• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Back to stock build thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1slow95
  • Start date Start date Jul 22, 2011
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
First Prev 3 of 3

1slow95

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
1,797
3
48
ohio
Aug 22, 2011
#41
  • Aug 22, 2011
  • #41
Took it for a short drive tonight. I didn't notice the ticking, but it did have an exhaust leak at startup that slowly got quieter. Need to go back and tighten everything up.... It didn't run too bad. Has a little bit of a stumble off idle and a slight bucking at low rpm sometimes. I figure that's all due to running the MAF open with no filter. I should have that fixed tomorrow. It also sounds like it has a small vacuum leak I need to track down. And my transmission sounds like a race unit, tons of gear noise. It shifts good though. I don't have the boot on yet, so that should help some.
 

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself
15 Year Member
Feb 22, 2007
5,125
3,091
214
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Aug 22, 2011
#42
  • Aug 22, 2011
  • #42
Still cant believe you went back to stock from where your car was. Hope you get your issues sorted out so you can enjoy the car.
 

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
14,679
424
154
Boca Raton, Florida
Aug 23, 2011
#43
  • Aug 23, 2011
  • #43
If it bucks and surges after all this I'm guessing you'll push it off a cliff. Going back to stock is ok, but the stock induction should have been bigger (Edelbrock Performer, 65MM TB and bigger MAF), I got 40HP out of all this with no driveability issues. Going from 449HP to 225HP is rough.
 

1slow95

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
1,797
3
48
ohio
Aug 23, 2011
#44
  • Aug 23, 2011
  • #44
Even with the few issues it has right now it's still better than it was with the old engine. But yeah, if it bucks and surges now I'm finding the nearest cliff and dropping it off.

I didn't really care about losing power, but man I forgot how slow a stock Mustang is. I might have to start looking for a used s-trim or build a turbo kit....Or look for a 03/04 Cobra.
 

1slow95

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
1,797
3
48
ohio
Aug 23, 2011
#45
  • Aug 23, 2011
  • #45
Feeling much more optimistic tonight. The headers had a bunch of loose bolts so I went around and tightened everything on the exhaust. That seemed to take of all but the tiniest exhaust leaks. Fixed my vacuum leak, which wasn't a vac leak but a problem with crankcase ventilation. Now I just need to get my air filter installed and I'll be good to go.

I think the reason it's so slow must be a problem with the ECU...Maybe it's still learning, or the lack of air filter is throwing off the MAF readings. It feels like it's bogged down, then it'll stutter and take off. I also used some old O2 sensors... They only had 1000 miles or so on them but my 420w was hard on O2's so maybe I need to break down and replace them.
 

MysteryMachine

Active Member
Jun 21, 2003
1,835
2
39
Parkesburg, PA
Aug 23, 2011
#46
  • Aug 23, 2011
  • #46
Wow sad to see this but I wish you luck with it now.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Aug 24, 2011
#47
  • Aug 24, 2011
  • #47
I thought I read earlier that you had worked out the bucking ...

I have some new O2 sensors sitting in my garage that I never used. If you want them, Let me know.
 

1slow95

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
1,797
3
48
ohio
Aug 26, 2011
#48
  • Aug 26, 2011
  • #48
I could mostly work out the bucking, but it would always come back.

I drove the car a lot today and man it's nice having a civilized car again. I went ahead and got some new O2 sensors and I'll change those out tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that's the problem...It's fine under WOT but part throttle feels bogged down and occasionally backfires under load. It also seems to run better at first startup, then acts up after a minute. I cleaned the MAF and that had no effect.

Here's the MAF adapter I fabbed up. It doesn't look great, but it works.


And the engine bay. I'm not happy with the intake setup, but it'll work for now.


 

1slow95

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
1,797
3
48
ohio
Sep 10, 2011
#49
  • Sep 10, 2011
  • #49
Fixed the problem with the car running rough, which was just me being stupid and plugged the O2 sensors in wrong. Drove the car to Putnam Park in Indiana Thursday, raced all day Friday then drove home. Over 700 miles and no problems....Other than the paint truck painting lines in the rain. My car got blasted with white paint. Spent about 4 hours today with the clay bar, wash, and wax. The clay bar destroyed the white paint and the car looks great now.

I'm missing the power a little, but man it's so nice to drive now. I got stuck in construction traffic for probably an hour and if I still had the other engine in it I might have left it on the side of the road and started walking. Stock engine, idling at 650 rpm in first gear with no bucking or anything is so nice.

Oh yeah, track times. Ran a best time of 1:30.8 at Putnam Park, the same time my cousin ran in his 440rwhp KB'd 2000 GT.
 

buscg

New Member
Sep 10, 2011
2
0
0
Charleston, SC
Sep 12, 2011
#50
  • Sep 12, 2011
  • #50
Sweet write up! You should throw on a supercharger and you'll be good to go for sure. Thanks for all the good pics with your posts, makes it a better thread.
 

Canary94GT

Member
Jun 27, 2009
127
0
17
Seattle, WA
Sep 12, 2011
#51
  • Sep 12, 2011
  • #51
Looks nice! Glad you're enjoying it back to normal. I kept thinking it looked like something was missing in the engine bay... then realized you relocated the battery.

What gear ratio do you have in it?
 
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
First Prev 3 of 3
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
Sooty/Oily Front Engine & Pulleys
  • ozenator
  • Jun 15, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
12
Views
243
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 22, 2026
Blackhawkxx
S
5.0 Rebuild
  • smittys7up
  • Nov 29, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
539
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 20, 2025
Noobz347
S
Fox '87 GT can't get to stay running
  • spilly
  • Mar 29, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
27
Views
683
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 20, 2026
spilly
S
Any 1 find any decent blackfriday sales for Foxbody or car stuff?
  • rednotch
  • Nov 29, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
18
Views
731
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 19, 2025
rednotch
Progress Thread Progress Thread- From6to8's 95 GT/Saleen Supercharged 331 install
  • from6to8
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
798
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 6, 2026
from6to8
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?