...

Go Back   Lateral-g Forums > Lateral-G Open Discussions > Project Updates
User Name
Password



Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-26-2022, 12:18 PM
ProTouring442's Avatar
ProTouring442 ProTouring442 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Harriman, TN
Posts: 1,330
Thanks: 19
Thanked 37 Times in 16 Posts
Default '87 Mustang LX Pro-Driver

Up until a couple years ago, my driver car was the family sedan while my wife's was some sort of sports car, usually a convertible.

The reason for this has to do with how we met. Kristy and I met on a singles motorcycle ride put on by a friend through The Single Volunteers of Washington DC list serv. She rode with me for 100 miles that day. Six months later we were engaged, and five months after that we were married (August 2001). Through the first several years of marriage we continued to enjoy motorcycle rides, with Kristy even getting us a noce Harely Davidson Dyna Glade T-Sport.

But Kristy has Multiple Sclerosis. When an MS Exacerbation caused her to no longer be able to ride with me, I sold the Harley and bought her a Miata with an automatic. The Miata became our "motorcycle" for our rides in the country. I did buy another motorcycle (cheaper) for me, but one which was a bit less expensive.

Kristy went through a series of cool little sports cars, including a Z32 300ZX, a Mercedes SLK230, and an SL320. A couple years ago, I noticed she was having a lot of difficulty getting in and out of the little sports cars. So I "rearranged the fleet." I sold my BMW 540i/6 and her SL and bought her a '98 Mercedes E320 and an '03 Miata 6-speed for me.



This seemed a great idea, except...

Except my mom has a Parkinsonism called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and, after she broke her hip due to a fall, it seems I have and will continue to make many more trips to Florida (from our home in Tennessee)to help my dad take care of her, and the Miata just isn't a very comfortable "travel" car.

I needed something we could use for our rides, but also something I could drive to Florida, something with a bit more room, but also with a manual transmission and the ability to handle.

Meet the new semi-project, a 1987 Mustang LX w/T-tops



Originally born with a 4-cylinder, it's been upgraded with the 5.0, 5-speed, and differential from an '89 5.0. Engine runs strong (B303 cam), but the past owner fancied himself a drag racer, so he put big-n-littles on it, along with drag shocks. The paint is good (a repaint at some point), and the interior is, at least for the moment, serviceable).



Upon buying it (and, I'm sure, paying too much for it), I purchased a bunch of stuff to get it up to my preferences, spending something akin to the national debt in the process.

It will e getting an SN-95 5-lug upgrade with Cobra front brakes, Bilstein shocks and struts, a new rack and pinion from Flaming River, Global West lower front control arms (and lower rears to replace the solid bushing drag lowers), 1-inch lowering springs, 17-inch "Saleen" style wheels, Dakota Digital VHX cluster, Pypes 2.5-inch exhaust, a bunch of seals and weather stripping, etc.

It currently has 3.73s in it.

One question, for a fun street car, which would be better, a torque arm, or the SN95 IRS?
__________________
You ever wonder what medieval cook looked at the guts of a pig and thought, "I bet if you washed out that poop tube, you could stuff it with meat and eat it."
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to ProTouring442 For This Useful Post:
camcojb (09-26-2022)
  #2  
Old 09-28-2022, 06:47 AM
OLDFLM's Avatar
OLDFLM OLDFLM is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,299
Thanks: 155
Thanked 115 Times in 68 Posts
Default Vote for a Torque Arm

I've had the BMR Torque Arm in my Firebird for over a decade and love it on the street... while the IRS would be a cool upgrade I'm sure a torque arm would be a big improvement and should be a bolt-in affair

LOVE the car! I had a white 1990 GT with a Steeda 19 cam, Edelbrock heads and intake, Paxton supercharger and a full STEEDA suspension with 5-way Tokico's all around. I was stationed in Germany at the time and Car Craft was building their 200mph Mustang. That car was FUN on the autoban! I wonder what ever happened to that car? I sold it to two brothers in Ohio around 2005 after having it for 12-years.

