1988 LX Build & Restoration

[CNTLOSE]

This is my first true project car since my 1994 GT. I am down to one SSP and the need to have something other than stock was too much. I bought this 1988 LX from the second owner, who as had it since 1999. Car is mostly stock other than Flowmaster exhaust, pullies, and K&N Filter Charger. Car still has the original 1988 spark plug wires. The porno red interior is in decent shape and the seats have new padding.


http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7244.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7239.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7240.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7247.jpg

I already have on order a full tune up kit, front head/parking lights, paint to redo all the molding and trip, MagnaFlow catback exhaust, FR progressive springs, KYB shockst/struts, and some other misc items. I plan on redoing most of the car and just making it a great street driver. Motor run great so other than pulling it out to detail and repaint it and the engine bay, not major mods are in the immediate future. Body looks okay in the photos but it has is share of dings and paint chips so a repaint will eventually happen.

[Gearhead]

Looks nice !!:bigthumb

[CNTLOSE]

Looks nice !!:bigthumb

Thanks...I really should proof read before posting. :lol:

[BlazinEagle]

what the hell is that in front of the brake booster?

[CNTLOSE]

what the hell is that in front of the brake booster?

The speaker for the alarm system...don't worry it is coming out.

[jack90gt]

looks good man.....

[BlazinEagle]

must be extremly loud...looks like a great start. Cannot wait to see you clean this one up too.

[CNTLOSE]

looks good man.....

Thanks


must be extremly loud...looks like a great start. Cannot wait to see you clean this one up too.

Yeah...it is a PIA all it does is drain the battery. So I have been disconnecting the battery and when I hook it back up it sets the alarm off...which sounds great in my ear.

I probably won't go all out on the motor like I did the '94 for a year or so. I want to get the suspension, brakes, body, and paint done first.

[CNTLOSE]

Well yesterday Santa came for the LX. Ordered and arrived are some very need new suspension pieces. Still need to get some rear control arms and maybe bushings for the front arms. All new repo head/parking lights, OEM red stripe tape, and everything for a complete tune-up including some red Ford Racing plug wires. Also ordered a few tools to help keep me from breaking the trim pieces and door panels when I remove them and a couple cans of SEM trim paint.

Today I purchased a white GT rear wing for the car. It also included the brake light and wiring. (Thanks TurboNG and Mike) Going to go look at a stock hood this weekend as the ram air is just not doing it for me.


http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7249.jpg

Once I get the car inspected...hopefully tomorrow...the tear down will begin.

[dawsin94cobra]

You always have the cleanest cars man! Looks good

[87stangbbb]

^^^look at his neighborhood. its called money.lol

[CNTLOSE]

You always have the cleanest cars man! Looks good

Thanks...this one looks much better in photos than in person. But I wanted one I would actually drive and enjoy instead of caring about miles and crap.

[CNTLOSE]

My cat back arrived today. I am normally a MAC dumps fan, but the deal they had on these for black Friday on Amazon I could not pass it up.


http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7266.jpg

Also the wife as made it known she likes the ram-air hood so it will be staying...although some hood pins will be in order.

[Yellow98Cobra]

And the Backsteet boys Cd in the Cd player is hers to.....LOL. Put a cowl hood on it!!!!!

[Stangman]

I LOVE the mach1 hood... lol

[CNTLOSE]

And the Backsteet boys Cd in the Cd player is hers to.....LOL. Put a cowl hood on it!!!!!

If not a stock hood that is what I would like to do...but I can not complain too much...at least she "let" me buy it. :rolleyes: Also I will give you back your Backstreet Boys CD next time we see each other...thanks for letting my 6 year old borrow it. :lol:

[marauder]

Looks like it's moving right along! Car looked great in person, next time I see it I'm sure it'll be done. Keep the updates coming man!

[CNTLOSE]

Looks like it's moving right along! Car looked great in person, next time I see it I'm sure it'll be done. Keep the updates coming man!

