first things first

farlcorman · March 3rd, 2011, 07:04 PM

I have a 1985 hatchback GT 5spd. New Holley 600cfm carb, K&N filters, offroad x-pipe, flowmaster exhaust, KYB struts and shocks, steeda springs, welded subframe connectors, everything else is stock. I would like some opinions as to what one would do next, considering money, tme and experience. I don't have deep pockets, I work 4 twelves, I was able to put the pipes and carb on myself, I am not a mechanic, and have never rebuilt an engine, don't have the knowledge or tools for that.

The car was gift so I going to keep it and improve it little by little. A friend at work suggested swapping rear ends from an 87 to 93 8.8 with Trak-loc and 3.73 gears. Said used from a salvage yard would be ok. I believe I could handle that myself. He said that would be the best bang for my buck. He also mention a new cam and intake. It all sounds deep and expensive.

I just wanted to know what someone with experience and a moderate amount of money would do over time. Give me something to look forward to and plan for. Thanks for reading, any and all responses are welcome.......farlcorman

ryanw · March 3rd, 2011, 08:56 PM

85 gt is a good year, deff keep it. Rear gears would be a good upgrade. I wouldnt change the cam unless you went to some better cylinder heads. Intakes dont cost that much....What is your budget ? used trick flow heads can be bought for about $800

Jordan_m6 · March 3rd, 2011, 09:13 PM

To go with the rear end: Control arms and some slicks, If you like to play at the track.

These cars have so many good parts, it's hard to decide what to do first.

farlcorman · March 3rd, 2011, 10:52 PM

Got no budget, I live paycheck to paycheck, in one hand out the other, sometimes I can squirrel away alittle bit, couple hundred at a time. I most likely wont ever see a track, just street. I considered a cam for none to lightly modifiied engines. and gears yes, but may be cheaper to find a good used rearend, 8.8 3.73. saw on ebay for about $400-600. I priced a cam for around $150, intake around $150. The cam may beyond my ability, but I believe I could install the intake, and rearend. Control arms should probably be installed when doing rearend, Probably short tube headers? Not sure if I need equal length or unequal, How would I know. I got an offroad Pypes x-pipe, seemed like one end was a little shorter. What do you think about strut mounted stiffening bars front and rear, thats about $150 total. See I have already spent $1300 already. Thats over a years worth of saving, maybe 2, It's hard to wait that long. What first?

Jordan_m6 · March 3rd, 2011, 10:58 PM

Sounds like you are in the same boat as me, but I can afford to fork out a little more money. Man.. why couldn't I have just found a super clean and fast fox for $2200?

93hatch · March 3rd, 2011, 11:12 PM

fuck that dont buy a rear end for 4-600 gears are 100 bucks used most gear shops install them for 250 anything more than thats a ripoff. 3.73s will wake the car up alot. Id do that, leave the suspension alone aside from some new shocks, elec fan and enjoy the car. Nothing is gona be cheap from there up and the car will feel completely different

93hatch · March 3rd, 2011, 11:13 PM

and longtubes

farlcorman · March 4th, 2011, 07:31 PM

My rear is 7.5, do you think that is worth putting new gears in?

FastStang91Lx · March 4th, 2011, 09:43 PM

I would find a 8.8. I wouldn't waste money on putting rear gears in a 7.5 but I wouldn't give 4 - 600 for one either. Keep searching local boneyards. You can put a rear from a 94-04 in too, just gonna have longer axles and stick out a tad wider.

93hatch · March 4th, 2011, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by farlcorman

My rear is 7.5, do you think that is worth putting new gears in?

lame didnt know that. Average 8.8 around here on craigslist is 250 bucks already geared

farlcorman · March 5th, 2011, 01:37 PM

Well, I took the time to look at the diff. to my surprise it is an 8.8, don't know the gear ratio yet, but I have always been told on numerous websites that an 85 GT had 7.5, I am the 3rd owner of this car, maybe someone before me changed it, could it be stock?

On 50resto.com they got 3.73 gears, Ford Racing and the whole install kit with oil for $259.00. Is there something better than that?

After the gear change, I have committed to replace intake and cam, but not for track, any suggestions? And if I decided to replace stock with new headers, would that alter your suggestions?

93hatch · March 5th, 2011, 07:40 PM

find a place around you that only does gears, a diff shop. Not a mustang shop cuz odds are theyll want too much for install

March 3rd, 2011, 07:04 PM	#1
farlcorman Newbie 1985 Mustang GT hatchback Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 reviews	first things first I have a 1985 hatchback GT 5spd. New Holley 600cfm carb, K&N filters, offroad x-pipe, flowmaster exhaust, KYB struts and shocks, steeda springs, welded subframe connectors, everything else is stock. I would like some opinions as to what one would do next, considering money, tme and experience. I don't have deep pockets, I work 4 twelves, I was able to put the pipes and carb on myself, I am not a mechanic, and have never rebuilt an engine, don't have the knowledge or tools for that. The car was gift so I going to keep it and improve it little by little. A friend at work suggested swapping rear ends from an 87 to 93 8.8 with Trak-loc and 3.73 gears. Said used from a salvage yard would be ok. I believe I could handle that myself. He said that would be the best bang for my buck. He also mention a new cam and intake. It all sounds deep and expensive. I just wanted to know what someone with experience and a moderate amount of money would do over time. Give me something to look forward to and plan for. Thanks for reading, any and all responses are welcome.......farlcorman

