Newbe 85GT owner needs info. already searched site!

[joelliott]

I just decided to start toying with my dads old 1985.5 GT 5.0 today. I have a few questions. I have already searched alot on this and other stang sites before I get the ineviatible, "search the forum" messages. haha.

I am about to get a set of 17 inch cobra Rs 4lug, with tires. The front will be a 17x8 with 255-40-17 (4.95 in backspace) and the rear with 17x9 with 255-40-17 (5.95 backspace). The guy told me the set was put together to fit fox body mustangs with no rubbing. Is this true? And will the tires look ok under the car. They will be about .6 in shorter than the stock 225-60-15s on it now, but be an inch or so wider. Any input?

I also need to replace the rear shocks or struts. Not sure which is used here. It has the quadra shock system on it. If I went with the KYB replacements, would I have clearence issues with the rear tires? Any advice? Thanks a ton.

This site is great! have a nice evening.
Joe E.

 

[85GTlover]

Hey buddy I am pretty up on the 85gt I can pretty much tell you whatever you could want to know about the 85's. I have paid my dues put it that way and have spent hours and hours learning about them. PM any questions......awesome car just great especially when you put your heart and soul in it like I have. Those tires are quite low profile so I think you should be fine and 255's are fine too...no rubbing I figure especially at stock height.
The quad shocks should not cause a problem with those tires...get Bilstein shocks and struts, not cheap but last forever and good ride too.
Thinking about it the front may rub in sharp turns but may not, with the 8" 40 series you should be ok..like you said they are not much taller.

 

[joelliott]

Awsome. Nice to meet ya!
This was my dads car for some time now and the other day we decided that I should take it and put my time and effort into her so Im trying to get started.
As of right now it needs carb work. Some hestiation and things there. Any direction would be appreciated. Keep the stock and rebuild it or go new carb.? If so what should I look for?
I am also trying to find a seat belt clip for the drivers side. The lil plastic thing that holds the clip to the strap broke and now the clip no longer hangs on the belt. Also gonna retint the windows dark black to match the glossy back we had the car painted 6 months ago. I figured with the cobra r wheels and nice thick meaty tires itd look good.
Then the shocks. I need a good budget set right now. later Ill upgrade. In the rear there are 2 struts that keep the car up, and 2 shocks that handle the axle wrap? correct?
And Im having a lil bit of overheating too. Any suggestions? Thanks alot. I know this is a book here but I am soooooo excited about this car. We get people all the time wanting to buy it. The last of the carbs! Thanks again. Later.
Joe E.

 

[89MustangGX]

I wouldn't personally run the same size tire on two different sized rims...I'd either run a wider tire in the rear (narrower in front) or get the same sized rims.

What is an 85.5 GT?

 

[Dark Knight]

try www.foureyedpride.com



and no struts in back, just 4 shocks

 

[89MustangGX]

try www.foureyedpride.com

I didn't see any info there.

 

[v8only]

foureyedpride.com kicks ass!!

hit the forum button!! you'll be talking with a BUNCH of fellow four eyed 79-86 mustang owners, me included! ends and ends of info there.

kyb's suck as, keep them off of your stang. I haven't gone the shock/strut route yet but look into tokiko's. Good luck!

 

[MumftsGT]

Hey Joe,
I've had my 85 for 17 years and have done many upgrades over the years. I can answer many of your questions also. I tried the KYB Gas-a-justs and agree with v8only, they sucked. It may have been due to the fact I have stiff lowering springs (650lb front/200-250lb rear). I have the 17x8 99+ GT wheels with 245/40ZR17 tires and the fronts do rub the inner fender liner when turning too sharply. I don't have the dampners on the rear so I couldn't tell whether there is any clearance issue. You might try http://www.afswheels.com/v2/ for more information about which wheels you can use. As I recall, they are very informative. You can e-mail me with questions and I'll try to help you out. If I haven't done it yet, I've researched it.

Here is a pic I just uploaded with the wheels on my car. I love them, but now I need a new paint job.

 

[joelliott]

Man you guys are great! Thanks so much for the help and comments.
I was at foureyedpride website yesterday for hours. Looking at picts and trying to solve my wheel questions. 17s look incrediable on our fox's. Im definitly going with them and not 18s now. But I am still questioning the 255-40s. I have run 35 series tires on 20s so the 40 series low sidewall is no broblem. I also have a 90 Dakota lifted and mud tires. So Any mustang handles better than it. Cant take the mud the same ws but.....

Anyways, what size tires are you guys runnin?I like the wide meaty tire in the rear, but Im not into the skinny on the front. I know the 225-60s on there now are a good width for the front, but the rear I want wider! What kinda overall width would a 255-40-17 on a 17x9 in rims have?The calcs say the 255 is 10.04in wide. and the 225 is 8.9in wide. But on a wider rim the tires will be a bit wider right? Thanks.
I am bout to get this package. Just see how it goes. It is running shipped, mounted and bal for alittl over 900. Not bad. Ive spent upwards of 2500 on 20 and tires before. Stupid too!
If the KYBs suck, what would be a moderately priced alternative to the $400 set of tokico shocks?
Joe E.

