Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => User Rides => Topic started by: 28HopUp on January 19, 2010, 05:48:18 PM

Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 28HopUp on January 19, 2010, 05:48:18 PM
Hi guys!

I'm a new member.  My last T-Bird was an 88 TC (2.3L/5spd).  Wouldn't mind finding another 87/88 TC down the road.

Here are some pics of my newest toy.  It looked like this when I bought it -

(http://69.64.79.206/imagehosting/27749a82075c51b4.jpg)


Here it is after a 6 month stay at the body shop -

(http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774a4ca801912f9.jpg)

(http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774a4d272073af0.jpg)

(http://mustangforums.com/forum/members/28hopup-albums-28hopup-s-rides-picture24314-rtj3-23a.jpg)


It's an 85 SSP Mustang that served in the California Highway Patrol in Quincy, CA.  I am restoring it as an unmarked driver, with authentic CHP equipment (I keep the lights covered while driving).

See ya on the forum...
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: vinnietbird on January 19, 2010, 05:52:08 PM
Nice car.I always did like the cop versions.Is it stock under the hood?Tough looking Stang.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 28HopUp on January 19, 2010, 05:57:16 PM
It's fairly stock at the moment.  Two of the four cats were lost when the new better-flowing exhaust was installed.  It has a 93 Cobra 8.8" rear with 4-lug rear disk brakes and 3.27:1 gears.  The suspension is beefed up with a rear panhard bar/brace that I've never seen before.  The 5.0L will get freshened up as time/money allows.  I drive it as often as possible.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: vinnietbird on January 19, 2010, 06:00:25 PM
"as time and money allows"......That's the same world I live in......minus the money part.LOL.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: xjeffs on January 19, 2010, 11:13:55 PM
Very cool project
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: Loaded87IROC on January 19, 2010, 11:24:08 PM
Sweet car!  85-85 is my favorite styling of Mustang.  My buddy has a 89 SSP that we've done quite a bit of work to.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: hcor on January 20, 2010, 05:52:44 PM
Awesome! Gotta love those early fox stangs!
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: T-BirdX3 on January 20, 2010, 05:56:55 PM
Is that model of stang as lite as it looks?  Very nice looking ride.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 20, 2010, 06:40:23 PM
Schweettt...

The '85-'86 is defiantly my favorite four eye fox Stang, owned a '86 GT for a couple years......
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 83-88T-Bird Guy on January 21, 2010, 11:53:15 AM
Cool Ride !

I have always thought those 85-86 SSP Stangs looked tough.

Are those T-bird seats ?  I don't recall seeing SSP seats with back rests that high.


I am still looking for an ultra rare and original '85 5.0 Coupe with a 5 speed.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 28HopUp on January 21, 2010, 02:08:33 PM
Quote from: T-BirdX3;307187
Is that model of stang as lite as it looks?  Very nice looking ride.


It seems pretty light compared to the 2006 Mustang I had before it.  One thing I can definitely tell is how much smaller it is than my previous Mustang, and certainly smaller than the 88 TC I used to have.


Quote from: 83-88T-Bird Guy;307187
Cool Ride !

I have always thought those 85-86 SSP Stangs looked tough.

Are those T-bird seats ? I don't recall seeing SSP seats with back rests that high.


I am still looking for an ultra rare and original '85 5.0 Coupe with a 5 speed.



Good eye my friend.  Those seats were not original to the car.  I think they were out of a Fox Mustang GT, but I'm unsure of the vintage.  I now have 'more-correct' low-rise Mustang seats in the SSP.  Good luck on your search for an original 85 - it's finding one still original after all these years that's the problem.  All of the CHP Mustangs were 5 speeds, although other departments did buy SSP's with auto transmissions.  I would have passed on my SSP if it was an automatic.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: cougarcragar on January 23, 2010, 11:57:04 AM
That is, without a doubt, one of the coolest Mustangs I have ever seen. I've seen plenty of the SSP cars in the past, but this one is just so... sinister.

Awesome work.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: V8Demon on January 23, 2010, 01:19:35 PM
Quote
The suspension is beefed up with a rear panhard bar/brace that I've never seen before.

Pics.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 28HopUp on January 23, 2010, 01:22:40 PM
Quote from: V8Demon;307581
Pics.


They're not the best quality -

(http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774ac280c9205e5.jpg)

(http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774ac280c976870.jpg)

(http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774ac280c9c78f0.jpg)
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: V8Demon on January 23, 2010, 02:54:56 PM
So you have no upper control arms then?  Where does the upper bar mount?

Sorry for the questions, I find it very interesting.

The paint came out very nice on the car BTW
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: gumby on January 23, 2010, 07:31:00 PM
it still has upper control arms, i can see them where they mount on the body side in the those pics.

a PHB could negate the need for uppers as lateral control, but they are still needed to control pinion angle rotation
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 28HopUp on January 24, 2010, 11:41:37 AM
Quote from: cougarcragar;307568
That is, without a doubt, one of the coolest Mustangs I have ever seen. I've seen plenty of the SSP cars in the past, but this one is just so... sinister.

Awesome work.

Thanks - I appreciate the coment!

The wheel/tire choice and stance make it look that way.  As many enthusiasts know, 10-holes were not original on my 4-eye, but the bigger wheels are needed to clear the 11" front rotors.  I've filled the rear wheelwell with 255's in the back.

For the track, I picked up a set of 16" snowflakes from a member here.  I plan to black them out, use Ford-oval shiny center caps, and run 255/60R16 Mickey Thompson DR's in the back.
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 50tbrd88 on January 24, 2010, 11:51:20 AM
Nice car!  Why is one spotlight red and the other just a standard white light?
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: hcor on January 24, 2010, 12:27:39 PM
What is the rear out of? 85's only had 7.5 and no disc brakes? Again sweet ride!
Title: 1985 SSP Mustang
Post by: 28HopUp on January 24, 2010, 06:18:35 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;307720
Nice car!  Why is one spotlight red and the other just a standard white light?

In California, state law requires that all police vehicles have at least one steady-burn, forward-facing red emergency light.  Around 1990, the CHP started to incorporate the use of a steady-burn red light attached to the rearview mirror.  One CHP officer I spoke with commented that the red spotlight was tough to keep positioned at high speeds.  On my car, I keep that red spotlight covered when driving on the road.


Quote from: hcor;307721
What is the rear out of? 85's only had 7.5 and no disc brakes? Again sweet ride!

Thanks John!  I was told that the rear is out of the Ford Motorsport catalog (circa 1993-1995), and the rear was a replacement unit for a 1993 Mustang Cobra, with 4-lug axles, rear disc brakes, and 3.27:1 8.8" t-lok.