My First Mustang

[Michael H.]

Hello everyone!!! I finally got a Mustang!! It is a 1997 GT 5-speed. Let me start off by saying I got the car from a friend for $500. Does it run? Duh!! I had to fix a few minor issues so far and the engine has 143,XXX miles on it. I have replaced the #6 injector and replaced the O rings on the fuel rail side of the #8 injector. New Motorcraft plugs and two new ignition coils. I have also installed new headlight housings and installed 35w HID 5000K bulbs. The car sat for 3 years by the way.

The car came with a ram air hood and I don't like it. BBK TB Plenum. K&N full CAI which is fed by the ram air hood. Strut tower brace. Steeda Tri-ax shifter. 18x9.5" wheels. Full Bassani exhaust including X pipe. Cobra rear spoiler. Blue Metal Flake Black Paint. The flaming horse in the grill is going to go bye bye.

I am in the process (when I get a day off and weather permits) of replacing the A/C compressor clutch. Easy job. I will also be putting my Gatorback belt on after the A/C clutch is replaced. The Mustang is about as basic as they come... no power anything except mirrors. I have an aftermarket kit that will convert the manual windows to power windows. The exterior is a 6-7 out of 10 and the interior is about the same. It is a very nice project. Oh... reverse is screwed. But it's a T-45 so I expected it. The pic is after I washed it.

 

[RaggedGT]

Nice car,hell of a deal for $500
Oh...and Welcome to Stangnet

 

[Michael H.]

Thanks!! I am tossing around the idea of selling my `95 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited to pay for a tranny rebuild. On the list is 3.55 gears, 40 series Flowmasters, Nitto 555 G2 tires, PI intake, 250-350 amp alternator, Hertz Components in the doors, single 10" subwoofer, Alpine PDX V9 amplifier and some sound deadening.

 

[General karthief]

I always hated those hoods, makes it look like a pontiac.

 

[Neuron]

Sweet deal, Cobra front bumper too. Yea ditch the hood.

 

[Michael H.]

I have a question... These are my tires on my 18x9.5" rims. As you can see, they are stretched. I do not like this. They are 245/40/18 on all 4 corners. I am going to keep the width the same all the way around when I get new tires, no staggered or wider tires in the rear if you will. My question is, will a 275/35/18 tire be more correct for keeping the sidewall vertical? I don't want them stretched or bulging.

 

[Neuron]

I have seen 265,275 and even 285 on those size rims, tires of the same size but different manufacturers can vary some in size so compare the specs for each one.

 

[Michael H.]

It's frustrating. I want to drive it so bad.

 

[rancorkeeper]

Congrats on your first Stang. Great price, too.

 

[Michael H.]

I decided to take a pic of the engine bay... that way I can see where it started. It was a lot more dirty, trust me, it looked like a yard full of sticks and leaves and literally a squirrels nest behind the TB plenum. Once its all cleaned up I will be adding new battery terminals to accept much larger cables and help feed power to the amplifiers. I will also be adding 1/0 power and ground cables from the alternator to the battery and the battery to the factory power distribution block near the battery. 1/0 ground cables from the battery to the chassis and engine block. 1/0 power cable from the battery to the trunk for the amplifiers. A 1/0 ground to chassis in the trunk for amp grounds.

 

[Neuron]

Not familiar with the 1/0 wire, is it like a 10 gauge wire? Good grounds are essential, looks like you got it covered.

 

[Michael H.]

1/0 or "one ought" wire is 0 awg. 1/0, 2 awg, 4 awg, 8 awg, 10 awg, 12 awg... and so on. My Jeep is using 0 awg power and ground cables.