Longevity modifications???

Holly · 03-20-2002, 02:55 AM

I have a '87 5.0 and it has an automatic transmission. It also a few hundred thousand miles to 200K. Pretty much everything on it is stock. It is a "parental hand-me-down car."

I've been reading about modifying the performance and making it faster and more powerful, but I also have my car's longevity in mind. I don't want to make the wrong modifications in the wrong order that would actually hurt my car than enhance it.

After reading up on mustang modifications, I basically have a few things in mind that I want to do first. 1. Remove air-silencer and put in a K&N. 2. Performance alignment. 3. Subframe connectors. 4. New brake lines, fluid etc. 5. Strut tower brace and G load brace.

I also want to put in new spring, struts, and shocks as one package. I just tuned up my car and have noticed a better quality ride. I want to do more, but like I said, I want to modify the car so that it improves my car's performance as well as longevity. Restoration is pretty much the issue at hand.

I would greatly appretiate any input or advice on modifications that would improve this "old mustang with a bunch of miles on it" performance, as well as longevity. Thanks.

89hatchbackGT · 03-20-2002, 07:32 PM

Things like cold air intakes, exaust components,new heads, minor bolt on things like that most likely wont affect the life of your engine. If anything it should improve the life.

Unit 5302 · 03-20-2002, 08:47 PM

-Transgo shift kit
-3.73-4.10 gears (won't increase longevity, but won't hurt much either)
-Electric Fans
-Upgraded Alternator (kinda goes with underdrives and fans)
-Underdrive pullies
-High flow cat H pipe
-Catback exhaust
-Cobra Intake

That should keep you busy for quite a while, and drop a second off your 1/4 mile time.

No forced induction, heads, cams, Nitrous. In other words, no single mods that will greatly increase your performance. Hey, quit cursing me!! LOL.

Mr 5 0 · 03-21-2002, 10:01 AM

Holly:

All of your idea's for upgrades are good and will improve the Mustang. As already noted, avoid big mods like aftermarket cylinder heads until you can afford a total engine rebuild and do it then.

Cold-air induction, free-flowing exhaust and lower rear gears will all improve performance (although not drastically) but beware of straining the 15-year-old AOD transmission unless it's had a recent rebuild.

For longevity, change the engine oil & filter frequently (every 2,000 miles is my marker) and change the transmission fluid immediately if it hasn't already been taken care of.

Read the various posts in this forum and you'll see that there are many things you can do to enhance your '87 'Stang, which was a great car to begin with.

The high mileage precludes the big HP-adding mods but you can still increase it's performance and your driving enjoyment without really doing much to the engine, as it's such a great performer to begin with.

If you really love the car, think about a engine rebuild or buying a 'crate' engine (already assembled) in the future.

Holly · 03-22-2002, 05:27 AM

Thanks for all the advice so far regarding the longevity modifications.

What would be the best way going about rebuilding the 302 engine and AOD transmission in my car? Would it be more efficient to buy new ones altogether?

My main objective for this car is not to for it to be a racing car, but rather a nice, smooth quality ride car. Hence, I want to focus on chassis stiffening and more handling improvements. I would also like to enhance power and speed, but these are more secondary issues.

I am in the process of planning my car's restoration and would like to improve my engine's performance along with the interior and exterior. I am concerned in putting too much strain on a worn engine.

Any more bits of advice or suggestions are always greatly appreciated and they help me out A LOT as I plan this project. Thanks.

PKRWUD · 03-22-2002, 06:12 AM

The first thing I'd do is run a compression test to see what kind of shape the internals are in. The first thing I'd replace is the timing chain and gears.

Take care,
-Chris

chris91LX · 03-22-2002, 12:30 PM

If you are looking for a "smooth" ride you might be careful of the springs and shocks you use. Most of the aftermarket components are geared toward high performance applications, such as drag racing and road racing, neither of which give a very "smooth" ride. Road racing suspensions are generally very stiff and can be teeth rattling over bumpy roads and drag racing suspensions are generally very soft, made to squat in back and jump up in the front, and you wouldn't want to dive into a corner with a d/r suspension. Your best bet might be to get factory replacement grade parts.

As far as rebuilding the motor and trans, you could look into local speed shops, engine builders and trans shops for pricing, or go with a crate motor from the like of Keith Kraft, DSS or any of the other engine builders that advertise in the Mustang mags. It's always a good idea to check on here if anyone has had bad experiences with particular builders before you buy though. You could also buy a new trans, maybe upgrade to an aode or have Lentech, D&D or one of the other trans specialists build a trans for your needs.

However you decide to go, good luck and be careful of that HP bug. It's contagious

Mr 5 0 · 03-22-2002, 01:10 PM

Holly:

Restoring is a big project; I know, I've done it .

Right now, I would suggest investing in sub-frame connectors and new shocks and struts. KYB makes a nice replacement set of all six pieces needed for a very reasonable price; under $200. at Mustangs Unlimited. http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/general.htm

For the engine and transmisssion, I would suggest you consider buying a Ford 'crate' engine. These come with most everything you need except water pumps (sometimes) and the fuel injection and ignition system, which should be replaced, anyway.