 

[v8only]

try a search at the corral.net forums under the user name MFE and the subject shocks struts.

he is an absolute guru with suspension. you should find enough material from him to keep you reading for hours.

 

[maverick0716]

The 255/40/17's will rub in the front a little bit....although it is slightly shorter than stock. In the back you should really go with a 275/40/17 which would fit the wheel better and give you stock diameter (25.7-26.0"). Or maybe just go a little narrower on the front......like a 245/40/17

I'm also quite up to par with 85 GT info if you want to private message me about anything.

 

[MumftsGT]

Joe,
It sounds like you got a good price. It is about what I paid for my wheels and tires. As maverick said, if you get the 9" wheels, 275s would look awesome on the back.

I plan to get the Tokico Illuminas on mine soon. Maximum Motorsports has the Premiums for around $326. You may be able to find them cheaper elsewhere.

 

[ratrapp]

i don't know about the kyb gas a just but i have the kyb gr-2s and eibach springs for almost a year now and it has a firm but well handling ride on my car.stangs aren't the best riding cars but most people don't buy them for the ride do they?the only reason most people complain about springs or shock and strut packages is they usually do a suspension upgrade and add 17 or 18 wheels with a 45 or lower series sidewall and these ride rough with any suspension package.i have the 17 cobra r wheels on my car and i wouldn't trade the looks and handling of them for a better ride.

 

[PURESTREET5006]

It's nice to see another 4 eyed car...You don't see many of them anymore.I have on as well that was a "stock 85" when i bought in 94 for 500.00 from a guy who's son had it sitting for 7 yrs...It has only 65k on it now...and it's a class legal P/S car.

 

[SmockDoiley]

85's are the bomb. Sorry I cant answer your question because I went 5 lug with 235s in the front and 245s in the back. I think you'll rub because its the width, not the height that really causes the problem. Since a 245 is pretty wide for the fox, the 255 is even wider obviously. Though the rubbing will be minimal, I say go for it. As for the suspension, its struts in the front, and shocks in the back and then the mini quad shocks also on the back. If your going to replace your front struts, convert to 87+ spindles while your in there so you can upgrade your brakes. You can usually find those things in junkyards for cheap. Then replace your struts because 85 struts are different than 87+ struts. Just a thought because 85s have tiny rotors.

 

[joelliott]

HI guys. Nice to see so many mid 80s stangs here. I love this car. Been driving it for years now but it was offically my fathers. But he and I decided to "trade" cars, he want the comfort of my 98 chrysler, and of course I want the stang! But he basically left everything stock. Did a bit of exhaust work, flowmaster, H pipe, etc, but all else is stock. perfect for me to strt with!

Ive paid for the wheels tire combo and its being put together. I went ahead and stayed with the 255-40 on the rear cuz I dont wanna mess up the quad shock in the rear. I think its gonna be close as it is! In the near future if I see I have room I will get a pair of 275s for the rear. And keep the 255s for front replacements.

I am also trying to get the rear shocks replaced. I think Im gonna go with the KYBs right now. They are cheep, and will hopefully be there temporarily. Id like to use the Steeda 1 in drop springs and then put the tokico or bilstiens in. I also would have to get the camber caster plates right? Anyone know anything about these steedas?
What are you guys running for carbs? I need to replace the stock one or rebuild it. Id like to get into minor bolt ons soon, but nothing internal is gonna happen for a good while. Thanks

Yall are great!
Joe E.

 

[89MustangGX]

I still don't know what an 85.5 GT is.

 

[maverick0716]

I still don't know what an 85.5 GT is.

It must have been a typo. The only 1985.5 mustang is the SVO.

 

[SmockDoiley]

Dont go larger than a 650 Holley. I'd say run an Edelbrock RPM intake and Road Demon 625. Great setup there.

 

[MumftsGT]

Joe,
SmockDoiley is right about the brakes. It is one of the first upgrades I would make since 79-86s only have 10" rotors. I changed mine over a long time ago to the 87-93 spindles, but have changed them again. I now have the 94-95 spindles and 99+ PBR calipers on the front and Mark VII rear discs. I will probably upgrade to cobras on the front after I get my car painted and replace my shocks and struts. I still have the 87 stuff laying around in the garage.

What aftermarket carbs are you all running? I upgraded my intake to a Performer302 several years ago when I had the engine overhauled, but I am still running the stock carb. I have been considering the Road Demon in either 525 or 625 CFM. MM&FF tested the 525 on a car with a C4 and World Products iron heads and it ran low 12s. In the same article they ran a 575 CFM Speed Demon on a Strip Mustang with a 393, swapping it with a 750 Holley. Out of the box, they ran almost identicle times. I know that my af ratio has to be way off, since I have a full mac 2.5" exhaust (shorties, H-Pipe w/cats and cat-back) and GT40 heads.