new 88' lx 5.0 owner
10-14-2013, 07:45 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: rhode island
Posts: 17
new 88' lx 5.0 owner
i'm a 24 year old deployed soldier and just bought my first mustang. It's an 88' lx 5.0 hatchback. It's not in the best of shape needs some TLC but thats why i bought it, it's going to be my first minor project car. Currently it sits at my friends who i purchased it from and he is going to be doing some work on it so it's ready when i get back. As the car sits right now it needs a paint job and the interior has a little work that needs to be done but that will be all set for when i get back as per the signed gentleman's agreement between myself and him. My questions are this: it has already had headers and a flowmaster exhaust installed, what should go next after that? it has also been through a transmission swap from an auto to stick with a brand new clutch and short shifter put in, anything else that should go with that? i'm new to the performance tuning market with some car knowledge from auto votech in high school but still need some advice with my first pony.
10-14-2013, 08:04 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ohio
Posts: 3,628
Most guys ( including myself ) the first thing to get swapped is the stock rear gears.
Not sure what the 88 came stock with an aod , usually either 3.08 or 2.73 . Going to a 3.55 , 3.73, or 4.10 rear gear will really put some pep into the car.
It all comes down to your intended use for the vehical. If you want a nice driver or a mean bad to the bone beast. The most common mods are h/c/I Heads , cam , intake, for some quick bolt on power.
Not sure what the 88 came stock with an aod , usually either 3.08 or 2.73 . Going to a 3.55 , 3.73, or 4.10 rear gear will really put some pep into the car.
It all comes down to your intended use for the vehical. If you want a nice driver or a mean bad to the bone beast. The most common mods are h/c/I Heads , cam , intake, for some quick bolt on power.
10-14-2013, 08:58 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: rhode island
Posts: 17
it has either 2.73 or 3.27 gears in the rear stock either way i'm not sticking with those. i just did a little research on them and i think 3.73 is the way i'm going to go, a nice balance between performance and daily driver/cruiser which is what i'm going for. i want to have a little and take a civic if they come up to the light revving their folgers can exhaust at me yet not go overboard and make it a strictly drag car. whats the best route for an intake in your opinion since i think my end state goal will be to have the car pushing around 400-425 hp
10-14-2013, 09:01 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: rhode island
Posts: 17
i thought the same thing when i first saw it but once i got in a lot closer it was a lot clearer that its just the appearance that needed the work and that its a fully functioning car with potential. i was surprised that there was very limited rust for a 25 year old new england car and the little bit that is there is being fixed while i am away
10-14-2013, 11:44 PM
#9
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ohio
Posts: 3,628
Performance wise ? depends on the heads you choose but even the gt40x heads are a vast improvement over the stock restrictors ford used on the cars. Youll flow more air/fuel in more exhaust out. Not to mention the heat reduction from the top end , and the approximate 25lbs per head loss in weight. Just stay away from any cheap Chinese imitation junk . Stick with frpp (ford racing performance parts) , you will be tempted to save money on the cheaper Chinese crap but it will cost you more in the long run when they drop a valve and destroy a piston and cylinder .
