Choosing a new car..

[Vinsil]

Hey everyone. Local guy, used to be on this site 3 years or so ago. Had a 99 Cobra, sold it and miss the car...a lot.


Anyway, I'm back and wanting to pick up a new project. Looking into doing a notch this time, since it's something I can pay cash for and I've always liked the looks.



I don't know much about them. Been reading for the past few days and figured I'd come to the source and some local help.


What the car needs to do:

Cruise on the weekends and hit the track once in a while. Possibly take me to work once in a while...


My Cobra was setup more for the twisties, than draggin'. This time around, I want to concentrate on going fast in a straighter line...

So, since I was used to my pretty much stock Cobra's power, I'd like to have a bit more...maybe somewhere in the hood of 350 rwhp?



So, what years to look out for? Never been a vert fan.


So, say a budget of 3k to buy the car. Another 3k total for power, wheels/tires and suspension to start...you know how these things go.



Here's a pic of my old Cobra...I see it running around Salem once in a while, sure do miss it but not the payments.

Thanks for the help, missed having a fun car!

 

[LordMustangGT]

Well, welcome back! Find a nice 5.0 notch in good shape, and make it something like mine. More for the street but for the track every now and then. Spend some money on springs and shocks, and the rest on moding the motor you could get a 350rwhp. Trick flow topend would get you 320 350 wheel horse.

 

[Vinsil]

Thanks!


Starting the search now.

 

[stock50LX]

Based on my own experience:

Assess your goals, decide if you want to be NA, or go with a power adder. If you prefer NA:

Avoid emissions, if possible, by buying a car that is no longer required to test for emissions. A car 25 years old qualifies in WA -don't know about Oregon.

The more you yern for performance, the more you should go with carburation. It's cheaper and simpler to modify. There is a compromise point here. If you are more focused on driveability and mileage, EFI is better.

Chinese-based speed equipment is cheap, so modifying a stock car is relatively inexpensive while body work is not. Get something with a good body and paint, modify it yourself.

Stick with fox bodies: they are plentiful, easy to work on, light, and you are a catalog away from anything, moreover, used parts are easy to find and cheap to buy. A notch would be good, but I wouldn't make it a high priority. A hatch will do just fine.

I went the EFI route with two fox bodies and those cars ran very well, but I put my own advice into practice with my current car and I do not regret it. I have very little money in this current car and I could have done it even cheaper had I been willing to paint a car myself.

6K should put you where I am now with regards to performance.

 

[Vinsil]

Thanks for the advice.

I don't have to worry about emissions down where I'm at.


I was thinking of a power adder for dollar for dollar performance...NOS or a homebuilt turbo setup. Then again, gotta love displacement. Don't mind converting to a carb at all..I can tune that.


11's would be plenty to get into...I was in the 13's with the Cobra, but newbie driver, street tires and stiff road suspension didn't help.

 

[stock50LX]

Under those circumstances: no emissions, probable power adder, you should probably go with an 89-93. If you want a carb, 79, 82-85 with 85 being the best year. I would say the year is more of a priority than the notch configuration. Know that the s-rod transmissions in the 82,83 cars will not be able to handle the kind of power you would be making. You'd also need an 8.8 for the pre '89 years I specifed. You can get one of those with good gears from an 87-88 Turbo T bird -another fox body advantage.

I don't use power adders so others on this site will be able to advise you better than me regarding the details.

 

[Vinsil]

Good to know.


89-93 have the forged pistons right? That would keep the motor swaps out of the deal, which can be a headache.


I can setup ring and pinions...so I don't fret too much in that area. Have a good discount with Randy's through the shop too. Although, nice to know the T-birds have similar parts that swap over.



Thanks for the help, maybe narrow the search down to 89 up if I want a power adder.

 

[SMOKEDYA]

Yeah i love my notches i have, both run good and one is fast (to bad the driver needs work ) I was all happy wheni bought my one coupe thinking yeah i got the forged internals! Well damn slap to the face they stopped that, and it has the hyperwhatevers in it. Anyways fox's are a blast and lighter then most of the other body stangs. I paid......... um well i cant really say but for about $5000 will get ya a nice fox coupe or hatch! When you get one make shure to post pics man! peace








john

 

[Vinsil]

Will do!

 

[stock50LX]

Good to know.


89-93 have the forged pistons right? That would keep the motor swaps out of the deal, which can be a headache.


I can setup ring and pinions...so I don't fret too much in that area. Have a good discount with Randy's through the shop too. Although, nice to know the T-birds have similar parts that swap over.



Thanks for the help, maybe narrow the search down to 89 up if I want a power adder.

89-92 have forged pistons, 93 have the hypers. 89's and some 88's -if from Cali have Mass Air so they'd be best for a power adder. Speed Density (87-88) would be fine if you can get a good buy. Just factor-in some additonal cost (a few hundred) for conversion to mass air. 89's have the most accomodating computer (A9L)

 

[Vinsil]

Good info, that's what I was looking for! Thanks!

 

[Vinsil]

Found a car, timing is just off for me! Figures...but is this a good deal? Been for sale for a while, don't think the guy is advertising it well...it's on my local 4x4 board, it belongs do this guy's dad:

Here's the info:
1989 "fastback" 5.0
5 speed
cloth, power everything
3.73 gears

upgrades:
1996 Explorer 5.0 with the GT-40 heads (about 48k miles)
4 way disc brake conversion
5 lug conversion
new mustang wheels/tires
newer rack and pinion and rear end go with it.
Newer transmission also.

The car runs and drives great and is a lot of fun to drive.


Here's the pictures:

Oh...and it comes with this:

Asking $5500 for everything, the S/C kit is complete and brand new, never installed. They also put in the new rack and pinion and rear end.

 

[stock50LX]

Wow. I really like the car. Tastfully done. I'd be interested in that combo. Where is that located?

 

[Vinsil]

Mill Creek, WA.


It seems clean from what I can tell.......