I have a 88 GTA 5.7L TPI (all stock, just rebuilt it), 700R4 w/stage 2 shift kit, aluminum drive shaft, shorty headers, no catalytic w/3 inch exhaust from headers to small Flowmaster w/3 inch tailpipe, and a posi rear end (stock gear ratio). Runs great, very strong. My friend has an all stock late 80's, early 90's Mustang 5.0 with a 5 speed manual. I think his is a 92 LX 5.0. Also runs great. I've had enough of his trash talking.. Can I take him?

Probably not.

Why? Does the Ford 302 make that much more HP than my 350?

Take him thru some canyon roads and see how he does.

Well, Illinois doesn't have very many canyons in it...lol If we raced, it would be a stoplight to stoplight race. Roughly 1/8 mi. to 1/4 mi..

The 1992 Mustang is a lighter car with a manual trans . His 5.0 may even have a bit less HP . But when he dumps that clutch and speed shifts he will be gone . But I think at a 30MPH Punch your GTA can take him .

Yes. Atleast I know my '92 Z 350, shift kit, Random Tech cats, Flowmaster cat back, TPI air foil, and some other little mods, never beat a Mustang. I hate to say it too, because I hate Mustangs, but those little %@^*ers are fast.

I hear that, been looking for a manual trans for a swap. They are a lot more fun. Although, with the shift kit, my shifts are real quick and firm. Been thinking on a stall converter.

Could anyone give a quick explanation on what exactly a stall converter does and effect on car? Like a 2500 or so stall. What should I expect? Or what would it do having one in my car?

you shouldn't run a 2500 stall unless you have a powerband that kicks in at that rpm, that's when you should run a stall. Pull the motor, install a nice cam, then do the stall converter while the motor is out.

A 2500 would probably make your car alot more fun. I would'nt go any higher on a stock motor though.

Funny story, really.

I bought my oldest son a well used 83 Z28 when he was 16. Now let's not get into this whether or not it's real or not stuff again, I know it's not original after getting a copy of the window sticker from GM a few years ago. The car has all the 305 HO stuff except the transmission is a 700r4. It was awesome quick with that 700r4 and the 3.73 pos rear end.

He was working part time at Target after school. He comes home one night and sits down and says, "You know dad, those new mustangs ain't so fast." I replied, thinking he must have been reading a Car Craft mag. at work, "How do you know that?" He says he was sitting at the stop light on Rt. 1 and he heard a loud noise. He was looking at his gauges and realized it wasn't his car. He looked to the left and there was a guy in a mustang revving up the engine. When the light turned green they both took off. I asked what happened. He said the front of the mustang was just off the side of the hatch window till they got to 45 mph. I asked what happened at 45 mph. My son said he left off the gas because that was the speed limit, 45 mph. He said when he let up the Mustang went on by and he turned off on rt. 10 to come home. I asked him if he realized he could lose his car and his license for racing. He said, "dad, I wasn't racing." I disagreed and asked him why he thought he wasn't racing. He told me, "but dad, I never broke the speed limit." He got a funny look on his face when I told him breaking the speed limit wasn't part of racing.

Anyway, that night, from 0 to 45 mph, the Mustang was behind the Z28.

Be the older, more mature adult I am, I've never raced anyone in my IROC (I just get a kick out of either running away from them on a curvy road or making them feel like my IROC is tied to their rear bumper.)

If you can try it safely why not? Maybe you'll learn something about your car and what you need to do to improve it.

Was thinking on installing a set of 1.6 rockers. Wouldn't that be kind of like putting a higher lift cam in? If not, how big and long of duration cam could I get away with with out having to mess with my ECM?

But I still don't understand something...

Now, lets say I put a cam in and install a 2500 stall converter. How will the car operate (drive, shift) once the car has the converter installed? I mean, I know how it drives and shifts now with the stocker unit in it. Will the engine have to rev to 2500rpm's before I take off? And 2500 was just a number I threw out here. For a somewhat stock TPI 350 with minor mods, what would everybody suggest on stall speed?

Thanks for any info....

Spoken like a true TPI owner!!!!

