85 Mustang Coupe/MKVIII project.

[markup97]

Looking for something different and being a Fox guy, I picked up an 85 Mustang Coupe a while back. Planned a MKVIII powertrain swap into the car. She is rusty (typical Northern car) but came with some good parts (originally a 4cyl/auto car). Won't bore you with the stuff it came with, but will tell you it got a GT dash bezel swap, 140mph speedo cluster swap, and a GT interior swap........all being Canyon Red in color. Got a Capri RS non-cruise steering wheel swap with a custom-turned center cap. Swapped in a 1999 Cobra IRS where the dead 7.5" stick sat (no pics of that yet). This car will also ride on a modified LINCOLN MKVII air ride suspension that will be able to be ride-height controlled by me in the car.

Anyway, since you are are visual people:











She is pretty rough, but my first Fox was a Coupe and I wanted another one since she was wrecked. I paid a bit more than I wanted for this one, but it is mine and it is now up to me to make her right again.

 

[markup97]

Interior really is in pretty good shape, which led me to decide to keep it Canyon Red (even though I am not a fan of the color).











Restoring the tail lights. The 83-86 Tails are by far my favorite tail light (that includes the 84-86 SVO/93 Cobra units).

 

[markup97]

Continuing with the tail light restoration.











The Canyon Red GT seats installed.



The RS Capri wheel with a Ford Focus road wheel center cap turned down to fit into the center.

 

[markup97]

The 1996 Mustang K-member being modded to fit the Fox chassis. I had to move the lower set of holes forward .5" and cut the back of the brackets off to fit it into the Fox.



Rear end removed from the car.



1999 Cobra IRS sitting in the bed of my truck, waiting to get fit to the 85.



These pics show the snubber brackets, which have to be removed to fit the IRS into a Fox chassis.









These last two are of the 95 Valve covers and timing cover from the junkyard engine I got. I was experimenting with Wrinkle Black and how it would look. I like it.

 

[markup97]

Hope you all don't laugh too hard, and I apologize for the pics being out of order. I loaded them into Photobucket as I took them and they were out of sorts when they hit my album.

 

[chris2523]

cool! more pics!

 

[markup97]

I am getting ready for a move, so pics might be a little short until I can get settled in and back to working on this. Needless to say, I think I bit off more than I want to chew, but since I already have the mouthful I better get it down the hatch!

 

[ShakerGT]

Looks like a fun project. Can't wait for more!

 

[SCTBIRD1173]

I was going to ask how the frame rails were until I saw the pic of them. Not as bad as I thought they would be considering the other rust.

Good luck with it. I know it's hard to come by clean coupes for a good price, especially a 4-eyed Fox coupe.

 

[markup97]

Being that the 4eye cars are my favorite styling of Fox (85-86 in particular), I was a sucker for it when the guy added in clean rust-free doors, hood, trunklid, Canyon Red GT interior (to include two sets of front seats), complete 86GT nose with all lights/wiring/fog-light switch, 8.8" trac-lock rear, 140mph speedo, a clean radiator core support, GT body molding (the 'GT' call-out trim behind the doors), and a few other things for $1200.

I have a gentleman coming out tomorrow to look at buying my 91GT. If he does, I will have the 93 MKVIII drivetrain for this project, as it is part of the purchase deal. Baby steps, but steps none the less.

 

[SCTBIRD1173]

Sounds like you made out well in the deal.

I still have some 85-86 GT parts laying around somewhere along with some stuff from my '89 Notch. It's been 14 years since I owned a Mustang. When I come across anything I'll let you know.

 

[markup97]

Gentleman decided not to buy my 91GT as his grandson wanted something a bit less of a project and ready-to-drive. So I will not be acquiring his MKVIII drivetrain.

 

[SCTBIRD1173]

Gentleman decided not to buy my 91GT as his grandson wanted something a bit less of a project and ready-to-drive. So I will not be acquiring his MKVIII drivetrain.

 

[markup97]

Yes, sad face indeed! I will update this sometime soon, as things have happened with the car that warrant some pics.

 

[Mad1stGen]

What paint did you use on the reflective part of the taillights ?

That timing cover looks like a Continental cover BTW.

 

[markup97]

The engine came from a North/South configuration, so I would say early MKVIII (tag on the valve cover had a pull-date of 11-95) that has the 'Ball Of Snakes' intake (could still be a Conti engine, it is aTaksid block and I git the entire engine out of a salvage yard for $75).

The reflective paint is some stuff from Lowes, used for lines on pavement. It is Grayish, with reflective looking 'pearl' flakes.

 

[Lvnmarks]

Are you still looking for another mark drive line then?

 

[markup97]

Eventually, yes. I am actually trying to pare down all of my junk to help streamline the coming move (2 weeks, 5 days) back to Florida, and to generate some badly needed cash. This project has been put on hold, only working on what is needed to get it either up on a trailer or ready for a tow-dolly ride 1000 miles south.

 

[Stangman]

I sure do miss my coupe... but I'm glad youre doing something with it. And now that someone mentioned it.... that front engine cover does look wrong... first gen Mark's have the tensioner on the passenger side... at least my '93 does...

 

[markup97]

Maybe it is a Conti motor then. I got it complete from the salvage yard (out of the car) for $75. Yup, Jesse, this Coupe is destined for large chunks of insanity if I can do what I want to do to it!