1981 Mustang

[gustav129]

Bought an 81 Mustang, 4cyl with a 4 spd for $500. I needed something that got better fuel mileage and to auto-x with. I'll have it stored in Spokane for a week or two until I get a trip permit to drive it to Idaho and register it.

I'll still get my 5.0 GT hatch at a later date.

[CD5Accord]

duuude. Strip it. Stateline every wednesday night. do it with me bro

[gustav129]

Maybe when I get another one. That is something that I'd like to try.

[CD5Accord]

That'd be hella tight.

[CD5Accord]

One thing i dont care fore about the 81's is the headlights. They look like...idk just cheap kinda. I like the newer ones with one piece headlights. But its still sick

[JetBlack]

That was when everyone was experimenting with square headlights and no one liked them. Jaguar. Jeep. Ford.

[gustav129]

Got it to Spokane:
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1958.jpg

Items I have to source/fix so I can run H Stock:

Driver's Seat: Same shape as stock, just a different head rest. From a later Foxbody maybe?
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1954.jpg

Stereo and Glove Box: Find out how to mount the stereo so it's not loose, or pull it. Need glove box door.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1955.jpg

Driver's Arm Rest: Have to buy them as a pair, the 79 Mr Yuck told me about wouldn't work for this.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1956.jpg

Steering wheel center piece:
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1957.jpg

Air Intake Hose:
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1960.jpg

Wheels: They look stock, but the center caps say "Superior" on them. I've only found a set of aluminum GT rims from a later model so far.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/DSCF1959.jpg

So I got my work cut out for me before the season starts.

[gustav129]

Found out that the wheels only have to be stock size, so I may go after the 87-88 GT Finned aluminum wheels on CL.

I'll be getting a trip permit Thursday, driving my Scout Traveler to Spokane, loading that onto the trailer, and driving the Mustang back.

I'll have to change Battery cables. The battery keeps going dead, and when I was trying to start it again to drive off the trailer, the Positive cable was getting warm. Something is shorting out.

[JetBlack]

Could be the voltage regulator/rectifier too.

Aluminum interior! Man, buy a TIG welder and learn on that thing! Very cool looking car.

[jon]

i got a washington 3 day permit ill sell ya... lol

[gustav129]

Thanks JetBlack, I'll check that.

[gustav129]

Just an update. Lost first gear a couple weeks ago. I can't get parts for the poopy European 4 speed through ford. I purchased an 80 T-bird with a 302/AOD to swap into the mustang. I may drive the t-bird while gathering parts for the swap.

[gustav129]

Well, the AOD would cost me around $250 to swap into the Mustang. I figure if that's halfway towards a rebuilt T-5, might as well sell the AOD to get me a little closer.

[gustav129]

Just an update, I'm looking at leaving the T-Bird Alone, and possibly taking CD5's advice and building a Roadrunner out of the Mustang for next year. I've been spending most of my weekends at State Line Speedway latey.

[JetBlack]

Just an update, I'm looking at leaving the T-Bird Alone, and possibly taking CD5's advice and building a Roadrunner out of the Mustang for next year. I've been spending most of my weekends at State Line Speedway latey.

I drove by there,m yesterday at about 6:30PM and thought about stopping.

[CD5Accord]

Just an update, I'm looking at leaving the T-Bird Alone, and possibly taking CD5's advice and building a Roadrunner out of the Mustang for next year. I've been spending most of my weekends at State Line Speedway latey.

Well weather is lookin good wednesday 80 degrees. If your there stop by the pits and say hello or somin

[gustav129]

Ok, an update.

Sold the T-bird

The Mustang is being built into a SCCA C Prepared car. I picked up a 302/C4 out of a 1978 Grenada

Stock Parts I'm searching for:
1968-70 351W heads or 1975 Truck 351W heads
1987-1993 front spindles from 5.0 car
1987-1993 8.8 rear axle from 5.0 car

[CD5Accord]

aww, i wanted your 4cyl =( was gunna give you a 302 for it...

