Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => User Rides => Topic started by: Bruce M on March 09, 2009, 05:00:31 PM

Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on March 09, 2009, 05:00:31 PM
Its a 89 Mustang LX 2.3L 5spd. It has new shocks and struts, clutch, tires, radiator, heater core, brake pads and shoes, and rotors. It has 133,??? miles, gets 25mpg, and runs great. And I payed $1000. Does anyone know of any bolt on upgrades for this car. I plan on getting a magnaflow cat and 2.25" exhaust and maybe a indexing cam gear.
(http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/713899/fullsize/cars-003.jpg)
(http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/713901/fullsize/cars-001.jpg)
(http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/713902/fullsize/cars-002.jpg)
(http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/713904/fullsize/cars-004.jpg)
(http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/713905/fullsize/cars-005.jpg)
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: 1986Élan on March 09, 2009, 05:01:16 PM
great deal!!!
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: 5.0 tbird on March 09, 2009, 09:51:25 PM
The headers from certain Rangers will fit those...or you could swap in a turbo motor. :hick:
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: DVP on March 09, 2009, 11:16:01 PM
Quote from: 5.0 bird;260427
The headers from certain Rangers will fit those...or you could swap in a turbo motor. :hick:


Ranger roller set up? I dont know anything about 2.3s but that seems to be popular.

I would go for the 302 bolt in myself:mullet:
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Haystack on March 10, 2009, 01:34:00 AM
buy a wrecked turbo coupe. 25 mpg? I get about 35 all highway out of my 87 bird with the 5.0, and alittle over 18 in the city if there's not alot of stop lights.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on March 10, 2009, 05:56:27 AM
25mpg average highway and city. My 5.0L cougar gets 19mpg average. I think the mustang would get better if it didnt have 4.11 gears the same goes for the cougar. It got better mpg with 2.70s. A turbo isnt going to happen. Im just looking for a little more power and mileage. If I wanted that kind of power Id put a 5.0 in it. I know alot about building 2.3s but not what is offered for bolt-ons. Like TBs, cold air, or shorty header etc.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Chuck W on March 10, 2009, 07:32:13 AM
Quote from: DVP;260474
Ranger roller set up? I dont know anything about 2.3s but that seems to be popular.



It already has one...
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on January 26, 2010, 09:46:37 PM
I got new DD again. The 96 Explorer finally worked out for me. The bank released the lean and the tranmission is in the shop. I should have pictures and have it driving by the weekend. If anyone is interrested the mustang is for sale you can PM.

It is a 96 Explorer XLT, 4.0, 4X4, four door with tan leather. Its fully loaded and every thing still works.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: bhazard on January 27, 2010, 12:18:25 AM
You aint gonna get 25 mpg in the exploder. You prolly wont even get 20.

As far as the NA 2.3. Its an NA 2.3. Tune it up and bump up the timing and thats about it. Itll never be fast. Itll never feel peppy. Its an NA 2.3.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: rancheronut on January 27, 2010, 12:41:41 AM
i had one of those with 2.3/aod. it ran  good with then 2.78 but when i put the 3.73in. it ran better plus my intown gas mpg went up to 20 and my highway mpg went up to 30.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on January 27, 2010, 07:02:30 AM
Quote from: bhazard;308090
You aint gonna get 25 mpg in the exploder. You prolly wont even get 20.

As far as the NA 2.3. Its an NA 2.3. Tune it up and bump up the timing and thats about it. Itll never be fast. Itll never feel peppy. Its an NA 2.3.


Quote from: rancheronut;308091
i had one of those with 2.3/aod. it ran  good with then 2.78 but when i put the 3.73in. it ran better plus my intown gas mpg went up to 20 and my highway mpg went up to 30.


Read my last post. the mustang is FOR SALE. I know that the explorer is not going to get 25mpg. I'll be lucky to see 17. I know alot about building 2.3Ls. I had a N/A 2.3 in a 87 ranger that put down 158 RWHP. I still have the motor it's just not very street freindly with 12.1 comp. ratio and thats not what I was looking for for the mustang. The mustang is pretty preppy NOW. With the 4.11 gears, cold air kit, better exhaust and a roller cam from a ranger. It feels like a differant car. If you'll would read the other post you'd see that I was trying to make it alittle faster and get better MPG and that I was asking about bolt ons for the mustang about nine months ago. After the short list of mods the MPG went from about 25 to over 30. And I only spent about $250.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: 86XR7project on January 27, 2010, 08:02:01 AM
I have a 99 Mountaineer with the 5.0 and I get 16Mpg on a good week...

