[Nestromo]

Engine aside (If all goes as planned I will be carting home a 430HP EFI beast tomorrow) what disadvantages are there to using an '86 model donor car?

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[stang8s]

86 had smaller spindles and front brakes.
Different wiring in the dash
different gauges
Mapp not Mass air
Smaller intakes and TB
higher compression pistons-flat top
terrible flowing heads

 

[Jim Smith]

From the HP you mentioned I would have to say that the pistons and heads have probably already been dealt with,so the only real drawback to the this donor are the spindles and brakes.

[ October 18, 2002, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: Smitty ]

 

[Mark Watson]

You'll need another e-brake lever as well.

 

[2savage]

Doesn't this year also have the 7.5 rear end instead of the stronger 8.8? The FFR manual indicates that they do.

 

[stang8s]

It was the 1st year with the 8.8. This is a good link to all the yearly changes
http://www.mustanggt.org/86gt.htm

 

[bill32]

It would appear that the Engine you are going to use won't be using the EFI computer or wiring harness from the donor. If that is the case, the only things you will be able to use from an 86 donor is the rearend and T5 trans, pedal box and a few other parts. Maybe you should think about that. You are going to have to buy new spindles, brake system anyway. Maybe just buy what you need (rearend and trans brakes, pedalbox) from a junkyard???

 

[Nestromo]

Well, I bought a motor today... AMS 347 that made 564 HP on the dyno. Should do nicely. I still need a donor and I am going to tell the guy with the '86 "No Thanks".

 

[Todd]

The only bad thing about an 86 is the brakes. You would definetely want to get the newer spindles and brakes. The wiring harness will work and converting it to mass air is really easy the harness connector pins for mass air are open just plug in the two wires, 45,60 I think, then run an ignition hot and a ground, you can get a connector off of a lot of different mass air cars of course they need to be fords.

If you are going to use aftermarket gauges then this would work great, using the stock gauges your speedo would only go to 85mph.

1. How much is the donor???

2.Coverting to mass air is very easy, Although you do need a a9L computer and those are easy to find, I have one.

3.you would have to get new brakes and calipers.

4.with that engine you would have to get a bigger mass air meter anyway.

5. The 86 sender unit on the gas tank is upside down from the 87 and up, you would have to reverse the pins on the tank, otherwise you would empty when full, and full when empty.

6.If this car is $600-700 cheaper than anything else you can find then it might be a good idea.
Because all of the other misc. stuff is still the same.

So there's another opinion

Good Luck

Todd