New GUY

[STP72]

Hey guys

After admiring the Mustang since I was old enough to walk, I have finally decided to purchase one.
And I have a few questions for you if you could help me. I am a Heavy equipment mechanic and a retired body man/painter.
So a car needing a paint job or engine work isnt an issue.
I am thinking about getting a 87-89 to re-live my highschool yrs I have seen a few in the 1500-3000 CDN range needed minor repairs etc. Thats the price range I am looking at

1. What do I look for on these models. what are there weak spots as in Body / Drive Train
2. Are the 87-89 GT's hatchbacks? with the ground effects and Front fog lights? Like the Cobra's?
3. Did these cars come with options?
4. Best sounding Exhaust set up ?
5. Best bang for the buck in Performance mods would be ??
6. Best place to buy bolt on mods? Headers, pully's. CAI, Exhaust
7. I am 34 - perfect record driving since 16 what are you guys in your 30's paying for Insurance
8. What is FOX ??

Thanks for any input you guys may have, I will let you all know what I buy

 

[SteedaGT9150]

2. yes gt's are hatchbacks with ground effects and foglights
4. there are tons of great sounding exhaust set ups
7. summit racing, 50 resto, jegs
8. fox is the type of chasis

 

[ryan218]

would this be you first mustang? your in for a treat. there is really no best exhaust setup becasue, everyone has there opinion with them and all of them sound o so good lol. the weakest spot on a fox body mustang in my opinion is the chassis. the first mod you should do is Sub Frame Connectors.

the mustangs came with many options from a no option stang to a fully loaded stang. leather, a/c t-top's, sun roof.

there is so many places to find performance parts.

summit has alot of parts.

the best bang for the buck would probably be a H/C/I swap. invest in this and go from there.

best bolt on mods...well i leave that to people who have started to mod there cars with these.

but the NUMBER 1 mod i think that should come with sub frames are new gears. stock they come with 2:73 unless the original owner of the car orders it with 3:73's or whatever they wanted.

3:73 or 4:10's is what i would go with.

i hope i answered your question's with the answers you need. If not there are plenty of others who can fill you in.

 

[SteedaGT9150]

my gt came with 3.08 gears

 

[rigamaroles]

My notch came with 3:27's....not ALL were 2:73.

 

[STP72]

Yeah 1st Stang.. I have driven a few but time for my own. What will changing the gearing do? I just dont want a car that revs high on the hwy like my Dodge RT.

What is H/C/I swap ??
What is time frame for gear install?
How do you tell what gearing you have

Thanks

I am Getting excited, going to look at a few tomorrow
and Hopefully I come home with one. But the thought of buying a car that has had the sh1t kicked out of it for almost 20yrs is a little scary. It won't be a long boring winter after all, if I have a stang to work on

 

[1Bad88notch]

heads,cam, intake
I would have someone do the gears, it takes a couple of hours or so. There sould be a little steel tag on your differentail cover that tells you what gears you have in it

 

[SteedaGT9150]

changing the gearing will knock about 2 tenths off your quarter mile time. usually people with a 5-spd go with 3.73's and people with aod's go with 4.10's

 

[ryan218]

My notch came with 3:27's....not ALL were 2:73.

read what i wrote.


would this be you first mustang? your in for a treat. there is really no best exhaust setup becasue, everyone has there opinion with them and all of them sound o so good lol. the weakest spot on a fox body mustang in my opinion is the chassis. the first mod you should do is Sub Frame Connectors.

the mustangs came with many options from a no option stang to a fully loaded stang. leather, a/c t-top's, sun roof.

there is so many places to find performance parts.

summit has alot of parts.

the best bang for the buck would probably be a H/C/I swap. invest in this and go from there.

best bolt on mods...well i leave that to people who have started to mod there cars with these.

but the NUMBER 1 mod i think that should come with sub frames are new gears. stock they come with 2:73 unless the original owner of the car orders it with 3:73's or whatever they wanted.
3:73 or 4:10's is what i would go with.

i hope i answered your question's with the answers you need. If not there are plenty of others who can fill you in.

 

[90blacknight]

I recently purchased a 90 coupe in Ontario, Canada, so I'll tell you that 1500 to 3000 CDN isn't going to get you very much in this province. I would recommend saving a little more before investing. These cars are getting old and you're biggest concern should be the body. I know you said you're a body man but believe me, there's more too it than that. A car that's been to the track a few times without subframes can mean major problems with the body, especially with T-tops. The torque boxes are weak and can rip apart easily under abuse. Take your time in looking for one. It took me two years before I found one that was to my liking, and for the right price mind you. Never buy the first one you go see. Get to know the car first hand before you invest. Also, look for one that already has the basic mods done, as an exhaust system alone can run you upwards of 1000 CDN. My advice is save a little more now and save big time in the end. Starting from scratch, if your intentions are to modify a fox, is going to cost a fortune, considering your budget.

 

[Dean85GT]

but the NUMBER 1 mod i think that should come with sub frames are new gears. stock they come with 2:73 unless the original owner of the car orders it with 3:73's or whatever they wanted.
3:73 or 4:10's is what i would go with.

Sorry dude your wrong on this one. Stick cars came with 2.73s or 3.08s, thats all. The steepest gear you could get is a 3.27 which is for autos.

 

[ryan218]

Sorry dude your wrong on this one. Stick cars came with 2.73s or 3.08s, thats all. The steepest gear you could get is a 3.27 which is for autos.

then why is todd's mustang a factory 3:73 gear 88 mustang hatch with a 5 speed?

 

[Dean85GT]

then why is todd's mustang a factory 3:73 gear 88 mustang hatch with a 5 speed?

It cant be..it was never an option unless they had them installed at the dealership afterwards.

 

[ryan218]

It cant be..it was never an option unless they had them installed at the dealership afterwards.

he ordered in in late 87 and and said that he wanted 3:73's and that's what they put in?

so this would of just been something extra they put in and not one of there options

 

[niklid05]

he ordered in in late 87 and and said that he wanted 3:73's and that's what they put in?

so this would of just been something extra they put in and not one of there options

Maybe they ordered the gears for him and installed him like a regular gear install...?

 

[ryan218]

Maybe they ordered the gears for him and installed him like a regular gear install...?

idk maybe thats what he did. ill ask him next time we see him. x-mas time that will be. ill get some pictures of his car too.

 

[90]

welcome to stang net, AKA best place to be for a mustang owner.... if you dont know much, you'll learn a hole lot here...!!!!