Buying a 5.0 mustang. 351w? Have $3k. Few questions....

[Cutter1024]

I just sold my non running MR2 for $2k, and going to sell my subaru for some more cash. I should have about $3k to play with, maybe $3500. I seen a few nice mustangs I would be interested in but one was a 1985 GT, and the other was a 1986. Both in great condition outside with little wear inside. Some mods, mostly upgraded carbs, gears, intake and full exhaust and weld wheels. Should i stay away from those years as i heard only the new fox bodys had forged pistons? Im looking to have a reliable streetable 12 second car and in the future build a 306 or 347 stroker.

Should I be worried about the stock t-5 tranny going out also? Most cars I have been looking at have over 100k miles, and have stock trannys. My goal is to find one that has a awesome body/paint/interior but stock motor, or a built motor and decent everything else. I know I cant get it all for my price range. Also found a few for sale that had 351w motors installed. I know they are stronger, but should I sacrafice a nice looking/running 5.0 for one maybe not in as good as shape for a 351w?

I would like to run a 100 shot of nitrous at the track. Not looking for a 500hp monster.... around 300rwhp would be nice. My MR2 had 280rwhp and weighed 2900lbs and i was happy with that.

Thanks guys, please let me know what i should do. I also want a 5 speed.... no automatics.

 

[Bay_Stang]

first off no mustangs came with forged pistons they were cast aluminum, i can guarantee you that. and secondly its been my opinion that the clean looking almost stock mustangs are the way to go. ive found in the past when buying one that someone else has already started modifying, most of the time they dont know what there doing and you spend more money fixing what they screwed up, or never should have done in the first place. soo just be cautious.

also know that 85 & 86 mustangs had less base HP than say 87-93 and the earlier head design was terrible. soo if your looking to get into the 12 sec your definitley going to need to make some significant changes. so it might be better to look into a later model.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

first off no mustangs came with forged pistons they were cast aluminum, i can guarantee you that. and secondly its been my opinion that the clean looking almost stock mustangs are the way to go. ive found in the past when buying one that someone else has already started modifying, most of the time they dont know what there doing and you spend more money fixing what they screwed up, or never should have done in the first place. soo just be cautious.

also know that 85 & 86 mustangs had less base HP than say 87-93 and the earlier head design was terrible. soo if your looking to get into the 12 sec your definitley going to need to make some significant changes. so it might be better to look into a later model.

Is that a cash guarantee? Cause you're dead wrong, the areo foxes had them all the way till 93 when they got the hyptertoocrackits, they didnt have forged rods but they sure as hell had forged pistons

 

[1991notchbackLX]

first off no mustangs came with forged pistons they were cast aluminum, i can guarantee you that.

Really? Owned.

 

[Bay_Stang]

i stand corrected. and by the way, its spelt "HYPEREUTECTIC"

 

[90lxcoupe]

i stand corrected. and by the way, its spelt "HYPEREUTECTIC"

it was a joke mr guarantee man. kind of like a play on words, with the "crack" in it because of the pistons likelyness to come apart

 

[BPA]

i stand corrected. and by the way, its spelt "HYPEREUTECTIC"

Kind of like how you used the word spelt instead of using spelled. Using the term hypertoocracktic would be a less common way of saying the same thing. If you dont know the lingo or what your talking about, you should do a bit more research before you post and give people false info.:Zip2:

 

[Cutter1024]

I never owned a mustang, and was never into them untill now.... I know the later year foxes have forged pistons untill 1993.

I just wanted to know if buying a 1985 GT is a bad idea? It has some mods, but overall really clean. Stock body except for weld wheels. 750 carb, 8.8 rear with 4.10 gears, x pipe, exhaust, headers, intake, well..... here is the mod list straight from the add....

"whats up i have a 85 mustang gt 5 speed. the car runs great. to be totally honest i really dont want to let it go. but i lost my job not to long ago and i just dont have time or money for her anymore. THE BAD.the car is an 85 so it does have a few spots of surface rust. just on bottom of door, little spot behind rear tire in drivers side and on hatch. very minor. very easy fix. the paint looks great!!! no clear coat chipping. also the drivers seat has a small rip. also easy fix. THE GOOD! it has a worked 302. edelbrock intake and 750 carb. 1.6 roller rockers. machined heads. msd 6al box and distributer. bbk long tubes with flowmaster x pipe and flowmaster tailpipes. welded frame ties. eibach drag springs. 8.8 rear with 4.10 posi. moser 31 spline axles. pro 5.0 short shifter. pillar pod gauges that all work. cd player with two 12's in the trunk. the battery was relocated to the trunk with a cut off switch behind the tag. the car has weld draglite rims 15x3.5 front and 15x10 rear. front tires have about 80% tred. rear have about 50-60 %. car also has a 4 inch fiberglass cowl hood. i do have the stock hood if you want it.

like i said the car runs great. the tranny goes through all the gears as smooth as butter. i have never had a problem with this car. it is pa inspected and is my daily driver. and i have a 2 year old son so you know its a safe car. i have alot of time and money in this car so please no lowblows!


