going to look at a mustang today

jadams · 03-22-2003, 01:24 PM

im going to look at a 89 mustang lx is the anything i should look out for . i really dont know much about mustangs but i do know a little bit . so any help would be nice

thanks guy
jason

84LX89GT · 03-24-2003, 04:21 AM

This is what i look for when buying a mustang:
1. Oil leaks, check underneath at the rear of the oil pan, oil travels down and back....old fords love to leak oil. also for any other oil/fluid leaks
2. Make sure the heater works and blows hot, heater cores are not fun to replace. i just replaced the one in my car, not bad, but a pain in the arse anyways. While your at it make sure it blows cold air if it's got AC
3. Check THOROUGHLY for repainted areas or any part of the frame (even underneath the car) for crimps and crumples for signs of an accident, mustangs are never the same after they've been totalled/frame damaged because of the unibody.
4. Check how it runs cold and take a short trip cold, make sure it shifts ok and there's no odd noises. park it and let it run, then take a longer trip while it's nice and warm to make sure it doesn't over heat/miss or do anything funny and that it still shifts ok. Also make sure there's no clunks while applying power/releasing power this could be anything from worn trans splines, worn universal joints, excessive gear backlash, or ripped torque boxes (holds the fronts of the controls arms, notorious for ripping under abuse).
5. ask for any maintainance history the owner can give and check the dipstick for tarnishing (dark areas on dipstick). Vehicles with irregular/extended oil change periods will stain the dipstick and in some cases the dipstick will get rusted/eaten by the acids in the oil (happened to a family friends truck).
6. Inventory all the things that don't work/worry you. It can be used as leverage in negotiations. Also DON'T fall in love with the car when you first see it....i've burned myself before doing that.

This is at least what i can think of off the top of my head. Good luck and happy hunting.

jadams · 03-24-2003, 04:09 PM

thanks alot ill try to look for these thing when im look at a car . hope a find one soon

thanks again
jason

Hethj7 · 03-25-2003, 12:56 AM

Another trick my step dad taught me is to take a magnet along. It will obviously stick to any metel body panel, but if you find a spot that it won't stick to, this area has probably been wrecked and bondo has been used. The magnet won't stick to the bondo.

MidNiteBlu 5.0 · 03-25-2003, 03:11 AM

Try as hard as you can to NOT BUY A PREMODIFIED CAR. I thought mine was fine because the owner had reciepts and quality parts from what had been done but he beat the hell out of the engine and it is leaking oil through the rings at 100,000 miles

Fox Body · 03-25-2003, 06:11 PM

84LX89GT pretty much covered everything. Let me add, if/when you take the car for a test drive, make sure the owner isn't babbling while you drive b/c you need to listen to the car and not him/her. Turn down radio. Is it manual, 5.0, 4 cylinder......???

Did you look at it yet?

jadams · 03-25-2003, 06:46 PM

well the one i was looking at was a auto . but im also look at some 5 speeds wich was is better . no i have went to look at it yet cause when i was going i called him and he wasnt there .

thanks for all the help guys

jason

03-22-2003, 01:24 PM	#1
jadams Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: pasadena maryland Posts: 10	going to look at a mustang today im going to look at a 89 mustang lx is the anything i should look out for . i really dont know much about mustangs but i do know a little bit . so any help would be nice thanks guy jason

