Used Fox Mustang Question

[Silver_04]

I'm looking at picking up an '86 Mustang GT this week -yep a good ol' four eye- and was wondering if anyone here ever owned one. If so, did you have any trouble with it and what should I look out for? I haven't seen the car yet, but the guy selling it told me it needs a bit of love and that's okay...I'm looking for a project car I won't void the warranty on.

Thanks,
Chris

[FiveO]

I've got an 84 GT, Red...mint shape. 58K original miles.

Never had any problems with it other than minor and obvious stuff....exhaust rust, etc.

My father has an 86 GT but its very heavily modified and has a 93 Cobra engine.

Look for rust underneath.

If you're in it for a project car...you've got the right year. If I recall...86 was the first of the fuel injected engines...and mods much easier than the carbed ones like mine.

Good luck! Great choice in cars btw....I love the 'ol foxy four eyes.

You could register at www.foureyedpride.com and ask there...they'd know more.

[Silver_04]

Good luck! Great choice in cars btw....I love the 'ol foxy four eyes.

Thanks. This is what I aspire to have if everything works out.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=38 84

[Tallboy]

i've got an 83 glx 5.0 5-speed i've had for 20 years. check alignment of radiator to radiator support mount. check alignment of fenders on inner shields. the fox-bodies will crumple like a piece of paper if they're hit...

[Silver_04]

the fox-bodies will crumple like a piece of paper if they're hit...

Really? I thought they were fairly strong cars. That just gives me an excuse for a cage then he he he.

[gpfarrell]

I'm looking at picking up an '86 Mustang GT this week -yep a good ol' four eye- and was wondering if anyone here ever owned one. If so, did you have any trouble with it and what should I look out for? I haven't seen the car yet, but the guy selling it told me it needs a bit of love and that's okay...I'm looking for a project car I won't void the warranty on.

Thanks,
Chris

86 GT... pretty fun car. I've had my '85 for just about 10 years now.

As mentioned above, I'd look at the front inner-fenders very carefully... most 5.0s have been wrecked. If it still has a thin metal tag on the front of the core support, that's a good indicator it hasn't been bent hard, because body shops rarely bothered to put those back on.

The '86 was the first year for good fuel injection; the 85 automatics had some junk throttle-body deal. Unfortunately, the were speed-density cars that weren't real open to some mods like intakes, because the fuel injection system couldn't recognize the improvements.

Scrap the factory cats; Ford was really cheap with them and they're very restrictive. Mac has a great hi-flow cat, or you can just put an H-pipe on it as long as you only drive on the track (like the one Dan references :))

Subframe connectors should be welded in. Those Foxes twisted all over the place, and won't launch or steer well until you've got something stronger than rug holding the car together.

3.55 gears are nice; '86 was the first year for the 8.8 rear-end. Sniff around here and you can get a take-out set from a MM for next to nothing.

Headers would help.

Eibach's mild springs... I think they lower it about an inch, make a huge difference.

Swapping in '87+ V8 rotors will give you bigger discs, and Lincoln Mark VII calipers will bolt on using '87+ Mustang brake pads... that will help it stop cheap.

Hurst shifters should have been standard... to easy to over-shift and crush the synchros, or just miss 3rd with the stock shifter.

AOD cars are wonder sources for parts but should never be driven... spoils the pony attitude!

Trunk lids and hatches all rust above the left taillight here in the rustbelt.

85-86 GT front bumper covers are really rare. The regular Mustangs didn't have driving lite cutouts, Fomoco discontinued them ages ago, and since they've all been wrecked twice by now its tough to find a clean front bumper cover.

I have to get some ice cream now.

Good luck!

Greg

[gdmjoe]

Have a '86 GT ( bought new - now has 34K miles ) that's been mod'ed with SVO components - rims ( 5 lug conversion ), bi-plane spoilers, rear wheel spats, interior components, etc. - and a warmed-over 5.0.

Since it's uni-body construction, the 5.0's are notorious for stress fractures ( depending on how they're driven ).

For sure consider strut tower and K-member braces and sub-frames connectors are also a +(plus). May also want to look into a brace for the rear shock towers.

Great vehicles, plenty of available parts and alternatives ( FoMoCo as well as after market ). Enjoy the ride.

[Constable]

I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet:

'86 302 HO blocks feature flat top pistons. The hot mod out there is to use an '86 short block and top it off with a set of late model Explorer 302 heads. The small combustion chambers matched with the flat top pistons make a nice high-compression combo. You can get the heads from PEP BOYS (that's right) for a few hundred bucks! This supposedly yields about a 300hp long block...

[ParkRanger]

I'm looking at picking up an '86 Mustang GT this week -yep a good ol' four eye- and was wondering if anyone here ever owned one. If so, did you have any trouble with it and what should I look out for? I haven't seen the car yet, but the guy selling it told me it needs a bit of love and that's okay...I'm looking for a project car I won't void the warranty on.

Thanks,
Chris

Bought an 86' GT Black Mustang (Gray inside) for my wife brand new. Had it for 4 years and ran like a charm with a lot of giddyup just stock. Actually car was too much for Linda and she almost lost it a few times cornering a little too fast. A lot of HP for the weight!!! Bought it new for 14K and sold it for 9K 4 yrs later to a minor league baseball player (Phillies org.) Hated to lose it but it was just too much for her. Buy it!!

PR :burnout:

:beer: