fox confusion help...

greyfox69 · Nov 3, 2011

Im a bit confused trying to figure out my new fox. I just bought the car and according to all I can find from researching the vin number identification the car is a 1988 lx convertible. on the title it says body type: cn, model description: mlx. Under the hood engine says 5.0 ho. Did the lx come with a 5.0 in 88? or is this possibly a 5.0 engine they dropped in at a later date? vin number reads 1fabp44axjf.

wythors · Nov 3, 2011

Yes, the LX was available with either a four cylinder or an eight. HOWEVER, your car has been converted. If it was an original V8 car, that second A would be an E.

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

ok now my second question is this...how do i figure out if PO stayed with speed density or a MAF? THe intake that is on mine is crap so I cant go from that. PO stated that the car's bbk intake was stolen so he put this piece of crap intake on there...see pic Forgive the noob questions View attachment 166264

ID89GT · Nov 4, 2011

Look at the computer. Its in the passenger kick panel

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

ill do that first thing in the morning when I have light to see. then I will post further info here as to figure it out.

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 4, 2011

Looks like speed density to me. I don't see a MAF anywhere between the throttle body and air filter.

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

if its a speed density chances are its an 88 engine in the car yes? I had that hideous intake off earlier today looking at throttle body and didnt see anything there its just bolted on. so i was guessing speed density but wanted to make sure. Workin on getting my hands on a stock tube and airbox. If anyone out there has one please pm me.

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 4, 2011

It doesn't necessarily mean it's an 88 engine in the car, it just means that the owner did not want to 1) buy a more expensive A9L computer and/or 2) wire the mass air meter into the harness.

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

I thought all mustang foxbody went to maf in 89 with exception of California 88 cars which were maf.??

LarsD · Nov 4, 2011

greyfox69 said:
I thought all mustang foxbody went to maf in 89 with exception of California 88 cars which were maf.??

That is correct.

You can put a 302 out of a 71 Mustang and run a MAF setup if you want.

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

LarsD said:
That is correct.

thanks. I thought that was the case.

You can put a 302 out of a 71 Mustang and run a MAF setup if you want.

true. Im gonna check the computer today and see if he did do a conversion and the meter was stolen with the intake? Id like to slap this dude right about now.

LarsD · Nov 4, 2011

greyfox69 said:
true. Im gonna check the computer today and see if he did do a conversion and the meter was stolen with the intake? Id like to slap this dude right about now.

It's possible. I've seen some incredibly hacked together things over the years (on cars I have bought unfortunately).

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

LarsD said:
It's possible. I've seen some incredibly hacked together things over the years (on cars I have bought unfortunately).

Im having trouble getting the push pen to release to get the kick panel off. It will come almost all the way out but seems to be getting stuck ? Im kind of afraid to just yank it out as to not break it. UGHH. I also tried to find any kind of numbers stamped on the engine but with no luck.

Mustang5L5 · Nov 4, 2011

Honestly...it makes sense. He didn't hack it.

1988 Mustangs are compatible in terms of wiring with only 1987-1989 Mustangs. For a 4-banger, the body harness is the same, but the engine harness is not. So that means he needed to change the engine harness.

The only compatible years of engine harness would be 1987, 1988 and 1989. Now, only 1 year was mass air, 1989 (unless you get an 1988 CA car) so odds are a speed density 1987-1988 engine harness was more readily available since 1989 harness go for BIG $$$ since they are the only factory OEM harness for Mass Air that swaps into an 1986-1988 speed density Mustang.

So, i bet you have an 87-88 engine harness, a speed density computer and an engine that coule come from any 87-93 Mustang.

Again, not necessarily a poor hack job...but the logical thing the original owner may have done.

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

Mustang5L5 said:
Honestly...it makes sense. He didn't hack it.

1988 Mustangs are compatible in terms of wiring with only 1987-1989 Mustangs. For a 4-banger, the body harness is the same, but the engine harness is not. So that means he needed to change the engine harness.

The only compatible years of engine harness would be 1987, 1988 and 1989. Now, only 1 year was mass air, 1989 (unless you get an 1988 CA car) so odds are a speed density 1987-1988 engine harness was more readily available since 1989 harness go for BIG $$$ since they are the only factory OEM harness for Mass Air that swaps into an 1986-1988 speed density Mustang.

So, i bet you have an 87-88 engine harness, a speed density computer and an engine that coule come from any 87-93 Mustang.

Again, not necessarily a poor hack job...but the logical thing the original owner may have done.

I was out snoopin around the engine trying to find the stamp on it. Was not successful at finding the stamp but I did find a sticker on the passenger side of the engine. sticker was c 9j310AA then at top right corner of sticker was a f10 and below on right bottom corner was CA. so possibly mean that is a California engine??

Mustang5L5 · Nov 4, 2011

Wouldn't matter. the engine has nothing to do with the computer system running it. Could be a 1986 engine, or a 1993 engine..would run the same.

Biggest clue is the black power steering reseviour....suggesting it's a 90-93 engine. But parts can be changed.

I'd be more concerned with asking "is this a high output engine"? What's the firing order?

wythors · Nov 4, 2011

Mustang5L5 said:
Biggest clue is the black power steering reseviour....suggesting it's a 90-93 engine. But parts can be changed.

:Word: All three of my 93's have yellow/beige reservoirs.

greyfox69 · Nov 4, 2011

i will check firing tomorrow. supposedly this thing has an e cam in it. but who knows.

jrichker · Nov 4, 2011

This doesn’t prove that the block is a HO block. Some trucks evidently use a HO firing order
with a low lift cam. However, it will definitely prove that a block can’t be HO because the firing order is wrong.

Remove the #1 & #3 spark plugs. Put your finger in #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine over until you feel compression on #1 cylinder. Slowly turn the engine until the TDC mark and the timing pointer line up. Mark TDC on the balancer with chalk or paint. Put your finger in #3 spark plug hole and crank the engine 90 degrees. You should feel pressure trying to blow past your finger. If you do not feel pressure, repeat the process again. If you feel pressure, it is a HO engine.

No pressure the second time, remove spark plug #5. Put your finger in #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine over until you feel compression on #1 cylinder. Put your finger in #5 spark plug hole and crank the engine 90 degrees. If you feel pressure now, the engine is not a HO model, no matter what it says on the engine.

Using a small carpenter or machinist square to mark the harmonic balancer off into 90 degree sections may be helpful here.

A 15/16 deep socket & breaker bar or ratchet may be used to turn the engine.

The HO firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.
Non HO firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

greyfox69 · Nov 5, 2011

Ok I did check to see where the spark plug wires are going. but as far as doing what jrichker suggested..that is a bit past my mechanical knowledge for I am a complete noob coming into this. 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

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