Few problems w/91 notch should i fix or sell? Need opinions, and help w/problems!

[adversary]

Alright fellows here's where I stand, just started college again last week which is 35 mile drive one way. So there is no possible way i can afford to drive the stang there...my beater was a 95 escort (32 miles to the gallon) well the damn timing belt broke on the way to school the other morning, and i have yet to have time to pull it apart and see if it took out everything with it.
So the questions lie...i have a 91 notch, needs a new water pump, and radiator, along with a few minor/small problems. I was going to do the 351W swap a few years ago but ran out of money after spending about $3k on it. I have about 80% of the parts sitting in my house (parents house). Including the heads trick flow, track heats, intake, oil pan, headers, rockers, etc all the major stuff. I need to know is it worth fixing the stang or just selling it and the escort, and take out a loan and get a '01 lightning. i just landed a phat job with the school it's only like 12 hours a week but it's $17/hour, plus my job at lowes $9/hr 25 hours a week. So i probably could afford the lightning if i sell my stang. or should i fix the stang and the hell with lightning and buy another beater for gas mileage?

What type of radiator should i get i need a nice one but would like to be able to buy it at discount/auto zone and keep it under $200, someone told me a mark VIII radiator?

Also my damn passenger door wont unlock? The stang hardly gets driven because of gas prices, so someone told me it could be b/c it's been sitting? I cant even unlock it with the key it feels like it's going to break? anyone have a clue what it could be and how to fix it?

i really need a reliable car so a lightning would be very nice. but i dont know if i want another car payment, plus school debt. and all my friends tell me to keep my car because it's a coupe, and they are harder to find. what should I DO?!?!?! S.S.L

 

[5spd GT]

Yeah it looks like your putting in more fuel than it needs...

Here is what I would do...get the Lightning

Will be more reliable, have power, and look cool, but don't expect much better on gas mileage...

 

[Scorcher2005]

Also my damn passenger door wont unlock? The stang hardly gets driven because of gas prices, so someone told me it could be b/c it's been sitting? I cant even unlock it with the key it feels like it's going to break? anyone have a clue what it could be and how to fix it?

its the door lock actuator. the same problem on my drivers door. You could go get one out of a junkyard, get one from a magazine for around $60, or do jrichkers method.

 

[Zombietime]

Fix the mustang and buy a decent beater. Between those two jobs you aren't making that much after taxes and to be in college with a car payment is for suckers. If it's like the college I went to, that Lightning would either be stolen quickly, trashed or both.

 

[HISSIN50]

keep the stang. for 200 bucks you can fix that stuff - AZ and pep sell 3 core radiators - one sells Modine and one GDI - both good rads. about 150.

water pump can be had for 30 bucks at the same parts store.

unattach the lock linkage from the actuator for the time being. with an hour or two, you can retrofit the lock actuator - cost me 5 bucks (i was placing an order with the vendor already and i had the other parts to make the retrofit happen.

just my thinking. good luck.

 

[jrichker]

Gas mileage on the Lightning won't be any better (or maybe worst) than your Mustang. A few extra $$$ for gas is a lot less than a car payment. As for gas mileage, mine gets 18.5-19.2 MPG mixed driving and my daily commute is 52 miles total every day. At $2 a gallon it runs about $25 a week: that's a lot less than a car payment.

As for a radiator, I'll give you my old stocker. It was leak free when I swapped it out for a 3 core copper/brass GDI radiator form Autozone. I go to New Life Christian Fellowship in Titusville, so show up for the Sunday 10:30 service & and join us & I will give it to you - FREE.

The door lock actuators are easy - for a no $ fix, take Hissin50's advice and disconnect the door lock actuators. If you want an inexpensive fix, see http://jrichker.stangnet.com/Mustang_tech/door_actuator_fix/1_of_8_door_actuator.htm

A new actuator for less than $4. Fix one side for $17, do both sides for only $23. I don't sell parts, I don’t make any money off of the upgrade, I just tell you how to do it cheaply and easily.

 

[adversary]

thanks, but no thanks on that free offer, i need a new 3 core, because mine overheats so i need a nice one any recomendations? also i have mass (catholic) at 930 so i cant make it anyhow.

 

[jrichker]

thanks, but no thanks on that free offer, i need a new 3 core, because mine overheats so i need a nice one any recomendations? also i have mass (catholic) at 930 so i cant make it anyhow.

In that case, try Autozone for a GDI 3 core copper/brass radiator - part number 43-3138, cost is about $180. I have one and it works great!

 

[adversary]

cool, just picked it up after church this morning, tried to call into work they are making me come in, because of the hurricane scare (i work at lowes)...so now i basically screwed, i got 2 cars that dont run.........errr i hate work sometimes

 

[adversary]

alright guys, now my driver side door wont lock, wasnt to worry about the other side not unlocking, but now i think i have no choice but to fix them, i dont feel like getting stuck in my car one day! any clues? my button doesn't work now at all, it was working everynow and than and i would have to lock them with my key, but now my key wont unlock/lock them!?