Mustang GT question

[metalchurch79]

I hope that Cleveland Metal or someone can answer me this cause I didnt feel like registering on a Mustang Forum just for a few questions.

I found a 1982 GT 302 4 speed 3.55's Black w/ Red interior, pretty much all original 2nd owner car.
edit: (The gears were swapped fom 3.08's to 3.55's and it now has an Edelbrock Performer intake, other than that though it is original.)
Been a while since I messed with the old Fox bodies so some of the tech stuff has faded over the years.

Anyway, I'm planning a 5 lug conversion on this. I have all of the parts available to do this, but the only wheels that I have avail are a set of 14x6 and 14x8 S/S Cragars.

So my question is, do you guys know if the off-set would be similar to an old Mustang or Maverick?
The Cragars are currently on my 72 Maverick parts car, but I dont want to swap the axles and rotors out only to realize that the Cragars wont tuck in the wheel wells.

Would I need spacers to bring them out or anything?
I really cant remember...:think:

I cant honestly remember seeing any Fox body with "older style" wheels on them.
I saw a Ford Ranger with Magnum 500's and they fit nicely, but unsure about the track width on a Fox.

I also have (2) American Racing Torq Thrust's (14x6) and (2) Factory Steel rims (14x7) from a 1970 Torino.
That would give it an old 60's drag look, and would probably look kinda cool.

Any help on this would be very much appreciated, so if you know what I can do, or if you know someone who knows alot about this, please post or pm me.

I have alot of other questions, but this one is the most pertanent at the moment.

The car currently has American Racing wheels but there's only 3 of them on the car, with the 4th one being a mismatch.
My brother has a set of LX phone dial rims from an 86 GT, but they were painted black, so I'd have to strip them.
That would be my easiest option and require no work, but I want to try and throw these S/S's on it.

Here's a pic of the car:....still has the original paint on it as well.




See the crease in the rear bumper cover? Can this be fixed?
Looks like it was either hit in the ass, or someone backed into something.
Not sure if the metal bumper underneath is bent up or not?

Thanks so much guys!!

-Joe

[rjohnstone]

Don't know about the wheel offset, but those bumpers are rubberized plastic.
Creases don't come out of those very easily.
Looks like they backed into a poll.
IIRC, there is a Styrofoam pad and then a metal support frame behind the bumper skin.
Should be easy enough to replace.

[metalchurch79]

Yeah I think the bumper can be fixed rather easily, but I was wondering if the crease would remain after I straightened the bumper and whatever else underneath.
My brother said that a heat gun would allow the rubber to flatten out, but I'd have to be careful not to ruin the paint.

I'm pretty excited about this car, and I have alot of parts to upgrade it, but it's going to be my daily driver and my only car, so I need to keep it mobile, that's why I need to know about the offset before i tear it down if possible.

It has an SROD 4 speed overdrive and I cant find any aftermarket shifters for that trans. Does anyone know if one is available?

I have many more questions, but I'll hold off until I find out about the wheel off-set question, cause that's the one I really need to figure out.
Thanks for the reply Rick.

[zeegler]

You should be able to pick up a replacement bumper cover pretty easily I would think. Sorry I can't help you with the offset question. Make sure the axles are the same length.

[zeegler]

By the way, you sure you want 3.55s in a daily driver? Mine had the 3.08s and even that was pretty silly. I could barely drive it in the rain.

[metalchurch79]

The bumper cover is the same as a 79-82 and it's hard to find new parts for that. The bumper and side moldings are different from an 85-86 or an 87-93.

It has an overdrive 4th gear (0.70) so 3.55's wont be too bad I guess.
3rd gear is 1:1 like 4th gear in a T-5 or Drive in a C4-C5-C6.


My work is about 3 miles across town in traffic, so I wont really notice much if the revs are high, unless I'm out on the high way.

My Maverick has a 4 speed toploader and 3.91's and it screams @ 55 mph.

Edit:
The 5 lug axles are both driver side axles from a Ford Ranger and are the correct length. I could also use 2 passenger side axles from a Ford Aerostar van. I also have the 5 lug drums from a Ranger.

I need to figure out what rotors and wheel bearing to use for the front.
The ones I have are from a Ranger as well, but I also read that I was to use rotors from an LTD and to re-use the wheel bearings from the Mustang.
I know that the early Fox bodies before 1987 used smaller diameter rotors, cant remember if the Ranger and LTD are the same or if one is bigger than the other?

