diverguy64

Hi, this forum is great. I have a question for you Mustang veterans: I'm looking at buying a '96 Mustang GT and I've found out that the oil pan needs replacing...however, Ford tells me they no longer sell the part as it's "obsolete". That's a scary thought when you're looking at buying a car... here's the question: are there a lot of parts for the 4.6 litre V8 that are now obsolete and hard to get?

Dan04COBRA

No. Ford might not manufacture one, but you can get one from just about any parts store.

n/a_threat

get a canton oil pan and you might consider a windage tray too

diverguy64

Good idea. Too bad the engine has to be jacked up to get the pan replaced. That's gonna cost a fortune.

gt96stang

Eh, I'd pass on the car... No telling what else is going to be needing replaced once you start really getting into it.

n/a_threat

+1 trust your gut

gary96gt

unless your gettin a retarded deal on it I agree, I bought my 96 gt a couple months age for $2400. even though it was in good condition I needed to show it some love, and I ended up putting about $500 into it to bring it up to my standards albeit my beater daily driver. check the intake manifold to see if it has the aluminum crossover because if it doesnt you WILL end up replacing it. I did, and the dealer charges like $700, unless you can do it yourself like I did with a neighbor and a 12-pack of beer. we knocked it out in about 3 hours.

good luck but dont forget, its a ten year old car. there will be stupid stuff that goes wrong

with all that said I have no regrets with mine, I am havin a blast with it

diverguy64

Thanks for the advice. I took it into the dealer (where the oil pan issue was brought to light) and they gave it a thorough go-over from end to end. Minor issues (sticking parking brake, windshield washer fluid switch, air conditioning compressor has minor leak) but the real issue is the oil pan. The seller has agreed to replace it at his cost and the remainder of the car seems in great shape - undercoated each year, some performance upgrades. If I end up buying it, it'll just be a summer toy anyway. I'll check the intake manifold.

Black_sunshine

sounds like the parts guy u went to was lazy.what u need to do is get the part # as ford is always up grading there parts.I did ford parts for like 5 + years and u would be amazed at how many parts are still avalable.A good parts dept.If u want the car to be 100% all ford than do this if not go after market.

Twister

not nearly as many as there was in 2000....Ford did a huge obsolesence then and dropped 75% of what was available for classic stangs...the stang shop that I worked for went on a buying spree