Me, I don't have too much trouble with em; I like the look on their face when they get DRILLED by a 305 that was built to pass California emissions standards... very tame cam, stock Q-jet, cat, AIR, EGR, stock air cleaner, quiet exhaust, etc. etc. etc. I've had em pull back up next to me at the next light and ask for some more because they liked it so much the first time. I'll usually oblige em just so I can watch em cry.

Hey, thanks for the info Dad...lol .... Nah, just joking...lol What year Mustang? My buddy says his 92 LX stocker will run circles around the new ones with the 4.6L's. Never witnessed this first hand though. Hate to admit, for a stock car, that LX is one fast puppy.

As for racing safely, I realize street racing IS extremely dangerous. We have a road out in the country called the Morris Blacktop. People have actually went out and painted lines on road for 1/8 and 1/4 miles. Nice flat ditches and besides a track, probably the safest place for illegal racing to go down.

But since I refuse to run him, I am afraid that the day will come when we find each other heads up at a red light here in town. I know the right thing to do would be to turn or wimp out, but I know my instincts (a.k.a. stupidity) would take over and it would be on.

If I lost, I would NEVER hear the end of it.

in my opinion the 5.0 mustang as a stock car is pretty bad *** even with a bigger motor in your t/a he might be a smidge faster. the 5.0 ford is a pretty incredible little motor much better than that stupid 2 valve 4.6 they use, its almost as incredible as the LS series gm engines. my g/f used to drive a 95 f150 with a 5.0 and killer valve tap and it was a little faster than my 91 350 k5 blazer if that helps a little. get a small bottle of nitrous and try to do a hidden setup and your friend will stop talking trash really quickly

Get some lower gears (at least 3:73). The stockers are slowing you way down off the line.

Nitrous??? Hmmmmm... Never really thought going that route. Lets say I bought a small kit. Would anything have to be done to my engine/ECM before adding something like this? And what kind of gains should i expect? I've seen it done numerous times on TV shows (never to a L98), but those shows do so much and spend like 20 grand, all in just a half hour.

Is it a hook it up and go?

Thanks for any info...

Thought of this too. Car is not a daily driver and wouldn't mind sacrificing a little gas mileage and top speed. Although I never tore into a rear end before and kind of hesitate to do so. Is it real technical? I'm no expert, but managed to replace my head gaskets, which I thought was a pretty "in-depth" job, and runs great.

Yeah, it's pretty nuts... Those 5.0 Fords are fast, no doubt. My buddy had a rough riding, unhealthly 87 GT and it ate almost all stock third gens around here. I was very happy when he sold it though.

If its not a DD, I would go with some 4:10 -4:11 gears. its not too difficult to do a gear swap, but if you've never done it I wouldn't attempt it without someone who knows what they're doing. All in all it is a great bang for the buck mod. It will really wake the car up off the line.

This reminds me of something I seen at the race years ago. A bright red 4th gen Camaro came to the track and lined up in staging lanes. The Camaro had huge red letters on the rear hach glass. It read "mustangs are like tampons...Every Pu&&y needs one" It was funny as hek. Drag racing the mustang's were slow I've seen guy trailer thier 13 second car there, what is up with that? When we would work on our Camaros and change something we would go by the mustang garages in town and leave them 300 ft black mark in front of their shop. They loved it..ha..ha they would call us on the phone asking what we changed this time. Like at Pro Stock drag racing not one Ford any where. Pro Stock means you and I can go to the auto make's dealer and buy the parts over the counter. GM owns nearly all Pro Stock with a few mopar in the mix.

I think it would be a very close race your cars are both running 225hp stock his car is lighter but it seems like you got a little work done that might give you the win.

the 5.0 definietly does not drive around in circles on the 4.6. my dad has a 89 5.0 LX vert and i have my 96 4.6 with basic stuff done to it plus ~150lbs of audio equipment and i pull on my dad in my 96 up to the speed limit every time and we are both auto.

as far as 350 tpi's and v8 mustangs go, i have no idea, but i know my 350 in my 1985 could easily eat my stang. the only thing is too bad i cant drive both cars at once... i will take them to the track in the near future.

but when it all comes down to it, third gen camaros sound better and look way better than fox body mustangs.

put some 4:10s in it and wear his little rustang azz out. i have a 91 transam 305 and i wear them out all the time. we have a 1/8 mile track here ,my son has taken a 2.8 v6 and beat them before. surprised the **** out of me too.he cuts .003 - .007 lights all the time.

