortcuts or low budget stuff, skip it! I've never seen a decent low-budget turbo fox. It's either done right, or it's crap. This is going to require either extensive research on the individual car or extensive knowledge of the fox aftermarket. We can help you on that part if you post the info on the cars you look at. Make sure that the block, fuel system, and chassis support the power of the build. Hellion, Cartech, HP Performance (out of business), Incon (Out of business), and B&G are systems are all turbo kits I've always heard great things about. I have personally run Incon and currently am running HP Performance. They were both of excellent quality! I have heard horror stories about On3 systems, particularly the early ones. I would personally avoid them entirely. Some people claim they've done well with On3 stuff, but seeing is believing.
Groverdill would lose his ass selling his car at any market price, especially at the $15k being tossed around in here. That said, his is an extreme build with all aftermarket components. Whenever you get beyond the ~500rwhp range on foxes, everything changes and costs go up tremendously, because now you have to get away entirely from the stock fuel system, drivetrain, and electronics. If you stay south of 500, you can find some cars in the range you're discussing. I bought my incon turbo car in 2004 for $11k. It had a GT40 build and a stock cam and made 420 to the wheels on 10 psi. It ran beautifully and I was very happy with it. So, they are out there. Good luck!
Groverdill would lose his ass selling his car at any market price, especially at the $15k being tossed around in here. That said, his is an extreme build with all aftermarket components. Whenever you get beyond the ~500rwhp range on foxes, everything changes and costs go up tremendously, because now you have to get away entirely from the stock fuel system, drivetrain, and electronics. If you stay south of 500, you can find some cars in the range you're discussing. I bought my incon turbo car in 2004 for $11k. It had a GT40 build and a stock cam and made 420 to the wheels on 10 psi. It ran beautifully and I was very happy with it. So, they are out there. Good luck!
Boostedpimp
20+ Year Stangneter
Thanks to all for the reply. All this info is very helpful. As for my mechanical skills I can do just about anything just as long as I have some guidance wether it's a Haines manual, Google, mechanic buddy, or my dad. That being said never attempted to do internal engine work my self. The farthest internally that I went was changing a head gasket on a dohc 4 cylinder. And as for my driving skills I would say they are descent. Never owned a car this fast but I grew up driving toys. Not looking for a 1000hp monster (400-500 hp area). I don't need this car for transportation will be strictly a toy to go play with and will only be driven in nice weather.
Just buy a nice clean fox that doesn't need body or interior work that runs well.
Then do your own heads cam intake setup.
If I was looking for a foxbody today these are the things I would pay up for:
Nice paint
Clean interior
Smooth trans
Doesn't burn any oil
No rust or torque box damage
5 lug with discs all the way around
Quality suspension upgrades like steeda, griggs, maximum motorsports.
Engine mods I wouldn't see as a bonus. Especially when guys add the power and ignore the brakes and suspension (which is idiotic).
You really have to grow with a foxbody.
Get a good car and enjoy making it better.
It will help you avoid wrecking it or blowing it up and having to part it out for penny's on the dollar.
For comparison sake, I drove my buddy's 550hp ZL1 last week and i'd venture to say the 340rwhp setup I had years ago on my fox was much hotter to handle than the zl1.
500rwhp in a fox is a really lot. People just don't see it because all these new much heavier cars with all this high tech equipment make that number seem low.
But it's like comparing apples and oranges
For the record, I have my days where I think I took it too far.
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