Deal or No? 89 Vert with h/c/i

millhouse · Oct 2, 2011

I have the opportunity to pick up a 89 convertible with the following mods for what seams like pretty cheap. The motor has not been broken in yet. It has brand to TFS heads/cam/intake. Inside is forged flat top pistons/rods.

The following are all brand new: Throttle body, alternator, PS pump, smaller pulleys, belt, aluminum radiator, clutch, flywheel and clutch cable. The wiring harness has been re-built to look brand new. The shocks/strut's appear mostly stock and it comes with an extra rear-end that has 3.73's and lakewoods (the spider gears are broke however). The current rear-end is unknown.

The interior appears to be in good condition (original black), but it is missing some trim pieces (a-pillar, shifter plate, kick plate and a few other pieces.

The bad is, it's a vert that needs a new top...all new seals/rubber. There are some dents on the passenger door/fender on the hinge side. It has a 3 inch cowl hood that has a chip on the cowl near the windshield. It also needs a complete paint job, but the rest of the body is mostly straight (and completely rust free). The exhaust stops at the headers, so it would need a H or X pipe and some muffs.

Is it worth it? The price is $2000

millhouse · Oct 2, 2011

The price is $2000

Maryland Stang · Oct 2, 2011

Personally I see a whole lot of money being spent to get the car back to a decent shape. I don't need to tell you this but it has clearly been wrecked (duh). There is possible frame damage since it was hit so hard it broke the door hinges. You may want to lift the back of the car up and see what the battle boxes look like. Chances are that they're damaged since this car has clearly been abused. It has what looks like non matching SN95 seats in it. In non matching I mean they don't match the rest of the interior. The rest of the interior looks rough. Is the radio gone? Does the seller have the receipts for any of the engine work?

I wouldn't even buy this car. It's more work than I'd want to do. I'm guessing around $1,000 to $1,500 max. If I were to buy the car it would only be to part it out.

millhouse · Oct 2, 2011

The interior really isn't that bad (mostly dirty with some missing pieces). I figured that a collision occurred at some point, as I don't know how those door dent's could have happened otherwise. The body is relatively straight still however. The question is...is it worth cleaning up, or would I be better off selling everything off except perhaps the drive-train?

As for receipts, he doesn't have them. He had a mechanic friend build it for him. Regardless, the top end TFS kit goes for $2500 new by itself.

If parting out would be the better option...realistically, what could I expect to get out of everything but the motor/tranny?

95steedamustang · Oct 2, 2011

I have fixed two cars before with similar damage. Both were caused by the car backing up with the door open catching on something and crumpling the door fender edge and breaking the hinges. Just something to think about.

Mustang5L5 · Oct 2, 2011

1989s never came with black interior. Its either been swapped in, or it's painted. Plus those are 4-banger cloth seats in it.

Looks like it's just a bunch of good motor parts in a car that isn't that clean really. I'd prob do $1500 tops on it with the intent of taking what I wanted and parting out the rest.

Bryan83taco · Oct 2, 2011

It needs some work but as you can verify the frame wasn't damaged then I say try to talk him down to $1500. It depends what your looking for. Personally I would save up a little more and find a cleaner stock fox. Then mod from there, knowing that things were done the right way. Good luck

millhouse · Oct 2, 2011

Mustang5L5, I didn't know black wasn't an option in 89...good to know. He claimed the interior original black, but based on whoever he bought it from.

Really, I'm not looking to save for a mustang. If it's a great deal, I might just pick it up to pick it up. Otherwise, I have no need to buy it.

Maryland Stang · Oct 2, 2011

I based my damage assessment on the fact that the front has been replaced. You can see the primer black on the headlight "covers" (for lack of a better name) and the primer black bumper.

2000xp8 · Oct 2, 2011

I'd pass, that car is going to take a lot of money to get back into shape.

Unless you know the engine builder personally (and by engine builder i don't mean the seller if he's the one that did it) the engine could great or could be a pile of junk. So many times cars come into my buddies shop for "minor work" or "tuning" with new engines and they turn out to be homebuilt piles of crap.

If you are only interested in the car for yourself not parting out, it's worth nothing to you.

Paint jobs and body work are very expensive, that interior is going to nickel and dime you to death.