Thanks...my next purchase is going to be a heater of some sort for the garage so I can get started.

[Stangman]

You might not like those Depot headlights... I've not had great luck with fitment with them.

[CNTLOSE]

You might not like those Depot headlights... I've not had great luck with fitment with them.

They have a piece in the back you have to trim/cut off. LRS included the instructions to do it with the kit...so I hope that takes car of the fitment issue.

[CNTLOSE]

Well pulling this thread back up since I am keeping the car. Picking up a K member this week fron RICH and hope to get started pulling the front off this Tuesday. Excited to finally be turning some wrenches again.

[jack90gt]

Sounds like a plan man......Good luck with it...

[CNTLOSE]

Well have the front end ready to pull off. Waiting to put some hangers on my garage wall so I have a place to put it. Also picked up the K member today so slowly making progress.

[CNTLOSE]

Progess is coming much slower than I would like. I did get the front end off finally and hung on the wall. Since then I have mostly been collecting parts. With trying to keep with the "budget build" and support local Stangbangerz I have been buying all the parts used from members. So far I have collected a Steeda shifter w/ handle, a Steeda clutch quadrant, Steeda firewall adjuster, and some MAC shorty headers.

February was an all around shity month for the family so I am hoping to get some work done this weekend. I will try and post some pics on my next update.

[CNTLOSE]

Well I thought I would do a quick update to this thread. I had mostly collecting parts for her until this past week. With the ongoing issues with public workers in Ohio my plans have really shifted. So turning wrenches is always a good stress reliever so I tore into her today finally.

Front nose and hood are off and the radiator is drained and out. I started disconnecting the wiring and exhaust before the "honey bell" was being rung and it was time to come in. With this car being an '88 I am shocked on how well everything is coming apart. I was even able to the get the upper H-pipe bolts off in less than 10 minutes...these bolts are my arch enemy :lol:. I did find a couple interesting things...like in addition to the original 1988 spark plug wires I believe this car had the original distributor cap and rotor button. This car has almost 200k miles on it and ran great...be interesting to see how it runs once freshened up. But for now here are some photos...



http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7477.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7479.jpg
Two bike rack hangers and a bungee cord...hopefully it is not here long.


http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_7480.jpg

[Stangman]

Very cool to see how other people are restoring them now instead of tearing them apart and racing them. Its a refreshing look at how old these cars really are getting. Btw very clean looking car. I like how the red stripe inside the black trim on a white car looks.

[CNTLOSE]

Very cool to see how other people are restoring them now instead of tearing them apart and racing them. Its a refreshing look at how old these cars really are getting. Btw very clean looking car. I like how the red stripe inside the black trim on a white car looks.

Thanks :bigthumb...The white with the black and red is what really attracted me to this car. Hoping this does not take me as long as the '94 GT I had did. :lol:

[Yellow98Cobra]

Looks good......

[CNTLOSE]

Looks good......

Thanks :bigthumb

Buying the '93 Cobra booster from Rich, so another part towards the build. Hope to still get the motor out this weekend and look over the internals. If it looks to be on its way out the door I may be replacing with an Explorer motor. I have found a couple in the area for reasonable prices. If it does not look too bad I will probably just change out the timing chain, oil pump, and anything else to help squeeze some more miles out of her.

[CNTLOSE]

Well today just a whim in the pouring rain I decided to stop at a local junkyard with one of my daughters to see if they had any V8 Explorers. I lucked out and they had a 1998 Mountainer with a V8. We struck a deal and I purchased the complete motor and they tossed in no thrills Ford radio for free...these are hard to find for the SSP's. So it looks like I will be going the Explorer...I mean Mountainer motor route for my budget build.

[dsmawd350]

whats a no thrills ford radio?

[CNTLOSE]

whats a no thrills ford radio?

:lol:...not for this car. I belong to a club that restores SSP Mustangs. A plain jane radio is almost impossible to find...they were all tossed out and for good reason then. My SSP has one but I can sell this one to fund this project car.

