Ford
declared "The Boss is back!" in 1982 with this car.
My Mustang in Canada:
On the Lions Gate Bridge:
On Interstate 5 in California:
Car came with the following parts either installed or as extras:
- '82 5.0L V8 (157HP, 240 ft/lbs Torque) (installed);
- '85 5-speed manual transmission (installed);
- '82 7.5-inch rearend w/3.36 gears (installed);
- '85 10 Hole Aluminum wheels (installed);
- Black CHP 10-Hole full size spare;
- '82 4 -speed SROD manual transmission (extra);
- '85 Canyon Red Metallic "GT" Hood (extra);
- '85 Canyon Red Metallic "GT" Hatchback (extra);
- 4 Turbine aluminum wheels (extra);
- Sub frame connectors (not installed);
- '85 Throttle Body Fuel Injection 302 GT motor (180HP, 260 ft/lbs Torque) (extra);
- '85 AOD transmission (extra);
- '87 Police 8-inch rearend w/2.73 gears and quad shocks (extra); and
- Brand new 15:1 quick ratio powersteering rack and pinion unit (not installed).
Wow,
that's a lot of stuff!
My
new rack & pinion quick-ratio steering assembly.
I also installed
a pair of offset aluminum bushings to account for bump-steer caused
by the new Eibach progressive springs.
A late model power steering
pump had to fitted giving a 15:1 steering.
Originally, my car had
the TRW rack that had
different hose connection sizes than this newer unit.
The newer motor has a new double roller timing chain. I should have popped for the gear drive.
I may change it over one day. Love that whine sound they give.
Also installed a new high pressure oil pump and a high volume water pump.
The
newer motor ready for installation - rumor has it a little old
lady drove it.
I wish I knew of a way to get rid of that curved part
of my front spoiler...very tough to get that straight.
Had it painted
for $500 at the local shop that does the CHP police cars.
I figured they
were experts in spraying black paint.
Came out pretty good for the price.
I finally
found a set of Marchal fog lights with the black cats still on
them...the front is now complete.
Thanks go to the local pull and
pick junk yard for those and the 1982 Capri tail lights.
The Marchal
750 fog lights take the H2 halogen bulbs. I had to order them online
-
cost about $3 each.
Ford also made a 750 series "driving" light
that was more clear than mine. Those would be "da-bomb."
Yokahamas
are ZR225 60-series asymetrical (Z-rated, like I can use that)
and very sticky.
Picked them up for $42 each online from the tirerack.com.
Did you notice
the driver-side exhaust? It's a single glasspack with a 3-inch pipe.
Sure got the looks on the off-ramps (loud).
The lack of back pressure
ruined
performance and killed mileage though.
I have since converted to a factory 3-inch pipe with single late model factory 5.0 muffler and factory single-stage catalytic converter. I even found a suitable look-a-like for the tail pipe (double barrel shotgun design).
Notice the 1979-1982 Capri tailights. Much nicer since they reach right across to the license plate.
Oops,
6 months later I swapped out the 5.0 muffler for a true Magnaflow
muffler.
Best setup yet.
Love
those Capri taillights. Notice the 84 rear spoiler with no brake
light opening.
I may go back to the traditional Mustang lights
though.
Made
a trade for a pair of factory taillights...much more better.
Of course, now I have to refinish the balck area next to
the license plate.
Mustangs are supposed to have VERTICAL lights....
Notice the "faux" white face guages - all the rage
in the early 2000's. They did the job for the time...
Smog legal in California folks - factory emissions controls
all in place. Cruises at under 1800 RPM at 70mph.
Averages
25mpg on
interstate
freeways, about 15-17mpg around town (mixed driving).
I have
added the
K&N
E-1535 air
filter
to it.
I've
since removed the red pinstripe and used black pinstripe to cover
where the paint peeled.
I think you can notice the slightly wider
track on the rear due to the addition of the 8.8-inch rear end.
Handles like a champ. You basically do not have to hit the brakes rounding a corner now...scary.
Not
being content to have that lower lip on the airdam hang down, I decided
to strip down the front end...
Here's the car with the fender extension, airdam and bumper removed.
Turns
out the bumper bent and was only held on with one bolt on the passenger
side! So,
I pulled a nice clean bumper off of
a 1984 1/2 Anniversary
Gt350
Mustang.
I also took the passenger bumper strut/absorber, a new fender fresh air
snorkel, and the dash panel pieces.
I also pulled the build sheet just for kicks.
The new bumper is the white-ish one since Anniversary Mustangs were all white.
My poor airdam has a permanent "fat lip." I am thinking that a nice solid rod/bar would straighten it some.
The
good news is that the GT350 Mustang in the junk yard also had a nice
1.375-inch, SVO-sized, front sway bar.
Energy Suspension bushings will do the trick.
Hint: At the Autozone store, I had to look under 1984 SVO to find the
1 3/8ths bushings.
Endlinks are standard order Energy Suspension parts.
Here's
the upper shock tower strut install in my dusty engine bay.
The bad news is that I have to remove the bar to remove the lower portion
of the air cleaner.
Here's
the 1984 1/2 Anniversary Mustang dash installed in my car. Notice the
clean upper dashboard.
I fitted a retro "shaft" Alpine stereo. That's a Supertramp tape in the
deck.
This is the way the car would have been in the 1980s.
I also found a mint 1982 intrument cluster from a Capri in the wrecking yard.
Took a while to get all the lights working. I like the factory lighting best.
Here's
the finished front end. I removed a fender molding. I also removed
one on the other side.
I plan to replace
them with mint ones from the Anniversary Mustang I stripped.
I think the front end is much straighter now and all bolts are in place
(3 on each side for the bumper).
Even
the lower lip of the airdam looks better.
I still want to replace it but they are impossible to find.
It's fun washing the car.