Stay away.
I'd say you would be hard pressed to have it look and run good for less than 6-7k

millhouse · Oct 2, 2011

Maryland Stang said:
I based my damage assessment on the fact that the front has been replaced. You can see the primer black on the headlight "covers" (for lack of a better name) and the primer black bumper.

The front bumper has most certainly been replaced (it is indeed black). Also, the drivers seat is not bolted down...it is not bent.

millhouse · Oct 3, 2011

OK, I have compiled a list of some conservative estimates on prices to fix. I could likely get away with ~ $500 less by offering $1750 and cutting down on some overestimates. Regardless, would this vehicle be worth ~ $5500? Keep in mind, this car would have all new seals/weather-stripping, new paint, a new convertible top, freshly built h/c/I motor with flat top pistons/forged internals etc. This is a southern car, so there wouldn’t be a spot of rust on it. All of the items listed below (with the exception of the convertible top, bodywork and paint) are simple bolt-ons. The fact that the interior may not be original black doesn’t bother me so much, neither does the possibility of the car having been in a fender bender (as long as it’s straight).

Interior

Front Kick Panel Trim $ 30
A Pillar Trim Pieces $ 50
Rear Speaker Covers $ 20
Shifter Bezel $ 20
Shifter Boot $ 20
Speakers $ 150
Head Unit $ 150
Front left headlight $ 30
Can’s of dye $ 25

Sub Total $ 495

Exterior

Passenger Fender $ 75
Passenger Door Skin $ 75
Weather Strip Kit $ 350
Convertible Top $ 250
Top Install $ 400
Paint Prep $ 100
10 Footer Paint Job $ 500

Sub Total $1750

Mechanical

Throttle Cable $ 65
O/R H-pipe (Used) $ 75
Cat Back (Used) $ 150
AC Kit $ 750

Sub Total $ 1040

Misc. $ 150

Sub Total $ 150

Total $ 3435

Vehicle Purchase $ 2000

Total Investment $ 5435

FastDriver · Oct 3, 2011

Millhouse, if you're buying to build, I think you can find better. I'd be concerned that the engine "hasn't been broken in." Unless it's running and driving without issue, there's no way to know what you're really getting.

However, I'm sure it's worth well more than $2k for the parts:

Conservative sale estimates:
Interior = $500
Heads = $800
Intake = $400
Shortblock = $300

That's $2k right there and you still have plenty of stuff left to sell off (rear, tranny, accessories, wheels, tires, suspension, body parts). That's probably another $1k or so altogether for a quick 50% profit on your investment. That's better than stocks, albeit more work.

To build up? No, there are better cars out there.

Mustang5L5 · Oct 3, 2011

How many miles on this bad boy?

millhouse · Oct 3, 2011

The mileage say 88k, but who knows if it's 188. The pedals don't look too worn...but of course if it was highway miles they wouldn't be anyways. My guess would be 188 though.

Fastdriver...what do you think would be some estimates on everything else...meaning keeping the engine and maybe tranny and letting everything else go? Broken-in or not, the parts in that engine are worth more than the whole car. I've rebuilt (or rather re-freshed) a 5.0 and it wasn't terribly difficult. I can always tear it apart, check tolerance/clearnaces etc. to ensure everything is up to snuff.

2000xp8 · Oct 3, 2011

If you have $5500 to spend, just buy a better condition car, one that doesn't need a paint job or body work.
That car is a money pit.

I think your estimates on parts is way low.
Every project i've done comes in at least 25-50% over.

If you are going to be in it balls deep from the get go, you better really want that car.

millhouse · Oct 4, 2011

I'm with ya people. I think I'm leaving it alone!

FastDriver · Oct 4, 2011

I honestly don't know, Millhouse. I think your guess would be as good as mine for the other stuff. I know my drivetrain parts, and interiors because I've been looking for one recently. I'm not sure what body panels are selling for, or suspension (not much, most likely). Wheels and tires? A few hundred probably.

Deal or No? 89 Vert with h/c/i

millhouse

millhouse

Maryland Stang

Active Member

millhouse

95steedamustang

I tend to be on the ocd side…

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Bryan83taco

Active Member

millhouse

Maryland Stang

Active Member

2000xp8

millhouse

millhouse

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

millhouse

2000xp8

millhouse

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

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