[CNTLOSE]

Have the motor ready to come out, and will hopefully be out tomorrow evening. I also have most of the Mountaineer motor accessories tore off. I had to go to Pep Boys and rent some special tools to remove the damn fan clutch. So once that is done I can start making the motor ready to go in.

Will post some pics Sunday once the motor is out.

[motox159]

I'm glad you kept this car fella. I had a 86 GT back in the day with basically the same colors. Clean looking car and hanging on to it was a good choice. Look forward to seeing the final product!

[CNTLOSE]

Well as usual progress has slowed down. Motor is ready to come out, but is just sitting there. When I went to tear down the Explorer motor the infamous intake bolt at the thermostat housing broke off in the head. RIXXX93GT is fix that for me and also did a great job drilling and tapping my intake for the air temp sensor. So once I have the head back I will start back on getting the motor out and the engine bay repainted.

In the mean time I bought a 1991 Cherokee to be my DD and to haul our dogs around. Needs a couple things but those 4.0 motors are hard to kill.

[R825OH]

That car is solid as hell, especially for 200k!! Great project,great save!

[CNTLOSE]

That car is solid as hell, especially for 200k!! Great project,great save!

Thanks! I was shocked when I saw it. The strut towers do not even have a spot of surface rust. Every bolt has come off with such ease...I have been loving it after all the saw-saw and cutting wheels I have used on past projects. Only issue is the hatch and this is because some dumbass dealer drilled holes in it to put their name plate on.

[82stang5.0]

That car is super clean. I cant wait for ya to get her finished it makes me wanna head to the garage and finish mine!!

[CNTLOSE]

Wow, it has been a long time since I touched this car. My May 1st deadline has been shot to hell, but I thought I would do a little update on the car.

I did just sell my SSP on ebay...or at least I have the deposit for it so far. So once it is paid for in full I hope to get the necessary items needed for the motor install on this car. I hate seeing it sit in the garage missing half the front end. I am going to stick with my original plans of just a mild performance increase and do a mostly stock restoration.

[CNTLOSE]

Boy I have been really slacking on this car. I have not touched it in 3 months...ugh. Family time and work time have really taken me away from it...well that and buying this Harley that I love to ride. The Harley is having a Stage 1 kit put on it now and will be done as far as mods for sometime. I have the two engine mount bolts to take out and the motor will be out of there! I am debating on having the Moutaineer motor rebuilt before putting it in. I know this is going to turn into a winter project so I might as well do it right the first time. Still going for a mostly stock appearance, just want a little more umph.

[DNTRYIT]

looks good cant wait to see it finished

[CNTLOSE]

This will be the weekend!!!...I hope. Have plans for the father to come over Sunday so we can get the motor out and I can start on the engine bay. Going to dropping the entire front suspension and putting on the K member I bought from Rich. Also upgrading the brake system with the Cobra booster...also bought from Rich. It will be nice to finally make some progress on this garage decoration of mine.

[CNTLOSE]

Welll for once I stayed to true to my word and got the motor out today :bounce: Pulled her out and power washed the engine bay. Going to start taking all the other items out now to prepare for paint.

From this....

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8362.jpg

To this....

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8366.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8367.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8368.jpg


I have a very solid foundation with just a couple spots of surface rust to deal with. The best part is the strut towers are 100% solid.

[CNTLOSE]

Almost finished with the engine bay...well getting it torn down and ready for paint. Also made plans with Mike Bell to work on the GT40P heads I bought. Dropping them off next weekend and with the OT I had this past week I hope to get the rest of the parts needed to put the motor back together.

