• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Lookin at 89 gt

  • Thread starter Thread starter pile_53574
  • Start date Start date Mar 8, 2008
P

pile_53574

Member
May 1, 2005
30
4
19
SW WI
Mar 8, 2008
#1
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #1
Going to look at 89 gt for son. Not really familiar with this body style, I'm more into the classics. What/Where are the problem spots that I should be looking at. He says there is no detrimental (sp)? rust on unibody and frame rails. What about strut towers or anything else I might be missing??
 

NKau

Founding Member
Dec 15, 2001
1,346
0
37
Jefferson, WI
Mar 8, 2008
#2
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #2
The biggest thing is to make sure the car is straight. Check panel/door/hood/hatch or trunk alignment. Crawl under the car and look at the radiator core support and subframes and look for signs of damage or repair. A big thing to check is the rear torque boxes (where control arms mount to the unibody); these will crack/rip if the car has been beaten on and are very difficult and costly to repair if it's bad. Heater core is another thing people gripe about; they are easy to replace, but it's easily a 6+ hour job because you have to rip the entire dash out to get at it; make sure the heat works (and doesn't smell like aunt jemima's when it's on), and that it hasn't been bypassed. For a 5-speed, check for grinding going into any gear which will indicate toasted synchros or worse; reverse will grind if you don't shift to another gear first, it's not synchronized in the T-5's.

Post up pics of the car you are looking at if you have questions or are unsure of perceived value.
 
P

pile_53574

Member
May 1, 2005
30
4
19
SW WI
Mar 8, 2008
#3
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #3
Don't know how to post pics. Car has CAI, GT40 Upper Intake,Fuel pump by foxbody fuel injection, shorty headers, new flowmaster exhaust,3.50 gears, 4 xtra rims & Tires. Pics he sent me look good, but I was going to crawl under and look. Thanks for the heads up on the rear boxes, never knew that. He wants $2000 or best offer
 

RsStanG1987

I shaved all my pubes playing this game.
10 Year Member
Mar 13, 2004
569
9
79
Dupont PA
Mar 8, 2008
#4
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #4
Floor pans rot like hell on theese cars too check them
 
P

pile_53574

Member
May 1, 2005
30
4
19
SW WI
Mar 8, 2008
#5
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #5
RsStanG1987 said:
Floor pans rot like hell on theese cars too check them
Click to expand...

So they are kinda like the older ones too, HMMM some things never change
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,247
17,927
224
Massachusetts
Mar 8, 2008
#6
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #6
Look past the mods and look at the car mainly. Milage? Do all the accessories work? A Gt-40 intake can be bought, but do you wannt want a car where the windows barely roll up and down?

Check for rot in the door jambs and around the taillights (pop the hatch and look)

Also in the engine bay look for rust and rot on the frame rails near the headers.
 

ttop88

Member
Mar 12, 2007
42
0
6
indiana
Mar 8, 2008
#7
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #7
Pop the hood look at the frame where the prop valve is bolted to it under the master cylinder. The are pron for rust in this area on both sides and you haft to pull the engine to fix it. For $2000 it is bound to have issues. It's just a matter of picking your battles.
 

RsStanG1987

I shaved all my pubes playing this game.
10 Year Member
Mar 13, 2004
569
9
79
Dupont PA
Mar 8, 2008
#8
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #8
Look under the wiper cowl for rust and also underneat the hatch lid.
 

MAC'n89Blckstng

Active Member
Jun 11, 2003
1,012
3
36
NJ
Mar 8, 2008
#9
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #9
Not to rain on the parade or anything, just make sure your son can respect the power of the car. I know its not the fastest thing in the world but I've seen some kids do really stupid things with fast cars because they are young and stubborn about knowing when and when not to mess around with a fast car. A kid I know sold his 04 Cobra to an 18 year old kid and like six months later, the kid ended up showing off in front of his friends going over a hill in it and killed himself and the person he hit. The kid was going 110 when he went head on with the guy. Here's the aftermath of the accident.
 

black87ttop

Member
Oct 29, 2007
43
2
8
burlington,new jersey
Mar 8, 2008
#10
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #10
your a kid yourself, if i recall, so why are you trying to start drama where there is none. Every body who has a fast car as kid ,is gonna azzhole around on the street every so often, its when and where is what differentiates them from the rest.
 

