icelandismine

I currently have a 2.3 turbo mustang right now, and I'm looking at a 84 5.0. It is a stock 5.0 motor with a 4 barrel carb. Cam'ed. I've been told it gets around 10 miles to the gallon.

I just have a few questions.Were the 84 motors HO motors? Also, is there any way to get better gas mileage out of the motor? I'm not turning it into a drag car, just somethign to tinker with and drive. If I can't do much with the carb as far as that goes, how hard would it be to convert to fuel injection?

tinman

Those '84's were a flat tappet design motor.
I think that you should be able to get somewhat more than 10MPG with even a stock rebuilt 302.
Thinking about this, you would be better off going with an '87-'91 motor and then putting a carb on that. Better heads, roller cam, forged pistons etc.
That '84 uses about a 600 CFM Holley carb. They are very good carbs and super tuneable for mileage....
Just MHO..........

icelandismine

So I need to get an HO motor? That's not too much of an issue...they are dirt cheap. I may also do a 351 swap if I can find a good DD.

It's an auto trans car also. What trans is in it? How strong is it? IS there a better option? Same with rear axle.

It's a extremely solid car. Good glass, no rust, motor and trans is in good shape. high lift cam, dual flowmaster exhaust. I love my 4 banger turbo mustang (and it'll smoke 5.0's all day when it works) but it's not a V8, and i'm ripping it apart trying to keep the damn turbo together and get the EFI system working. Plus it is in pretty rough shape, to the point where I feel bad throwing money into it.

mjr46

84 was considered an h.0 motor 82 -95 were h.0 motors with changes in various internal components through out the years such as better heads and roller cams begining in 85

Dazzalad

99.9 % of all people refer to the H.O when talking about Mustangs are talking about the 1985-93 5.0 with roller cam/lifters. That engine carried on into the 94's and some 95's but the fox bodies is what most people refer to as H.O.

You should be getting alot better gas milage out of a stock carb'd 1984 Mustang. Tune it up add a Edelbrock 600 w/ elec choke and you will be pleased.

mjr46

^^^^^maybe so but 82-84 are still in the h.o category

icelandismine

Alright. I'm getting sick of figuring out my damn fuel injection system, so I'm tempted to buy the 84. the only thing is, it isn't stock. 2.5 flowmaster exhaust, and some massive cam on it. I'm sure that's hurting it. I'm not sure if the carb is stock...

HACKGT350

from the sounds of it the car isnt stock. 84 with a carb came with a stick not auto. if it was auto it would be CFI which we wont get into because it sucks as far as modding goes. you shouldnt have a massive cam in a car with stock heads it doesnt do anything if the heads cant flow what the cam is designed for and it wont come even close to its max lift with stock valve train. my 84 is pretty stock other than exhaust a new holley carb because the stock one is a piece of **** and a half, you cant tune it at all, and i get 16mpg street and 25 mpg on the highway i once got 31mpg but havent been able to hit that again due to the extreme amount of drag in my diff from the bearings going bad. my suggestion is figure out what size carb is on it and weather or not it came factory with an auto or a stick then you will really know if someone has been messing around with it

icelandismine

I just talked to him again. It has a 600 cfm edelbrock carb on it. Not stock at all. Not sure about the rest. He just blew a headgasket tonight, which makes me nervous....

HACKGT350

that should just lower the price by 1500 for you and its an easy enough fix. if you want this car for something to tinker with you are going in the right direction first thing you need to do is ditch the edlebrock carb for tuning reasons you cant really tune them very well like you can holleys. and i know everyone will tell me but you can change the jets with out taking the carb apart woopti freaking doo.