What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
09-14-2005, 01:25 AM
#1
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What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
This is my first post on this site.
I am looking to pick up a late 80's early 90's Mustang LX 5.0 Manual trans.
I am currently looking at buying an '88 to modify for possible SCCA racing. I have heard that there are some years to avoid because of fuel injection changes. SD to MAF? I had a first gen Lighning modified pretty heavily so I know what I want to do. I just want to be educated before getting into my first Stang.
Thank You for your help.
Skrappy
I am looking to pick up a late 80's early 90's Mustang LX 5.0 Manual trans.
I am currently looking at buying an '88 to modify for possible SCCA racing. I have heard that there are some years to avoid because of fuel injection changes. SD to MAF? I had a first gen Lighning modified pretty heavily so I know what I want to do. I just want to be educated before getting into my first Stang.
Thank You for your help.
Skrappy
09-14-2005, 01:46 AM
#2
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 307
RE: What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
89-93 mustangs came with factory mass air as did 88-93 CA mustangs. Previous year mustangs had speed density EFI. Older mustangs also had carburation and some had something called CFI. I don't think there are really any stangs to avoid, but if you are gonna go all out with mods the 89-93 mass air's are better for mods. Also Ford stopped using forged pistons with the 92 model year. The 93's pistons are not as good for s/c, turbo, or n2o applications.
09-14-2005, 03:49 AM
#4
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RE: What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
I have heard great things about the MAF system that comes stock on the 89-92 cars. I heard that it accepts modifications like new heads with good porting and a new intake pretty well. I am ultimately looking to keep it NA and go with some Head/Intake and Header/Exhaust combo. So it looks like I should stay in the '89-92' range to make it easier to modify unless I want to buy a new MAF kit for it.
Next question then:
How easy is it to retro fit a MAF on a '88 or newer, can I head down to the pick and pull, get a used one and slap it on? How much should I look to spend if I had to go this route? I am afraid that this '88 LX notchback may be too clean to pass on...
Thanks Again for your help!
Skrappy
Next question then:
How easy is it to retro fit a MAF on a '88 or newer, can I head down to the pick and pull, get a used one and slap it on? How much should I look to spend if I had to go this route? I am afraid that this '88 LX notchback may be too clean to pass on...
Thanks Again for your help!
Skrappy
09-14-2005, 01:09 PM
#5
RE: What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
Any fox can be really built the same. It's just that you start off with some different components at first.
86 was the first year for speed density sequential port fuel injection, 8.8 rear-end, H-pipe exhaust with double hump cross member, first year for quad shocks(not that great anyhow). 86 was also the only year with 9.2:1 compression due to flat top pistons which is bad because you can't add a cam or 1.7 rockers.
Also, any SD car can easily be converted to mass air flow. And if you're going to be serious about the project, you'll most likely be starting fresh with a new short block at least built to what you ultimately want.
So I'd say if you want to stay Fuel injected then get at least an 86 or newer.
86 was the first year for speed density sequential port fuel injection, 8.8 rear-end, H-pipe exhaust with double hump cross member, first year for quad shocks(not that great anyhow). 86 was also the only year with 9.2:1 compression due to flat top pistons which is bad because you can't add a cam or 1.7 rockers.
Also, any SD car can easily be converted to mass air flow. And if you're going to be serious about the project, you'll most likely be starting fresh with a new short block at least built to what you ultimately want.
So I'd say if you want to stay Fuel injected then get at least an 86 or newer.
09-14-2005, 01:27 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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Posts: 180
RE: What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
ORIGINAL: 86HOGT
Any fox can be really built the same. It's just that you start off with some different components at first.
86 was the first year for speed density sequential port fuel injection, 8.8 rear-end, H-pipe exhaust with double hump cross member, first year for quad shocks(not that great anyhow). 86 was also the only year with 9.2:1 compression due to flat top pistons which is bad because you can't add a cam or 1.7 rockers.
Also, any SD car can easily be converted to mass air flow. And if you're going to be serious about the project, you'll most likely be starting fresh with a new short block at least built to what you ultimately want.
So I'd say if you want to stay Fuel injected then get at least an 86 or newer.
Any fox can be really built the same. It's just that you start off with some different components at first.
86 was the first year for speed density sequential port fuel injection, 8.8 rear-end, H-pipe exhaust with double hump cross member, first year for quad shocks(not that great anyhow). 86 was also the only year with 9.2:1 compression due to flat top pistons which is bad because you can't add a cam or 1.7 rockers.
Also, any SD car can easily be converted to mass air flow. And if you're going to be serious about the project, you'll most likely be starting fresh with a new short block at least built to what you ultimately want.
So I'd say if you want to stay Fuel injected then get at least an 86 or newer.
09-14-2005, 03:55 PM
#7
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Westminster, MD
Posts: 4,343
RE: What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
I have to say I'm pretty happy with my 86. You are limited to what you can do but that can easily be fixed if you rebuild the block. I've been looking into a mass air swap since I got the car and it doesn't look like there is much too it at all.
09-14-2005, 05:53 PM
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 307
RE: What Years Fox Mustang to Avoid
ORIGINAL: Skrappy
Next question then:
How easy is it to retro fit a MAF on a '88 or newer, can I head down to the pick and pull, get a used one and slap it on? How much should I look to spend if I had to go this route? I am afraid that this '88 LX notchback may be too clean to pass on...
Thanks Again for your help!
Skrappy
Next question then:
How easy is it to retro fit a MAF on a '88 or newer, can I head down to the pick and pull, get a used one and slap it on? How much should I look to spend if I had to go this route? I am afraid that this '88 LX notchback may be too clean to pass on...
Thanks Again for your help!
Skrappy