I'm guessing you'll get maybe 1-2 higher than that.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: bhazard on January 27, 2010, 09:44:31 AM
Quote from: Bruce M;308101
I had a N/A 2.3 in a 87 ranger that put down 158 RWHP. I still have the motor it's just not very street freindly with 12.1 comp. ratio and thats not what I was looking for for the mustang.


Exactly, you had to have 12:1 comp and basically make the engine useless to drive to make the power a stock non-intercooled 2.3 turbo makes for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on January 27, 2010, 07:09:28 PM
Quote from: bhazard;308112
Exactly, you had to have 12:1 comp and basically make the engine useless to drive to make the power a stock non-intercooled 2.3 turbo makes for hundreds of thousands of miles.


It was actually really fun to drive with it being 1K pounds lighter than a turbo coupe. And it was my daily driver for 5 years 30K miles with no problems. I wouldnt call that useless. Just because its not your cup of tea doesnt make it useless. Its just a matter of being able to afford a couple gallons of 110 fuel and topped off with pump gas. Im not a big fan of power adders but I dont bother people that like them. Why do turbo guys knock on N/A motors. Because you'll dont know how to make power with out power adders. I had alot less money in my N/A 2.3 then what a turbo set-up would have cost. And  I was very happy with what I had at that time. I was a teenager when I had that truck and it was all I needed. Being almost 26 now and if I still had that truck it would have a 289 in it by now and would blow the doors off of "MOST" boosted cars around here. It's not all about horsepower. The wait of the car and having it setup right is a big part of going fast too. Just removing one hundred pound from a car can pick up a tenth of a secound in the 1/4 mile. So a well built car thats a thousand pounds lighter should be about a secound faster with the same HP.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: bhazard on January 27, 2010, 10:52:16 PM
Okay not useless but seriously impractical. Though tuned for e85 would be a bit better than finding race gas and paying $6+ a gallon. Also lasting 30,000 miles ain't the same as 200,000
 Not saying it couldn't but its improbable.

I don't hate NA engines, but some engines are just better off boosted.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: 50tbrd88 on January 28, 2010, 07:32:51 PM
Quote
The mustang is pretty preppy NOW

 
Oh really...do you wear this when you drive it? lol.
 
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/50tbrd88/untitled-1.jpg)
 
Sorry couldn't resist. Pop that collar booooyyy.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on January 28, 2010, 10:43:14 PM
Haha! No I just miss spelled.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: RunninWild on January 29, 2010, 09:30:27 AM
My explorer gets 14 MPG, and the best I've EVER gotten is 19. It's a 4.0 OHV motor. If you go to the explorerforum.com site, they've got a guy who claims to get 30 MPG out of his explorer.... and he's got tips on how to do it. He's got the SOHC motor. The SOHC motor is a little more efficient, plus it's got more power.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bob on January 29, 2010, 10:33:55 AM
my 05 exploder 4.0 averaged 21-22 on a 400 mile trip last summer, regular city stop and go mixed with light highway driving it does 12.5-13 :(
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: ZondaC12 on January 29, 2010, 10:56:57 AM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;308246
Oh really...do you wear this when you drive it? lol.
 
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/50tbrd88/untitled-1.jpg)
 
Sorry couldn't resist. Pop that collar booooyyy.

 
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/masterfulX/1210396234345.jpg)
 
:D
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Romeo2k on January 29, 2010, 06:21:25 PM
Pffft, I'm already up to 6.



:rollin:
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on January 29, 2010, 10:36:21 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;308299
My explorer gets 14 MPG, and the best I've EVER gotten is 19. It's a 4.0 OHV motor. If you go to the explorerforum.com site, they've got a guy who claims to get 30 MPG out of his explorer.... and he's got tips on how to do it. He's got the SOHC motor. The SOHC motor is a little more efficient, plus it's got more power.


Thanks I just joined up over there about a week ago.

I've got some stuff laying around. That should improve fuel mileage. Ive got a K&N filter, electric fan and a flowmaster. I hope that will get me a couple more MPG. I just got the transmission back today. So if it doesnt snow tonight and tomorrow than we'll put it back in this weekend.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: bhazard on January 29, 2010, 10:41:10 PM
The ler and filter wont get you any more, the fan will.
Title: I got a new DD
Post by: Bruce M on February 05, 2010, 09:03:21 PM
We got the transmission finished today. The bolts on the Y-pipe where rusted to bad to remove so we cut the y-pipe to R&R the tranny. We got the y-pipe welded back up today and topped off all the fluids. Im going to DMV tomorrow to transfer the tags and I have to get a sticker for it too. Then Ill be ready to drive. I'll try to post pictures soon.