[Cleveland Metal]

Not sure what the older pre 87 offsets are, but newer FOX offsets are 4.5

I'll figure a lot of your rim selection depends on what parts you're using for the conversion. There's a lot of ways to get there, some ways are more problematic geometry-wise as well.

Other than some extreme want for some rim other than traditional, I'm not sure I'd bother with 5 lugs on that car really, considering the power it makes etc... Great upgrade if you're making a lot of power, want to road race it, or are seriously wanting to make brake upgrades. But hey, if you have the time and parts.. and don't mind some frustration here and there, have at it. That's what makes these cars fun. Just make sure the parts you have are, as a whole, going to make this a reliable swap. Look for people that have done it with YOUR combination , and makes sure the parts are "harmonious" haha... Believe me, you can get into some issues with what seems like a simple swap.

Regardless of what parts get you to the 5 lug setup, I'm thinking the older rims will be problematic with clearance on the calipers. I'd probably look to more modern 16"/17" rims.

Much of you width selection will also be hampered by the rear quad shock. I believe the 82 has those, my 84 did. You can remove em, but it would be good to upgrade the lower control arms to control wheel hop then.

Ummm... Personally, I'd look for an 88-93 EFI car with roller cam. Mostly the pre 86 7.5 rear end is craptacular for any power and may not even be traction-lok. The SROD trans is not much better. And really, the motor is not all that unless turned into a less streetable unit through traditional hotrodding mean.

The beauty of later Mustangs is how streetable they are while making gross amounts of power.

Non-roller cam cars do not respond to upgrades like the roller cars do. The roller 302 is a VERY special motor as far as what it can do with the displacement. And of course, EFI cars are a breeze to build power with stuff that is commonly and CHEAPLY available on the net.

No one does much of anything for SROD... That trans is history and you can't find that much to upgrade it internally if you decide to make some power with that motor. The Fox Market pretty much does AOD/AODE/4R70W or T-5/T-56 these days.

Rain, is jut not weather for any Positraction/traction lock Mustang with or without power haha... That's just the facts... These cars are dangerous. Mine doesn't see rain. Although in the past, I have wintered cars in Cleveland, which is insane. I was just poor and had to... VERY scary times... haha..

I run 4:10's in my stang with a Digitally controlled 4R70W trans and it was a daily driver all summer for years. Now, it's just a fun car since I can't leave it parked anywhere these days. haha... 3:55 or 3:73's are just fine with an automatic for daily. Automatic cars perform greatt with 4:10, just not so great for RPMs above 60mph, so more race oriented and less driveable, but definitely not undo-able.

[Cleveland Metal]

Some misc reading here. I used to have a lot of info on this but can't find it

http://mjbobbitt.home.comcast.net/~mjbobbitt/mustang/5lug.html

http://www.stangnet.com/tech/lug.html

http://mustangforums.com/forum/5-0-mustang/90784-fox-body-5-lug-conversion-by-stangpower96.html

[metalchurch79]

Thanks man!
I think this does have the quad shock, and I never thought of the clearance issues regarding that. I guess I'll just have to put one of the axles in and see if it clears. Same as the front.
I dont know of anyone using an S/S wheel on a Fox, and I dont think I've ever seen one to be honest.
There's probably a reason for that.
I know that the power doesnt require a 5 lug, I mainly just want to go for the look really.


I know that the SROD's wont hold up to much power, and being I want to keep it mostly stock I think I'll be ok. If not I have an extra 4 speed toploader that will take care of that.
I also have an 8.8 with 2.73's from an 87 GT, but I'm not going thru all that work unless I decide on more power from the 302

I have some '70 302 heads #DOOE and a Comp 270 cam and some long tube headers, but other than that I wont do much else to it.
I also have a complete stainless dual exhaust double hump cross member to convert to true duals.

I'd like to go with a manual rack cause I dont like power steering and that will free up some power and reduce the weight.
Do you know if Manual racks were an option on the early cars?
I know some racers simply remove the pump and block off the inlet and outlets on the rack, but I think it would dry up during every day use, so that might be out of the question.
Might have to go with a Flaming River rack I'm thinking.

The last Stang that I owned was an 85 GT with a 351W and a C4. I had a 5 lug on that, but I used the 86 GT wheels on it. Been a long time, and I cant remember which rotors I used on that.:think: I'm thinkin they were 1982 LTD, but it's been a while...