You would wind out so bad it wouldnt be funny. You couldnt go 60-70mph.

what do you mean 60 or 70 yeah in the1/8 ,i never even got out of second gear in an 1/8. i still have drive and over drive and i DO NOT SPIN at ALL it just leaves.

sounds like you'd hate my other car. an 87 mustang lx that's getting stripped and reinforced to make room for the new small block 347, f1c procharger with 3 core sheet metal intercooler pushing 20 lbs of boost, and a 250 shot of nitrous. of course the tear down process just started so it's probably going to be about 3 years or so before it's ready to make it's first pass. the body is going into the shop to get all the necessary reinforcements made probably in december after i get home.

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read my signiture.. when that car was complete it only made 258hp to the wheel.. lol yes wheel it was open diff. and i made fox body stangs with headers n full exhaust throttle body spacers n six puck clutches (ok stang not stangs) look liek a lil girl.. im talin 3 cars from a line and 2 from a gear drop.. if i made 258hp and i made a 5.0 with that muhc in the drive train look slow.. with some good tuning and learn your shift point really well so u cant shift on your own and not worry about redlining.. you should kill it... sorry but the 5.0s are good looking cars and they can be made to high performing street cars... but they arent as fast as ppl think they are.. i had 70s tiny valve huge chamber heads on it and he still coudlnt keep.. your heads are much better for street running and unless its a convertable or t topped teh wight difference wont make a matter... I SAY GO FOR IT

I don't think mustangs are that fast, i've raced a 5.0 HO (kind with the mesh over the tailights) with my STOCK l05 with only exhaust and i barely lost. but when we got to about 80-90 i started reeling him in and then i hit my limiter. (i was pissed!) haha
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and yes i just realized this was an old post, wow now i feel stupid haha

my cousin has a mint 91 notch back with 38k miles,ported stock heads, aftermarket intake(gt40), 1.7 rockers, full exhaust and 3.73 gears and some usless pillar gauges. the car is pretty quick, alot quicker than a stock 350 tpi.... I been there for him to walk a 500hp srt10 dodge ram (that super truck) he killed is friends new hhr or hsr , whatever the new gm truck thats putting out 400hp and 400+tq, he hasnt run any new vettes ( hell lose) but hell beat lt1 camaro and transams all day and run with ls1s 50/50. My point is for a couple hundred dollars the short drivetrain,light weight, combo with a good motor and so so trans..... ford made a pretty nice car..... ...ouch sorry sorry. but I gotta post a pic..... I love this car......IIImmmmm soooo soorrryyy

thats pretty nice looking. the only ones around here are freakin primer grey, ugly as hell!

Its sooo nice, who ever owned it before him relocated the battery and ran all the wiring through the fender wells so the engine comp is super clean. the interior is mint,,,, he got it as is minus the cobra wheels (came with chrome ponies) for 6k.. . the guy needed cash fast for some sewer problems he was having. I gotta admit Im alittle jealous. Still, nothing looks better to me than a mint 85-89 trans am. burgandy with gold gta rims is as good as it gets

I'd advise against a gear ratio change. Unless you are doing cam/heads. Just from what I have read in the TPI section.

He will likely beat you in your current state. GTAs were the worst to put up against a Mustang--- being heaviest 3rd gen.

spray him

Back in 1989 I bought a nice used 88 mustang gt. Was a 5 speed, 5.0 with low options ( GTS model, similar to 1-le) I used to eat 3rd gens pretty easily, also corvettes. The only cars I used to have problems with were, Taurus SHO's, 90 and newer 300z twin-turbos and the occasional Buick grand-national. I think you will definatly get beaten, unless he dosent know how to shift. I traded the 88 on a new 95 gt with a 5 speed and was so disgusted with it that I traded it in about 5 months, bought a 93 z-28 and havent owned a ford since!!! chevy man now!!!

no offense but i really doubt you beat Vettes.... even if the 80's vette are slow they would still walk a Foxbody.

