Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

[shaun callaway]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

me and my older brother had bought one of these a number of years ago (i think it was a 91). we bought the car just because we thought we needed a change of pace (worst mistake ever). we thought it would be cool but half way through the tear down process (like a week later) we looked at each other all scratched up because there isint that much room in it for our fat asses and scrapped the whole project. anyways we sold the car in pieces for 1500 bucks and only paid 500. we went out and bought a 88 toyota mini truck because that seemed like a better project.

im not a ford guy anyways plus half the cars runnin back east are 5.0 stangs

i have always felt that if you build a car the right way then you will be well recieved because you are into your car no matter what it is, but if you spend too much money on a damn paint job then your a dooder.

[Turbo Regal]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

Definitely a fun car with tons of affordable options. I'm just not sure what else you do to one that hasn't been done to death. If the point of getting a 5.0 as a project is to provide interesting content for the website, how about building one to bomb a record in NHRA stock eliminator. As far as ownership, I definitely approve of some one getting a 5.0 mustang than one of those ricer Hondas!

[Lil Demon]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

I'm very split on the Mustangs. Back in the mid-80s, I had an 84 GT with mildly built (read that as Edelbrock intake, cam, headers) and it was a fun little car. I agree with others that it is a pretty cheap and efficient way to go fast.

On the other hand, I'm not a fan of most of them because they seem to just be bottle babies that can be slapped together in a few eeks after being picked up at the local scrap yard. Given the relative lack of expense involved with these cars, most seem to pay little to no heed to safety and quality in them. See nearly any Pinks episode for reference. Moreover, I see a lot of very inexperienced drivers driving these cars that have been built well above the driver's ability. The term wall-magnet comes immediately to mind. Do not get me wrong, I know some guys who have some very - very fast 'Stangs and are very serious racers, I'm speaking more in general terms.

But, the defining characteristic for me is that our sport is about making cars faster, unique, cool, and/or interesting. Nowhere is it stated that it has to be a particular type of car. Given that, the 5.0 guys have found a platform with which to maximize their bang for the buck and that is to be applauded. I personally don't like most of them, but that does not diminish the efforts or accomplishments.

[min301]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

Also, most serious guys strip the floor, and weld up all the seams, as well as reinforcing the torque boxes.

A cage as well is a smart addition to further stiffness.

[DanStokes]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

If you talk to the guys at Maximum Motorsports, you find that the torque boxes aren't really a problem at all. The deal is that folks put stiff bushings in the rear control arms and put the suspension in bind - this, in turn, tears up the torque boxes. The cure is lower control arms with Heim joints and a Panhard bar. Nothing binds and the rear stays under the car. My 'Stang works great and it's been driven hard over the years.

Dan

I don't care about how popular, new, common...


...they are one of the best street/strip cars out there. Light weight, well cared for by the aftermarket, and good looking, what more could you want? Not to mention, the ability to take pretty much whatever engine you wish to install.

It's an awesome low buck way to go fast.

If you do something with the TQ boxes......
Or it make a mess on the road.

[kindabored2]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

Cheap & fast has got my vote. I don't worry too much about what others think (maybe that'a why my wife is pissed & I'll probably sleep on the couch tonight).

[Robert1320]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

I don't care about how popular, new, common...


...they are one of the best street/strip cars out there. Light weight, well cared for by the aftermarket, and good looking, what more could you want? Not to mention, the ability to take pretty much whatever engine you wish to install.

It's an awesome low buck way to go fast.

If you do something with the TQ boxes......
Or it make a mess on the road.

[min301]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

I don't care about how popular, new, common...


...they are one of the best street/strip cars out there. Light weight, well cared for by the aftermarket, and good looking, what more could you want? Not to mention, the ability to take pretty much whatever engine you wish to install.

It's an awesome low buck way to go fast.

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

Too new, too common.

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

For the money I payed and have into my Plymouth I could have picked up a cherry Mustang with goodies and been having fun. BUT my opinion of the Mustang is based on the people who own them around here...your right DF they seem to be in a little Clique with no regard for any other classic or performanced based machine and I didnt want to be grouped into that catagory...there is a bit of a stigma that goes along with owning a 5.0....most are cocky, irresponsible, stupid kids. Is that true...no not really....but to further sway my opinion....I joined a car club (to remain nameless) and there is a huge fox body base as well as firebirds and camaros...I just didnt fit in...yet they called themselves a musclecar club...they wont talk to me...most wont respond to my posts....So is didnt buy one...

