FAQs, I guess just as simple as what I'm asked everyday.
1.) (Q) What should I look for when choosing my first mustang?
(A) First off you'll want to check for the basics, unusual sounds, smells coming from the engine bay while the car is running. Check for unusual tire wear, over-rebounding shocks, inner fenders for signs of accidents and/or frame damage, this may be easier then trying to spot bondo when you're searching for your first gem. Check under the wheel wells in the rear end and inside door jams/trunk/sun roof lid for rust and/or tape lines/bondo.
Also while you're at it, if you can slide underneath, or just peer under the sides, check for bent up jacking rails and torque boxes, this isn't necessarily a BAD thing, just if you can keep it to a minimum it'll make things a lot easier on you in the near future when you're trying to build the monster of your dreams. Check for aftermarket parts that would have been welded to the frame such as torque boxes and subframe connectors.
Check for the simple things while looking into the engine compartment, pull a plug out if you can, see what kind of shape it is in, excessive oil/carbon may be the result of rings leaking, valve seats going bad, check for the stock airbox and if it has one then check for the silencer inside the inner passenger fender.. yeh right. Take a look for aftermarket pieces such as headers, stickers that may indicate aftermarket air filters or camshafts (also the idle lope may give you an idea if it has an aftermarket cam or not), etc.
Some bad running/idling conditions may not be as bad as you may think, they may just require simple modifications to cure the problem, but you will have to just find out that the hard way!
Anyways, hope this helps, I'm sure you can add add add to this answer because there is millions of different things to look for, some in which I would look for and just not realize it. But have faith and use your best judgement, sometimes there is swindlers out there trying to pass off their junk to you but sometimes there is good/honest people selling good clean cars. Any questions please feel free to email me
[email protected] and just ask.
Thanks