With any luck I will post a naked engine bay pic tomorrow. :D

[CNTLOSE]

Well almost there. Got the brake booster out and a few other pieces. Going to wheel it back out in the driveway and powerwash some areas one more time before I drop the K member and get started on preping for paint. Since I really have intention or reason to tear into the dash the wiring harness will stay. I am just planning on wrapping them up before paint.


http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8390.jpg


These two were before I removed the black plastic pieces. I am really impressed with how solid everything is. Just one bad spot near the stock intake opening with the rest just being surface rust or discolor of the paint.


http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8389.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq336/cntlose92/1988%20Mustang%20LX/100_8388.jpg

[CNTLOSE]

Not much done this week. Dropped the heads off at Dayton 5.0 Performance to have Mike do some work and fresh'n them up to better than new. Also ordered some 1.7 roller rockers, timing chain, and some TF valve springs while I was there.


Slowly getting there...

[CNTLOSE]

Got the heads back from Mike today and they look great. Also picked up the Crane 1.7 RR and FR timing chain. This past week I was finally able to do the final pressure wash to the engine bay. Hope to get some work done on it Sunday after the game. Would really like to get this back on the road before the first snow....so that translates to it being done this Spring.

[chris91]

I'd work on it during the game if it was me. Listen on the radio while wrenchin since as of now its not going to be televised.

[CNTLOSE]

I'd work on it during the game if it was me. Listen on the radio while wrenchin since as of now its not going to be televised.

We have season tickets so we will be down there from the crack of dawn until the ass whoop'n is done....hopefully we are the ones giving the whoop'n :D

[chris91]

Ahhh makes sense!

[Capri1979]

Interested in selling the Mustang?

[CNTLOSE]

Interested in selling the Mustang?

Nope...this car I plan on keep for awhile....not going to make the same mistake I did with my '94 GT.

[mustang_gt88]

looks like a nice solid car

[CNTLOSE]

looks like a nice solid car

Thanks!

Picking up the black powder coated wheels from Kenny at Cincy Speed this Saturday. This car originally came with 10 holes so keeping with my restoration with mild mods theme I thought a set of SSP looking wheels with the black trim would look great. Also today a 65mm TB I purchased from someone on the Corral arrived today. Is reported to have came off a '93 Cobra and it does have factory part number stampings.

[CNTLOSE]

Finally started grinding and sanding on the engine bay yesterday. Nice to finally start making some progress on the actual build. Going to try and get some more done tonight before posting pics.

[cyah92]

Sounds like your on a mission good luck getting it done

[CNTLOSE]

Well after going back and forth on keeping or selling this car, I have decided to keep it. However my plans have changed for the car.

Originally I wanted to keep her mostly stock in appearance and nothing too wild motor or mechanical wise...as far as a DD is concerned. But now I have another SSP that I am going to restore back to original. Since I have no need for two stock Mustangs I am going to go a different direction with this car.

Going to stick with the stock bottom end with the GT40P heads and Explorer intake for now. But going to relocate the battery to the hatch and kicking the idea of going with manual steering with a set of Welds to top it off. Thinking when the funds allow maybe going with a small supercharger. I guess time and money will tell what direction everything goes.

Also I am in between wanting to keep it white or going with the color of my old 2003 GT...dark shadow metalic (Charcoal grey basicly). Which other than painting it red or black I think is about the only color that would look okay with the porno red interior. So since a color change could be in the future I may just paint the engine bay black so it will go with any color...although I am not a fan of black engine bays on modern Mustangs.

So here is to a New Year and a revised project!

[fastford1996]

Glad to see ur gonna make her whole an pretty again it will be very nice build i went and read the whole posting lol you change ur mind alot! GLWB

[CNTLOSE]

Glad to see ur gonna make her whole an pretty again it will be very nice build i went and read the whole posting lol you change ur mind alot! GLWB

I do...lol. I really want to keep it, but at the same time we have bills to pay and I have two other cars now...not including the wife's mini-van. So four cars for a household that only has two drivers is a little much...at least that is what I keep telling myself. :D

[CNTLOSE]

Well just ordered some Eastwood engine bay paint and a bottle of fast etch. Engine bay is going to be semi-gloss black, which will go with the paint colors I have in mind if we keep it that long.