Picture

 

[Shaolin Crane]

i stand corrected. and by the way, its spelt "HYPEREUTECTIC"

View attachment 214694

 

[Cutter1024]

Here is another pic of the car im thinking of getting. He is asking $3500 OBO.

 

[kpack5982]

Looks like a nice 85. That definitely wouldn't turn me off just because the year. There're vehicles in so many years in pretty much any conceivable state. 85s were carbed of course and 86s were the first year for fuel injection, but if you plan on doing heads on an 86 they don't have the valve reliefs you need for the aftermarket heads. That and I think the 86s were lower on hp too, but I could be wrong. Right now I'm trying to find a car in the 3k range here in iowa and it seems like I may be better off saving for a while because all the cars I've looked at are just complete piles.

 

[Cutter1024]

Im just worried i will have a rough time trying to get a older fox into the 12's with a stock internal motor. It doesnt really bother me.... but around here (close to philly) there are alot of 12-13 second turbo civics on the road, and dont want everyone of them to smoke me. I just sold my 91 MR2 turbo, and they have 200/200 stock. I had some minor bolt ons, and it put down 270rwhp. Even that car got beat by a few civics. Few buddies have mild TT supras in the 11's, and would be nice to at least keep up.

I dont do alot of racing, mostly cruising, but when we go to shows and meets together there is some fooling around. Who wouldnt when you get some high horsepower cars together?

 

[Strippt88]

First thing, buy what you like and build it how you want, none of the grown ups care what the cool kids have. You're on the right track with either a nice 85 or 86. Having done my 'fooling around' I can tell you you will ALWAYS find a guy who goes faster unless you are John Force. The heads on those two cars were different, but the 85 has no computer-its easier to modify. The 86 had electronic computer injection, but somewhat of a head restriction problem. A quick porting of those or a newer set of E7's can get big gains without shoveling out big $ for aftermarket jobbies. I like the car you posted the pic of(I want the Welds) it looks like a great place to start. And again from experience, 12's is easy to do if tie up the chassis right, get the motor breathing and (this is the biggest issue) learn to drive it. My stock internal 86 GT(88 motor I never opened) ran 11.40's with Southsides, welded subframes, no front swaybar, off road H pipe and Flowmasters on M/H Streetmastrers and a 150 shot, in April 89. Its easy!

 

[Cobra912]

Looks like a nice 85. That definitely wouldn't turn me off just because the year. There're vehicles in so many years in pretty much any conceivable state. 85s were carbed of course and 86s were the first year for fuel injection, but if you plan on doing heads on an 86 they don't have the valve reliefs you need for the aftermarket heads. That and I think the 86s were lower on hp too, but I could be wrong. Right now I'm trying to find a car in the 3k range here in iowa and it seems like I may be better off saving for a while because all the cars I've looked at are just complete piles.

Are there any other years other than a four eyed worth owning?

J/K

That looks like a sweet ride for that price!

 

[Cutter1024]

What would a good estimate be on 1/4 mile time with that 85gt and those mods?

 

[Strippt88]

What would a good estimate be on 1/4 mile time with that 85gt and those mods?

The quarter mile of that car (hell, any older car) completely rests on the guy driving it. Someone who knows how to drive could rip off a 12 I would think. And that is assuming that long list of parts match right and its tuned. Just throwing parts at a 5.0 ain't the answer, you need Yoda behind the wheel to make it all work.

 

[Strippt88]

Btw, 85 Canyon Red was more of a tomato red color, not cherry red(prolly Porsche Gaurds Red) like that, and the headlight buckets should be black- I think she been painted. That isn't a bad thing, just look it over.

 

[281pony]

my notch makes roughly 300/315 on a mustang dyno. i just ran 13.0 at 109.5 mph on 18" street tires. this is with a stock bottom end 302. trickflow heads, stage 1 tfs cam, systemax intake. it made 292 with my trickflow intake. im estimating it picked up 8 rwhp with the holley swap. it could be more/less.

my car is also setup real well suspension wise. this was with a t-5 and 4:10s. 12's are just tires away.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

Are there any other years other than a four eyed worth owning?

J/K

That looks like a sweet ride for that price!

Uhm Yeah, see sig

 

[NIKwoaC]

You guys are smoking dope. The 5.0 has had forged pistons AND FORGED RODS all the way back to the early 4 eye days. I don't remember the exact year it started but it was at least 82 when the 5.0 was re-released.

Both the 85 and 86 are slower in stock form than the 87 and newer cars, but they are both just as good candidates for modding. Keep in mind the 86 does not have valve notches, which makes swapping heads trickier.