limiting top speed

[90limited]

I am interested in restoring a fox body GT with my son. He would learn alot and I would enjoy it. We have several years before he starts driving, so time is not an issue. What is an issue is if I would of had a 5.0 when I was 16, I would likely have killed myself in a wreck. Came damn close in a 4 door buick with a 350. Any way to limit the top end via the computer? Or get speed readouts so we can keep him in check?

Maybe we should restore a F150.......

 

[NIKwoaC]

Ford's "My Key" option in the new Mustangs allows you to limit top speed just by changing which key you use to start the car.

 

[stykthyn]

Put in an ignition box and set the rev limiter real low.

 

[FastDriver]

All you can really do is a rev limit since the computer does not track wheel speed. That's not difficult to do at all. An ignition box would be the best way, but it can be done with a tune on the stock computer, too.

 

[90lxcoupe]

Or you could teach him responsiblitly while he is driving, knowing when and where its a good idea to **** around. I know if someone put an msd with a rev limitier on one of my cars, it wouldnt have taken me long to figure out how to change it

 

[Noobz347]

Question: Aren't the 91-93 cars speed limited to something a little over 100 MPH? I don't know but I vaguely remember some conversation about it.

 

[90limited]

Question: Aren't the 91-93 cars speed limited to something a little over 100 MPH? I don't know but I vaguely remember some conversation about it.

My 1992 was not... nor was the 1988 and 1990 that I have now goes as fast as this old man is willing to go.

 

[90limited]

Or you could teach him responsiblitly while he is driving, knowing when and where its a good idea to **** around. I know if someone put an msd with a rev limitier on one of my cars, it wouldnt have taken me long to figure out how to change it

Hear what you are saying and hold all the children in my house 110% responsible for their actions. That said, boys will be boys and I could not live with myself if something happened.

 

[90stang5speed]

this is an expensive option but, I have a TWEECER RT and with that, I can program tings like speedlimit & RPM limit. once you set the tune you can unplug the 4 position switch & your son wont be able to do anything about it. unless he removes the TWEECER its self from the ECC & then it would run on the stock tune.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Speed is not what is going to get you in trouble...torque is.

I had my '88 Mustang when i was 16. I'm 30 now. I think i've told my parents a few times that i had some close calls with that car and scared the hell out of myself.

It's a short wheel-base care with a lot of power. Come around a curve and give it power and lose traction and the rear comes right around. I've had it happened plenty of times when i was a teen. In the rain, i have done quite a few 360's. Fortunately for me and my car..i never hit it anywhere.

My daily driver has 290HP...more than any *stock* Fox stang, and I would feel 10X more comfortable giving that car to my 16-year old vs a 225HP Fox Mustang. It's not the safety equipment, but the way power is transfered to the ground. The fox mustangs are just tailhappy.

I wouldn't want to rev limit either. You limit to 3000RPM all that does is limit your ability to make power. I would HATE to merge onto a highway in front of an 18-wheeler and find myself banging off an limiter that was set too low. Could me even more dangerous.

I'm sure plenty of people made if fine through there teens in a 5.0....I for one did. But i'm sure they all have their stories they could tell.

My suggestion...let him learn to drive and gain his skills on a different car, then when he's a bit more experienced, give him the fox.

 

[95Vert383AOD]

Get him a lincoln Mark 7. Mustang power plant + longer wheel base. Looks and rides better and takes most mustang upgrades. Cheaper on insurance.

 

[Cobra912]

 

[Cobra912]

Like mentioned above it doesn't matter what car you give him. I drove like a complete moron in a hyundai pony with 50hp when I was 16. Teaching responsible driving is what will make the difference.

 

[90lxcoupe]

My suggestion...let him learn to drive and gain his skills on a different car, then when he's a bit more experienced, give him the fox.

Thats good advice, i also had a few close calls back when i had my 90 GT, one of them i have no clue how i saved it. I was doing prob 35-40 mph and it was wet, i just rolled on the gas in 3rd or 4th and the ass end completly came out from under me, i overcorrected it a couple times and saved it. This is just like he was saying, these cars are very unpredictable, especially with the sloppy stock bushings in the rear. That instance i was talking about the RPM's were under 2000, and i wasnt messing around. To this day thats still one of the worst moments in a mustang ive ever had. Right up there with when the car started spinning the tires at around 90 or 100 mph and got sideways

 

[tomustang]

One of the better routes less traveled is buying a 4cyl fox and rebuilding that. With time your son will get use to the car while you work on restoring everything but the engine, then when he's matured enough throw in a nice V8.

 

[90limited]

Thanks for all the input... His mother wants to get a Sherman Tank, but I don't think he could afford the gas... .

I have been driving a fox since 1988 and guess I forgot/got used to how light the rear can be. After reading the posts, I think it may be best to start with more stable platform...

 

[Gearbanger 101]

If my first car would have been a 5.0L Mustang, I probably wouldn’t be here right now. These are not the type of car I would recommend for a new driver. It's not only the power they make that's the issue, it's a combination of the power and their tail happy nature that makes these cars death traps. The back end is always trying to pass the front end and if you're not an experienced enough driver, you could get in way over your head. The fact that they fold up like an accordion in even the most minor of accidents doesn't help their cause any either.

Get him something low powered and solid as his first vehicle until he gets a few miles under his belt. My very first vehicle was a 1985 Ford Ranger 4x4. Had a blistering 115hp 2.8L under the hood. Worked my way up to more powerful vehicles from there as time and driving experience built and am still alive today, nearly 20-years-later…and a much better driver for it.

 

[stykthyn]

I would pass on a foxbody period. Even the 2.3s had crappy brakes and suspensions, so when you finally got up to speed if something happened you have nearly all the disadvantages of a v8 equipped vehicle. The 4 cylinders only savng grace in the hands of a 16 y/o is the open diff is a lot easier to keep in the rear during a hard corner.

 

[1bad67sbf]

The 4 cylinders only savng grace in the hands of a 16 y/o is the open diff is a lot easier to keep in the rear during a hard corner.

+1 an open diff would help alot.
i got lucky because my first is my 67 vert and i never crashed it but i did have a few spinouts and close calls.

what about an older mustang?67-69? they are slower and not as tail happy but the handling and brakes should be upgraded during restoration. plus most kids in school will have to over it in their honda's

 

[95BlueStallion]

My first car was an '85 Z28 Camaro with a fresh 355. Then I came to my senses and bought an 89' GT. Sure I drove fast on the open blacktops of rural Iowa, but Im still here. Probably because you can die in any car, just have to use common sense. Restore a car you want to restore and love, not some POS just so he cant drive fast. For all you know, he will respect the awesome fox and his father too much to beat on it and risk wrecking it. I know I have that much respect for my dad.