Advice On Buying A 89 To 93 V8 Turbo Mustang.

Great advice here

tsipe225 said:

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.

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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.

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....

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!

tsipe225 said:

Looking into buying a fox body mustang turbo. Just wondering what are common issues to look out for. Budget is 8k-12k. Probably only going to put a thousand miles a year on it. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Does that include jackstands and a first aid kit?