[Geoff H]

I can get a good deal on an '86 GT that needs a bit of tranny work (T-5). Is there anything else interchangeable? What is the EFI system like?

I am not building for a while so I thought it might make a fun daily driver.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Geoff

 

[stang8s]

86 had smaller brakes, different front spindles, did not have mass air (came in 89), the throttle body was smaller 58 vs 60mm, the heads were not the E7 style and were perhaps the worst ford ever made, intake was smaller, pistons were flat top, gauges were different, harnesses were different, rest was basically the same.

 

[Ozona]

Unless the car is in great shape...pass.

 

[Richard Oben]

Even if it is in great shape you can't use much so pass unless you want it a driver not a donor. Cheers Richard.

 

[Geoff H]

Thanks guys. Good information. I may just pick it up for a daily driver then. It would give me that V-8 fix I have been needing for so long. For the price I am getting it, I can always sell it at a later date.

Geoff

 

[Platt Green]

I've got one for a daily driver and it's a lot of fun. Can fit my whole family and luggage in for a trip and autocross it for kicks. If the price is right I'd go for it!

 

[Geoff H]

Platt Green, How do you find your '86 GT for handling and power?

Geoff

 

[Platt Green]

Geoff,

I'm very happy with the power and handling, although once you get used to it you always want more. My car is basically stock except that it has 3.73 gears and has been lowered with aftermarket springs. All that was done before I bought it so I can't give you any details on the parts used. It has plenty of passing power on family excursions fully loaded with wife, two kids, and luggage, and is very fun to autocross. Handling is very predictable and the flat torque curve makes it easy to drive with the throttle. I haven't had as much fun since I drove my '67 Alpine nearly 30 years ago

 

[Geoff H]

Sounds Great! Thanks for all your help. I'll have a look at the car this week. I'll let you know what I find.

Geoff

 

[Platt Green]

By the way, I don't know why you couldn't use it as a donor. It was the first year to use an 8.8" rear end, World Class T-5, sequential EFI, forged pistons, and a hydraulic roller cam. Yes the brakes are smaller than later years, the heads aren't the best,and you have speed-density EFI rather than mass-air, but they work just fine in a car that is a thousand pounds more than a FFR. If I was going to do it on a budget I wouldn't hesitate to use an '86 GT.

 

[Erik W. Treves]

From somebody that did use a 86 donor....bought since:
1)new heads
2)cam
3)new pistons because the 86 were flat top
4)mass air convertion
5)steering column (non tilt)
6)let's not even talk about the spindles which didn't fit and took FFR 1.5 weeks to tell me how to get around it.
7)E-brake handle is wrong
8)guages are wrong.
If asked to do over again....hmmm...NOPE ...If you're going to buy outside of 87-93 go for newer at least you'd have newer stuff. I'm sure it would work fine in a car that was 1000 lbs lighter....until you get use to it and "need" more power...feel the rush $$$$
my .02 though

[ September 22, 2002, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Erik W. Treves ]