Anyway, thanks for the memories... excited to see your build progress!
__________________
Ty Ingle, USAF Retired
FREEDOMBIRD
Hoodpins.com, Inland Empire Driveline, Billet Accessories Direct, Modo Innovations, AutoRad Radiators, Morris Classic Concepts, Marquez Design, Anvil Auto, Fesler Billet, US Collision (DOOM), AGR, Pro-touringF-body.com, Phoenix Transmission Products, Shiftworks, ACC Carpet, Hedman Hedders, BMR Fabrication, American Autowire, MityMounts, TIN INDIAN Performance, Kauffman Racing Equipment, Pypes, RobbMc Performance, WMC, Holley, NOS, PST

Last edited by OLDFLM; 09-28-2022 at 06:57 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to OLDFLM For This Useful Post:
130fe (09-29-2022)
  #3  
Old 09-29-2022, 07:47 PM
WSSix WSSix is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dunwoody, GA
Posts: 6,287
Thanks: 646
Thanked 570 Times in 463 Posts
Default

Torque arm if you're going to make changes. An IRS would be nice too, but awfully expensive. I thought these cars had a four link from the factory?

Good luck with the build. These cars and 3rd gen F-bodies are starting to regain a lot of popularity. It's fun to see them coming out again.
__________________
Trey

Current rides: 2000 BMW 540i/6 and 86 C10.

Former ride: 1979 Trans Am WS6: LT1/T56, Kore 3 C5/6 brakes, BMW 18in rims
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-29-2022, 08:56 PM
ProTouring442's Avatar
ProTouring442 ProTouring442 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Harriman, TN
Posts: 1,330
Thanks: 19
Thanked 37 Times in 16 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OLDFLM View Post
I've had the BMR Torque Arm in my Firebird for over a decade and love it on the street... while the IRS would be a cool upgrade I'm sure a torque arm would be a big improvement and should be a bolt-in affair

LOVE the car! I had a white 1990 GT with a Steeda 19 cam, Edelbrock heads and intake, Paxton supercharger and a full STEEDA suspension with 5-way Tokico's all around. I was stationed in Germany at the time and Car Craft was building their 200mph Mustang. That car was FUN on the autoban! I wonder what ever happened to that car? I sold it to two brothers in Ohio around 2005 after having it for 12-years.

Anyway, thanks for the memories... excited to see your build progress!
Quote:
Originally Posted by WSSix View Post
Torque arm if you're going to make changes. An IRS would be nice too, but awfully expensive. I thought these cars had a four link from the factory?

Good luck with the build. These cars and 3rd gen F-bodies are starting to regain a lot of popularity. It's fun to see them coming out again.

The SN95 Cobra IRS is pretty much a bolt in. It's not stupid expensive, but it is more expensive than the torque arm.

Yes, the Foxbody does come with a 4-link, but, like the GM A/G bodies, it's a converging link system, but, as the Foxbody arms are shorter, it's even more prone to binding, etc.

I think I'll go with the torque arm for now.
__________________
You ever wonder what medieval cook looked at the guts of a pig and thought, "I bet if you washed out that poop tube, you could stuff it with meat and eat it."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-30-2022, 08:01 PM
WSSix WSSix is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dunwoody, GA
Posts: 6,287
Thanks: 646
Thanked 570 Times in 463 Posts
Default

For some reason, I thought the SN95 cars where a couple inches wider so I figured you would be left with aftermarket options.
__________________
Trey

Current rides: 2000 BMW 540i/6 and 86 C10.

Former ride: 1979 Trans Am WS6: LT1/T56, Kore 3 C5/6 brakes, BMW 18in rims
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-05-2022, 04:05 PM
ScotI ScotI is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Dallas TX
Posts: 623
Thanks: 68
Thanked 165 Times in 122 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WSSix View Post
For some reason, I thought the SN95 cars where a couple inches wider so I figured you would be left with aftermarket options.
The SN95 cars do have a wider track width vs. the Fox body.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Lateral-g.net