Some information please

[merc123]

I've given up on getting a 03 GT so I was looking into getting a 5.0. Anyone know how reliable these are and what are the first things to go on them?

In particular, I've found:

1989 FORD MUSTANG, 5 spd, V8, pw, pdl, cruise, ac, am/fm/CD player, new paint, tires and brakes all around, garage kept, good condition, $3900

Any comments or opinions? I was thinking of maybe rebuilding the motor for more performance. Maybe cams, internals, gears and a few other things. What else would I need with approximate cost? Thanks!

 

[BlackGT89]

1989 FORD MUSTANG, 5 spd, V8, pw, pdl, cruise, ac, am/fm/CD player, new paint, tires and brakes all around, garage kept, good condition, $3900

Any comments or opinions? I was thinking of maybe rebuilding the motor for more performance. Maybe cams, internals, gears and a few other things. What else would I need with approximate cost? Thanks!

Looks pretty clean to me and the price isn't bad either. Main concerns would be how well has it been cared for and how well does it drive. The heater core would be something to check. See if the heater works, if not look under the hood and see if it's been bypassed. Feel the carpet on the passengers side and see if it's damp or smells like antifreeze. But if all else looks good heater cores can be fixed, it's just good to know. Look under the car real good for leaks (look on the floor where it's been parked). Getting it up on a rack would be the best way. While you're under it check the floorpan for cracks around the driver's seat (check the pillars around the windshield as well), check the torque boxes, but they are probably okay if it hasn't had power adders. Add on parts are like butter for these cars. Good luck !

 

[88stangmangt]

ya, i had a 2003 torch red gt for bout 3 weeks then ford took it back from me. they "thought" i was to high or a risk it was the first new car i had owned yet. it was nice fully loaded with leather alloy pony rims would chirp wheels all the way up to 3rd stock. But i am a mod freak so there isnt much other than supercharger's/turbo's that you can do for them yet. so i took all the money ford didnt think i had (1k a month after bills) and put it in the 88gt so i now have a vortech supercharger,re-build kit,custom cam on my floor and much more to come.

 

[merc123]

which is a better motor to use in these, 302 or 351?

 

[merc123]

Looks pretty clean to me and the price isn't bad either. Main concerns would be how well has it been cared for and how well does it drive. The heater core would be something to check. See if the heater works, if not look under the hood and see if it's been bypassed. Feel the carpet on the passengers side and see if it's damp or smells like antifreeze. But if all else looks good heater cores can be fixed, it's just good to know. Look under the car real good for leaks (look on the floor where it's been parked). Getting it up on a rack would be the best way. While you're under it check the floorpan for cracks around the driver's seat (check the pillars around the windshield as well), check the torque boxes, but they are probably okay if it hasn't had power adders. Add on parts are like butter for these cars. Good luck !

BTW, can you give me some reasons for these things? Like the bypass, the antifreeze, etc.

 

[ECU5.0]

people bypass the heater core because A) they dont ever use it or B) its busted and they dont want to replace it. its not that hard of a job, just time consuming. the antifreeze on the passenger side floor board is from the heater core leaking and coolant leaking down through the hvac box onto the floor. i personally did not have any antifreeze on my floor board when mine leaked, but a lot of people do. another thing that tends to go bad on these is water pumps. again not a hard fix at all. looks like a really nice car man, i paid 4200 for mine and it doesnt look anywhere near that nice. but yeah, like mentioned above, just check for leaks under the car. these cars will run forever if maintained well.