Just bought 88 GT been sitting 15 years

Hello I am new to the site, I just purchased a 1988 GT (noMAF) and it is running very rough right now . It has sat for 15 years so I have changed the fuel filter, ultrasonically cleaned the fuel injectors, replaced spark plugs, distributor cap, button, but the car is still running rough on acceleration . Do you think it just needs a few hundred miles of driving with 93 octane gasoline to work out the kinks? Thank you all! Any suggestions will be great!
 
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There's really no telling what's making it run rough.

The plastic fan blades are known to crack or break causing vibrations. Run a compression test. Check timing.
 
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Always wonder what sidelined her in the first place.
Fresh gas might be enough....Bad grounds is always a possibility.

but the car is still running rough on acceleration
Sticky advance in old distributer or coil going bad.

Buddy bought a car once and couldn't get it to run good until he found the kinked exhaust pipe underneath.
 
It could run the gamut from bad gas or a bad plug wire to a burned valve. I'd systematically eliminate every possibility I could think of working my way from easiest to hardest, cheapest to most expensive. You've already done some of it, but it's hard telling why it's been sitting for so long so, as I'm sure you already feel this way, prepare for the worst and hope for the best!
 
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I just got my current DD back up and running after been sitting for 7 years. You really should drop the tank fully empty out all of the gas and replace the fuel pump. If there was old gas in it that most likely has gummed up the pump.

I also didn't see that you replace the spark plug wires. After sitting that long there's a good chance that they are cracked and or arcing from the boots. I do highly recommend replacing those as well as part of this tune up.
 
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I would go over or just replace the vacuum lines.. being speed density it really relies on vacuum to be right. You've already changed the filter so I'm assuming you've drained the tank and put fresh gas in and you've changed the ignition components mostly so I'd also look at the exhaust and see if it has factory cats. Maybe one is close to being clogged
 
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Like said, you really need to go through the basics and start from scratch. Mouse chewed some wires, plug wires arcing, bad gas.

I'd also run the engine codes and see what comes up.
 
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@watchmannc

Barn car find checklist: first steps to get it back on the road.

First of all, carefully check the underhood area to make sure that rodents haven’t had a feast on the electrical wiring, air ducts and vacuum lines. Replace and repair any visible damage. Replace the battery if you haven’t already done so.

Next, drain ALL the engine fluids, transmission fluid, pump the fuel tank and fuel lines clear.

Get several cans of brake fluid, you will need it to flush the brakes. Loosen all 4 brake bleeders one at a time and flush the brake system by pumping the brake pedal. You will need to bleed the brakes when you finish flushing them. Brake fluid absorbs moisture if it sits for a long time and corrosive compounds start to brew themselves in the brake system.

Pumping out the old gas - do this before replacing the fuel filter if possible;
If the old pump still works, you can use it to pump the tank out.
1.) Separate the pressure line (the one with the Schrader valve on it) using the fuel line tools.
Look in the A/C repair section for the fuel line tools. They look like little plastic top hats. You will need the 1/2" & 5/8" ones. The hat shaped section goes on facing the large part of the coupling. Then you press hard on the brim until it forces the sleeve into the coupling and releases the spring. You may need someone to pull on the line while you press on the coupling.

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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRTjYAxvaCs


Use a piece of garden hose to run from the pressure line to your bucket or gas can. Make sure it is as leak proof as you can make it. Fire and explosion are not part of the repair process...

2.) Jumper the fuel pump’s test point to ground.
Foxbody Diagnostic connector

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Turn the ignition switch to the Run position. the fuel pump will pump the tank almost dry unless the battery runs down first.

Some 5 gallon paint pails lined with garbage bags are good to hold the gas. The garbage bags provide a clean liner for the pails and keep the loose trash out of the gas. If you decide to use a siphon, a piece of 1/2" garden hose stuck down the filler neck will siphon all but a gallon or so of the gas.

The fuel filter is on the passenger side of the car on the body just over the rear axle housing. Pull the plastic clips out by grasping the tabs with a pair of needle nose pliers or a screwdriver.


]View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-JU54w7FL4]

At this point you have fresh engine fluids, fresh gasoline, new filters, new battery fresh brake fluid, and have replaced or repaired any rodent damage.
Then change ALL the filters (fuel, air & oil). Then put in new oil, new antifreeze, and 5 gallons or so of new gasoline. Be sure to replace the all the fan belt or belts. Reusing old belts are an invitation to break and leave you stranded or overheated.

Pull the spark plugs out and squirt some oil down inside the cylinders to lube them up. While the spark plugs are out, examine them for signs of damage or fouling. Write down which plug came from which cylinder and write down any negative things that you saw when you examined the spark plugs.

This next step is for those who have successfully removed and reinstalled a 5.0 Mustang distributor. Pre-oil the engine to insure that everything is lubed up good before the engine starts. Turn the engine up to where the distributor rotor points to #1 cylinder. Mark the distributor base with a scratch mark or something else that isn’t going to get rubbed off. Then remove the distributor and stick a ¼” socket on a12” extension on an electric drill. Place this rig on the oil pump shaft in the hole below the distributor. Turn the ignition switch to Run but don’t crank the engine. Run the drill counterclockwise while your assistant watches the oil pressure gauge.

For the less experienced DIY’er, here is a less complicated procedure.
While the spark plugs are out, crank the engine until you see the oil pressure gauge indicate pressure. If you don’t see any indication of oil pressure at the gauge after 30 seconds or so of cranking, you have some other problems. This is the time to stop and investigate them.

Put the old spark plugs back in if they look good; replace the ones that don’t. Have a spare set of new spark plugs handy for installation once you get the engine running. Why? The oil you squirted in the cylinders will lube things up, but it may also foul the spark plugs. Don’t foul the new plugs by putting them in cylinders that may oil foul the plugs.

Remove the distributor cap, and examine it and the rotor for signs of moisture and tracks. Lightly spray the inside of the distributor cap with WD40 to displace any moisture, and then wipe it up with a clean paper towel. Replace any cap or rotor that shows signs of damage, excessive corrosion or tracking that won’t wipe up with a shot of WD40.

Put the distributor cap back on, secure any loose wiring, vacuum lines, check the fluid levels, check belt tension and tighten any fasteners that you may have loosened. You are now ready to see if the engine will run.
 
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