On the other hand...whats not to love about a car that has endless possibilities?

[Knowlesville340]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

There's one For Sale a couple miles from here.87 or 88.5.0,5 speed.It don't look too bad,the charcoal grey with no stripes screams "repaint",but I didn't look it over too close.3500 and it's been there since last summer.Here's the rundown on MY opinion of them..
Since I was brought up on Mopars,Chevy's and GTO's,I immediately dismissed them as crap.The first ones were dogs.I don't think they actually built fast ones until '85 or so.When I got out of high school (93) I got a job at a small car lot.I got to drive all sorts of cars,including several 5.0's.The EFI ones were way ballsy compared to the carb'ed ones which still weren't that bad.My buddy Dave has a Mercury Capri with a carbuerated 302 and a 5 speed.A really fun little car to drive.He bought an 88 GT cheap (rusty) and that car was even faster.Actually I know a few guys who really like 'em.You can get more bolt ons for them than anything,and used body parts are in most wrecking yards for cheap.Lots of the stereo-typical drivers (like Irocs and Trans Ams of the same era) but lots of real hot rodders building them too.I'm not real big on the swapping of different brand engines into them,but it's a light,plentiful,cheap platform that,with some modifications and tweaks makes a good drag car platform,whether 5.0 powered or not.I'd own one,but wouldn't get rid of my Charger or 'Cuda to do so.I'm kinda picky about what i'll buy though,and most 5.0's have been beaten,crashed,rusted beyond my taste.

[VTJUNK]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

I think a 5.0 would bring quite a bit of interest. Just figuring out how to do it would be the trick. I always respect the low buck route, tuning what the car came with stock to see what it can do, then throw some bolt-on parts at it. By bolt-on I mean exhaust, gears, tires, heads, cam throttlebody etc, no supercharger, turbo or spray. See what it would take to get it in the 11 sec range. And by 11sec. I mean 11, not 11.999 corrected. That's the kind of stuff I would like to see.

In the Northeast, the prices of decent 5.0 cars are still way up. Asking prices of $6500 a nice 87-88 GT are still common. $2500 or less gets you a "Winter Project" and about $3500 gets you a reasonably solid car that usually needs paint, tires, an interior that won't gross you out and has about 125K on it. Based on that I usually pass them up. I would rather spend that $$ on one of the cars I already own.

[Fairlaneiac]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

I own a 93 coupe with a 331 and a 67 Fairlane GT with a 428cj. Both cars will run 11 sec et's. The mustang is way more streetable with a 3.73 rear, efi , and a 150 shot. Definitely a fun car, but like others have said...its been done before, and there are so many out there I feel the car is nothing special. But my 67 with its 12:1 big block, 4500 conv, and 456 rear certainly is special. Mainly I think because you just dont see that many of them. But also the sound and look of that 428 is nothing like that small block. Since the body on my fox is mint and the 67 needs a resto, I've thought how cool it would be to put my FE into the fox. I'd have a pretty neat ride. So I for one would love to see an FE swap into a fox. Mix a little old with new. And top it off with a lowbuck turbo setup.

[JustinSuhas]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

I wrote a poem for this thread, a Justin Suhas original, jus fer you guys!

My dream fox body~

Notchback with t-tops, the slickest black.
5.0 stick with drag radials out back

Full cage hidden behind the interior
Badges removed to pose as inferior

The technology in your vette is truly space age
But apparently no match for my hidden two stage



T-tops on the ultimate 80's car? ...party on Wayne

[Rumblytruck]

Re: Your Opinion on 5.0 Mustangs

Bought a new '86 and loved it. They are the 340 Duster/Darts of this decade. Just keep it on the street and on the cheap.
Remember when we were scrapin' together a grand to grab that Duster? Thats where the next generation of Hot Rodders are now,
scrapin' together that 5.0 two grand and searchin the want ads for gears and intakes. Keep the buildup aimed at that guy workin'
the parts counter and eatin' at the drive thru and show them how to go fast on the cheap. ( and be able to drive it to work
Monday morning). I remember a certain Dart....