The engine runs around $3,000., which is expensive but you save a lot of time and labor going this route. Having your current engine rebuilt is cheaper but takes a lot longer and frankly, unless you know a trusted mechanic who will do the job for you, I can't recommend it.

The AOD can be rebuilt or just exchanged for a 'new' rebuilt but you should also invest in a shift kit and a new converter. Not cheap, either.

As you can see, restoration is an expensive process, especially if you're not a 'do-it-yourself' person and have to pay for all the labor involved, which is substantial.

Interior parts and external trim are all still available. Check the Mustangs Unlimited link (above) or the many ads in any popular Mustang-specific magazine for ideas about availability and prices.

Interiors can be refurbished for about $700. or so, depending on how much needs to be done; i.e. a new carpet is about $100., plus installation.

One thing to remember, especially when looking at mechanical restoration - is that everything on the car has 200,000 miles on it, not just the engine, which is why you can't just replace the engine and transmission and forget the converter, differential, suspension, etc and this is where it gets expensive.

Still, the '87 Mustang is a near-classic already and a great car, as I've noted. For well under $10,000 - about 40% of the cost of a brand-new car, you could have a powerful, classic Mustang that would only appreciate in value, instead of losing value with every mile, every month, as a new or late-model car does.

Restored properly, keeping close to original and having the work done correctly, you could probably enjoy the Mustang for a few years and almost break even when you sold it...or just hang on to it and watch it appreciate.

Things to remember when you look at the sometimes daunting task and substantial cost of restoring your '87 Mustang. I would start slow, replacing the obvious things (and checking compression and prehaps replacing the timing chain as PKRWUD sensibly suggested) but you'll have to decide if you want to replace/rebuild the 5.0 engine because it's clearly not wise to invest money on isolated parts for a 200,000-mile engine if it's going to be replaced soon, anyway.

Get the sub-frame connectors, struts, shocks and possibly new springs to take care of the 'ride', but also have the entire front-end (steering suspension) checked out, too.
Over 15 years, the rubber bushings wear and deteriorate, making the steering 'loose' and possibly dangerous. Brakes are another item to check carefully, looking for warped rotors and cracked rear drums as well as worn pads and shoes. How's your exhaust?

It's a long list but start with the safety items and go from there.

03-20-2002, 02:55 AM	#1
Holly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	Longevity modifications??? I have a '87 5.0 and it has an automatic transmission. It also a few hundred thousand miles to 200K. Pretty much everything on it is stock. It is a "parental hand-me-down car." I've been reading about modifying the performance and making it faster and more powerful, but I also have my car's longevity in mind. I don't want to make the wrong modifications in the wrong order that would actually hurt my car than enhance it. After reading up on mustang modifications, I basically have a few things in mind that I want to do first. 1. Remove air-silencer and put in a K&N. 2. Performance alignment. 3. Subframe connectors. 4. New brake lines, fluid etc. 5. Strut tower brace and G load brace. I also want to put in new spring, struts, and shocks as one package. I just tuned up my car and have noticed a better quality ride. I want to do more, but like I said, I want to modify the car so that it improves my car's performance as well as longevity. Restoration is pretty much the issue at hand. I would greatly appretiate any input or advice on modifications that would improve this "old mustang with a bunch of miles on it" performance, as well as longevity. Thanks.

03-20-2002, 07:32 PM	#2
89hatchbackGT Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Huntsville Alabama Posts: 44	Things like cold air intakes, exaust components,new heads, minor bolt on things like that most likely wont affect the life of your engine. If anything it should improve the life. __________________ Http://www.geocities.com/stang89gt2000 I like an escalator because an escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. There'd never be an escalator out of order sign, only escalator temporarily stairs-sorry for the inconvenience sign. --Mitch Hedberg

03-21-2002, 10:01 AM	#4
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Upgrading an '87 Holly: All of your idea's for upgrades are good and will improve the Mustang. As already noted, avoid big mods like aftermarket cylinder heads until you can afford a total engine rebuild and do it then. Cold-air induction, free-flowing exhaust and lower rear gears will all improve performance (although not drastically) but beware of straining the 15-year-old AOD transmission unless it's had a recent rebuild. For longevity, change the engine oil & filter frequently (every 2,000 miles is my marker) and change the transmission fluid immediately if it hasn't already been taken care of. Read the various posts in this forum and you'll see that there are many things you can do to enhance your '87 'Stang, which was a great car to begin with. The high mileage precludes the big HP-adding mods but you can still increase it's performance and your driving enjoyment without really doing much to the engine, as it's such a great performer to begin with. If you really love the car, think about a engine rebuild or buying a 'crate' engine (already assembled) in the future.