[gustav129]

2.3L/4 speed was pulled last weekend. I pulled the cover off the trans to see what my problem was, 1st/2nd syncro is toast, and teeth are missing off Reverse gear.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297111_180743958664806_100001876087345_430956_5721 075_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/307191_180743978664804_100001876087345_430957_1856 905_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/311990_180745151998020_100001876087345_431004_7122 47_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/319123_180745301998005_100001876087345_431010_1513 20_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/313273_180745201998015_100001876087345_431006_5916 027_n.jpg
Looks like I'd better replace the radiator core support.....

The 2.3L and radiator are to be delivered to Cody for a pair of 88 5.0 front spindles (heavier duty struts, bigger spindles), rotors, calipers, and brackets. Next is to get H&R Racing Springs, Bilstein struts and shocks, and swap in the 5.0 spindles. The 4 cyl spindles (with rotors , calipers, and brackets attached) are going to Cody

There is a 90 Lincoln Towncar with an EFI 5.0 on the property that's lined up to get crushed, so I'm gonna try and pull that before it get's crushed. Right now, I'm just gathering a couple 302 short blocks.

[gustav129]

I decided on a paint sceme. I'm thinking a 2-tone, same lines as this later coupe:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/ithaca00/Mustangs/mustang92twotone.jpg

But keep the top half white and do the bottom half metallic royal blue (same as my 1996 F-150):
http://image.mustang50magazine.com/f/eventcoverage/m5lp_1001_2009_mustang_week/25668737+w200/m5lp_1001_23_+2009_mustang_week+2003_cobra.jpg


I talked to Cory, and he said he's keeping his vinyl cutting machine, so he can cut me the Mustang pony. I'm gonna do a red racing stripe on the left, and a blue racing stripe on the right, with the Mustang pony in the center of the hood (in effect, making a large Mustang logo):
http://www.thatsmyroom.com/dev/images/productimages/hrzimages/4walls121676FordMustangLogo.JPG

[gustav129]

I picked up my heads Thursday night.

A guy on craigslist had had them listed for almost two months now.
1970 351 w heads ,bare, been cleaned, magged, studs pulled, guides are good, need machined for screw in studs and guide plates. $75 o.b.o.
1970 351 w heads, bare, been cleaned, magged, needs 1 seat installed, good guides. $50 o.b.o.
197? early 70's 302 heads, came off running motor, no burnt valves, good cores or replace valve seals and re-use. $40 o.b.o.

I offered $100 for the two pair of 351w heads.

My gf let me keep a set in the bathtub. She's a keeper. Maybe some hardened valve seats on this set.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8732.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8731.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8735.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8734.jpg

The second pair (probably spares).
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8736.jpg

Sunken Exhaust valve seat. Hardened seats definitely go into this set.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8738.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8737.jpg

Other goodies that weren't listed that he gave me.....
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8739.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/gustav129/Ford%20Mustang/100_8741.jpg

That's worth almost $60 out of the $100 right there.

[gustav129]

Minimum weight (lbs):
V8 engines greater than 5100cc 3000
V8 engines equal to or less than 5100cc 2700

302cid = 4.948L = 4948cc

302cid + 0.030 = 306ci = 5.014L = 5014cc


Nice, so I can bore a 302 30 over and still be under the 5.1L rule and still be down to 2700 lbs.

Except......
Curb-weight range, pounds: 2,530-2,672 (1979); 2,601-2,692 (1981)

[gustav129]

Nothing like the EP Civic I was building a few years back. I had almost 600lbs to lose.

For every pound I take off the Mustang, I have to put 1 "plus a little" on. Full roll cage, and lead ingot ballasts....

I'll have to put off the fiberglass fender flares, hood, and polycarbonate windows for a while.

[CD5Accord]

Why dont you gut the hood and trunk lids, I can show you how to do it...it's insanely simple and i'm sure you could keep the stock brackets to open them both...it'd just be REALLY flimsy haha but who cares about that...:thumbsup:

I also might be able to find you the plastic quarter pannel windows that would lighten it up a bit...idk how street legal that is...um, i'll think of some other things that might work