Finally got my car! Low Options???

[429mustang]

My insurance check finally cleared and I picked up my car this weekend in New Jersey. Paint looks real good (black), interior wasn't too (grey/black) good but I've got it straightened out pretty decent (seemed like someone took everything apart and didn't assemble everything 100%). Is it common for the coupes to come without a lot of options? Mine doesn't have power locks/windows/mirrors/seats and I noticed when I got it home it didn't come with air conditioning. The window cranks are pretty worn, does anyone make good aluminum window cranks, preferably anodized black? I don't want anything too polished or import looking, but I bought some plastic remakes and returned them after I put one on (they felt cheaper than the trashed ones I was replacing). Also, what kind of codes should I look for to tell which rearend gears I have?

(some pics after I got it home and cleaned up)

[429mustang]

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[tireburner163]

Look good man!!!!!!!!


-Josh, aka the tireburner

[stangcrazy84]

on the handles i got billet ones from 50 resto and had them powdercoated

[stangcrazy84]

on the handles i got billet ones from 50 resto and had them powdercoated

[429mustang]

Thats a good idea, how much was it to get them powdercoated?
Also, today I was doing something to the console, so I figured I'd check out the shifter cause it looked like an aluminum stick when I took off the knob, and it's a Steeda. Thats sweet, cause I was either gonna get the Steeda or Pro 5.0, but now I can spend $ on something else.

[RoadWarrior]

Thats one clean looking coupe.

[Terrifson77]

Hey 429,

Great lookin coupe you've got there. I have a few suggestions on the interior. One guy beat me to it about the window cranks, with the billet ones from 50resto.com. Or, if you have a good junkyard nearby, you may get lucky and find a good pair. Since interior parts don't care what motor is under their hoods, you can get them out of a 4-banger if they're clean. I have gotten a lot of parts from salvage yards, and saved a bundle of cash in the process. Check it out...

Oh, for the rear-end ratio, you can look on the differential cover plate and one of the bolts should have a little metal tag attached to it with numbers stamped in it. The numbers closest to the bolt head should say something like "2 L73", or "3 L08". These mean 2.73 and 3.08:1, respectively. This is assuming they haven't been changed, of course, but your factory gear won't be any steeper than 3.08. Hope you find some more goodies like the shifter

Jeff

[429mustang]

I checked our 50resto, the cranks were listed, but no picture or pricing. So far I've got the interior looking pretty decent, I just replaced the headliner last night (joanns fabrics right by my apartment has headliner material for 10.99 sq/yd, it only cost me $17 plus spray adhesive compared to $50-70 online and I didn't have to wait for it to ship). Once it gets nicer out I'd like to get a new floor carpet (black)/new floormats and some Corbeau seats (maybe the targa-rs ?) I also need to find a set of black visors, or recover mine (old headliner/visors were grey) so if anyones got them let me know.

[Dark_5.0]

Does it have a 140mph speedometer?

After you listed the cars lack of options it sounds like it might have used to have been a 4 banger.

I have never seen a 5.0 1990 coupe without power locks just 4 bangers.

It is a damn good looking car though it looks just like mine.

[Terrifson77]

Hey 429,
It sounds like the interior should be lookin' good soon. You should get some pics of it when you're finished. You might do what I did, and get some late model seats. I have a set of grey seats from a '98 in mine, and they are soooo comfortable. I got 'em from a junkyard for only $85 (both), and they bolted right in. Only needed a couple of washers. The bolt pattern for mustang seats didn't change from '79-'04, as these are all Fox platform 'stangs in one form or another. I was even able to splice into my wire for the power lumbar support and make use of the power driver seat from the '98 . Imagine if you could get a hold of some '99-up seats with the little embriodered ponies on them!

Dark 5.0 may have a good point. It is unusual for a Fox car as new as '90 to have so little in the way of options, even a 2.3L. Your speedo is kind of a givaway. The '90 model cars would have an 85mph one for the 2.3L, a 140 for the V8, and a 160 for the police cars, with a little "certified calibration" label at the bottom by the odometer. Check yours out, and let us know. Did you figure out your gear ratio yet?

Jeff

[429mustang]

It has the 140mph speedo, 2.73 gears. It definitely came with the 5.0, I figured it was weird it came without any options though. It has the extra speaker grills in the doors, but didn't come with speakers, is that normal?

[Terrifson77]

Yeah, that speaker grille is part of the '87-93 Door panel. Most of the 2.3L cars only had the rear and dash speakers, but they had the grilles for the doors. You should even have the big hole in the sheet metal behind the grille where a speaker could go, if you so choose.

It sounds like you have the epitomy of the LX 5.0... A bare-bones car with a V8 drivetrain. That was what Ford had in mind with the whole LX 5.0 program.

Jeff

[CONVGTMUSTANG]

Its a clean looking Stang. Body looks tight!

[93ReefNotch]

Looks real good, I like the contrast between the shades of black with the body side moldings.

BTW, where in NJ did you pick that car up and what are your plans?

Also heres a link to stock replacement window crank handles at 5.0 resto. I would go with these... http://secure.50resto.com/product1.c...roduct_ID=1820

[xxxBlakexxx]

I graduated from college in 1990. My first car was a brand-new, red Dodge Datona...first year with the V-6. I swear I remember looking at an LX 5.0 just like this one sitting on a new car lot. When I went to buy one, I could not find any more. This car was most likely the fastest Mustang on the road then (in stock, of course) and was known to blow the doors off any GT. It is light! You may have a very special car.

[RBatson]

I love that car! How much you want for it?

The car may have been ordered like that, alot of people were ordering them stripped but you'd think they would've ordered it with 3.08 gears though:shrug: Either way, nice clean car!

[429mustang]

I figured it would have had the 3.08's also. Will 3.73 or 3.90's bolt up to the stock carrier? Also, shouldn't there be some other way to unlock the doors from the inside other than pulling the handle (locks are too short to grab an pull up) I also noticed that it looks like there's a wire going to where there should be a trunk pop button in the glove box, but theres just a plastic cover. Are there any good sites that show how many of certain options vehicles were made in 1990? I really need to change out the exhaust, the stock flowtubeds rusted out this week (both sides right behind the flared joint), so I'm running off just catalytic converters now (not too loud, just sounds like sh*t). I'm still debating on exhaust options, should I spend the extra $ on ceramic coating over the chrome BBK longtubes?


Heres some pics of the front door panels, I recovered the upper/lower panels cause they were dirty and I don't like the pockets on the bottom. Here's the old one:

[429mustang]

New one:

[429mustang]

I recovered the headliner also: (I don't know why the pictures have spots on them, there must be water/dirt spots inside the lense???)