Might just use those 86 GT wheels on this for now, atleast until the weather gets nicer and I drive this around, get the bugs worked out and see if there's any more problems first.


Oh yeah I have a hood scoop from a 71 Comet GT that I'm planning to swap in place of the 82 GT scoop. I like the looks of it a little better.
No one makes a decent hood for the 79-82 cars which sucks!!

Here's a pic of a Comet GT/Cougar Eliminator scoop:


I like the older Fox bodies the best because they have carbs and everyone and their brother has an 87-93 around here. I have some disadvantages, but I'll have to live with that I guess.

Thanks for the help

[Cleveland Metal]

Sounds like a plan to me. Good luck with it all. Should be fun.

Ya, Flaming River rack is the shiznit. Finding a "good" original rack is unlikely, maybe a reman, but that will be pricey I bet.

Removing pump and blocking it off is a hack (IMO), doesn't function as well as a regular manual rack, will suffice for temp use on straightline cars maybe, and like you said, certainly not not a reliable way.

I've had my carb mustangs, I'm done with them unless I do a another drag car and that will not be streetable. Love the streetability of my EFI. Drives like a charm, AC is cold. Drive to the track in deep traffic idling along at 800 comfortably with no overheating, clock off some easy 11's on the strip and then drive home and hit the clubs in AC comfortability... Ahhh.... I'm just spoiled compared to the old days.

[metalchurch79]

Yeah man there's really no substitue for an EFI car, I agree with you there. I just like the old school way of doing shit I guess.

This will be a fun car to mess around with, but I have a feeling that before it's all said and done I'll have it all hopped up and I'll have to find a new daily driver...thats how it always ends up, right?!
Whats cool about these cars are the aftermarket parts that are available for them.

I've been feeling left out because alot of my friends and family have Fox bodies and I'm driving around in an Escort ZX2
My Dad has an 82 Capri RS with a 377 Windsor/C4, my brother has an 89 GT with a Vortech, and my buddy Mike has an 86 Capri that's all original.
These are all daily drivers too.

I have a complete '70 302, '70 Windsor, and a Cleveland short block, which are all beggin for a home.
I must refrain and keep this drivable!

[Cleveland Metal]

The dreaded sickness...

I keep doing it over and over swearing I wont. Funds have been my limiting issue the last few years. Something about going from 50/60k a year and being single to collecting unemployment. That sorta stopped it, haha...

Time for you to build a 347 roller stroker... heehee...

[metalchurch79]

Yeah man cars and guitars, right?!
I'd probably opt for a 383 Windsor or a Cleveland stroker if I went that route though.

I'm not too keen on that Red interior, so I'm thinking about some spring cleaning/weight savings if you know what I mean.
Then a trunk mounted battery as well.

Thinking about swapping the tail lights for 83-86 style and an 87-93 GT spoiler. I'd like to find a Cowl scoop from a 79 pace car, casue they look really nice with this nose piece.
The 85-86 are my favorite style, so a whole front nose conversion might be in the works as well.

The gears in my head are going crazy and i didnt even get the car yet. Supposed to check it out this weekend, but from the pics and what my friend said about it, I'll probably end up drivin it home.
The price is too good to pass up and it's inspected and ready to drive, so that makes it sound even sweeter to me.
It's a 2 owner car that's been well taken care of, and still has the original paint on it. Has 119,000 miles and was never driven in the winter.
Has a little rust on the inside/lower doors, but thats typical for these things. The hatch is nice though.
Between me, my dad, and brother, I'll have pretty much everything needed to mod this, which is really cool because I wont have to buy anything.....yet.

[Cleveland Metal]

And so it begins..................

[Aso]

That is a really nice 82 GT. That is my favorite body style of the fox bodies. I have owned three 82 Mustangs before getting my 87 GT.

I would go with 3.73s for gears but the 82's came with 7.5 rear axles so instead of spending the money on gears just look for a 8.8 from a junkyard and put 3.55 or 3.73s in it and swap out the entire rear axle. The 7.5's don't take a lot of abuse.

I did the 5 lug swap using the motorsport axles which I picked up used for cheap off the corral and the front was converted using the 94-95 SN-95 Mustang parts. The front control arms and shock mounting is a little different on the pre-87 cars though.

When you start looking at building a motor for it talk to Woody @ FordStrokers.com or Jay Allen @ camshaft innovations. I worked with both these guys in the past year in building a 347 for my Mustang and their customer service is top notch.