03-22-2002, 05:27 AM	#5
Holly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	Rebuilding? Thanks for all the advice so far regarding the longevity modifications. What would be the best way going about rebuilding the 302 engine and AOD transmission in my car? Would it be more efficient to buy new ones altogether? My main objective for this car is not to for it to be a racing car, but rather a nice, smooth quality ride car. Hence, I want to focus on chassis stiffening and more handling improvements. I would also like to enhance power and speed, but these are more secondary issues. I am in the process of planning my car's restoration and would like to improve my engine's performance along with the interior and exterior. I am concerned in putting too much strain on a worn engine. Any more bits of advice or suggestions are always greatly appreciated and they help me out A LOT as I plan this project. Thanks.

03-22-2002, 06:12 AM	#6
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	The first thing I'd do is run a compression test to see what kind of shape the internals are in. The first thing I'd replace is the timing chain and gears. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

03-20-2002, 08:47 PM	#3
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	-Transgo shift kit -3.73-4.10 gears (won't increase longevity, but won't hurt much either) -Electric Fans -Upgraded Alternator (kinda goes with underdrives and fans) -Underdrive pullies -High flow cat H pipe -Catback exhaust -Cobra Intake That should keep you busy for quite a while, and drop a second off your 1/4 mile time. No forced induction, heads, cams, Nitrous. In other words, no single mods that will greatly increase your performance. Hey, quit cursing me!! LOL.

03-22-2002, 12:30 PM	#7
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	If you are looking for a "smooth" ride you might be careful of the springs and shocks you use. Most of the aftermarket components are geared toward high performance applications, such as drag racing and road racing, neither of which give a very "smooth" ride. Road racing suspensions are generally very stiff and can be teeth rattling over bumpy roads and drag racing suspensions are generally very soft, made to squat in back and jump up in the front, and you wouldn't want to dive into a corner with a d/r suspension. Your best bet might be to get factory replacement grade parts. As far as rebuilding the motor and trans, you could look into local speed shops, engine builders and trans shops for pricing, or go with a crate motor from the like of Keith Kraft, DSS or any of the other engine builders that advertise in the Mustang mags. It's always a good idea to check on here if anyone has had bad experiences with particular builders before you buy though. You could also buy a new trans, maybe upgrade to an aode or have Lentech, D&D or one of the other trans specialists build a trans for your needs. However you decide to go, good luck and be careful of that HP bug. It's contagious

03-22-2002, 01:10 PM	#8
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Restoration suggestions Holly: Restoring is a big project; I know, I've done it . Right now, I would suggest investing in sub-frame connectors and new shocks and struts. KYB makes a nice replacement set of all six pieces needed for a very reasonable price; under $200. at Mustangs Unlimited. http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/general.htm For the engine and transmisssion, I would suggest you consider buying a Ford 'crate' engine. These come with most everything you need except water pumps (sometimes) and the fuel injection and ignition system, which should be replaced, anyway. The engine runs around $3,000., which is expensive but you save a lot of time and labor going this route. Having your current engine rebuilt is cheaper but takes a lot longer and frankly, unless you know a trusted mechanic who will do the job for you, I can't recommend it. The AOD can be rebuilt or just exchanged for a 'new' rebuilt but you should also invest in a shift kit and a new converter. Not cheap, either. As you can see, restoration is an expensive process, especially if you're not a 'do-it-yourself' person and have to pay for all the labor involved, which is substantial. Interior parts and external trim are all still available. Check the Mustangs Unlimited link (above) or the many ads in any popular Mustang-specific magazine for ideas about availability and prices. Interiors can be refurbished for about $700. or so, depending on how much needs to be done; i.e. a new carpet is about $100., plus installation. One thing to remember, especially when looking at mechanical restoration - is that everything on the car has 200,000 miles on it, not just the engine, which is why you can't just replace the engine and transmission and forget the converter, differential, suspension, etc and this is where it gets expensive. Still, the '87 Mustang is a near-classic already and a great car, as I've noted. For well under $10,000 - about 40% of the cost of a brand-new car, you could have a powerful, classic Mustang that would only appreciate in value, instead of losing value with every mile, every month, as a new or late-model car does. Restored properly, keeping close to original and having the work done correctly, you could probably enjoy the Mustang for a few years and almost break even when you sold it...or just hang on to it and watch it appreciate. Things to remember when you look at the sometimes daunting task and substantial cost of restoring your '87 Mustang. I would start slow, replacing the obvious things (and checking compression and prehaps replacing the timing chain as PKRWUD sensibly suggested) but you'll have to decide if you want to replace/rebuild the 5.0 engine because it's clearly not wise to invest money on isolated parts for a 200,000-mile engine if it's going to be replaced soon, anyway. Get the sub-frame connectors, struts, shocks and possibly new springs to take care of the 'ride', but also have the entire front-end (steering suspension) checked out, too. Over 15 years, the rubber bushings wear and deteriorate, making the steering 'loose' and possibly dangerous. Brakes are another item to check carefully, looking for warped rotors and cracked rear drums as well as worn pads and shoes. How's your exhaust? It's a long list but start with the safety items and go from there.

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