Restoring the old Eight Nine Stang

[TheTopher]

Well throw 'em on and lets find out.

 

[RatDog8o8]

I've got an '89 GT Hatch, that I'm on the fence about as far as selling. Not near the engine you have, though. Mine's got the 65mm EGR/TB upgrade, Crane 1.7 roller rockers, fenderwell cold-air kit, and a set of Taylor plug wires. AOD with a B&M Hammer shifter. Did the 140mph speedo "upgrade", and the 5-lug conversion with American Racing Ansen Sprints (aluminum slots). Needs carpet and weatherstripping. Just don't have the driveway room for it and my Ranger & CJ-7, plus trying to find time to tinker with all 3. Other half says it's up to me if I keep or sell......NOW she leaves a decision up to me!!!

 

[shane96ranger]

I've got an '89 GT Hatch, that I'm on the fence about as far as selling. Not near the engine you have, though. Mine's got the 65mm EGR/TB upgrade, Crane 1.7 roller rockers, fenderwell cold-air kit, and a set of Taylor plug wires. AOD with a B&M Hammer shifter. Did the 140mph speedo "upgrade", and the 5-lug conversion with American Racing Ansen Sprints (aluminum slots). Needs carpet and weatherstripping. Just don't have the driveway room for it and my Ranger & CJ-7, plus trying to find time to tinker with all 3. Other half says it's up to me if I keep or sell......NOW she leaves a decision up to me!!!

I was in the same boat as you 6 years ago. What really turned me around from putting a for sale sign in it was my wife. She told me to hang on to it or I'd be kicking myself for years. I have witnessed this with my Dad, who bought a 69 Camaro new and he sold it when I was born. He's been looking for one just like it for a few years now, but can't seem to find the right one.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like it's too far behind mine in mods. You're a wrecked Explorer away from catching me, LOL. I also need carpet, and some other interior stuff. I opted to do the exterior first because I didn't want it to go through another winter. It's in a heated shop for the winter now =). I need to go work on it and get some of the stuff done while it's in there.

If it were me, I'd find a way to keep it. Doing this meant mine had to sit in the backyard for 4 or 5 years, but I'm glad I did. I just made sure to go start it every week or two to keep the blood flowing.

Oh, and the heated shop is my friends transmission business. He told me last Friday he's going to pull the T5 out of it and build it for me when it gets slow.

 

[shane96ranger]

Well throw 'em on and lets find out.

I need to. I want to do it at my house though, so I'm a couple months away. It's not budging until the snow goes away.

 

[RatDog8o8]

My headers aren't near as shiny as yours, either.....and there's an X-pipe ready to replace the H-pipe. Plans are to find smaller mufflers than the Flowmasters so they'll "tuck up" better. A few rusty spots (not through, yet....) to fix, re-wire the rear defroster, door hinge-pin kit......just little things.

 

[91rangerxlt]

love the stang man, i just got a turbod 4.6 outa a lincoln im lookin for an old fox body to put it in. beautiful car though.

 

[backroad101]

Does anyone make an aftermarket taillight for this era Mustang that does not look ricer? Everything you see on eBay, for example, is either stock or ricer. I have always liked this era Mustang and thought about getting one and what I would do to it. Have never seen a taillight that basically updates the look. Maybe something that keeps the same basic design but adds updates such as crystal-like lenses. Or maybe change up the design just a little where people say "what is different about those lights?" Or maybe a light cluster similar to the 67 Shelbys.

I just think all the ricer stuff just doesn't look right for this era Mustang

.

 

[shane96ranger]

love the stang man, i just got a turbod 4.6 outa a lincoln im lookin for an old fox body to put it in. beautiful car though.

Thank you very much! I like the sounds of your project. Make a thread for it on here when you get it going. I'd like to watch your build. The 4.6 can be a monster for it's size.

Does anyone make an aftermarket taillight for this era Mustang that does not look ricer? Everything you see on eBay, for example, is either stock or ricer. I have always liked this era Mustang and thought about getting one and what I would do to it. Have never seen a taillight that basically updates the look. Maybe something that keeps the same basic design but adds updates such as crystal-like lenses. Or maybe change up the design just a little where people say "what is different about those lights?" Or maybe a light cluster similar to the 67 Shelbys.

I haven't seen an aftermarket tail light that looks good on them yet. The smoked ones look OK to me, but I wouldn't put them on my car. They don't make me want to hurl. There's a particular design that makes me gag every time I see them. It has 3 circles with chrome surrounding it. It is the most hideous thing I've ever seen.

I did stray from factory on the front marker lights though. The factory markers are amber, and I put these clear one in the link below on mine. I had a hard time coming to that decision, but they are relatively cheap if I want to go back.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com...stang-Economy-Headlight-Kit-Clear-Sidemarkers

I just think all the ricer stuff just doesn't look right for this era Mustang.

Truer words can not be spoken of Mustang lighting.


.

 

[TheTopher]

Ditching amber for clear makes a WORLD of difference on a white car. It looks 10x better.

 

[shane96ranger]

My headers aren't near as shiny as yours, either.....and there's an X-pipe ready to replace the H-pipe. Plans are to find smaller mufflers than the Flowmasters so they'll "tuck up" better. A few rusty spots (not through, yet....) to fix, re-wire the rear defroster, door hinge-pin kit......just little things.

I know what you mean. My mufflers are seriously 1/2 inch from the subframe. I have looked for something smaller that sounds similar to my Mac Flowpaths (a little throatier than a Flowmaster) but can't quite find it. The closest I can find are the Pypes M80's. Here's a video of an 88 with some on it:

 

[shane96ranger]

Ditching amber for clear makes a WORLD of difference on a white car. It looks 10x better.

Thanks! I'm glad to hear some feedback on them.

 

[TheTopher]

Thanks! I'm glad to hear some feedback on them.

Allow me to do my best AllanD impression.

*Clears throat*

Amber corners on a white car look like piss spots in the snow.

 

[shane96ranger]

Allow me to do my best AllanD impression.

*Clears throat*

Amber corners on a white car look like piss spots in the snow.

LOL. It's highly unlikely that he'll comment on my car though, so I appreciate you impersonating him for me =). He seems pretty steamed about me posting songs in his thread instead of albums. He's a nice enough guy though, full of RBV knowledge.

 

[TheTopher]

No worries, don't take it too seriously. He's just a steamed guy in general, whether he agrees or disagrees. One time I mentioned how much it annoyed me when old car guys called any form of limited slip "Posi" and called a welded diff "True posi" and Allan wrote a 1 page rant about how much he agreed. Lots you can learn from him once you stop getting offended lol.

So how's about a close up of those clears?

 

[RatDog8o8]

I did the darkened headlights with my 'stang. It's black, so I thought it fit pretty good. Thought about getting the wheels powdercoated black, but once they were on I left them as is. Should it stay, I'm going to check into a cowl-induction hood. A short one, maybe 1.5" on the scoop. What I'd like is a set of louvers for the hatch window.