... unless your talking late 70s vette, if SHOs were given you a good run than an 88 vette should have beaten ya pretty good, same with a GN. I stock foxbody doesnt stand a chance against a GN. Maybe not slaughter rule but definetly not a car or less in 2 blocks either

MY ex's SHO MTX beat the hell out of her brothers 5.0 rustang from a dig, all the way to the top of fourth. I'd take a Yamaha Taurus any day over a 5.slow.

it shouldnt have... first gen sho with the 220hp and mtx trans ran low 15s in the 1/4,,, some people have clamied mid-high 14s but its not real common. An 87-91 lx notch back would run consistent mid 14s. Maybe something was wrong with the $&%^stang or something was added to the sho..... the sec ond gen added nothing power wise and the 3rd gen wasnt any faster

I doubt the guy could drive the Stang'...SHOs autos aren't that good

SHO had a K&N filter, factory fiberglass hood, and high flow cat with some exhaust shop job on it to a universal flowmaster 40 series. Oh and it hooked nicely on its BFGoodrich G-Force T/A's. The LX 5.0 just had exhaust, stock manifolds, to gutted cat, to stock pipes to some off brand turbo muffler. That SHO was a torque monster, that thing had a hell of a street rep when her and I were done with it.
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SHO MTX = 5speed bro.

Do you have any idea what shed do in the 1/4, Ive heard that yamaha motor responded real well to exhaust mods. Was the mustang a 5 speed? Im actually looking for an sho for my fiance to drive once the babys here,,,, she gets a 4 door and I get 220 hp and a 5 speed...HOLD ON TO YOUR CAR SEAT LITTLE BABY... ...... J/K

oh a 5 speed! (MTX--reminds me of what Mazda owners say..I think) Ok that makes a huge difference

We never ran it at the track, but the mustang was a five speed and her brother pulled consistant mid-low 14's in the 1/4 at englishtown, so if I had to guess we were running low consistant 14's as well. That thing loved to rev, but pulled great torque too. When we did the exhaust work, it woke up nicely, but kinda sounded a bit ratty. Yeah that 5-spd makes a huge difference. The Auto SHO's came with a 3.2 motor, the 5-spds with a 3.0 but you couldn't touch a 5-spd with the auto. Loved that car. Swapped the ford blue oval for a silver and black Yamaha symbol too, my favorite mod to the car by the way lol.

No offense but i still have little respect for an SHO, its a fast family sedan (like the new grand prix's with V8s) i mean sure it can run good times if set up right and it runs good but as far as i know the motors are hard to keep maintained b/c they have so many problems. Plus i think they are ugly. haha

I actually liked the ugliness factor of the car lol. Really kept the import guys guessing. And the motors are no different than anything else, except the huge ammount of piping on the top for the intake manifolds. The only problem her car ever had was a bad alternator, wheich was kind of a bitch for me cause it was down in the passenger side pocket. Oh and it liked to foul plugs when we first got it, but a good tune up fixed that as well. I respected it for what it was, a decently quick grocery getter. Which is basically what we used it for.

Edit: Haha I just became a senior member?

well if it makes a difference i can beat my neighbors 5.0 pretty easily i dunno if he just retarded as far as shifting goes or if the stang is down on its luck but im not complaining lol It was kinda funny because when i bought my 3rd gen he went out that same week and bought the 5.0 and he kept egging me on to race him and in my head i was thinking "no way in hell am i gonna do it cuz ill never hear the end of it if i lose" we raced and i stomped all over him. Im sure with a compitent driver id be screwed but im happy with the results. Plus now im doing my rear axle swap to a 3.73 posi so hes done for. I do have to say though when the rear on those fox bodies gets squirely its fun to whip em around. I never drove one until then and i have to admit it was pretty fun to not have all the weight to overcorrect the steering for

373's on a 305 will kill you in the 1/4 mile.My 86 305TPI used to pull 1.9 60' with 3.23 gears and run 14.1 to 14.2's consistantly.Switched to 3.73 gears thinking it would come off the line quicker but still pulled 1.9's but wouldn't pickup from half track to the finish.Switched to 3.42's pulled 1.8's and could run 13.90's all day long.

Egads, how did I miss this non-tech thread all this time?

Shame on all of you.

Now, if the Theoretical mod thinks it's okay, off we go. . .

I tried that once, it'll slow him down a bit. But it's not really a challenge after that with him trying to wipe pepper spray out of his eyes and drive at the same time.