March 3rd, 2011, 08:56 PM	#2
ryanw I Post Entirely Way Too Much 1991 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 6,063 iTrader: 0 reviews	85 gt is a good year, deff keep it. Rear gears would be a good upgrade. I wouldnt change the cam unless you went to some better cylinder heads. Intakes dont cost that much....What is your budget ? used trick flow heads can be bought for about $800 __________________ DART 331ci stroker, AFR 185 heads, Trick Flow R intake, Accufab 70mm tb, 75mm pro m Maf, 30lb injectors, jba headers, 2 1/2" x pipe flowmaster super 10 mufflers, 255 fuel pump, 3:27 gears

March 3rd, 2011, 11:12 PM	#6
93hatch Banned 1992 Lx 11.39@119.24 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Az Posts: 11,644 iTrader: 0 reviews	fuck that dont buy a rear end for 4-600 gears are 100 bucks used most gear shops install them for 250 anything more than thats a ripoff. 3.73s will wake the car up alot. Id do that, leave the suspension alone aside from some new shocks, elec fan and enjoy the car. Nothing is gona be cheap from there up and the car will feel completely different __________________ [QUOTE=93mustank;2577445]We speed tested my right arm for quickness in shifts... So he could design the cam for proper shift recovery.[/QUOTE]

March 3rd, 2011, 11:13 PM	#7
93hatch Banned 1992 Lx 11.39@119.24 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Az Posts: 11,644 iTrader: 0 reviews	and longtubes __________________ [QUOTE=93mustank;2577445]We speed tested my right arm for quickness in shifts... So he could design the cam for proper shift recovery.[/QUOTE]

March 4th, 2011, 09:43 PM	#9
FastStang91Lx I Post Entirely Way Too Much 1991 Mustang LX 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5,572 iTrader: 2 reviews	I would find a 8.8. I wouldn't waste money on putting rear gears in a 7.5 but I wouldn't give 4 - 600 for one either. Keep searching local boneyards. You can put a rear from a 94-04 in too, just gonna have longer axles and stick out a tad wider. __________________ Point made in less than a few hours with minimal response. http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums...ml#post4465184

March 3rd, 2011, 09:13 PM	#3
Jordan_m6 Regular 91 Notchback Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 72 iTrader: 0 reviews	To go with the rear end: Control arms and some slicks, If you like to play at the track. These cars have so many good parts, it's hard to decide what to do first.

March 3rd, 2011, 10:52 PM	#4
farlcorman Newbie 1985 Mustang GT hatchback Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 reviews	Got no budget, I live paycheck to paycheck, in one hand out the other, sometimes I can squirrel away alittle bit, couple hundred at a time. I most likely wont ever see a track, just street. I considered a cam for none to lightly modifiied engines. and gears yes, but may be cheaper to find a good used rearend, 8.8 3.73. saw on ebay for about $400-600. I priced a cam for around $150, intake around $150. The cam may beyond my ability, but I believe I could install the intake, and rearend. Control arms should probably be installed when doing rearend, Probably short tube headers? Not sure if I need equal length or unequal, How would I know. I got an offroad Pypes x-pipe, seemed like one end was a little shorter. What do you think about strut mounted stiffening bars front and rear, thats about $150 total. See I have already spent $1300 already. Thats over a years worth of saving, maybe 2, It's hard to wait that long. What first?

March 3rd, 2011, 10:58 PM	#5
Jordan_m6 Regular 91 Notchback Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 72 iTrader: 0 reviews	Sounds like you are in the same boat as me, but I can afford to fork out a little more money. Man.. why couldn't I have just found a super clean and fast fox for $2200?

March 4th, 2011, 07:31 PM	#8
farlcorman Newbie 1985 Mustang GT hatchback Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 reviews	My rear is 7.5, do you think that is worth putting new gears in?

March 5th, 2011, 01:37 PM	#11
farlcorman Newbie 1985 Mustang GT hatchback Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 reviews	Well, I took the time to look at the diff. to my surprise it is an 8.8, don't know the gear ratio yet, but I have always been told on numerous websites that an 85 GT had 7.5, I am the 3rd owner of this car, maybe someone before me changed it, could it be stock? On 50resto.com they got 3.73 gears, Ford Racing and the whole install kit with oil for $259.00. Is there something better than that? After the gear change, I have committed to replace intake and cam, but not for track, any suggestions? And if I decided to replace stock with new headers, would that alter your suggestions?

March 5th, 2011, 07:40 PM	#12
93hatch Banned 1992 Lx 11.39@119.24 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Az Posts: 11,644 iTrader: 0 reviews	find a place around you that only does gears, a diff shop. Not a mustang shop cuz odds are theyll want too much for install __________________ [QUOTE=93mustank;2577445]We speed tested my right arm for quickness in shifts... So he could design the cam for proper shift recovery.[/QUOTE]

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