Hard To Find 4 Bangers

The Shape

Founding Member
Jan 11, 2002
2,224
8
49
East ARKANSAS Delta
Seems like 5 years ago there were a large supply of decent condition 87-93 fox 2.3 cars out there for a grand or less. I have been looking for one for a DD but haven't turned anything local up in a while. I guess they are all being lost to 5.0 conversions and turned in to mini stock race cars.
 
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Only fox mustangs I see on the road now are 5.0s.

Couldn't even tell you the last time I saw a 2.3 driving.

I bet most have found their way to the junkyard. Why else keep a 20-year old 88hp car kicking around for?
 
I see a few riding around here, haven't seen one for sale lately. Still got mine(my 2nd stang, on #5 now) sitting in the back yard. Still want to put my merker drivetrain in but haven't had the time or money
 
I just got one a couple of weeks ago . I thought they were pretty easy to find . Not as easy as a 5.0 but not hard . One owner , little old lady . No rust, dents or scratches . Lots o curb rash on every rim .

ry%3D400

Runs well but needs rear brakes in the next couple of weeks . Auto because the only 5spd's I could find needed a load of work .
 
89 year olds are not normally hard on trans . It was rebuilt 60k ago . I have owned tons of cars and have never had any let go on me . I replaced the first clutch in my Jeep at 184k because of the throw out bearing . The clutch was still good but I had purchased a new one so . I hear of people rebuilding the same trans in their cars at 30-40 thou when I own the same cars with 2 or 300k and never had a failure . Heck my Ford Focus has 295,000 on the original tranny and it still runs everyday . It it does go I will not put another old A/T in or rebuild it . Just as easy to swap a 5spd from a donor car . Drive a 2.3 like it's a 2.3 I say .
 
Oh and not swapping to a 5.0 . It would have been easier to just buy one . My Olds is fast , Jeep has loads of torque and Supercharged Regal is fast . No need to throw money at a DD 4cyl . The only other car is economical Focus wagon . No sarcasm or ill-feeling on my part , just saying .
 
So the trans is a FORD ? Fix Or Replace Daily ! Side note , I do want to swap for a 5spd . Who's running an adjustable vac modulator in their auto . They have them for the 2.3t . I have one in my Olds and it was the best low buck mod aside from the bigger gearing I added last year .
 
So the trans is a FORD ? Fix Or Replace Daily ! Side note , I do want to swap for a 5spd . Who's running an adjustable vac modulator in their auto . They have them for the 2.3t . I have one in my Olds and it was the best low buck mod aside from the bigger gearing I added last year .

Swap to a 5-speed is a great idea. The T-5 is a good, durable transmission behind the 2.3L, and it will also make the car a lot more fun to drive.