Topic: newbie going to buy 5.0 soon

[bkb72]

i am definitely going to buy a 5.0 ,i was a owner of the c word. but since i can't beat you guys i'll just join you. besides i 've always liked the look of 5.0 's . just wondering what i should be looking for? i've looked at 4 of them and they look really nice. i just don't know what i should be looking for.

[Soaring]

Like any used car, you need to look for rust to the body and abusement to the engine and transmission.  Most 5.0's should have been overhauled by now, so try to get the paperwork proving that work.  Wear and tear on the interior is not really important because that can be replaced rather easily and inexpensively.  Just make sure the body is straight, has not been wrecked and is relatively rust free. 

[rmodel65]

the question is do you want a fox  or a 94-95?

the 79-93 are lighter, the prefferred way to go for most 5.0 guys is a 87-93 notch it is stiffer and lighter than the hatchbacks and a ton lighter than a vert.

then you have the sn95(94-95) they are a little heavier but are stiffer you can fit wider tires in the rear and have a more aerodynamic look to them the big down side to them is the computer isnt as mod friendly.

[crzylx]

Alot of 5.0's I see these days are hacked bad. That would be my main concern, buying one that is not hacked.

Then just look for the things you should look at when buying every car.

Oh one more thing, I would get a Mass Air Car... It will save you the speed density conversion.

[JamesLA]

Sedan is definitely the way to go if you can find one in good shape. That is the hard part. It's getting harder all the time.

[crzylx]

Good point..

One thing I remembered, if your buying a hatch look for rust around the hatch and underneath the hatch are common places.

[msclecrmn]

The best advice I can give is try to find one that hasn't been modified at all. That wayif you deside to modify it you know what has been done and how and who. As far as the motor goes as long as there isn't anyhing obvious like noises or leaks and it seems to run well, look at the oil on the dip stick, it should be reasonably clean oil with out any colors or milky appearance. Fox body Mustangs are made out of cheap metal and they rust as bad as anything ever has. Check all of the exterior and underneath the car, the floors have a tendency to rust, along with the frame rails, I have seen alot of them rust in the engine compartment around where the  cross member attaches to the frame. The good thing abou Fox bodies are that they are cheap to work on especially if you can do the work yourself.

[Konrad]

Do you know if other mustangs are NOT made of cheap metal? Just wondering..

[msclecrmn]

I think the older Stangs 64 - early 70's are better and the Stangs I have worked on that are 94 or later seem to be better a little heavier guage and less likely to rust.

[Soaring]

Rust will attack any steel metal if it is uncovered by either paint or in a garage.  The gauge is basically irrevalent. 

[msclecrmn]

Metal+water+oxygen = rust.... Derrrr  Heavier metal tolerates a little rust better and is easier to work with if you have to fix it. Just speaking of my past experiences

[Jaime_302]

yup thats what they say i agree.. look for history about the car your going to buy.. and maske sure its not stolen.. my freind bought a 50th anniversery z31 turbo and found out it was stolen.. the moron (my friend) registered the car like 3 months later and the chp to tow it aways it was very sad  .. and make sure to lok around the engine bay and see if anything is connected right !

[mobileaudio219]

Check the floor pans, shock tower (under the battery), and the lip of the hatch for rust..

Check torque boxes, make sure they aren't distorted/ripped. Check for cracks in the floor pan. The bolts for the seats like to rip out as well...

Pull the cowl cover off and check for rust in there, also make sure the cowl sheet metal isn't full of filler (from the hood flying up.)

Look for any signs of previous wrecks. And run a car fax!

Make sure the heater core isn't by-passed and run it to make sure it works (the heater core can be a pain to change.)

Check all the light. headlights (hi-low), taillights, brake lights, turn signals, etc.

Run the car long enough to make sure it doesn't over heat.

If it's a 5 speed, run it through the gears at a higher rpm  and shift fast to check for grinding.

Check ALL the fluids and look for anything abnormal (water in the oil, burnt tranny fluid, etc.)

YOU (and the owner) take the car in for a safety inspection before any transaction are made.

That should give you a good idea of what you're buying.