newbie wants '89-'92 Stang...

[Akshay]

I'm interesting in buying an '89-92 5.0L Stang m/t. But I have a few questions.

Is maintainence easy (access to spark plugs, fuel pump/filter, oil filter, etc)?

How hard is accessing the fuel pump? Do you have to drop the gas tank?

Are the doors heavy (like in camaros/firebirds)?

Is it easier, compared to camaros/firebirds, to get in and out of the Mustang?

If their is anything else you like about '89-'92 mustangs, please go ahead and list them. If there's anything you don't like about the Mustang, please list that too.

Thanks.

Akshay

 

[NeQX]

It is so much easier to get in and out of compared to a camaro, cause the inside is like a normal car plenty of leg room (I am 6'2) Dash is far back, decently roomy back seat, easy to change oil, spark plugs, oil filter, fuel pump you have to drop the tank I have done it in my driveway via the 2 bolts that hold tank up, fuel filter is under car inline you just need a jack and flathead screw driver to get it off, doors aren't heavy....89 I believe is one of the only years with the tilt wheel, 90 starts with the square airbag steering wheel, i have a fully loaded 89 cruise control all that sunroof blah blah...couple downfalls would be cable driven clutch if you're a 'Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me' dont get manual, its not hydraulic butter clutch like in the new camaro's and imports.....also the charging system is weak if you want to put a high wattage stereo system or underdrive pulleys you can do a alternator upgrade for about $300 yourself from www.pa-performance.com was one of my favorite mod's, 89-92 is forged pistons so you're good, 88 is speed density instead of mass air so if you would swap cam you would have problems.

I love my stang it's alot of fun to drive, and when I pull next to camaros I can toast them easily

 

[408stroker5.0]

Nothing beat's a 5.0 Mustang. You can't even compare a 5.0 Stang to a Camaro or Firebird. I have been in Camaro's and such and was very disaponited in the power, comfort, and the car in general. I think there crap, and I'm not just saying that cause I'm not a GM Man. I guarantee if you buy a 5.0L you will not be disapointed. I could go on, and on about what makes the 5.0L so great but I would be hear all day. Just save yourself some time and just buy one.

 

[HISSIN50]

since you are comparing stangs to F bods, you will enjoy the ease of wrenching. for instance, plugs take 10 minutes and you keep all of your skin. unbolt no accessory to do them. much more foot room inside. less high tech than camaros, IMHO. no KAM (that i know of, on stangs), BCM's and gizmos like that (comparing my G/F's 94 camaro to the 88 GT vert). i like that.

i agree, you cant go wrong. if you get one and dont like it, there are so many die hard stang lovers, you can unload it easy.
oh yeah, the brakes kinda suck. but your car does not heat up to 800 degrees before the fan comes on.

 

[Akshay]

... but your car does not heat up to 800 degrees before the fan comes on.

Do the stock '89-'92 v8 mustangs come w/ 180* thermostats and a lower fan switch?

Camaros come w/ a 195* thermostat, and the fan turns on at 200* (I think).

Akshay.

 

[hllon4whls]

Do the stock '89-'92 v8 mustangs come w/ 180* thermostats and a lower fan switch?

Camaros come w/ a 195* thermostat, and the fan turns on at 200* (I think).

Akshay.

Fox mustangs have engine driven fans. The stat is either 190 or 195.

 

[willys1]

Gas filter,piece of cake! Fuel pump,,yeah,its in the tank.Spark plugs,the last one on the passenger side s@cks,driving it is much more fun,( and I'm a chevy guy!!) room inside? Im 6'6-220,Its snug,but comftible,except at the track when I have to wear a helmetLOL,,then I have to crouch down.5.0's are a home run dude I have a 93 LX with 35,000 miles.Im thinking of getting another one so I can put this one away!! Im starting to feel guilty about putting all this mileage on it!! I bought it in Sept. with only 18,900 miles.

 

[5 Liter Mustang]

mustang conv. doors are just as heavy as fbody doors. the hatch and coupe doors feel a lot lighter for some reason.

there are too many reasons to list what i like about the mustangs, but they definitely do have their quirks. One thing that bothers me is the lack of cupholders and the annoying seatbelts. Of course after driving the car for a while, i dont really car anymore.

one thing though, the clutch pedal response/feel is 100x better than the fbody's hydraulic setup. thats the major thing i noticed. Good luck.

 

[HISSIN50]

Do the stock '89-'92 v8 mustangs come w/ 180* thermostats and a lower fan switch?

Camaros come w/ a 195* thermostat, and the fan turns on at 200* (I think).

Akshay.

they came from the factory with a 180 stat, but the fan does not kick on till 220*. that is per the manual.

the thermostat opening vs the fan coming on needs to have a larger spread than what you said. as listed, if the fan came on at 200* on a 195 stat, the fan would never shut off (it's shut down temp would likely be 190, below the t-stat opening gradient). so the fan would come on before the t-stat opened.

 

[SmockDoiley]

I'm 6'5 and I love my car. These things are so stupid simple to work on. It seems like everything can be changed on it in like 4 bolts or less. Another thing to look at is price. Not only are they cheaper to buy, but the performance parts are rock-bottom priced. You can do a full exhaust for the price of camaro headers. Mustangs dont overheat either, but for 60 bucks install a Kragen cheeso fan and lower thermostat and your already ahead of the game. Major downfalls: squirrely backends, weak brakes, and almost always totalled if you hit anything.

 

[Chris_Polley]

Thermostat

My '87 5.0 came from the factory with a 192 stat. The stock replacement part from Ford is also a 192.

they came from the factory with a 180 stat, but the fan does not kick on till 220*. that is per the manual.

the thermostat opening vs the fan coming on needs to have a larger spread than what you said. as listed, if the fan came on at 200* on a 195 stat, the fan would never shut off (it's shut down temp would likely be 190, below the t-stat opening gradient). so the fan would come on before the t-stat opened.

 

[HISSIN50]

My '87 5.0 came from the factory with a 192 stat. The stock replacement part from Ford is also a 192.

im talking about the temps and and parts in my 4th gen camaro. also, i mentioned the temp that the factory fan switch energizes the fan, and fox stangs dont come with electric fan.
no biggie.

 

[K.C.90gt]

My brother had a 94 z28 which I rode in a lot and drove and I didn't like the way it sits and how hard it is to work on. In the camaro it feels like your laying on the floor looking out of a bubble warped windshield and huge dash that blocks a lot of your view. The backseat is horrible in the camaro and any maintenance takes forever and costs more, also aftermarket parts are more for camaros. I love the way my stang is, plenty of interior room even the backseats, easy to see outta the windsheild, everything is simple to replace and aftermarket is endless and cheap. GET THE STANG