03-24-2003, 04:21 AM	#2
84LX89GT Mustangs Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 1,938	This is what i look for when buying a mustang: 1. Oil leaks, check underneath at the rear of the oil pan, oil travels down and back....old fords love to leak oil. also for any other oil/fluid leaks 2. Make sure the heater works and blows hot, heater cores are not fun to replace. i just replaced the one in my car, not bad, but a pain in the arse anyways. While your at it make sure it blows cold air if it's got AC 3. Check THOROUGHLY for repainted areas or any part of the frame (even underneath the car) for crimps and crumples for signs of an accident, mustangs are never the same after they've been totalled/frame damaged because of the unibody. 4. Check how it runs cold and take a short trip cold, make sure it shifts ok and there's no odd noises. park it and let it run, then take a longer trip while it's nice and warm to make sure it doesn't over heat/miss or do anything funny and that it still shifts ok. Also make sure there's no clunks while applying power/releasing power this could be anything from worn trans splines, worn universal joints, excessive gear backlash, or ripped torque boxes (holds the fronts of the controls arms, notorious for ripping under abuse). 5. ask for any maintainance history the owner can give and check the dipstick for tarnishing (dark areas on dipstick). Vehicles with irregular/extended oil change periods will stain the dipstick and in some cases the dipstick will get rusted/eaten by the acids in the oil (happened to a family friends truck). 6. Inventory all the things that don't work/worry you. It can be used as leverage in negotiations. Also DON'T fall in love with the car when you first see it....i've burned myself before doing that. This is at least what i can think of off the top of my head. Good luck and happy hunting. __________________ 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300-R 1980 Ford Thunderbird - 255 V8 ported heads, 5.0L ported stock headers, O.R. H-pipe and Flowmaster 2-chambers, dual roller timing chain hi-po Mack Truck hood emblem 1985 Mustang GT 5.0L T5, F-303, GT40p, headers, off-road h, flowmasters, MSD stuff, etc. Sold 02/06/04 1989 Mustang GT ET: 13.304@102.29 mph (5-24-03) Sold - 1998 Mustang Cobra coupe, 1/4 mile - street tires: 13.843@103.41 (bone stock)

03-25-2003, 12:56 AM	#4
Hethj7 Mizzou Tigers Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: weston, MO United States Posts: 1,455	Another trick my step dad taught me is to take a magnet along. It will obviously stick to any metel body panel, but if you find a spot that it won't stick to, this area has probably been wrecked and bondo has been used. The magnet won't stick to the bondo. __________________ 2006 Mustang GT 1990 LX GT-40 motor 262 horsepower, 307ft-lbs (sold but forever loved) 1998 Contour SVT Rice Haters Club Member #244

03-25-2003, 03:11 AM	#5
MidNiteBlu 5.0 I got something to say Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,557	Try as hard as you can to NOT BUY A PREMODIFIED CAR. I thought mine was fine because the owner had reciepts and quality parts from what had been done but he beat the hell out of the engine and it is leaking oil through the rings at 100,000 miles __________________ 91 LX Hatch 5.0 - made for the twisties 89 LX Hatchback 5.0 5spd. stolen/stripped 4/7/05 http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?3494 1987 Toyota Pickup Ricer Haters Club Member #33 Want a custom gauge cluster for your Vintage Mustang? www.jmeenterprises.com

03-25-2003, 06:11 PM	#6
Fox Body Mustang Maniac Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: GA, U.S.A Posts: 2,266	84LX89GT pretty much covered everything. Let me add, if/when you take the car for a test drive, make sure the owner isn't babbling while you drive b/c you need to listen to the car and not him/her. Turn down radio. Is it manual, 5.0, 4 cylinder......??? Did you look at it yet? __________________ 351W-powered 1979 Ford Mustang Ghia notchback '79 Video @ Idle Stock 5.8L under 4" cowl 'glass hood, C4 w/ Transgo shift kit, Holley 750 cfm, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake; Fluidyne Al radiator, Flexalite 175 electric fan, 1 5/8" MAC shorty headers, FRPP Al driveshaft; S&W 6-point cage; 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters, 8.8" Rear w/ 3.55s; Weld wheels (15x6;15x8), Front: 225/60/15, Rear: 275/50/15 Nitto NT 555R Drag Radials; 14 x 4” K&N X-stream air filter. '92 GT (5-speed) Small In Car Video Stock 5.0L, 2-chamber Flowmasters, MAC CAI, Tri-Ax, Al pedals... "Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body

03-24-2003, 04:09 PM	#3
jadams Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: pasadena maryland Posts: 10	thanks alot ill try to look for these thing when im look at a car . hope a find one soon thanks again jason

03-25-2003, 06:46 PM	#7
jadams Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: pasadena maryland Posts: 10	well the one i was looking at was a auto . but im also look at some 5 speeds wich was is better . no i have went to look at it yet cause when i was going i called him and he wasnt there . thanks for all the help guys jason

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