MikeROD16

Member
Feb 4, 2008
0
0
17
Miami, FL
Mar 8, 2008
#11
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #11
well, one major thing you should look for is the tranny. if its manual check the transmission. those T-5's tend to go bad very often. My friends dad gave me the 87 stang as a gift and the tranny is bad, but hey, it was free. i cant complain. but his son has a '90 lx that hes selling which has a bad tranny too. look

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...viewitem=&item=320224028158&_trksid=p3907.m29
 
M

MaxTheHooker

New Member
Jan 15, 2008
36
1
0
Mar 8, 2008
#12
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #12
Mike, stop spamming your friends car, please.
 

dcurtis

10 Year Member
Jan 19, 2006
688
7
39
Mar 8, 2008
#13
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #13
MaxTheHooker said:
Mike, stop spamming your friends car, please.
Click to expand...

yup
 

MAC'n89Blckstng

Active Member
Jun 11, 2003
1,012
3
36
NJ
Mar 8, 2008
#14
  • Mar 8, 2008
  • #14
black87ttop said:
your a kid yourself, if i recall, so why are you trying to start drama where there is none. Every body who has a fast car as kid ,is gonna azzhole around on the street every so often, its when and where is what differentiates them from the rest.
Click to expand...

Im 22 in a month. I dont refer myself as a "kid" anymore. I did some stupid stuff when I was 17/18 but through college and other personal experiences, I feel I've matured a great amount since I first got my licence. I'm not trying to start drama at all, I just hate to see these 17 year old kids get a car and not respect the power and end up like the cobra.
 

KurtPB

Member
May 15, 2006
127
0
17
Lorimor, IA
Mar 9, 2008
#15
  • Mar 9, 2008
  • #15
you're going to get older people that are stupid, too. that's life.
 
P

pile_53574

Member
May 1, 2005
30
4
19
SW WI
Mar 9, 2008
#16
  • Mar 9, 2008
  • #16
Went and looked at the car. Underneath was really solid, no badly rusted areas, no cracks around rear torque boxes, floor pans looked solid, No rust around hatch, But lots of bondo in rear quarters, starting to crack already, lots of cosmetic work to be done to get this car looking decent, motor ran fine, but didn't get to drive cause it had a flat tire, so don't know about trans(auto) or suspension. He wanted $2000 or best offer so I offered him $800 Car needs alot of work!!

I hear what you are saying about the kid being able to handle the car, he's 19 out of college and has 2 jobs, but then again we were all 17/18 once RIGHT!!
 

MAC'n89Blckstng

Active Member
Jun 11, 2003
1,012
3
36
NJ
Mar 9, 2008
#17
  • Mar 9, 2008
  • #17
For sure! I did ALOT of stupid things when i was 17 but I guess we all learn somehow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Progress Thread Low Mile 89 GT Restomod - Moving toward paint
  • KRUISR
  • Jan 4, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2 3 4
Replies
63
Views
3K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Monday at 7:57 PM
KRUISR
Paint and Body Strut tower beginning to break apart, how long do I have ?
  • AnthonyA1234
  • Apr 4, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
22
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 21, 2025
AnthonyA1234
S
Upgrade Advice on an 89 GT Convertible NJ
  • SteakDad
  • Apr 17, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
10
Views
861
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 18, 2025
limp
N
For Sale 1984 Mustang gt
  • NJgeorge
  • Nov 29, 2024
  • Fox Body Mustangs For Sale (1979-93)
Replies
3
Views
797
Fox Body Mustangs For Sale (1979-93) Nov 29, 2024
NJgeorge
N
S
Fox New to me 82 GT
  • Stangman7082
  • Jan 20, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 18, 2025
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?