My 1990 Mustang SSP Project

[Jim Oaks]

I recently purchased a 1990 Special Service Package (SSP) Ford Mustang from a guy in St. Louis. Ford built these cars from 1982-1993. They were only available for law enforcement agencies to order in 1983. The 1982 cars were California Highway Patrol only.

Here is a photo of the buck tag on the core support:

You can see where it has Frisco Police stamped on it. The car was a special order specifically for Frisco Texas Police.

This car is one of two projects I have going on this year. My plan is to restore it back to it's original in-service condition.

The car had a hard life. It was wrecked a couple of times the first year FPD had it. One of the female officers said it had "too much power for such a little car". At some point it had a major mechanical failure that left parts laying on the highway. The car was eventually retired from being a white traffic car, painted black, and given to the detectives to drive.

The car was eventually sold and changed hands a few times. When I got it there was no longer a motor or transmission in it. There isn't ANYTHING under the hood except for some wiring. Even the heater box is gone.

I noticed that the inner fender aprons look like they've been buckled, and the front core support is definitely tweeked. The wheelbase seems to match on both sides, but when I measured from opposite axle corners on both sides, the drivers side came up 1/4" shorter than then passenger side. I want to take it to a body shop and have them check the frame/unibody and see if it needs straightened before I start working on it.

I also need a new radiator core support. I'm definitely not looking forward to replacing it. The front inner fender aprons I can get new for $150 a pair.

So far I've bought a 5.0L/Auto transmission from a 1990 Lincoln Mark VII to go in it. I need to find all the A/C parts and heater box. A junk yard will gouge me. I need to find someone who's removed this stuff on their drag car.

I was under the car last night. It's super clean. No rust anywhere on this car.

 

[7.5L_STX]

definately lookin forward to seein some progress on this.

 

[1ATony]

I like those old cruiser cop cars.

 

[shane96ranger]

VERY COOL! I was about to ask if you'd bought one Jim. I look forward to watching this project.

Mine has a slightly buckled inner apron too. It actually throws my hood to fender alignment off a pinch. I actually need to realign things the way I had them when I took it in to be painted.

The core supports are still available new. Just an FYI that the 90-93 are different than the older ones. I believe it has something to do with the air bag sensors, but I'm not 100% positive.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/LRS-16138A/90-93-Mustang-Radiator-Core-Support

 

[wahlstrom1]

I remember as a kid reading an old copy of something like Car & Driver magazine where they went on a ride-a-long with a sheriff in a similiar car. He mentioned 5th gear was too tall, as there was never enough open hwy to wind it out in top gear. Also said most people where intimidated by it as it took nothing for it to show up in their rear view mirror so they pulled over before it led to a chase.

 

[shane96ranger]

He mentioned 5th gear was too tall, as there was never enough open hwy to wind it out in top gear.

This is exactly why one of the most popular mods is a lower ratio gear set. I really felt 5th gear wasn't all that useful until I was in the 70-75 mph range. Going from my factory 2.73 to a 3.55 helped that out. There have been several times when I wish I'd done 3.73's instead, but the 3.55's are a great all around gear for a 5 speed.

 

[Clay Lorance]

I am definately going to keep track of this build. Good luck Jim!

 

[shane96ranger]

Jim, I just thought you may like to check out this site. It's a great source for wiring diagrams and pinouts on the ECU and sensors, etc.

EDIT: Forgot to add it also has vacuum diagrams

http://www.veryuseful.com/

 

[Jim Oaks]

Today I sorted through the parts that came with the car and took some 'before' photos.

There is something I need input on:

You can see where someone had welded in a motor mount on the drivers side. You can see where it's missing from the passenger side. Is there anything there that's missing, or been cut away, that the factory motor mount bolts to? I need to remove the one on the drivers side, I just wasn't sure if the factory mount bolted in to the spot I have circled below, or if something else is missing.

 

[KMRS87]

I have a fox coupe in my driver sitting if you need any references altho mines a 4cyl turbo so its not much help. but that being said the passenger side is correct an the mount welded to the driver side has to be removed. the hole an slot are whats used with the factory mounts.

 

[shane96ranger]

You aren't missing anything. The motor mounts go right on those perches.

Here's a pic of the factory vs. tubular:

I'm not sure why the hell someone would weld anything there. There's a lot easier ways of having a solid mount.

BTW, when you get mounts, get some for a convertible. They are stronger than the coupe/hb mounts.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I think one of the biggest things I'm going to need is the whole heater/ac box for the firewall. Mine is missing.

I'm also missing the vent (blue) in the center of the dash. Someone took it out to put some gauges in there.

And for some reason, the nut that holds the steering wheel is missing. Vanessa got in it to steer while I pushed it out of the garage, and when she held the steering wheel to pull the seat forward, the steering wheel came off. Where do I get that???

 

[bobbywalter]

there was a loose nut behind the wheel?




i would head to the local yard for the needed parts jim....k member box and nut....gauge deal may be hard to get as many do that.

 

[shane96ranger]

I would call Mustang Parts Specialties for the heater box. CJ Pony parts also has some cars they part out as well, but not near as many as MPS. The heater boxes are kind of difficult to find already out of the car.

http://mpsautosalvage.com/sunshop/

http://www.cjponyparts.com/Default.aspx

 

[shane96ranger]

I was looking around on Ebay and found this heater box. It doesn't have the core or condenser, but you probably want that new anyway. It says it's in Tiffin Ohio.....I don't know how close that is to you. Even if you have it shipped, it's a pretty decent deal for 66 dollars shipped (to my zip code).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MUST...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories